Safety & Quality Account 2020-21 | 2021-22 Future Priorities

WSLHD Achievements in 2020-2021 WSLHD Safety & Quality Account

THE BLACKTOWN END OF LIFE COMMUNICATION RESEARCH PROJECT The intent of this research project was to develop an intervention and implementation strategy to improve communication and shared decision making in end of life discussions between consumers, their families, medical, nursing and allied health staff. The WSLHD Research Hub together with clinicians developed a multi-component intervention which leverages existing evidence-based approaches. The interventions included: Online learning package: a) Peer-reviewed learning modules to facilitate shared decision-making at the end of life b) Tangible tools (i.e. the Serious Illness Conversation Guide) to enable conversations in practice and c) Teachback training to ensure communication is guided by best-practices in health literacy d) Simulation lab training and reflective practice sessions for participants to practice and critically review end-of-life communication strategies acquired through online training. The Research team was awarded a $50,000 Research and Education (REN) Research Grant in 2020 to further progress the program. A suite of training videos are under development that represent end-of-life conversations between a patient, their family members and clinicians.

MULTICULTURAL HEALTH CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC DIVERSE COMMUNITY (CALD) COMMUNITY AND CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM The aim was to establish working groups with our multicultural communities to develop and implement projects. Multicultural Health Services (MCHS) in partnership with a range of community stakeholders, established a number of working groups to address health issues and gaps, referral pathway and networks to improve access to reliable health information.

The groups included: • Afghan Health Network • COVID Safety Champions group • Refugee Health Coalition

• Pacific Communities Health Working Group • Blacktown Interagency Health Working Group A range of resources and specific tailored education sessions have been designed and delivered to individual community groups based on needs identified. These include topics such as, COVID-19 education and testing, domestic violence prevention and nutrition. Work continues to ensure equity of health information across our culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

PHOTO: Blacktown REN Grant Recipients.

Left to right: Avril Egerton (Clinical Nurse Specialist End of Life Care), Dr Matthew Nguyen (Medical Officer), Dr Katrina Chau (Staff Specialist Renal Department), Dr Ravindra Dotel (Infectious Diseases Staff Specialist).

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