OCTOBER 2022
EDITION 19
EFFICIENCY DIMENSION
How efficient are your everyday processes and interactions? There are many examples of NSLHD initiatives that have been introduced and demonstrate the delivery of efficient care. Here are just some examples. Can you think of more? Many services have continued to offer telehealth as an option for patients to receive care where possible. This has proven to be a more efficient use of not only staff time but the patients’ time.The focus has been on finding sustainable solutions to the new workflows, training and support of patients and clinicians, and additional digital infrastructure to embed telehealth. Awareness of the six dimensions of quality forms the basis of the Foundational level of the Safety and Quality Essentials Pathway. The Safety & Quality Essentials Pathway builds safety and quality improvement capability for everyone in NSW Health Want to learn more? Visit the NSLHD Safety and Quality Essentials Pathway intranet page to view all the training offerings of the pathway available for all NSLHD staff. Processes are in place to allow for the seamless provision of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to consumers requiring this treatment. Obtaining consent for the procedure includes the potential involvement of the Mental Health Tribunal and this is arranged prior to the planned treatment. This means that treatment can be delivered at a number of services with access to operating theatres/anaesthetic and recovery staff. An ECT coordinator is critical in the processes being implemented for efficient care. Royal North Shore Hospital’s Anaesthetic Greenhouse Gas Reduction project significantly reduced Carbon emissions by using an anaesthetic gas with a lower carbon footprint without any adverse effects on patients and consumers. They have shown cost savings of $167,000 by reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions by 1600 tonnes since the commencement of their project.
Past editions of Foresight have introduced each of the six dimensions of healthcare quality in detail. In this edition, we will explore the “Efficiency” dimension.
Efficiency is when care and services are delivered the right way, the first time in the most efficient way. Efficient healthcare is about valuing our available resources. Delivering sustainable, high-quality healthcare involves avoiding waste. Over time there has been an increasing demand and pressure on healthcare resources. The challenge is to work together to be more efficient and reduce the waste of valuable resources. Can our care or services be delivered in a different way in order to deliver better value healthcare? Should we routinely admit the patient as an in-patient if it is equally effective and appropriate for the care to be delivered in an out-patient setting or by the community health service, for example? Inefficient processes and systems that waste time can impact resources available for patient care. Can our processes be redesigned so as to be done more timely to free up resources? Perhaps some processes can be automated? Efficient use of resources must ensure that patients continue to receive safe and effective care. Changes or improvements must still consider any intended or unintended consequences from the introduction of the more efficient system.
Contact: NSLHD-SQEP@health.nsw.gov.au
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