Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Quality of Care ... · Innovative training improves...

ContentsWelcome 2

About your health service 3

Care is person-centred and responsive

Our region 6Our facilities 6Our future 7

Enriched environment for our stroke patients 8Help for residents, closer to home 9Transforming lives with childhood healthy lifestyle program 10Continuous improvement in Queensland Bedside Audit 11New screening tool to better assess geriatric patients 12Improving care for elderly patients 12Baby friendly and proud of it 13Telehealth launches from Gympie 14Enhanced recovery after surgery program 15Improving access to Mental Health and Addiction Services 15

Telling it like it is: share your ideas and help improve health services 24 Leading the way in antibiotic research 25Recycled goods and community catering pay for high-tech hospital beds 25P.A.R.T.Y time for Sunshine Coast teenagers 26A student perspective 26Cultural Healing Program 27Deadly Young Person’s Program 27 Breaking down barriers in Indigenous child health 28Connecting with local youth 28Man’s best friend brings joy to hospital patients 29 Hospital helps high school students kick-start their careers 29

Care through engagement and partnerships with our consumers and community

Care is safe, accessible, appropriate and reliable

Reducing surgery waiting lists 16DIY blood program celebrates a year of at home care 17Our performance 2014-2015 18 Sending patients home sooner 19There’s no place like home 19Hip Fracture Clinical Network 20Free sexual health clinic offers new service 21Putting a stop to elder abuse 21Leading the change in smoking behaviour 21Hand hygiene heroes keeping you safe 22Mending ‘broken hearts’ on the Sunshine Coast 23

Caring for people through sustainable, responsible and innovative use of resources

Innovative training improves rehabilitation 30Our dental wait lists continue to improve 31Patient Safety Model Gympie 32Patient Safety Scrum 32Hospital at Night team 32New tool to determine surgery fitness 33

Care delivered by an engaged, competent and valued workforce

Skilled, professional and happy to go the extra mile 34Wishlist research grants 35Thumbs up for Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital 36Inpatients score their satisfaction levels 36Nambour emergency nurses awarded for overseas humanitarian work 37Sunshine Coast, we have one of the best sonographers in Australasia! 37Go Queensland! Local nurse a national finalist for prestigious award 38In good hands at Caloundra Health Service emergency department 39Australian first for Gympie nurse practitioner 39

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Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service - Quality of Care Report 2014-2015

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Emeritus Professor Paul Thomas AM - Board Chair

Kevin Hegarty - Health Service Chief Executive

Welcome to the Quality of Care ReportFrom the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Board Chair and Health Service Chief Executive

On behalf of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Board and the dedicated staff of the health service, we are proud to present our 2014-2015 Quality of Care Report - in good hands.

This report is an annual snapshot of our initiatives and achievements, highlighting the safety and quality of care we provide. It gives an insight into the people, places and programs we deliver; and showcases what we are doing to continuously improve our services as we work alongside our consumers.

The performance of the health service over the past 12 months has been exceptional. Once again we provided an even greater range of health services to our local community.

Every day last year, we invested more than $2 million in the provision of health care. This saw us conduct 9,870 surgeries, provide 227,925 specialist outpatient appointments and attend to more than 117,000 patient presentations in our emergency departments. Additionally, we provided 9,445 oral health service appointments, 32,188 breast screen appointments and numerous community health appointments.

This could not have been realised without the dedication, professional skills and passion of our staff. We pride ourselves on having a culture that is underpinned by mutual respect and an inherent positive response to meeting the challenges that are a natural part of providing safe high quality health care.

We have enhanced partnerships with the community and strengthened the formal links and engagement with the consumers of our services, including our first whole-of-health-service Consumer Advisory Group. This group provides valuable input into the health service from our consumers’ perspective. Our commitment to strengthening consumer input is a responsibility that we take very seriously. This is evidenced by the inclusion of consumer representation on our Patient Safety and Quality Committee, and consumer input into the physical design of the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital as well as the development of models of care, which underpin how our services will be delivered in the new hospital.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is a mature organisation, with an increasingly impressive list of nationally recognised achievements. This demonstrates our capability to proactively respond to the health needs of the communities we serve.

Results from our organisation-wide staff survey revealed that 97 per cent of staff say they were willing to put in extra effort when needed to get a job done. This is a great reflection on our staff’s personal commitment to providing exceptional health care. They are our most valuable asset and you are in good hands with Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.


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About your health service

Our vision, purpose, values and objectives describe and support our direction, and how we work with you to improve our community’s health and wellbeing.

Our visionHealth and wellbeing through exceptional care.

To achieve our vision we:

• will work for the community, and be part of the community

• will provide exceptional services to ensure the community is confident in us

• acknowledge everything we do involves people and we will ensure they feel respected, safe, valued, listened to and that their dignity is maintained

• commit to fundamentally changing health care delivery across our health service including establishment of the new Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital as a key part of our services from 2016.

Our purposeOur purpose is to deliver the highest standards of safe, accessible, sustainable, and evidence-based health care with a highly-skilled and valued workforce that optimises the wellbeing of our community.

Our valuesOur values underpin the cultural expectations within our organisation. We have adopted the Queensland public service values to inspire vision, integrity, collaboration, influence and inspiration, and resilience in our workforce.

These values are:

• Customers first• Ideas into action• Unleash potential• Be courageous• Empower people.

Our objectivesOur objectives reflect our strong commitment to engaging with our consumers, our workforce, our community and our partners in achieving health and wellbeing through exceptional care for the community we serve.

1. Care is person-centred and responsive

2. Care is safe, accessible, appropriate and reliable

3. Care through engagement and partnerships with our consumers and community

4. Caring for people through sustainable, responsible and innovative use of resources

5. Care is delivered by an engaged, competent and valued workforce.

Our servicesThe health service delivers a range of specialty and sub-specialty services in surgery, medicine, mental health, women’s and families and community integrated and sub-acute services.

The health service is growing rapidly, and the addition of the new Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital in 2016 will revolutionise the delivery of public healthcare in our communities.

The construction and commissioning of the new tertiary hospital will open with 450 beds in 2016. The new hospital will offer a range of new and expanded services for the Sunshine Coast, including a Skills, Academic and Research Centre on the site.

We are planning for our community’s future health needs.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (the health service) is the major provider of public health services, health education and research in the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Noosa local government areas.


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HOSPITALH

HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

H

H

227,925outpatient appointments

12,708 from last year

144,649patients

22,138 from last year admitted to hospital

117,192emergency department presentations

1850 from last year

9870elective surgeries performed

710 from last year

babies born2865

12 from last year

113,240episodes of care


HOSPITAL

H

(ii)

(i)


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HOSPITALH

HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

H

H

227,925outpatient appointments


144,649patients

22,138 from last year admitted to hospital

117,192emergency department presentations

1850 from last year

9870elective surgeries performed

710 from last year

babies born2865

12 from last year

113,240episodes of care


HOSPITAL

H

Change in clinical practice has seen some patients now admitted who were previously treated as outpatients.

Includes public inpatients treated at Noosa Hospital and Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital.

The definition of elective surgery for the 2014-2015 financial year has change from the previous year. A calendar year-to-date figure for 2014 was used for elective surgery activity for 2013-2014. This figure reflected six months activity and not 12 months as shown in the reverse figure.

Preliminary data used in the 2013-2014 annual report.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(iv)

(iii)


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Our regionThe Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (the health service) covers about 10,020 square kilometres. It encompasses the areas of the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Noosa local government areas. The health service reaches to Gympie at its northern boundary, down to Caloundra in the south, and out to Kilkivan in the west.

We service a population of about 390,000 - the region is one of the fastest growing population areas in Queensland. With annual growth of approximately four per cent over the past five years, current projections have the population reaching 403,053 by 2016 and 450,049 by 2021.

We have an ageing population. In 2011, about 18 per cent of the population was aged over 65 years. This is projected to increase to approximately 22 per cent by 2026.

Compared to the whole of Queensland, we have:

• a faster population growth

• relatively low Socio-economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA)

• higher per cent of residents aged over 65 years

• lower per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

• similar age and health risk factors

• lower avoidable hospital deaths

• higher per cent born in Australia

• lower per cent of people aged 15 to 24 years

• lower stroke separations

• significantly higher melanoma incidence

• higher mortality: mental and behavioural disorders

• higher coronary health disease separations

• lower diabetes mellitus separations.

Our facilitiesWe have the best of many things, living on the Sunshine Coast – including access to award-winning medical professionals, right on our doorstep. At the core of our health service are four main hospital/health services, providing a range of acute and sub-acute services:

• Nambour General Hospital Acute regional facility that services Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions; 366 beds and 50 bed alternatives.

