Excellence in clinical care
This award recognises excellence in the delivery of safe, high quality clinical care and service by a team.
2024 finalists
Mimidi Park restrictive practice reduction – Rockingham Peel Group (RkPG)
Managing challenging behaviours in acute mental health consumers can be traumatic for both patients and staff, especially seclusion and restraint practices. Studies show that poor staff interactions, a lack of activities, compulsory medication and poor environment contribute to high rates of these practices.
As part of its commitment to providing person-centred care to vulnerable consumers, Mimidi Park mental health inpatient unit introduced National Mental Health Commission recommended strategies to minimise these practices.
A culture of learning in least restrictive practice was nurtured, with senior clinical staff reviewing all seclusion incidents and relaying learnings to staff. Aggression prevention training was provided for all staff as was continuous education through the Safe Wards approach. Reduction tools implemented included continued investment in sensory modulation and therapeutic and diversional activities. A peer coordinator role was also created to bring a consumer perspective to practice.
Reductions achieved in inpatient seclusion and restraint – 84 per cent and 61 per cent respectively – were both well below Western Australian averages.
Oncology symptom and urgent review clinic – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (FSFHG)
Fiona Stanley Hospital oncology patients can now access timely and expert self-management advice for treatment side effects without needing to attend an emergency department (ED).
Through face-to-face consultations and immediate telephone support, clinic patients receive appropriate care at earlier stages of their symptoms and are empowered to manage their symptoms effectively. This also prevents complications which could lead to hospital admission.
In just six months, the clinic supported 422 individual medical oncology patients through 1,163 service events. This data indicates a marked increase on initial projections, showcasing the clinic’s ability to meet patient needs effectively.
Access to timely, targeted support has not only significantly enhanced patient outcomes but alleviated pressure on emergency services and reduced hospital admissions.
The clinic's impact on ED attendance is significant, with almost 65 per cent of patients who might previously have been triaged for ED presentation managed via the clinic, averting approximately 29 ED visits monthly.
Pharmacogenomic service, Renal transplant unit – FSFHG
A state-of-the-art clinical practice is delivering optimal care and improved outcomes for Fiona Stanley Hospital renal transplant recipients.
In the immediate pre-operative and post-transplant periods, recipients take multiple medications, including anti-rejection medications. Every person metabolises drugs differently, meaning conventional medication dosing based on a recipient’s weight are not always entirely accurate.
To reduce inadequate drug dosing or overdosing, in February 2024 the unit implemented pharmacogenomic profiling to identify how a recipient’s genes affected their response to medication.
In an Australian first for renal transplant recipients, testing of 60 recipients identified more than 90 per cent required variations in dosing for one or more commonly prescribed drugs. Outcomes included improved graft outcomes and reductions in rejection, drug overdosing, adverse drug effects and length of stay.
A specialist clinic was established to explain test results to recipients, with information also sent to their general practitioner. A drug-gene alert has also been initiated in the Digital Medical Record to caution other specialties against prescribing high-risk drugs for these patients.
See other 2024 Excellence Award finalists.
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