NSW Health WSLHD Safety & Quality Account 2020-21

Reducing HACs is a priority in WSLHD to improve patient safety and the quality of care . Here are some of the strategies WSLHD is implementing to reduce HACs in the areas we want to perform better to improve the quality of our services and achieve positive patient outcomes:

Area for Improvement

Strategies

The WSLHD Wound Prevention and Management Committee is the peak body working with staff at facilities and services to develop a pressure injury prevention care bundle to ensure a consistent best practice approach to pressure injury prevention is in place. Westmead Hospital had trialled a dedicated wards person in the intensive care unit to assist in regularly positioning of non-ventilated patients to prevent prolonged periods in bed in the same position. Preliminary results have been positive with this project extended for the next 12 months. The WSLHD Falls Prevention and Management Committee is the peak body working with staff at facilities and services to develop a falls prevention care bundle to ensure a consistent best practice approach to falls prevention is in place. WSLHD is promoting intentional patient rounding to monitor regular toileting and pain management of patients to reduce the likelihood of a fall. Blacktown & Mount Druitt Hospitals emergency departments have implemented the Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection Management Program developed by the hospital’s Nursing Education Department. Westmead Hospital is focusing on a multidisciplinary approach targeting early mobilisation, attention to nutritional needs and providing feeding assistance to vulnerable patients to reduce risk of infection. Auburn Hospital developed an education program on optimal peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion location, training medical staff on the importance of reviewing and documenting PIVC reviews in the electronic medical record to ensure they do not become infected or remain inserted for too long. WSLHD has been selected as pilot site for an electronic medical record solution that will improve documentation of risk assessments for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and doctors prescribing medication so multidisciplinary teams can communicate better and work collaboratively to reduce the likelihood of a VTE occurring in hospital. Driving a focus on family engagement in clinical handover to ensure family awareness of nutritional needs to reduce the likelihood of respiratory complications. Developing care bundles that improve timely referral of patients to speech pathology, appropriate meal selections, oral care, positioning patient’s upright when eating, and early mobilisation when they arrive in hospital.

Pressure Injury Prevention

Preventing In-Hospital Falls

Reducing Hospital Acquired Infections

Reducing Hospital Acquired Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)

Hospital Acquired Respiratory Complications

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

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