• Gympie Hospital Provides services primarily to residents in the Gympie, Cooloola and Kilkivan areas; 70 beds and 23 bed alternatives.

• Caloundra Health Service Services the southern end of the Sunshine Coast; 67 beds and 20 bed alternatives.

• Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital Rural facility providing services to the southern Sunshine Coast hinterland; 24 beds.

We also have a residential aged care facility and community and other health centres:

• Glenbrook Residential Aged Care Facility High care residential aged care facility in Nambour; 25 high care beds, 18 transition beds and two mental health sub-acute beds.

• Community and other health centres - 25 centres located across the health service.

We deliver community and ambulatory health services across the region, as well as funding public patient services at Noosa Hospital and Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital.

Queensland

Sunshine Coast

Gympie

Nambour

MalenyKawana

Caloundra


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Our futureSunshine Coast Public University Hospital

When the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital opens in November 2016, it will revolutionise healthcare for our communities, and offer a range of new and expanded public hospital services.

When the new hospital is fully commissioned, it means about 10,000 fewer patients each year will have to travel to Brisbane for complex treatment.

The new hospital will open with about 450 beds in 2016, with ability to grow to 738 beds by 2021. Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital will offer the following services:

• emergency services

• comprehensive cancer centre, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy

• specialised medical and surgical services, including neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, maxillofacial surgery, a major trauma service and paediatrics

• maternity services, including a special care nursery for unwell newborns

• rehabilitation service

• mental health unit

• renal service

• interventional and diagnostic clinical support services, including a PET scanner for diagnosing certain types of cancer and cardiac catheterisation laboratories

• ambulatory care (outpatient) services

• allied health services.


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Care is person-centred and responsiveEnriched environment for our stroke patients

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is conducting a pilot study on creating an enriched environment to improve the functional outcomes for stroke patients at Nambour General Hospital.

We are examining the impact of creating an enriched environment on physical, social and cognitive activity levels in stroke patients.

Acting Clinical Lead Physiotherapist Acute Stroke/Geriatrics, Ingrid Rosbergen said creating a stimulating environment in the ward involved introducing interactive breakfast and lunch times in communal areas; making available for patient use, newspapers, music, iPads loaded with apps, puzzles, magazines and books, both on the ward and at the patient’s bedside.

“We also encourage family to be involved and engaged in early recovery,” Mrs Rosbergen said.

“Acute stroke clinical guidelines recommend starting rehabilitation as early and as frequently as possible after stroke including physical exercises like mobility and upper limb training, communication and cognitive retraining.

“Results in the trial are positive so far and we want to continue with the implementation of an enriched environment in the Acute Stroke Unit at Nambour General Hospital, and at the new Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital.”

We are examining the impact of creating an enriched environment on physical, social and cognitive activity levels in stroke patients.

Physiotherapist Ingrid Rosbergen with patients Elizabeth Klease, Merle Blair, Peter Deierling and Shirley Haines.


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We are providing Gympie patients with better health outcomes.

Help for residents, closer to home

Gympie residents now have access to community support and rehabilitation services closer to home.

Community Support and Rehabilitation Nurse Unit Manager, Wendy Thomas said prior to the service being introduced, the community support and rehabilitation team had been supporting Gympie patients, from a distance.

“With the opening of a new Community Support and Rehabilitation clinic on 9 March 2015, Gympie residents referred for support or rehabilitation, post hospital admission, are now receiving care closer to home,” Ms Thomas said.

“The clinic doesn’t replace services that are already in the area, but offers additional support to the Gympie community.

“Patients in the Gympie area will be assessed at the clinic and a support or rehabilitation program is designed for them.

“This could involve services from other providers offering additional therapy at home as well as attending the clinic weekly, just clinic attendance or all therapy at home.

“This mixed model of care means the needs of individual patients are met, providing them with better health outcomes,” she said.

Your storyGympie Hospital

I would like to express my appreciation to the wonderful staff at your hospital. To the kitchen your food is fabulous, fruit is so fresh, and all food is served promptly with kindness. Nothing seems to be too much trouble.

From the emergency department, your staff are all so attentive, courteous and kind. When you are unable to cope with your own situation it is very satisfying to have the security, care and constant monitoring of your team.

Your physiotherapists and occupational therapists are also good people, your service is amazing.

The Gympie Community Support and Rehabilitation team with patient June.


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Transforming lives with childhood healthy lifestyle program

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service offers a free healthy lifestyle program that can transform the lives of families across our region.

The PEACH™ (Parenting, Eating and Activity for Child Health) program started in Gympie for the first time in April 2015 and was offered in response to rising rates of childhood obesity in Queensland.

The PEACH™ program helps parents by offering practical advice about healthy eating and being more active as a family. It is available free for Queensland families who have a child aged five to 11-years-old who is above a healthy weight for their age and gender.

In Gympie the program is being delivered by the Queensland University of Technology in partnership with the health service and is funded by the Queensland Government.

Paediatric physiotherapist, Ms Jackie Kraayenbrink said families who go through PEACH™ could expect to gain knowledge that would set them up to achieve a healthy lifestyle for the long term.

“The great thing about this program is that it’s family-focused so it doesn’t stigmatise the child and it is conducted in a supportive group environment with people who are experiencing the same struggles,” Ms Kraayenbrink said.

Program director and head of the university’s Exercise and Nutrition Sciences School, Professor Lynne Daniels, said the response to the program had been encouraging and indicated a genuine need for this type of community service.

“We hear parents say they are so relieved to be able to access this professional help locally because often they don’t know where to begin,” Professor Daniels said.

“Acknowledging that their child may be overweight and then figuring out what to do about it can be very confronting.

“Just like having a regular eye test, measuring a child’s height and weight is part of tracking their growth and general health,” she said.

Some of the topics covered include nutrition skills, relationships with food and eating, changing family lifestyle behaviours and making healthy eating affordable.

While the parent sessions are taking place, children enjoy active play with a trained child physical activity facilitator.

Your storyWard 1E, Nambour General Hospital

I spent nine days in ward 1E and was in surgery twice. Throughout the whole experience all I saw was hard work and great care by your team.

Every single staff member, regardless of their level of responsibility, was dedicated to the purpose of easing suffering and returning people to good health. Your constant hard work and care has set new standards for me (putting my own selfish view to shame). You have cured my body, my mind and my heart as well. Well done.

We hear parents say they are relieved to be able to access the healthy lifestyles help locally, because often they don’t know where to begin.


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Continuous improvement in Queensland Bedside Audit

We did it again! In the Queensland Bedside Audit conducted in October 2014, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service again performed equal to or better than the state average in the majority of indicators.

The audit is conducted annually across all Queensland Health hospitals and residential aged care facilities; collecting, analysing and benchmarking clinical data.

The health service has taken part in the audit for the past three years. The results are used to monitor quality and safety improvements implemented in previous years and are also used to benchmark against other hospital and health services.

There are more than 50 indicators used in the audit which measure some of the known high risk factors for patient safety including patient rights, patient falls, nutrition, pressure injuries, medication safety, patient identification and the recognition and management of a patient whose condition is deteriorating.

It highlights our commitment to patient safety that we ranked equal to or better than the state average in 87 per cent of the indicators, and we have shown continuous improvement or sustained compliance in most of the elements audited.

Detailed action plans can be developed by appropriate clinical areas to address any identified areas for improvement and relevant committees continue to monitor sustained improvements and ongoing compliance.

Patient identificationUsing the correct armband/method and recording of accurate, legible information-exceeded state averages in all elements.

Delivery of carePatients indicated that they had been involved in clinical handover (88 per cent) and their pain was managed appropriately (96 per cent). Both of these have improved since the previous year and are above state averages (85 per cent and 94 per cent respectively).

CommunicationReceiving information regarding pressure injury prevention has more than doubled since the previous year and at 65 per cent it is better than state average of 59 per cent.


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New screening tool to better assess geriatric patients

Every emergency department is filled with chaos and noise a lot of the time and sometimes patients’ needs aren’t understood the first time around.

One third of patients coming through Nambour General Hospital’s emergency department are over the age of 65. Research and local data indicates geriatric patients who present to emergency have a higher representation rate after discharge and longer stays in hospital.

Thanks to Wishlist’s annual research funding, Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) Clinical Nurse, Ms Andrea Taylor received a grant to help validate a screening tool to more efficiently understand the needs of geriatric patients.

Ms Taylor found that a lot of geriatric patients end up with a prolonged stay in hospital or present back to the hospital due to their conditions not being understood the first time around. This screening tool will take no more than five minutes and is a series of questions found through research to better help staff understand the geriatric patient needs.

