Updates from our clinical networks and statewide programs

Network Manager Regina Nagy was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Australasian Cognitive Remediation in Mental Health Conference. She shared how clinicians can improve the effectiveness of drug and alcohol treatment through interventions such as the network's Alcohol and Drug Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) program. ACE allows clinicians to screen for, and improve, a client’s brain function. It can also assist clients to engage with and remain in treatment, giving them a better chance of reaching their treatment goals.

More about the Alcohol and Other Drugs Network

The network has produced a new clinician fact sheet, Sip Til Send to reduce fluid fasting time, to guide clinicians managing fasting times for patients waiting for surgery or sedation. Sip Til Send is an emerging practice used to reduce fluid fasting duration, meaning patients can sip approved clear liquids up until the time of being sent to theatre for their surgery.

More about the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Network

New trauma training modules

ITIM has collaborated with the Health Education and Training Institute to launch online trauma training modules. The modules aim to inform clinicians who are working in a ward environment caring for injured patients. Topics include head injuries, chest and spinal trauma.

Trauma education evenings

ITIM regularly supports Trauma Education Evenings at major and regional trauma services across NSW. Offered both in-person and virtually, the events provide updates on clinical practice and research, promote the experiences of frontline clinicians and provide a connection to the NSW Trauma Network. The most recent event held at Liverpool Hospital focused on collaboration within South Western Sydney Local Health District. Nevenka Francis and Jessica Boyd from the Liverpool Trauma Service highlighted their network approach to trauma care within the district, and the positive impact this has on patients. Stay up to date with ITIM education events. 

More about the Institute of Trauma and Injury Management

A new online Menopause Care Clinician Toolkit has been published, supporting clinicians to diagnose, refer to appropriate services and provide care for women experiencing severe and complex menopause.

Thanks to the working group members who contributed to the development of the toolkit: Nicky Barrett (ACI), Claire O’Keefe (Northern Sydney LHD), Ellen Phillips (Far West LHD), Heidi Cairney (Hunter New England LHD), Lisa Mattas Estreich and Isla Attewell (Northern NSW LHD), Gillian Neil (South Eastern Sydney LHD) and Loretta Andersen (South Western Sydney LHD).

More about the toolkit and the Menopause Initiative

The Be Pain Smart Clinic was developed by the Agency for Clinical Innovation with funding from the icare Foundation. This integrated chronic pain consultative clinic for people with chronic pain after a spinal cord injury and/or traumatic brain injury is located at the Royal North Shore Hospital Michael Cousins Pain Management Centre. The clinic provides multidisciplinary assessment, treatment, planning and delivery in person and via virtual care. For referral criteria and appointments, email NSLHD-PainManagement@health.nsw.gov.au

More about the Pain Management Network

• The network recently hosted an intensive two-day workshop about person-centred care for spinal cord injury with Royal North Shore Hospital. The workshop brought together healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds to build capacity and share practical tips on how to tackle pressure injury prevention and treatment. Thank you to the 19 experts who delivered insightful presentations touching on wound assessment, treatment and management.
• The network has published the Spinal Cord Injury Pilot Model of Care. It recommends a way to improve access to specialist care and outcomes for people with spinal cord injury in NSW. It also aims to build workforce capability in non-specialist hospitals. A dynamic simulation (computer-based) model was created to simulate the model of care under different resource conditions. The aim was to assess its impact on access to specialist care. The outcomes have informed the clinical pathways outlined in the pilot model of care.

More about the State Spinal Cord Injury Service

Congratulations to ACI Burn Education and Prevention Manager, Siobhan Connolly, who recently received a Guunu-Maana (Heal) NAIDOC 2024 Award from The George Institute for Global Health. She received the award for her work empowering clinicians to deliver culturally safe burn care through the Community Coordinated Burn Care (CCBC) program.

"I developed this training program with input from lots of wonderful clinicians and colleagues. It's for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and builds capacity and leadership among clinicians treating Aboriginal people," explains Siobhan. "Our mission is to improve burn prevention awareness, first aid skills and ongoing care, all within a culturally safe environment."

More about the Statewide Burn Injury Service

Putting innovative virtual services in the spotlight

Three new Virtual Care Spotlights build on the existing series of case studies showcasing exemplary or innovative person-centred healthcare using virtual care.

• Western NSW LHD wound service pioneered use of a consultancy model to provide world-class rural healthcare.
• Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD's Virtually enhanced Community Care (VeCC) service uses remote monitoring to empower patients to manage their health condition at home.
• NSW Ambulance Virtual Clinical Care Centre provides a secondary triage that supports management of care at home, referral to more appropriate services or escalation.

To have your NSW Health service featured in the Spotlight series, please contact the Virtual Care team or complete the expression of interest.

Get involved in Virtual Care Awareness Month

Throughout October, the ACI Virtual Care team is celebrating Virtual Care Awareness month and 'Safe, secure and connected healthcare anywhere'. Together with NSW Health, which will mark Virtual Care Awareness Week from 21-27 October, we will highlight key innovations, experiences and resources developed to support clinicians and consumers to adopt virtual care.

• Join the Virtual Care Exchange Forum on Thursday 17 October, and search 'virtual care' on our events page for details of drop-in sessions and other activities planned for the month.
• Learn more about NSW Health Virtual Care Awareness Week and related activities
• Celebrate your local achievements in adapting practice to include virtual care. Speak to your local Virtual Care Manager (NSW Health staff only).
• Remember to tag us in your social media posts so we can further share your achievements across broader networks.

More about virtual care

Introducing the PRM Spotlight Series

The Spotlight on Patient Reported Measures (PRMs) series showcases local innovation and leadership in using the Health Outcomes and Patient Experience (HOPE) platform for the collection and use of PRMs across NSW. The series aims to highlight the positive impact of collecting PRMs, for patients and health services, and to share learnings and key considerations from local teams.

Five spotlights from a range of services are now live, with more to come. Thanks to all the local health districts and primary health networks for sharing your insights. To share feedback or to ask about having your service included, email ACI-PRM@health.nsw.gov.au

PRMs success in Western NSW

The Broken Hill Health Service Dialysis Ward in Far West LHD is realising the benefits of implementing PRMs in the HOPE platform.

The service was already capturing the Integrated Patient Outcome Scale Renal Survey (iPOS Renal Survey) on paper and was looking for a solution to easily view results and track patient trends. The service began using the HOPE platform in July 2023, and iPOS results are now at the clinicians’ fingertips and accessible via the electronic medical record.

HOPE enables clinicians to view patient results immediately and be able to track those results over time. Patients like Laurinda Perciva (pictured) can now complete the surveys with a dedicated iPad device and the results are provided back to the HOPE platform in real time. A moveable iPad stand makes it easier for the patients to read and answer the surveys.

The service was recently recognised for its achievements by being named a finalist in the Far West LHD 2024 Staff Recognition and Health Innovation Awards, in the Health Innovation Project category.

The Centre for Healthcare Redesign (CHR) hosted two graduation ceremonies in May and August, celebrating the second and third cohorts of the 2023 Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Redesign program. Together, this involved 53 students across 19 project teams who applied their new healthcare redesign knowledge and skills to address challenges in their local services.

Both ceremonies were attended by Susan Pearce AM, Secretary, NSW Health, and celebrated the students' resilience, newly acquired skills, and the impactful outcomes of their projects. These healthcare innovators have now joined an esteemed group of more than 800 alumni who have completed this valuable course over the past 17 years and been empowered to drive innovation and improvement across NSW Health.

Read more about the most recent graduates' projects.