Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Review of Operations: Quality Report
needed to be on the list. At the
completion of this intensive audit,
we had a realistic picture in terms of
the overall number of patients waiting.
We are now concentrating our efforts
on reducing the waiting time for
patients categorised as semi urgent
or non urgent. All urgent surgery is
attended as a high priority and can be
the reason for delay or postponement
of less urgent surgery.
Other processes reviewed included
patient discharge times, operating
room utilisation, bed management,
information brochure and letter
content for elective surgery patients,
and patient flow through the Preadmission,
Day Surgery, Wards
and Emergency Departments.
Responding to community needs
A review of WGHG services conducted
during the year, showed there was a
delay in the availability of podiatry
services. The waiting time to see a
Podiatrist was approximately four
months.
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Number of Patients on Elective Surgery Waiting List
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In response, WGHG implemented
two strategies to improve access to
podiatry services. In a joint project
with the DHS and the Baw Baw Shire
Council, a District Nursing and
Podiatry clinic opened in Trafalgar
in February. The second strategy
involved an innovative team based
program. District Nursing staff together
with the Podiatrist developed a
program where patients with low care
podiatry needs could be managed by
the District Nurses. As a result the
waiting list for podiatry services has
reduced from four months to two
weeks.
To implement the program a number
of District Nurses underwent specialist
foot care training to assess needs and
provide simple treatments. A Foot
Care Assessment Chart was designed
and policies were developed to guide
staff.
With the program in place there is
now a shared referral system. The
District Nurses can refer patients
who are high risk of complications
or have higher care needs to the
Podiatrist and the Podiatrist can
refer low risk patients to the District
Nurses. An annual competency review
process has also been developed,
whereby the Podiatrist assists in
ensuring the skills of the District
Nurses are current.
Podiatrist Andrea Castello instructs District Nurse Margie Winter in basic foot care.
A separate, more
comprehensive Quality
of Care report is available
on request.
Please call the
Customer Services
Manager Quality
Coordinator on
5623 0835 or see
www.wghg.com.au.
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