“Piggy backing onto research that’s already been done in Brisbane, we are hoping to validate a phone app to ask a series of questions to rank patients on a number system one to six. The higher the number, the more attention that patient needs,” she said.

Ms Taylor is hoping validation of the screening tool will be complete in the next few years.

Improving care for elderly patients

Our emergency department at Nambour General Hospital is partnering with the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sundales residential aged care services and Country to Coast Primary Health Network (formerly Sunshine Coast Medicare Local) to improve the care of nursing home residents who develop acute illnesses.

The collaborative project, CEDRiC (Care Coordination through Emergency Department, Residential Aged Care and Primary Health Network Collaboration), is led by the university and has gained $1.15 million from the Australian Government.

Older people comprise an increasing proportion of hospital emergency department presentations and, when admitted, are at risk of complications.

CEDRiC is an innovative model of service delivery for people in residential aged care who experience an episode of acute illness.

It has three aims: to strengthen the capacity of the residential aged care sector to deliver care; to improve care for older adults in hospital; and to improve interaction between the sectors.

The model involves advanced practice nurses based at aged care homes, the development of advanced care plans for residents, better coordination of general practitioners’ care and training programs for staff.

The project was designed to reduce the inappropriate transfer of residents to the emergency department.

We want to improve the satisfaction of residents and families in relation to their care, and prevent repeat presentations to hospital.

Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) Clinical Nurse Andrea Taylor bedside with patient.

GEDI Clinical Nurse Andrea Taylor with Joan Chapman. Photo Credit: Lou O’Brien/University of the Sunshine Coast.


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Baby friendly and proud of it

Mothers and babies are welcomed at our baby friendly hospitals.

Nambour General and Gympie hospitals have both received re-accreditation with the internationally recognised Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) status for a further three years.

Nursing Services Director, Women’s and Family Services, Cathy Styles said this achievement was a positive reflection of the nurses and midwives at Nambour General and Gympie hospitals who work hard to maintain the high standards required to achieve accreditation once again.

Lactation Consultant, Marianne Idle said breastfeeding support was provided by midwives, nurses and child health nurses, with internationally certified lactation consultants providing extra support to those women experiencing breastfeeding problems.

“Being a BFHI accredited hospital means that while promoting breastfeeding as being normal, natural and healthy, women who choose to bottle feed their babies are also included.”

“We recognise that some women are unable to breastfeed and it is important for mums to know they will also be fully supported in their choice of infant feeding,” Ms Idle said.

Nambour General Hospital provides a free Lactation Clinic, by appointment and also a home visiting service.

Your storyMaternity Unit, Nambour General Hospital

A big thank you to all the midwives, doctors and staff in the birthing suite and maternity wards. It was baby number one for me, and the care was fantastic for both me and baby. I would like to say thank you to your lactation consultants—they are an absolute asset to your team, and helped me through uncharted territory.

Being a BFHI accredited hospital means that while promoting breastfeeding as being normal, natural and healthy, women who choose to bottle feed their babies are also included.

The baby friendly initiative caring for local mothers.


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Telehealth launches from Gympie

Residents of Gympie and surrounding areas are now benefiting from the very latest advancements in Telehealth.

The Telehealth cardiac service was launched from Gympie Hospital on 1 August 2014, and for cardiac patient Michelle Bambling, this meant she no longer had to travel to Nambour General Hospital to receive high quality cardiology services.

Michelle and her Cardiologist, Professor Kim Greaves were able to have consultations via Telehealth, where her medical history and treatments were discussed as if it was a face to face appointment.

The consultations involve live interaction between Michelle and Professor Greaves via a secure video conference link between Gympie Hospital and Nambour General Hospital.

Amy Holmes, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Telehealth Coordinator, said the launch was a very exciting step in providing expanded services to patients in rural areas.

“Telehealth allows patients to interact with their health care professionals without the need to travel too far from their place of residence.”

“The technology alleviates the burden of travel and increases access to medical services particularly for patients living in rural areas,” Ms Holmes said.

A member of the clinical team is present for all Telehealth appointments to assist patients.

Your storyNambour General Hospital

To all the doctors in ward 2C, Oncology and the Palliative Care Team, especially the nurses. Thank you are very inadequate words – your care of Max and the compassion shown to me was so far above adequate, but there are no other words to express my gratitude.

Max felt safe and cherished while he was with you. No wonder Nambour General Hospital has such a great reputation, it’s the personnel.

Telehealth allows patients to interact with their health care professionals without the need to travel too far from their place of residence.

Palliative care patient, Julie Newey with palliative care nurse David Ruzicka.


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Enhanced recovery after surgery program

In March 2015, we launched a new approach to patient recovery after complex surgery, developed by members of our own multi-disciplinary team.

The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program empowers patients to play an active part in their recovery and relies on the collaboration of many different departments to ensure we provide the best possible patient experience.

Pioneered in Denmark, ERAS programs are now firmly established worldwide, with well documented benefits to both patients and the health service.

ERAS pathways of care aim to reduce surgical stress, maintain postoperative physiological function and enhance mobilisation after surgery – resulting in reduced rates of morbidity, faster recovery and shorter length of stay in hospital.

We started the ERAS program at Nambour General Hospital for colorectal surgical patients with a view to expanding the program to cater for other surgical specialties in the future.

Some examples of enhanced practice include:

• intensive education and counselling for the patient usingmixed media

• the introduction of carbohydrate-rich drinks to prepare thebody for surgery

• a minimised preoperative fasting period to reduce hunger,thirst and anxiety

• changes to intraoperative anaesthesia to minimisepostoperative nausea

• aggressive management of postoperative pain to encouragereturn to normal function sooner

• early mobilisation strategies to promote return of gutfunction and prevent complications arising from prolongedbed rest.

To date, 34 patients have gone through the ERAS program and we are currently reviewing the outcomes to further enhance the recovery of our patients through evidence-based practice and engagement.

Improving access to Mental Health and Addiction Services

To continue to provide excellent consumer-centric care, we have joined our Mental Health and Addiction Services to assist individuals with mental health and addiction illnesses.

Our new model of care integrates Mental Health with Alcohol and Other Drugs Services, providing improved access to specialist services and specific therapies to promote better health outcomes for individuals enabling greater involvement for consumers, carers and families in care planning.

As we prepare to transition into the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital, we are committed to creating clinical and financial efficiencies, and developing best practice and innovative clinical care.

The aim of the Mental Health and Addiction Services model is to lead the development of best practice clinical care in delivering the best possible consumer outcomes, to be empowered and realise their best potential as individuals and valued citizens of the community. Through facilitating access to a comprehensive, recovery-oriented mental health system that improves mental health, we are continually developing and delivering specialised mental health assessment, treatment and care.

This service is provided in collaboration with well-established partnerships with consumers, carers, family members, other government, non-government and private providers.

Our new Mental Health and Addiction Services team is helping consumers realise their best potential as individuals and as valued citizens of the community.

The ERAS program supporting patients through each step of surgery.


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Care is safe, accessible, appropriate and reliableThe health service maintained full accreditation in June 2015 through the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards, meeting all Mandatory Standards for the three mandatory National Safety and Quality Health Standards (NSQHS); and meeting all mandatory criteria for the five EQuIP National standards. The continued full accreditation for the health service is valid until 9 December 2017.

Reducing surgery waiting lists

Our new outpatient clinic at Caloundra, Nambour and Gympie hospitals is helping reduce orthopaedic surgery wait times.

In a first for Queensland, we assess patients through the Musculoskeletal Pathway Clinic (MPC) and ensure they receive the right treatment sooner; and it’s not always surgical intervention.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) figures show only about 18 per cent of patients referred to hospital for orthopaedic surgery actually require surgery. Prior to this clinic, many patients were waiting to see a surgeon, only to find out surgery wasn’t necessary.

Many patients can manage their conditions with the help of physiotherapy-led assessments, working closely with primary care services.

Assistant Director of Allied Health, Gemma Craig said in this clinic, patients suffering musculoskeletal pain were seen by a physiotherapist, and streamlined into operative or non-operative pathways of care.

“The clinic streamlines patients into where they need to be seen, which means they are being seen at the right place, at the right time and by the right person,” Ms Craig said.

Ms Craig said over the past 18 months, 4168 patients on SCHHS orthopaedic wait lists had been triaged with 60 per cent being referred to the advanced physiotherapy clinicians across the health service for assessment and development of a care plan. This resulted in reduced orthopaedic surgery wait times for those remaining on the operative pathway of care.

Of these patient referrals to physiotherapy clinicians, 85 per cent were assessed as being able to proceed with treating their condition with non-operative care; only four per cent of these have been referred back by their G.P. to the surgical wait list. This data strongly supports how successful the MPC model is.

