The Dental Team at Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has been recognised for their use of an innovative new technology helping improve and streamline care for dental patients.
Innovative new technology at MLHD
The Dental Team won the 2023 Excellence Award in the Patient Safety First Category as part of the MLHD Awards.
Dr Neville Heer, Oral Health Clinical Director for Southern NSW LHD, said MLHD, in collaboration with Southern NSW Local Health District, were the first in NSW to trial the revolutionary new technology.
Dr Heer said the new technology sees the LHD able to conduct digital tests on dental unit waterlines for biohazards which could make a patient sick. The test provides an immediate reliable result.
“The presence of biofilms in dental waterlines is a problem because it can trap pathogens that may cause respiratory and wound infections,” Dr Heer said.
“Our standard cleaning and safe work practices are effective at reducing waterline biofilms, but waterline testing is an important second line of defence.
“Previously it was more time and labour intensive to test waterlines for biofilms.
“We were using an agar plate to test each waterline and would have to wait for the incubation period which took several days to determine the result, meaning the dental chair couldn’t be used during that time.
“Now with the digital testing there’s no wait time, we can do the test, get the result in two minutes, and get back to work,” Dr Heer said.
Dr Heer said the whole Dental Team were thrilled to receive the 2023 MLHD Excellence Award for Patient Safety First.
“The safety of our patients is at the heart of everything we do,” Dr Heer said.
Communities across the Murrumbidgee region are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites and to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis following recent detections of Ross River virus and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) staff, executive and board congratulate Chief Executive Jill Ludford on being awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours List.
Communities in Albury, Griffith, and surrounding areas are encouraged to take precautions against mosquito bites as NSW Health’s routine mosquito surveillance has detected Ross River virus in those regions.