April 2008

New program to guide improvement of hospital care

A new program will help Victorian public health agencies improve services to patients by reducing waste, streamlining processes and eliminating unnecessary duplication.

The Redesigning Hospital Care Program—Preliminary Program Guideline document, launched by Minister for Health Daniel Andrews, describes past improvement and redesign in Victoria, outlines the key success factors for the program going forward and identifies the steps for implementing clinical redesign.

The program aims to play a part in improving hospital care by:

•           Giving front line staff the time, tools and techniques to make change happen in their hospitals;

•           Developing capacity and capability for change to ensure that improvements can be sustained;

•           Coordinating redesign activity that is already taking place in Victoria to ensure the current resources are used most effectively;

•           Establishing a long-term program that systematically covers the key priority areas within hospitals.

As part of the pilot phase of the Redesigning Hospital Care Program, three public health services have piloted improvement processes such as reducing the length of time a patient waits to be transferred to sub-acute facilities and reducing the blockages in flow of emergency surgery.

The results of these pilots, along with broader consultation, will inform the development of a program framework and the rollout of a clinical redesign program across Victoria.

An information session will outline the program and give health services and Department staff the opportunity to ask questions.

•           For copies of the program guidelines or more information contact Dr Martin Lum on 9096 7911 or Aaron Gain on 9096 1190.