MARCH 2023
EDITION 22
Project Spotlight
S.O.S - SAVE OUR SKIN
Providing world-class clinical care where patient safety comes first is a key priority for NSW Health. Royal North Shore Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's S.O.S Save Our Skin project has improved the safety of vulnerable infants in their care. Neonates are at risk of skin injuries, including extravasation injury secondary to peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC) infiltration, which can lead to long-term morbidity, including infection, skin loss and scarring (Restieaux et al. 2013, Hackenberg et al. 2021). The project team aimed to make care safer, by reducing PIVC- related extravasation injuries in the NICU by 50 per cent within six months. The team engaged with a number of stakeholders, including parents. Change ideas were tested and successfully embedded into clinical practice, documentation was improved, and a neonatal infiltration scoring system was introduced. The team was able to reduce the incidence of extravasations from 9% to 4.5% (by 3 months), then to 0% (by 6 months) – a 100% reduction – with improvements sustained beyond the initial project. The project has reduced the risk of long-term morbidity from neonatal skin injuries, meeting the Future Health Strategy of delivering safe, high-quality, reliable care for patients in hospitals, and ensuring infants get the best start in life. It also equipped staff with skills and capabilities to be an agile, responsive workforce. The project team were awarded the Patient Safety First Award at the 2022 NSLHD Quality and Improvement Awards. Check out this short video of their project
Transforming the Patient Experience Patient Safety First Delivering Value-Based Integrated Care Supporting our People and Culture Keeping People Healthy Health Research and Digital Innovation Excellence in the Provision of Mental 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The Northern Sydney Local Health District Quality and Improvement Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of teams across our health district who introduce change to improve patient outcomes and experience, staff experience and the overall quality of our health service. There are eight award categories:
Health Services Planetary Health
8.
Key dates (2023)
Entries open: 27 Feb - 6 April* Finalists announced: 24 May NSLHD Quality and Improvement Awards Ceremony: 29 June
* please note local sign-off process and deadlines at your facility or service
Visit the Quality awards intranet page to download the entry form and submission guide, view local signoff deadlines, contacts for award coordinators and advisors and other resources
Check out last year's finalist and their projects
Emily Macnaught (Clinical Nurse Consultant and Project lead) accepting the Patient Safety First Award at the 2022 NSLHD Quality and Improvement Awards Ceremony
Contact: NSLHD-Awards@health.nsw.gov.au Catherine Rosario (Clinical Reliability Improvement Facilitator | Quality Awards Coordinator)
How do I start an improvement project? Find out more on the Clinical Governance Quality Improvement Intranet site, Innovation Hub or contact your local quality advisor
Clinical Governance Standard
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