NSW Health WSLHD Safety & Quality Account 2020-21

WSLHD is Home to Australia’s First Purpose-Built Biocontainment Centre in the Westmead Health Precinct In early 2023, WSLHD opened the state-of-the-art Biocontaminant Centre to treat and safely isolate patients with rare highly infectious diseases, known as high consequence infectious diseases. The facility includes a critical lift to transport contagious patients directly from the Westmead Hospital helipad or an ambulance straight to the biocontainment centre. The floor of the centre has also been purpose designed in different colours to identify which areas are ‘clean’ or ‘contaminated’ for additional safety. This facility will keep the community safe and better equips our services to minimise and eliminate highly infectious disease outbreaks in our facilities and community. The facility plays many roles, operating as the state wide referral and outreach facility for patients with suspected or confirmed highly infectious diseases, as well as the education and training hub for preparedness and safe practice in managing these diseases. Diabetes Monitoring Dashboard Improving Patient’s Care WSLHD researcher Tien-Ming Hng has co-designed a diabetes dashboard with his team and the Business Analytics Service, including David Pryce, Reshma Kolambkar, and Ching Luo. The dashboard allows diabetes clinicians to rapidly triage individuals that require clinical review and follow the patient’s journey. “The tool improves care of diabetes patients admitted to hospital by reducing time taken to be reviewed by diabetes educators and therefore revolutionising diabetes management at Blacktown Hospital.” –Tien-Ming Hng, Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology at Blacktown Hospital

International Delegates hosted in Westmead Precinct during MedInfo Conference

Digital Electrocardiogram Tracing & Remote Access

When a patient has an Electrocardiogram (ECG), this is usually printed and reviewed by a senior doctor by the bedside. At times there may be delays in doctor’s attending to review the ECG. WSLHD Digital Health Services developed a digital solution to allow ECGS to be accessed electronically by clinicians at Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals in the emergency department, cardiology and pre admission clinic. This has improved timeliness of risk assessment and is enabling patients to receive the right care in less time. Community Electronic Medications (eMeds) The community-based eMeds project is implementing electronic medication management procedures to outpatient service providers such as Drug Health clinics and Hospital in The Home (HiTH) to improve the safe administration of medication to patients in the community. This project has improved the timeliness of medications being prescribed and given, reduced medication errors and improved communication about patient’s allergies or medication contraindications. This project has enabled WSLHD to standardise medication prescription and administration processes across key community services.

The tool has been extended to Westmead Hospital and is unique to WSLHD.

Safety & Quality Account 2022-2023 Western Sydney Local Health District

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