“Our team’s approach to reducing orthopaedic waiting lists and physiotherapy led care during a patient’s assessment phase has been submitted to the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards Awards for 2015.

“This model has already reduced the number of patients on the orthopaedic waiting lists enabling them to access timely non-operative management,” Ms Craig said.


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DIY blood program celebrates a year of at home care

We are helping more patients manage their care at home through an innovative ‘do-it-yourself’ blood program.

In 2014 we introduced the SCIg (subcutaneous immunoglobulin) blood program, a home treatment service for patients with immune deficiencies.

Twelve months on, our health service now runs what is believed to be the largest Adult SCIg blood program in operation in Australia.

Nambour General Hospital immunologist, Dr Karen Morwood said 36 patients were on the program and had been trained to self-administer immunoglobulin.

“Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin can be administered into the tissue under the skin; a simple process that patients can do themselves,” Dr Morwood said.

“We have a team of doctors and nurses who offer the expertise, training and patient support at each facility.”

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service was the first health service in Queensland to adopt this new treatment option for patients, where they can administer the immunoglobulin themselves at home which has less side effects, takes less time, and frees up hospital resources.

The SCIg program is offered to patients in Nambour, Caloundra and Gympie. It allows patients to choose the most convenient facility for training and collection of their products and equipment.

We have a team of doctors and nurses who offer the expertise, training and patient support at each facility.

Your storySCIg (subcutaneous immunoglobulin) blood programIt’s so easy to use, takes about 120 minutes and I don’t have to go to hospital every four weeks. I think more hospitals should be implementing the program because it’s more convenient, less painful, cost-effective and reduces the risk of possible secondary infection whilst visiting health care facilities. My infusions are now weekly and therefore my immune system is more stable.

Caloundra Hospital Clinical Nurse, Vanessa Phillips with patient, Gary Mills at his home in Aroona.


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Notes2014/15

Target/Est2014/15 Est Actual

2014/15 Actual

Percentage of patients attending emergency departments seen within recommended time frames:

1

Category 1 (within 2 minutes) 100 per cent 100 per cent 100 per cent





All categories - 70 per cent 70 per cent

Percentage of emergency department attendances who depart within four hours of their arrival in the department

2 86 per cent 77 per cent 76.8 per cent

Median wait time for treatment in emergencydepartments (minutes)

3 20 21 24

Median wait time for elective surgery (days) 4 25 23 26

Percentage of elective surgery patients treated within clinically recommended times:

5

Category 1 (30 days) 100 per cent 97 per cent 96.8 per cent



Percentage of specialist outpatients waiting within clinically recommended times:

6




Total weighted activity units: 7

Acute inpatient 63,350 65,329 67,154

Outpatients 13,410 13,012 14,563

Sub-acute 5,885 5,715 5,476

Emergency Department 15,175 16,120 15,877

Mental Health 7,148 7,470 7,618

Interventions and procedures 9,805 11,429 11,472

Average cost per weighted activity unit for activity based funding facilities

8 $4,608 $4,509 $4,329

Rate of healthcare associated Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) bloodstream (SAB) infections/10,000 acute public hospital patient days

9 <2.0 0.6 0.41

Number of in-home visits, families with newborns 10 4,833 4,720 4,701

Rate of community follow-up within 1-7 days following discharge from an acute mental health inpatient unit

11 >60 per cent 69.5 per cent 69.5 per cent

Proportions of readmissions to an acute mental health inpatient unit within 28 days of discharge

12 <12 per cent 13.0 per cent 13.0 per cent

Ambulatory mental health service contact duration (hours) 13 59,648 64,413 65,798

In 2014-2015 we delivered increased services to our growing population

Our performance 2014-2015


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Sending patients home sooner

Not all patients require admission to hospital. We have known this for years but we haven’t always had a safer alternative to admission.

To help provide a safer alternative, we developed clinical guidelines for clinicians to help them manage their patients’ care.

We developed the 4F (fits, faints, falls and funny turns) Clinical Guidelines in collaboration with Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

The guidelines were well researched by the team, had extensive consultation with key stakeholders from Metro North and Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services, and were tested in the emergency departments prior to the official launch in March 2015.

The guidelines support clinicians to avoid admission when it is safe for the patient. By using the Day Unit for Investigations and Therapies at Nambour General Hospital, clinicians are encouraged to discharge patients from the Emergency Department with the knowledge and comfort that their patients have a safe, high quality alternative arrangement for further treatment and/or investigations.

We also rolled out a new electronic internal referral system in March, and an electronic scheduling system for patients attending the Day Unit for Investigations and Therapies.

The electronic internal referral system enables clinicians from emergency department to safely and securely refer patients to the Day Unit for Investigations and Therapies for further investigation and treatments as required.

The electronic scheduling system allows the team in the day unit to schedule chairs/beds for any amount of time required e.g. five minutes to seven hours.

There’s no place like home

Suitable patients residing in the health service area are receiving care traditionally delivered in hospital, but in the comfort of their own home, or residential care facility.

Funded by the Queensland Government and made possible through the collaboration and good will of our dedicated clinicians and services, the Hospital in the Home program is delivered in a public-private partnership with Silver Chain, a not-for-profit health and community care organisation.

The health service received 236 referrals to Hospital in the Home in 2014-2015.

Hospital in the Home allows more patients the choice to receive health care in their own home, with services including medical governance, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech pathology and support services which can include showering, cleaning, shopping and transport.

Through our partner Silver Chain, a small number of General Practitioners (G.P.s) in the community have become credentialed and can take governance of Hospital in the Home patients, ensuring continuity of care and bridging the gap between acute facilities and primary health care providers.

The first patient referred to Hospital in the Home by an external G.P. was in September 2014. About half the patients referred to the Hospital in the Home program are now referred under external governance.

Hospital in the Home-credentialed G.P.s are able to refer a patient directly to the program, removing the need for the patient to present to an emergency department (helping reduce congestion in emergency departments).

Patient reviews are conducted either via Telehealth or as a scheduled clinic review.

Marianne Parry, a resident of Southern Cross Nursing Home at Caloundra, received intravenous antibiotics every day for 32 days in the nursing home for treatment of an infected elbow through the Hospital in the Home program.

Her husband John said the fact that his wife was treated by a doctor without having to leave the nursing home was a blessing.

“Marianne was able to remain with her friends and there was minimal disruption to her daily routines and also my ability to visit her,” Mr Parry said.

Your storyHospital in the Home, Caloundra Health ServiceMy husband and I were absolutely thrilled that I could convalesce in our own home.

The level of service received through Hospital in the Home was of the highest standard. We would like to thank all of the carers involved, but especially Monique who exceeded our expectations. We would not hesitate to recommend the Hospital in the Home service to others.


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Hip Fracture Clinical Network

To improve the coordination of our hip fracture care within the health service, we have developed a local Hip Fracture Clinical Network.

We now hold multidisciplinary monthly meetings as a forum for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating all activities pertaining to hip fractures.

This has enhanced the escalation process for risks and issues, and increased the level of coordinated communication, collaboration and accountability within our service.

We have seen improvements across all hip fracture clinical indicators including length of stay; relative stay index and time to surgery; complications and number of patients discharged home.

It has improved the professional relationships and collaboration across the patient journey.

Your storyEmergency department and fractures clinic, Nambour General HospitalWhile on family holiday at Noosaville, one of our family members suffered a fall and a compound fracture of her right ankle. She is profoundly hearing impaired and so is her husband. I attended the hospital with the family to interpret.

Your staff in emergency, x-ray and orthopaedic services were fantastic, and so understanding and patient with our problems with communication.

Your team showed us each step of the process that was required for surgery the next day, even printing key words for me to translate to describe the procedure and recovery given the challenging circumstances.

Your general surgery, anaesthetics and team in ward 1E were fantastic. We cannot thank you all enough.

Nambour General Hospital fracture clinic gets patients back on their feet.


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Free sexual health clinic offers new service

A new sexual health clinic operating out of Gympie Hospital’s outpatient department is aiming to drastically reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases in the region.

The clinic offers family planning support in addition to full sexually transmitted infections screening. Previously, the closest service was at Nambour. Fully government-funded, it’s the first of its kind for Gympie.

Clinic 87 Director of Sexual Health and HIV services, Dr Kuong Taing, said the clinic would go a long way towards halting the growth in infection rates, and reducing the work load of general practitioners (G.P.s).

“Currently there are no other services providing sexual health and HIV care in the Gympie region. We see that there is a great need. Some general sexually transmitted infections screening and contraceptive options can be access through the G.P.s,” Dr Taing said.

The clinic will offer a variety of services including rapid HIV testing, which gives a result within 20 minutes.

