Thank you to the clinicians, health managers, consumers and stakeholders who work with us to drive healthcare innovations across NSW.
Clinical network updates
3Ci pilot implementation
Pilot sites have been selected to implement the 3Ci model of care, which supports people living with chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This will follow a staged approach, with Camden, Campbelltown and Wyong hospitals starting soon, followed by Ryde and St Vincent’s hospitals later in the year. Initial kick-off meetings have been held with the initial sites and workshops will be held to examine current workflows, enablers and barriers.
If you wish to learn more about the 3Ci model of care, please contact Cardiac Network Manager Bridie Carr or Respiratory Network Manager Helen Kulas at aci-3ci@health.nsw.gov.au.
Welcomes and farewells
The ACI Respiratory Network welcomes Dr Charles Prabhakar, who has been appointed to the executive as the new Medical Co-chair of the Respiratory Network. Charles brings a wealth of experience in rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respiratory medicine. Charles has taken over from Professor Peter Wark who has taken up a role in Victoria as the Head of Department for Cystic Fibrosis at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
The Respiratory Network wishes to acknowledge the significant contribution Peter has made as the departing Medical Co-chair. Peter’s leadership and clinical expertise have been instrumental for the network, especially during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More about the Cardiac Network and the Respiratory Network.
The Drug and Alcohol Network has released the report for Yellow Gum Healing; a pilot study for an approach to culturally adapt the Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) program to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people. ‘Yellow Gum Healing’ is a metaphor for brain regeneration. The Yellow Gum Healing ACE program provides a model that can be used by other services to adapt the ACE resources in a way that reflects their local Aboriginal nation and culture. Read more about this in our feature story this issue.
The ongoing ownership, management and development of the Emergency Care Institute (ECI) Emergency Procedures App has been transferred to the not-for-profit, clinician-led group Emergency Procedures Ltd (EPL).
The ACI supported the development of the original version of the Emergency Procedures App and are proud of its ongoing success. The original app contains more than 100 evidence-based procedures that can be used by emergency department clinicians, either while on shift, or for ongoing education.
EPL has partnered with the International Federation of Emergency Medicine to deliver updated and additional content for emergency department staff. The app’s transition of ownership will allow EPL to expand the procedures available on the app, while ensuring its content remains freely available and provides the latest in best-practice emergency care.
To continue using the app, users must download the new Emergency Procedures App via CIAP or smartphone app stores.
The Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Networks held a combined, full-day virtual forum on 2 August, attended by more than 500 clinicians, managers, researchers and consumers across NSW.
The theme for this year's forum was ‘Leaping Boundaries’ and focused on the care of patients with a spinal cord injury and/or brain injury in general rehabilitation facilities, and building the capability of clinicians to provide this care.
The event was officially opened by Dr Jean-Frederic Levesque, Deputy Secretary, Clinical Innovation and Research and Chief Executive, Agency for Clinical Innovation, and included a consumer story, two discussion panel sessions and 19 presentations.
Topics included robotics, Aboriginal health, in-reach rehabilitation, tele-psychiatry and person-centred rehabilitation planning.
The network has recently published a new consumer brochure on Renal Supportive Care. We would like to thank the consumers and clinicians who collaborated for two-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic to produce this user-friendly resource.
The brochure is designed to showcase the services that Renal Supportive Care provides across NSW. Patients referred to this service are assisted to live as well as possible, with the symptoms and suffering associated with their kidney disease, regardless of what treatment choice they have made. Information in the brochure is also useful for family members, carers, clinicians, health managers and executives who may not realise the benefits that Renal Supportive Care offers.
The brochure is available as well as a range of other resources for health professionals and consumers on the new-look web page for the Renal Network.
First for Wagga Wagga stroke unit
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital’s stroke unit is one of the first in Australia to receive Primary Stroke Centre certification by the Australian Stroke Coalition. It is the first unit in regional NSW to achieve this recognition. Certification is achieved by meeting a set of criteria that indicate consistent, high quality stroke care. Congratulations to the stroke team at Wagga Wagga!
