December 2003

Nurse project wins innovation award

Western Health has presented its annual innovation award to a specialist nurse-led project introducing an ‘early warning’ system for patients showing signs of deterioration that may lead to heart attack in a general hospital ward.

The Intensive Care Unit Liaison Nurse-led Clinical Marker Project won first prize in Western Health’s annual Awards for Excellence in Innovation.

The Clinical Marker Project involves ward staff alerting medical staff and/or ICU Liaison Nurses whenever a patient exhibits any one of a series of symptoms suggestive of the first stages of disease progression.

Western Hospital introduced clinical markers in February 2003 and team leaders believe the project may further reduce the incidence and improve the survival rate of acutely-ill patients.

The system does not replace traditional medical models—such as Medical Emergency Teams—designed to evaluate and manage these patients.

It does allow nurses and ward staff, however, to refer patients who may exhibit particular symptoms or who have not responded to treatment.

Project leaders Anna Green, Julie Daniels and Sandra Niklaus said the project had been well-received by key medical and nursing staff and further enhanced the role of ICU Liaison Nurses.

The Award for Excellence in Innovation encourages the development of new and innovative projects by Western Health employees by providing recognition and award prizes of up to $4000.

Award Committee Chairperson Heather Johnson said she was delighted with the response to the awards this year.

‘This is the second year the awards have been held and the number of applicants more than doubled.’

CEO Jon Evans said many of the submitted projects would not only improve the health outcomes of Western Health patients but also those at other leading hospitals across Victoria.

The awards were sponsored by SGE Credit Union and Highpoint Shopping Centre.

Western Health comprises Western Hospital, Sunshine Hospital, the Williamstown Hospital, DASWest Drug and Alcohol Services and Hazeldean Nursing Home and Reg Geary House.

Other projects to receive awards were:

• Cardiac Monitoring of Select Patients Undergoing Dialysis—many patients undergoing dialysis experience heart irregularities. Previously, they were transferred to the cardiac ward for monitoring during their dialysis. The project involved sourcing cardiac monitoring equipment and training staff to use it—leading to less disruption for patients, as they no longer need to be transferred between wards—and earlier identification of heart problems.

• Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy—the development of a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians to review practices and improve patient care in the area of tracheostomy.

• Speech Pathology Communication Group—A pilot group of individuals and their carers. As well as allowing individuals to practise speech with their carers and others the group provides support for the carers. Patients from non-English speaking communities are among those planned for new groups.