“The Gympie community will benefit through having a sexual Health/HIV service at their doorstep. No need for long travel and time off work to be seen (financial saving). The at risk populations at Gympie region will benefit through having better sexual health, screen and treat sexually transmitted infections before complications occur, access to contraceptive options thus reduce the risk of unwanted teenage pregnancy,” Dr Taing said.

Putting a stop to elder abuse

Three to five per cent of people over the age of 65 are victims of abuse. Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has adopted a new procedure (‘Elder abuse: Responding to suspected or actual abuse’) to tackle this growing concern.

Workforce Development Officer Aaron Matson said the health service had seen a growing need to help tackle elder abuse, which could include cases of physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse, with financial abuse the most common.

“To combat this growing trend, we’re educating our staff on how to appropriately respond to suspected cases of elder abuse,” Mr Matson said.

“Our new procedure promotes the rights and wellbeing of older people.

“It was developed to help provide protection to the elderly accessing our service, to provide clarity for the clinician and as a tool that can be used by anyone employed in the health service.

“All staff in our health service have a responsibility to ensure the safety of older patients and this includes identifying and promptly reporting to the treating clinical team if there is suspected elder abuse occurring.”

Leading the change in smoking behaviour

Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Queensland with approximately 36,000 hospitalisations per year.

Our health service staff are ideally placed to champion changes in smoking behaviours and we are helping hundreds of people quit the habit with our Smoking Cessation Clinical Pathway.

We introduced the Smoking Cessation Clinical Pathway in clinical areas in October 2014. From November 2014 to June 2015 our staff helped manage patient nicotine dependence in the clinical setting; prescribed nicotine replacement therapy where required; improved the culture of non-smoking within the hospital; supported the implementation of the new legislation regarding smoking; and increased the number of referrals to Quitline.

The prescription of nicotine replacement therapy is now standardised across the health service, with its use in patient care significantly increasing since the introduction of the pathway.

Patients who smoke and are placed on the pathway are referred to Quitline with their consent and an information

booklet is provided for all patients who have an interest in quitting.

The Clinic 87 team extends their service to the Gympie region.


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Hand hygiene heroes keeping you safe

How did we do?

Who performs hand hygiene most often across the health service?

Congratulations to the operational service staff at Gympie Hospital for their efforts at increasing their compliance by 38 per cent to achieve 88 per cent — a true achievement!

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service‘s last hand hygiene audit period closed on 30 June 2015.

All facilities within the health service participate in ongoing auditing of staff to monitor our compliance to the Hand Hygiene Australia Program, which promotes hand hygiene to reduce the transmission of infection between patients.

Clean hands are safe hands.


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From the age of 10, Kerrie Hall was always interested in anatomy, physiology and helping other people.

“Every day at work my team and I make a difference to at least one person’s life. Nobody knows we’re here; we often come in after hours, save lives, then we are gone.” says Kerrie Hall, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

Now a nurse with 15 years’ experience, Kerrie is a clinical nurse consultant with the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, working for the past three and half years in the Cardiac Catheter Labs, Procedural Suites at Nambour General Hospital.

“I have a true dedication, passion and genuine love for cardiology and the cardiovascular laboratories,” Kerrie said.

“The team here at Nambour General Hospital is dedicated, knowledgeable and very passionate. Our patient is our utmost priority.”

The Cardiac Catheter Labs is a new service offered at Nambour General Hospital that was started in the lead up to the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital and has a throughput comparable to Brisbane hospitals.

The new hospital will bring to the Sunshine Coast and adjacent communities access to a hospital the type of which people were usually forced to travel to a capital city to receive such specialist services.

“We continue to increase services and perform new procedures at Nambour General Hospital in accordance with the most up to date evidence-based practice. Our labs are world class and continue to exceed international standards for our STEMI service,” Kerrie said.

STEMI is an acronym meaning segment elevation myocardial infarction, which is a type of heart attack or Myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) that occurs when a coronary artery becomes at least partially blocked by a blood clot, causing at least some of the heart muscle being supplied by that artery to die.

“We perform many procedures here at the Cardiac Catheter Labs, Nambour General Hospital which ordinarily would have required the patient to travel to Brisbane and be separated from loved ones.

“Every day we make a difference to at least one person’s life. When we have an emergency STEMI come through the door and the patient has been revived but is pale and in pain, then we finish our procedure and I see the patient is comfortable and talking, it is amazing.

“To then see that patient reunited with their family and friends is the most rewarding experience and I feel incredibly honoured to be a part of that,” Kerrie said.

Mending ‘broken hearts’ on the Sunshine Coast

Your story“I am the luckiest man in Australia!”On 12 June 2015, life as R. Cuneyt Zeren knew it changed forever when he suffered an out of hospital cardiac arrest and his heart stopped.

Cuneyt was transported to Nambour General Hospital where the team in the emergency department prepared and transferred him to the Cardiac Catheter Labs. A Coronary Angiogram was performed to determine where the blockage was and three stents were deployed.

Within 15 minutes of Cuneyt entering our Cardiac Catheter Labs, the blocked coronary vessel was identified and opened by a stent. The procedure was completed within an hour and Cuneyt was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit with no pain, talking and very appreciative.

“I am so thankful about my whole experience. From the ambulance crew, to the doctors and nurses at Nambour General Hospital, I feel that everyone has done so much to care for me,” Cuneyt said.

“Every single member of the hospital team acted like it was more than just their occupation, they were a close friend and didn’t hesitate to show their respect and give their assistance.

“Back in Turkey we believe that if someone is given a second chance, he is a very lucky man. I am the luckiest man in Australia!”

Every day we make a difference to at least one person’s life.

Clean hands are safe hands.


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Care through engagement and partnerships with our consumers and communityTelling it like it is: share your ideas and help improve health services

Our commitment to strengthening consumer input is a responsibility that we take very seriously.

This year we invited you to have your say, share your ideas for improvement and help change the way public healthcare is delivered in our communities.

We sought patients, family members and carers to work with us on reviewing and improving services from a patient perspective as we grow and open a new hospital.

The first workshop was held on 10 June 2015 at Nambour General Hospital with five renal services consumers. In June we asked for expressions of interest from residents who had experience of care at our hospitals to share their ideas and provide feedback on cancer care, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or maternity and neonatal care.

Consumer Advisory Group Chair Robyn Watman encouraged other consumers to get involved.

“This is a real opportunity to help make a difference by sharing your experience, providing feedback and having your say on the health services you have received,” Ms Watman said.

”The health service is embracing the philosophy of ‘working with’ rather than ‘doing to’ people.”

If you would like to help shape the way we provide healthcare, phone 07 5470 5822 or for more information visit:

www.health.qld.gov.au/sunshinecoast/html/CaCE-main.asp


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Leading the way in antibiotic research

As a result of a collaborative study between the health service and The University of Queensland, the Australian Research Council approved a grant of $172,117 for research on the implications of over-prescribing antibiotics.

The grant is spread over a three-year period (mid-2014 to 2017) and will explore the social underpinnings of antibiotic decision-making, incorporating professional, lay and managerial perspectives.

Infectious Diseases Physician Dr Jennifer Broom said the research would examine the cultural factors that lead to antibiotic overuse in Australia.

“There is broad recognition by clinicians and researchers internationally that in the next few decades, there may be no antibiotic options left to treat the rapidly increasing number of highly resistant superbugs.

‘‘Overuse of antibiotics, reduced antibiotic development and discovery, and increasing antimicrobial resistance could create a global ‘antimicrobial perfect storm’ and so this has become an urgent public health concern,’’ Dr Broom said.

‘‘Our concern is the overuse of antibiotics in Australian hospitals is contributing to the global crisis of diminishing efficacy of antibiotics and the proliferation of resistant bacteria.’’

The results of the research revealed a major challenge to Australian doctors in terms of whether they were able and willing to prioritise long-term antibiotic protection to ensure the health of Australia’s future generations.

The project will address this issue on multiple levels within the hospital system including examining the role of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and executive management.

Recycled goods and community catering pay for high-tech hospital beds

How did the recycling of unwanted items and scones with jam and a cup of tea lead to high-tech bed donations worth $68,000 at Caloundra Health Service and $65,000 at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital?

Through the hard working dedication of the hospitals’ auxiliaries!

The Caloundra Health Service’s auxiliary raised $68,000 to purchase four state-of-the-art patient beds through the sale of second hand goods at its opportunity shop, Bardo’s; while the dedicated members of the Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital Auxiliary have been busy catering at community functions, raising funds to purchase five of the beds.

Caloundra Director of Nursing Dave Johnson said the Versacare beds provided increased comfort and safety for patients.