New networking event for metro stroke clinicians
The ACI hosted an in-person networking event on 27 July for metro-based stroke clinical nurse consultants and nurse practitioners. It was an opportunity for expert clinicians to connect, share ideas and discuss future planning. This group will be formalised as part of the Stroke Network with the appointment of a Chair and development of terms of reference. Similar networking events will be planned for rural clinical nurse consultants and nurse practitioners; stay tuned for details.
Rural Stroke Mentorship Program
The network is relaunching the Rural Stroke Mentorship Program. The program involves a three-day rotation through four high-volume stroke centres in metropolitan Sydney. Acceptance will be via a merit-based application process. It requires the support of the local manager for metro Sydney hospital rotations, as well as ongoing work with a mentor and the ACI to complete a stroke-related project. For further information, contact Stroke Network Manager Danielle Wheelwright at aci-stroke@health.nsw.gov.au.
Welcomes and farewells
The network welcomes Amanda Buzio as the new Nursing Co-Chair. Amanda brings a wealth of experience from her current role as Stroke Clinical Nurse Coordinator at the Coffs Clinical Network, Mid North Coast LHD, as well as per previous role overseeing community rehabilitation programs at Royal Rehab in Sydney. Thank you also to outgoing Co-Chair Kylie Tastula for her valuable contribution over many years in this role.
Statewide nursing nephrostomy workshop
Join the Urology Network for this face-to-face workshop at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Institute for Academic Surgery (or virtually via Zoom) on Friday 1 September, 8.30am-12pm. This practical workshop will deliver information and training to hospital and community nurses who provide, or have an interest in, nephrostomy care.
Statewide program updates
Attending your palliative care appointment using virtual care
The consumer resource, Attending your Palliative Care Appointment Using Virtual Care has been updated and is now available in the top 10 languages spoken in NSW. These are available via the End-of-Life Palliative Care Network website and Virtual Care Central (SharePoint login required).
Spotlight on virtual care: Virtual care extends access to palliative care services
Previously our patients would wait up to a month for limited specialist appointments,” said a palliative care clinical nurse specialist based in the Eurobodalla Shire. “With the use of myVirtualCare we can be linked with patients within 24 hours, or as required on a regular basis."
The newest Spotlight on Virtual Care showcases how the Southern NSW Local Health District Palliative Care Team uses virtual care to support their patients to access care close to home when they need it.
Jointly developed by ACI’s End of Life and Palliative Care Network and Virtual Care (Palliative Care) team, this resource is available from the End of Life and Palliative Care Network web page. It forms part of the palliative care local initiative series, in addition to Virtual Care Spotlight series, to showcase high-quality palliative care using virtual care.
Virtual
Nurse led
MDT input, care planning, symptom management and support to death
After hours support
New training to enhance virtual care communication skills
Based on the competencies identified in the NSW Health Virtual Care Education Framework 2022 – 2026, the Health Education and Training Institute has developed two new virtual care microlearning modules in partnership with the ACI, Clinical Excellence Commission, local health districts and consumer representatives. These modules provide best practice examples and practical strategies in communicating and initiating virtual care.
Introducing virtual care in consumer conversations (Course code: 487521515) includes two short videos that simulate how to have positive conversations with consumers and their carers about virtual care – covering how it is used and consumer choices and options.
Establish a confident telepresence in a virtual care environment (Course code: 487522974) can help initiate an engaging, effective and safe virtual care session. This module explores strategies to increase the sense of having a physical presence in a virtual care session, and interacting like you are sharing the room with a consumer.
Go to My Health Learning to explore the two modules.
Virtual Care Exchange Forum
The Virtual Care Exchange Forum is a community of practice where participants can demonstrate innovation in healthcare. It is facilitated by experts and clinical champions who openly share their insights and experiences (successes and failures) when integrating technology into clinical care.
The Virtual Care Exchange Forum is held on the third Thursday of every month (February to November). Join the Virtual Care Network to receive updates on the 2023 schedule and invitations to the forum. If you missed the event, recordings of past forums are available to NSW Health staff on Virtual Care Central.
If you are interested in sharing how virtual care supports you and your consumers to access healthcare close to home, speak to your local Virtual Care Manager or get in touch with the ACI Virtual Care Team.