INNOVATION MEETS SAFETYAT TUGGERAH LAKES PRIVATE HOSPITAL

In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital worked collaboratively to build an intubation screen to assist anaesthetists to safely manage patient’s airways. The project involved anaesthetist Dr John Young, surgical assistant Dr Michael Kale, anaesthetic nurses and a local perspex manufacture Formation Signs and Plastics.

The screen was based on plans sourced online from Taiwan, where an ED doctor had worked to provide a physical barrier against the spread of droplets during airway management. The initial prototype was developed by Formation Signs and some initial shortcomings, including the obvious size difference between the populations of Taiwan and Australia, were quickly recognised.

The redesigned prototype was then trialled on the Tuggerah Lakes Private resuscitation manikins and withsome practice allowed staff to intubate and extubate safely. When elective surgery ceased at Tuggerah Lakes Private, the screen was loaned to the local ED department for the benefit of their staff and the broader community.

ADAPTATION THE NAME OF THE GAME AT GOSFORD PRIVATE HOSPITAL

With the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent social distancing measures being imposed by the Government, Gosford Private has reviewed its processes to ensure all staff, patients and visitors remain well.

Social distancing measures have included the adoption of WorkChat video calls for the hospital’s Leadership Team’s daily ‘Tier 2’ safety huddles and National Standards committee meetings. The use of technology has enabled the team to remain in contact, sharing ideas and updates even when working remotely or if self-isolated.

The prompt implementation of Healthe Care’s mandatory screening processes has received positive feedback from patients, staff and VMOs. While restrictive, the ‘new normal’ has now become part of daily life and an important a safeguard for vulnerable patients.

Innovative approaches to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 have also included ‘out-of-thebox’ thinking, including reviewing and redefining the range of tasks that are being performed by various staff groups. The hospital’s Allied Health team are now providing physiotherapy services for the entire hospital, not just rehabilitation patients. This has allowed them to utilise their skills on a broader range of patients including ICU and Maternity. Meanwhile, Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse, Leanne Flynn, has combined her passion for sewing and sustainability, designing masks from recycled sterilised sterile wrap and the metal nose strips from used masks. “The sterile wrap complies with the ISO 11607 requirements which makes them suitable for use as normal sterile masks” said Jennifer McNamara, Director of Clinical Services.

The hospital has also taken the opportunity to update its procedures and commence simulation training, ensuring that all Clinical staff (and others) are fully prepared for any COVID-19 outbreak.

SPECIALIST SUPPORT FOR FRACTURES AT HURSTVILLE PRIVATE HOSPITAL

The Fracture Clinic at Hurstville Private Hospital is stepping up its services, to help reduce the load on the public health system during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Since opening in July 2019, the Hurstville Private Clinic has gone from strength to strength, and offers a flat rate service for both privately insured and public patients.

COUNTRY-WIDE LOCKDOWN IN PLACE AT BOULCOTT HOSPITAL

New Zealand has been in a National Alert Level 4 lockdown for the last two weeks. The entire country is required to stay in their homes except for essential travel or for essential workers.During this time all elective surgery has been cancelled, however Boulcott Hospital has been performing urgent surgery under contract for the public hospital located next door.

The staff are using their time to work through training and upskilling themselves in clinical areas as required, and are banding together to ensure they keep patients, the staff and the community safe.

DONNING AND DOFFING FOR STAFF AND CLINICIANS AT FORSTER PRIVATE HOSPITAL

Staff at Forster Private Hospital have extended their COVID-19 preparedness by taking on-site training into their own (well washed) hands, proactively scheduling PPE donning and doffing training for all  clinical staff and visiting clinicians.

While the hospital is so far COVID-19 free, with no patients admitted, the team is taking full advantage of the opportunity to prepare and educate, while addressing concerns and questions to alleviate any misconceptions and unnecessary stress or anxiety, before the on-set of any COVID patients.

The training includes an overview of the virus, the importance of screening and precautions, followed by donning and doffing simulation exercises in selected clinical scenarios. The training is scheduled to take place three times per week throughout April, with the first sessions under the guidance of Rehabilitation MedicineRegistrar, Dr Melissa McCarney, proving very effective.

BOLDLY GOING WHERE OTHERS HAVE GONE BEFORE AT MAYO PRIVATE HOSPITAL

Mayo Private Hospital’s Director of Clinical Services, Craig Johnson, has shared his reflections on the diverse challenges faced by the hospital’s staff over the past 9 months: Forgive the Star Trek analogy, but I couldn’t make a Dr Who or Star Wars theme fit! (imagine the Star Trek theme as you read this article):

"Welcome aboard the Mayo Private Hospital, a Healthe class Hospital vessel, that set off on its mission in July last year, to boldly go where every organisation has gone before –  exploring the universe of  change.

Not long into our voyage we met our first challenge to the crew, the Burning Planet, or at least it felt like the planet was burning. New to our roles and getting to know the crew, we had to push ourselves to the limit. The smoke and fire (from the NSW bushfires) affected all the crew, some directly but most just by being part of what seemed like a whole galaxy in crisis. We learnt that our crew was resourceful and  dedicated, and that they cared deeply for their fellow teammates and their community.

Our voyage continued and we prepared for a delegation from Accreditation – a notoriously tough inspection team – to ensure our vessel was ship shape. Like all good Star Trek episodes the suspense was heightened as the COVID was encountered. This new invisible enemy once again plunged the whole vessel into uncertainty, along with the rest of the universe. Change and crisis seem to be the catch phrase on our short  journey so far. The thing we have discovered is that it’s the crew of Mayo that keep the vessel going. The leadership can guide the team and help innovate change, but it’s the crew that keep it moving forward, the Mayo team is able to manage change, they have grown with change and will continue to grow through change. They are an extraordinary team. Preparations for the mission ahead have been started, we are training the staff to be better equipped and we are constantly providing information to the staff to keep them up todate. It’s the rest of the mission we look forward too, once the Covid is behind us and the next change is looming. Live long and prosper through change, its inevitable."