“They really are the best of the best. They adjust automatically to relieve pressure for patients and have easy-to-use controls for patients to adjust their position.”

Maleny Director of Nursing, Nicole White said the beds had built in scales so nurses could weigh the patient without having to move them from their bed.

“They also include safety alarms to alert staff of any fall risks.

“Being able to provide that extra comfort for our elderly patients or those compromised in their physical abilities is another way of committing to improving our exceptional level of patient care.

“We’re extremely grateful to the auxiliaries for their generous donations.”

Our concern is the overuse of antibiotics in Australian hospitals


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P.A.R.T.Y time for Sunshine Coast teenagers

More than 200 students across the Sunshine Coast received a reality check from our P.A.R.T.Y Program this year.

The students participated in our Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y) program - an in-hospital injury awareness and prevention program aimed at students aged between 15 and 19 years.

Program coordinator, Shane Convey said the program provided teenagers with information about trauma that would better help them recognise potential injury producing situations, make prevention-orientated choices, and adopt behaviours that minimise unnecessary risk.

Mr Convey said it aimed to help young people to make the right decisions and prevent them from ending up in the emergency department.

“P.A.R.T.Y saves lives, pure and simple, by teaching young people how to recognise dangerous situations and think twice before making decisions they may or may not live to regret.

“Sadly, each year we see an increasing number of young people coming into our emergency department with life-threatening injuries that could have been prevented,” he said.

Mr Convey said the students spend a full day with various services at Nambour General Hospital, meeting the people that care for trauma patients — paramedics, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, as well as people who have experienced trauma and survived.

A student perspectiveA huge thank you is owed to the P.A.R.T.Y program; it was not only educational, but it had an extreme impact on the students and staff who attended. I can tell you now as I reflect on the experience that I was not prepared at all for the program or the way it would eventually affect me.

It is devastating to see injuries which are caused by risk taking behaviours, because it is all preventable.

However, my anger dissipates into sadness when a mother, Wendy, speaks to our group about her daughter, Lauren, and she speaks of Lauren’s organ donation. Lauren was our age when she died, only 17-years-old, a passenger in a car crash driven by a friend. She placed a picture of her daughter on the table next to me and I felt ready to fall apart. I was taken off guard.

I don’t ever want to end up like that, I think.

But we soon learn from Wendy’s story that this can happen to anyone, this could be anyone’s story.

When Wendy finishes and asks us if we have any questions, no one is able to speak. She quietly says to us that no one ever has any questions and it’s heartbreaking to hear the grief in her voice.

Everyone is emotional; the ICU touched us all in different ways. Whether someone we loved was hit by a car, taken by cancer or was involved in an accident, this session has hit us all, the despair in the room is palpable, it’s all so real.

I think everyone needs to go through something like that to fully understand the effects of risk taking behaviours. It was so confronting and I felt so drained afterwards.

Despite the fact that I felt drained, on my way home the impact of the day really settles with me and I think that is a success in itself. To have this profound impact on someone is one step closer to a positive change, to preventative behaviours which could possibly save a life.

Imagine a world where we didn’t normalise these incidents; a world where we don’t glorify risk taking behaviours and ignore the consequences. Imagine a world where we all understood.

And so I say thank you to the P.A.R.T.Y program, for making an impact and a difference.

Rose McGrail, Year 12.

Students getting involved in the P.A.R.T.Y program.


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Cultural Healing Program

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) Mental Health and Addiction Services has a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health program.

Providing a culturally appropriate range of services and programs to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas, the team consists of a psychiatrist, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health workers.

The Cultural Healing Program continues to see demonstrable engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the region through the continuation of initiatives such as the Black Swans Sunshine Coast program and the Deadly Young Person’s Program.

Deadly Young Person’s Program

The Deadly Young Person’s Program was developed to identify risk factors to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth within our community.

This program addresses their social, emotional, cultural and physical wellbeing and health awareness of community youth within schools across the health service.

The program was modelled to instil holistic early intervention and prevention strategies and aid in closing the gap with ensuring that culture was woven into the design and delivery process for the students.

Throughout the eight weeks of this program our young people involved saw many positive outcomes that will impact their self-confidence, respect, sense of achievement and a form of unity but most importantly, knowledge that they are able to implement good health in their day-to-day life with the

support of their community and friends.

The Deadly Young Person’s Program, in partnership with government and non-government agencies, has built a solid

base to engage young people in our communities.

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal traditional owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, people, consumers and staff, past and present, on whose land we provide health services.


Page 28

Breaking down barriers in Indigenous child health

We are working with Indigenous families to break down barriers for access to medical services and to increase Indigenous families’ ability to self-manage their children’s chronic conditions.

The health service works closely with partner organisations to close the gap between the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people.

North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Maroochydore that aims to bring the status of Indigenous health up to mainstream standards by providing high quality and accessible primary health services to community members.

In December 2014 Nicole Latham started as a Child Health Nurse for the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health for an extension to the service for Indigenous families with chronic conditions to include children aged under 15 years and include chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic renal and sleep apnoea.

Connecting with local youth

An innovative Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service community program is helping local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

The Black Swan initiative is part of the health service’s Cultural Healing Program. It provides liaison, advocacy and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and referral to health services where required.

Jennifer McClay, Cultural Healing Program Clinical Nurse Consultant, said the program supported local families through community based solutions that were both culturally appropriate and outcome focused.

“Black Swan aims to provide the necessary tools required for youth to address the challenges they may face in their daily lives, in an environment that fosters encouragement and support,” she said.

The Black Swan program continues to connect with local youth.

SCHHS is committed to closing the gap for all family members.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Team Member Peter Robinson meets with Indigenous families to provide advice.


Page 29

Hospital helps high school students kick-start their careers

Three Maleny High School students were given a jump start into the workforce, beginning traineeship programs at the Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

Year 11 student Lachlan Higgins is learning new skills in his role as an Allied Health Assistant at the hospital, working with his health care team.

Fellow year 11 student Louise Battista was awarded the Business traineeship, learning the ropes in administration and reception work.

Year 12 student Jayden Checker will complete his Hospitality traineeship working in operational services at the hospital.

The traineeship program is the first of its kind for the health service. Business Manager Julie Marich along with Director of Nursing Nicole White, felt Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital was the perfect location to launch the program.

“Maleny is very community-minded, locals put in an awesome amount of work into the support of the hospital, so it’s nice to be able to give back. It’s also important to develop succession planning for our ageing workforce,” Mrs Marich said.

“Nicole and I both feel strongly about supporting young people and bringing them into the workforce, this is a way to bring in people from the bottom up,” she said.

Man’s best friend brings joy to hospital patients

Companion animals bring joy to the lives of 12 million Australians and now there is evidence they are also good for your health and wellbeing!

Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital is one of more than 850 facilities nationwide to recognise the benefits a therapy dog can provide to a patient, and its partnership with the Delta Society Australia aims to bring those benefits to children and adults in its hospital.

Every week, Val and Geoff Bridger and their three-year-old Labradoodle, Lucy, visit the hospital, and spend time with patients having a chat, providing a floppy ear to listen and a paw to shake.

“Lucy is a very appealing dog, she’s soft and fluffy and very friendly, and she’ll just go straight up and greet people,” Geoff said.

“With some of the elderly patients who have limited mobility, Lucy will actually go up onto their beds and lie with them for 10 or 15 minutes. She brings a smile to everyone’s face, especially if they’re dog lovers.”

Social worker Catherine Hunter says patients look forward to Geoff and Lucy’s weekly visits.

“Lucy seems to know what individual patients need from her, how close they want her to be to them and how long they want her to stay beside them,” she said.

“She brightens the day of so many people in our hospital, the whole place lights up when they walk in. Our Delta Dog Therapy program has been a huge success.”

Delta dog on duty at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital. Maleny High School trainees Lachlan and Louise.


Page 30

Caring for people through sustainable, responsible and innovative use of resourcesInnovative training improves rehabilitation

We use simulation-based learning as a teaching tool across disciplines both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels across the health service.

Using a variety of modalities, including actors and mannequins, the simulation-based learning patient is created with real-time adjustable physiological parameters, wounds and sounds to create true-to-life clinical encounters for clinical skill practice.

Embedding learning in realistic scenarios, and coupling this with debriefing, is what differentiates simulation based learning from traditional skills-based learning.

The use of simulation-based learning has allowed Intensive Care Unit Clinical Lead Physiotherapists to create scenarios based on real-life events to teach other physiotherapists the most effective treatment techniques based on their clinical findings.

At the forefront of Intensive Care Physiotherapy research in 2014 is early rehabilitation and mobility.

The physiotherapists have recently used simulation scenarios with actors posing as patients to practice the complex task of mobilising intensive care unit patients safely.

