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The Ramsay Way - April 2017

HOSPITAL NEWS Ramsay implements Vanderbilt Safety at a cracking PACE Ramsay Australia is well on its way through its pilot programme of the Vanderbilt Programme “Speak Up for Patient Safety”. More than 3000 staff have now been trained in the program at the pilot sites. The programme has two primary components which work together to create the framework. All patient facing staff in procedural or ward areas are trained in graded assertiveness communication “PACE” technique (probe, alert, challenge, emergency). The second component is a professional accountability reporting platform where anyone can make a report on unsafe behaviour confidentially after something has happened. Before a facility can ‘go live’ all patient facing staff must be trained in graded assertiveness communication to challenge behaviour that may harm a patient in the moment. Additionally all staff, doctors and consultants at each facility must be taken through an overview of the programme. In order to do this as efficiently and effectively as possible a national video has been made and is being prepared for national roll out. The video tells stories of how PACE has been applied effectively and avoided harm, together with explanations on how the framework operates and what it means to Ramsay Australia. Ramsay Albury CEO Doug McRae, Dr Cary Adams and Director of Clinical services Kerrie Myer. 8 The Ramsay Way 2016 | 04 Mt Wilga opens day clinic Mt Wilga has also opened an osteoarthritis day clinic – and more than 40 community members attended an information session hosted by Professor David Hunter at Mt Wilga in February – resulting in the first two clinics being filled. “The great interest from the community highlights that people want a more conservative approach to managing their arthritis and many wish to delay surgery,” says CEO Lorrie Mohsen. Scott Appleton, Program Co-ordinator, Lorrie Mohsen, Mt Wilga CEO and Professor David Hunter Rheumatologist Never too young for Arthritis…. but you can delay surgery World Cancer Leader visits Border In the next year alone more than 9 million people globally will die from cancer – with cancer incidence expected to grow exponentially in the next few decades due to an aging population and the obesity epidemic. Dr Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control, visited Albury’s Border Cancer Hospital recently, taking time to discuss the UICC 2025 project – which is designed to implement cancer treatment solutions in poorer cities around the world. Today the UICC is bigger than ever with 800 cancer organisations across 130 countries – all looking to tackle the growing cancer crisis on a global scale. Dr Adams was in particular interested in collaboration between parties at the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre – Australia’s first cross border public health service – to see if a similar model could be rolled out in other cities. The osteoarthritis outpatient day program at Hunter’s Hill Private celebrated its first birthday this month – and business is booming with overweight young Australians using the day clinic to ease their aching joints. Weight is increasingly a risk factor for arthritis, with 2 in three Australians now overweight or obese and every extra kg equated to a fourfold increase in force through the knee joint. For patient Justin Bedingfield 40, the program equipped him with new skills to lose weight, while the clinic also provides hydrotherapy and gym-based sessions, along with advice on sleeping positions and insider tips on how to manage day to day tasks such as walking upstairs, getting in and out of cars, and housework. “I used to play a lot of football which also took its toll on my knees to the point where last year during sport activities my knees collapsed and I was unable to walk,” said Justin. “I also put on a few kilos over the years (with a zero on it!). “Through this program I learned weight is very important and I have lost about 7 kg. The gym-based activities have also strengthened my knees. Now walking my child to school uphill is no longer painful.” The clinic, covered by private health funds (or self-funded), is considered a non-surgical solution designed for people who wish to delay surgery. Justin Bedingfield has shed kilos and eased his arthritis pain through the Hunter’s Hill outpatient clinic


The Ramsay Way - April 2017
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