Excellence in improving the patient experience
This award recognises the achievement of a team in providing a great patient experience when delivering safe, high-quality services.
2024 winner
Sip to send – Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (FSFHG)
A multidisciplinary quality improvement project across Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals is keeping patients awaiting surgery comfortable and hydrated without compromising safety.
This extensive project educated staff that patients could sip water or clear fluids until being sent to theatre for surgery without increased aspiration risks.
Prolonged fluid fasting can be unpleasant, cause dehydration and increase perioperative risk, particularly for vulnerable patients. An audit revealed average fluid fasting times of 9.5 hours across many surgical specialties, and up to 24 hours for emergency surgery.
A coalition of nurses, anaesthetists and allied health staff delivered extensive activities, including educational roadshows for anaesthetists and nursing staff, amended fasting policies, and socialising changes to staff with support from junior doctors and nurse unit managers. An audit monitoring anaesthesia-related aspirations before and after the project launched also improved staff confidence in its safety.
As a result, average fasting times were reduced to under 2 hours, with strong validation from patient feedback, with their stories used to further educate and motivate staff.
Congratulations to our other finalists
- Day procedure unit pre-operative clinic – Rockingham Peel Group
- LifeFit–SurgFit – (FSFHG)
See other 2024 Excellence Award winners.