Overall, the aim is to reduce hospital length of stay and also the pressure on our rehabilitation services outside of Nambour General Hospital. Most importantly of course is the improved quality of life for patients when they leave our care.

Physiotherapy simulation-based learning in action in the intensive care unit.


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Our dental wait lists continue to improve

When Gwen Tremlett visited the Kawana oral health clinic for a dental check-up, she was very impressed with the service.

Mrs Tremlett was one of the 39,234 patients of all ages who received publicly-funded dental care within the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service in 2014/15.

The health service provides a range of publicly-funded oral health services to residents who meet eligibility criteria for public dental services.

Mrs Tremlett said the oral health clinic staff provided her with an excellent level of care.

“I have never been to such a helpful and caring dentist in my 76 years,” Mrs Tremlett said.

“My husband has many costly dental issues and having access to this free public dental service means a great deal to us, and has been a great help to us financially,” she said.

Since May 2014 there have been no patients waiting on the general care waiting list for longer than two years.

The health service has five adult oral health clinics which provide general and emergency dental care and also school dental clinics and vans throughout the region for all students in prep through to Year 10.

During the 2014-15 financial year, the following patient care was provided:

Adult patients received dentures at the oral health clinics or at a private prosthetist.

Adult patients received emergency dental care at the oral health clinics or at a private dental practice.

Adult patients received a general check up and all treatment required at the oral health clinics or at a private dental practice

Children aged 0-15 received treatment.

Your storyOral Health ServicesMy daughters have been receiving services from you at North Arm State School. I would just like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful ladies who have provided support and a professional service to my youngest daughter Lily. Lily had a mouth trauma at the age of 11 months and subsequently has been scared to visit the dentist.

Yesterday she had an extraction and has assured me she is still happy to attend the dentist. Elaine and her helpers have made Lily feel at ease and confident at the dentist. As government employees they certainly don’t receive the recognition they deserve and I am thankful they visited our school. You are very lucky to have them on your team. So thank you and keep up the great work.

Director of Oral Health, Dr Elaine Mawdsley said a number of initiatives had contributed to the improved waiting times.

“In addition to the treatment provided by oral health staff at our clinics and mobile dental vans, the dental voucher scheme offers emergency patients the opportunity to see a private dentist, thus enabling public dentists to devote more of their time to treating patients from the waiting lists,” Dr Mawdsley said.

“It also allows patients to have a check-up or have dentures made by a private dental practitioner.”


Page 32

Patient Safety Model Gympie

Gympie Hospital launched its new patient safety model in June 2015, with the first Patient Safety Scrum taking place.

Clinical Director Medical Services, Dr Frank le Bacq said: “To continue to improve health outcomes we are approaching patient safety using a multidisciplinary team response to patient and staff safety.

“We are focusing on effectively allocating our resources, during and after hours, to ensure the right person is providing the right care at the right time based on clinical priority,” he said.

Patient Safety Scrum

Each department is requested to contribute:

• to provide a status report for their unit

• to identify any patient or staff safety concerns

• to identify any issues with staffing and workload

• to identify the predicted admissions/discharges/transfers and DEM emergency workload using the Patient Admission Prediction Tool which has been very accurate to date

• to identify risks and contingencies for the management of clinical risks and

• to confirm strategies to ensure workload management and levelling.

Another key strategy of the Patient Safety Model is hourly patient rounding by nursing staff particularly at night to improve patient safety.

Once the Patient Safety Scrums are established at Gympie Hospital, they will include operational services and allied health where possible.

Hospital at Night team

The hospital has also introduced a Hospital at Night team as the major component of the safety model:

• to improve our approach to working as one effective team across all services

• for early identification and management of risk

• to work as a team after hours to identify the clinical priorities for care, to ensure the safe discharge, admission or transfer of patients as soon as possible

• to work together to identify the best options for managing workloads across all services.

“Our staff strive to provide exceptional patient care at all times, and our teams here at the hospital proudly call it Gympie Gold Care,” Dr le Bacq said.

Dr Frank le Bacq providing safe patient care at Gympie.

Your storyGympie Hospital Sue and all doctors and nurses at the Gympie Hospital’s chemo ward, you have all been so wonderfully caring during my six treatments! Today is my last!! Thank you so much for your kindness throughout my journey with ovarian cancer. I am so blessed to have received such amazing support.

You have brought sunshine to my days, a smile to my face and most of all, inner strength. Thanks for being a part of my support network. I appreciate you. Thank you so much to all of you who have helped along the way! You are all so good at your jobs, as well as being able to lift the spirits of me and all other patients. Love and respect to you all.

Gympie Hospital focus on patient safety


Page 33

New tool to determine surgery fitness

The first of its kind on the Sunshine Coast, the new cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) testing service assists clinicians in ensuring a patient’s pre and post-operative safety.

The Wishlist-funded CPX Unit is used to determine the fitness of a patient for surgery including testing their cardiac and respiratory fitness.

The test is performed on an exercise bike and provides the clinician with an integrated assessment of a patient’s cardiovascular and respiratory system in less than one hour.

This will assist in the overall planning of both preoperative and post-operative care, benefiting the patient in the hope of decreasing post-operative complications and decreasing their length of stay in hospital.

It’s dynamic, providing important information about a patient’s physiological reserve.

The CPX exercise equipment in action, testing patient fitness.

Dr Ewan Wright, Anaesthetic Specialist, said cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX or CPET) was used to assess the cardiovascular and respiratory fitness of patients undergoing high-risk surgeries.

“CPX has significant advantages over conventional methods of risk assessment,” Dr Wright said.

“It allows integrative assessment of multiple organs systems, unlike other tests which focus on only one system.

“It’s dynamic, providing important information about a patient’s physiological reserve. CPX also provides an accurate functional assessment, providing doctors with a meaningful number that correlates with operative risk.

“This service can offer enhanced peace of mind to those undergoing major surgery, that the risk assessment process is even better-informed and can enhance health outcomes,” he said.


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Care delivered by an engaged, competent and valued workforceSkilled, professional and happy to go the extra mile

The contribution of skilled and committed professionals across all roles within our organisation ensures that we are able to deliver a quality health service.

Our highly-skilled and valued workforce remains a priority as we meet the challenges of future health needs and the changing workforce environment.

The Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey was conducted from 27 April to 15 May 2015. It was an opportunity for staff to provide opinions on areas such as engagement, job satisfaction and work environment.

The health service uses the results of the survey to inform strategies to develop and improve organisational processes and practices. An analysis of the results reflected positive increases in results relating to job security, role clarity and organisational leadership.

Your storyEmergency department, Nambour General HospitalI would like to commend both the ambulance crew and the medical staff. The nurse was so friendly and compassionate and the doctor was efficient, friendly and professional. The x-ray staff were also fabulous, as were the wards people. You should be proud.

Staff response rate 44 per cent. This represented a 10 per cent increase in staff participation from the previous year.

A huge 97 per cent of staff said they are willing to put in extra effort when needed to get a job done.

At 84 per cent positive, job engagement and satisfaction has increased by two per cent since 2014 (82 per cent).

Job engagement and satisfaction was four per cent higher than the Queensland Public Sector overall and five per cent higher than Queensland Health overall (80 per cent each).


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Wishlist research grants

Wishlist, the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation, commits more than $1 million each year to the needs of the local public health system including Nambour, Caloundra, Maleny and Gympie hospitals, as well as local ancillary health services.

All money raised stays on the Sunshine Coast for the benefit of local families.

This year, Wishlist committed $1,342,133 in funding support through four areas, including equipment ($683,878), service support ($320,334) and research ($252,008).

Education support included $85,587 for the annual staff scholarship grant to subsidise training for the service’s clinical and administrative staff.

As part of their $1million commitment to Sunshine Coast health services, Wishlist has an annual research grant round. See below table:

Description ApprovedEarly prediction of typical outcome and mild developmental delay for prioritisation of service delivery for very preterm and very low birth weight infants

$9,057

Nasogastric placement with sonographic observation $14,945

Adolescent narratives in mental health $9,090

The effect of a geriatric emergency department intervention program on outcomes for nursing home residents

$8,195

Paediatric pain management $10,000

Is the Emergency Department interRAI screener application a valid tool for predicting Nambour General Hospital emergency department representations?

$7,726

Investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

$17,673

Clinical outcomes of moderate to high surgical risk patients $18,181

Early active repetitive motor training to prevent development of upper limb contracture after stroke? $17,973

Pondering poos $18,130

Faecal microbiota transplantation $41,364

50 per cent funding clinical trials manager $73,000

The effect of hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemia on myocardial ischaemia $75,000

Total: $320,334

Your storyAcute services unit, Gympie Hospital

The assistance and treatment I received in your hospital both in casualty and the ward to which I was admitted was exemplary. I thank you and your staff for taking such great care with me – not that I wanted to be admitted at all!


