Health care innovations celebrated

These exceptional health care service innovations were on show at the District’s Innovate Together, a Quality Awards event which recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements of staff.

Chief Executive, Lee Gregory praised the calibre of projects nominated at the awards event and noted that the initiatives demonstrated a dedication to improving and innovating patient care and health service delivery.

“Each of the nominated projects are examples of why the Local Heath District has a reputation for leading staff-driven projects that innovate and improve health outcomes for patients and the community,” said Lee.

The awards recognised achievements across several categories, including Aboriginal health care, patient safety, transforming patient experience and environmental sustainability.

The big award winners at the event were Labour of Love: Paramedic training in Birth Unit and the ImProVe Study who collected the Chief Executive and Board Chair awards.

A collaboration between NSW Ambulance, Nepean Hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Health Service and the District’s Education and Training Service, Labour of Love was awarded the Chief Executive’s Safety and Quality Award.

The project supports paramedics to manage out of hospital birthing and maternal emergencies by offering interprofessional education and clinical placement support.

Established in 2022, more than 100 paramedics have now completed the program which pairs paramedics with midwives as they undergo a full day’s placement at Nepean Hospital’s Birth Unit, enabling them to participate in a mother’s journey of the birthing process from delivery to ongoing care.

The ImProVe Study won the Board Chair’s Health Research and Innovation Award for a randomised controlled study which resulted in improved outcomes and a reduction in intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay for critically unwell patients.

Staff from NBMLHD’s physiotherapy service, alongside radiology and ICU staff compared a novel respiratory physiotherapy intervention, Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation with traditional chest physiotherapy with over 100 patients.

The ImProVe study found Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation resulted in a reduced length of stay in ICU, a statistically significant improvement in oxygen levels and a reduction in respiratory rate, which can indicate respiratory distress when high. The study also found no difference in mortality and ICU readmission rates between the groups.

NBMLHD Chief Executive Lee Gregory said it was a privilege to witness and reward such outstanding projects and achievements and give them the recognition they deserve.

“The inspiring work that was on show proves how capable and innovative we can be when we put our patients first.”