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Thumbs up for Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital

Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital has been given a glowing bill of health.

Results from the Queensland Health Small Hospitals Patient Experience Survey 2014 show Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital has been rated with some of the highest patient satisfaction scores in Queensland.

Director of Nursing, Nicole White said the results provided invaluable insight into the hospital from our patients’ perspective.

“While the results indicate an overall high level of patient satisfaction, the information will also help us to further improve our health care provision in the future,” Ms White said.

“A patient’s experience is not only about the medical treatment they receive at our hospital but also the level of care and understanding they receive from staff.

“The survey results are a welcome acknowledgement of our hard working staff who are committed to delivering exceptional patient care.”

The survey was conducted between October and December 2014 by telephone interviews with randomly selected patients between August and November 2014.

Inpatients score their satisfaction levels:

The response rate was 63 per cent for all facilities in the survey overall and 75 per cent for Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

Of the 230 patients who completed the survey:

• 100 per cent rated the cleanliness of thehospital room or ward as ‘very clean’ or‘fairly clean’.

• 99 per cent felt the right amount (or more)of information about their condition/treatment was given to their family/carer/someone close.

• 96 per cent felt they were treated withrespect and dignity while they were inhospital.

• 98 per cent said they were given theright amount of information about theircondition or treatment.

• 97 per cent said they had enoughopportunity to talk to the staff.

• 85 per cent felt that if they neededassistance, they were able to get a memberof staff to help within a reasonable timeframe.

• 83 per cent said the doctors and nursescaring for them explained things in a waythey could understand.

• 85 per cent said they felt there wereenough nurses on duty to care for them.

• 91 per cent had confidence and trust in thedoctors treating them.

• 95 per cent said they always got answersfrom doctors that they could understand.

• 98 per cent said medical staff completelyexplained the purpose of the medicinesthey were given in a way they couldunderstand.

The results of the Queensland Health Small Hospitals Patient Experience Survey 2014 are available at: www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/performance/patient-experience/

Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital gets the thumbs up.


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Your storyMaleny Soldiers Memorial HospitalMy father was an impatient recently at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital, to all involved in his care, the nurses, ward staff, voluntary workers, doctors, social workers and administrative staff, I would like to commend you for the impressive group of individuals you are. As a working ‘collective’ all the more so.

Your compassion, patience, sensitivity, and kindness shown to my father and our family was extraordinary. The care provided was of such a high standard our family was able to support his passing with dignity in the wonderful atmosphere of your hospital.

This experience in our view exemplifies the value and role of community based hospitals in country areas. The importance of support by local, state and federal governments for country hospitals is essential as they are integrated into the ‘fabric’ of our communities.

Nambour emergency nurses awarded for overseas humanitarian work

Congratulations to three of our nurses who received an Australian Humanitarian Overseas Medal for their work with the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT).

Nambour General Hospital emergency department nurses, Barry McCarthy and Rob McDonald were recognised for their aid relief efforts following the Christchurch earthquake of 2011, which killed 185 people and caused widespread damage.

Caloundra Health Service Clinical Nurse, Megan Chandler also received a Humanitarian Overseas Medal at a ceremony at Government House in Darwin. Ms Chandler received her award after she was deployed to Pakistan in 2010 as part of Operation Pakistan Assist II following the devastating floods in that country, which killed 1,700 people and destroyed 1.9 million houses.

Sunshine Coast, we have one of the best sonographers in Australasia!

We have the best of many things, living on the Sunshine Coast — including access to award-winning medical professionals, right on our doorstep.

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service sonographer, Anne-Maree Grant was awarded Sonographer of the Year, Queensland, at the annual Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) Conference in Perth.

The ASA Awards of Excellence honour outstanding achievements in sonography and exceptional contributions to the profession.

Assistant Director of Medical Imaging Services and Manager of Ultrasound Services, Anne-Maree Grant was thrilled with the award.

“To be nominated for such a prestigious award alone was a great honour. I was truly humbled to receive the recognition of dedication to the profession by my peers,” Ms Grant said.

Director of Medical Imaging Services, David Ward said the ASA Awards of Excellence program offered a unique opportunity for the profession to celebrate our most outstanding sonographers.

“This award is a prestigious recognition of the calibre of sonographers we have here at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service,” Mr Ward said.

“We are proud of our exceptional staff and congratulate Anne-Maree on being named Sonographer of the Year, Queensland. She is a worthy recipient of that title.”

Your storyWard 2FW, Nambour General HospitalFrom the time that we arrived with our very unwell 18-month-old daughter in emergency, I have been impressed by the professionalism and empathy of all staff members — from paediatricians to student nurses. The level of care has been outstanding and I am most grateful.

A special mention to the music therapist-what a totally amazing service to offer sick children. I could not believe the way my daughter responded to her, and the difference between having blood tests whilst being restrained and screaming to lying calmly listening to music was incredible. Thank you.


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Go Queensland! Local nurse a national finalist for prestigious award

Queenslander! Nambour General Hospital’s Clinical Nurse Consultant, Rene Hinton was named the Queensland Credentialed Diabetes Educator of the Year.

Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Services, Graham Wilkinson said there had been about 28 nominations from around Queensland and it was a great achievement for Mrs Hinton to be chosen as a national finalist.

“This award acknowledges the extraordinary contribution to the community of people who work in diabetes education,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“Recognition as a Credentialed Diabetes Educator is an assurance to people with or at risk of diabetes, their families, carers and health care providers that they can expect to receive quality diabetes education and advice.”

Mrs Hinton has been a registered nurse for 26 years and a Credentialed Diabetes Educator for the past 11 years.

Your storyWard 1E, Nambour General HospitalThank you for your outstanding service. Steve, Karen, Tammy, Suzy, Amy. Your nursing is above excellent, your care is far beyond what is expected and you definitely go the extra mile for your patients.

You should be commended and recognised for your efforts. If there is nurse of the year, your team should get it, great teamwork.

The nurse practitioner is the pinnacle of the nursing clinical career structure.

Queensland Credentialed Diabetes Educator of the Year, Rene Hinton.


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In good hands at Caloundra Health Service emergency department

If you need to visit the emergency department at Caloundra Health Service, rest assured you are in very capable hands!

The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service continues providing exceptional care at the Caloundra emergency department, with six clinical nurses starting nurse practitioner training over the next 18 months.

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse educated to a master’s degree level, with extensive clinical training and authorised to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role.

Nursing Manager, Anne Coverdale said this was the largest number of nurse practitioner candidates they had seen at Caloundra Health Service, and was a great commitment for both the nurses and the staff supporting their training.

“The nurse practitioner is the pinnacle of the nursing clinical career structure and has been demonstrated to improve patient care outcomes,” Ms Coverdale said.

“With this training they are able to work independently in assessing and planning care, ordering and interpreting test results, prescribing medications and referring patients to relevant healthcare providers,” she said.

Australian first for Gympie nurse practitioner

A Gympie Hospital nurse practitioner is the first Australian to receive a prestigious international fellowship.

Daniel O’Neill was selected as a 2015 Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP). Fellows are selected based on outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, education or policy.

“It’s a huge achievement to be selected for this. It’s an honour to be recognised in this way for my work and acknowledged as an expert in my field,” Mr O’Neill said.

“As a Fellow of the AANP my role will be to assist in the advancement of nurse practitioners and the high-quality health care they deliver.”

Mr O’Neill is Gympie Hospital’s first nurse practitioner. He has extensive emergency experience in both civilian and military practice having worked in various large regional centres including the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Royal Flying Doctors Service, and large teaching

hospitals in the United Kingdom.Gympie Hospital’s Daniel O’Neill is the first Australian to receive the AANP fellowship. Photo credit: Gympie Times.

Caloundra Health Service nurse practitioners caring for emergency patients.


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The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is committed to providing accessible services to Queenslanders from all culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. If you have difficulty in understanding the Quality of Care Report, you can contact us on (07) 5470 6600 and we will arrange an interpreter to effectively communicate the report to you.

© Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service 2015

Licence:This Quality of Care Report is licensed by the State of Queensland (Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service) under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 Australia licence.

CC BY Licence Summary Statement:In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt this Quality of Care Report, as long as you attribute the work to the State of Queensland (Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service).

To view a copy of the licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en

Attribution:Content from this Quality of Care Report should be attributed as: Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Quality of Care Report 2014-2015 I In good hands

ISBN: 978-1-876532-77-2

For enquiries or further information please visit our website at www.health.qld.gov.au/sunshinecoast

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