Research Week Abstract Book - Northern Health

Introduction
Health Literacy And Clincial Handover -
Bridging The Patient Safety Gap
IntRODUCTION
Northern Health Quality, Safety and Research Week 2013 provides an exciting demonstration of the growth and breadth of
quality and research activities at Northern Health. The overall theme for the week is: Health Literacy and Clinical Handover
– Bridging the Patient Safety Gap.
Guest speakers this year include: Prof Christine Jorm, Professor Rachelle Buchbinder, Nathan
Farrow and Katherine Stevens.
Prof Christine Jorm
Christine has doctorates in neuropharmacology and sociology with a background in Anaesthetics and patient quality and
safety and has developed policy and strategy for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. In 2010,
Christine moved to the Sydney University where she developed and led the national Clinical Handover program. In 2012,
she published the book ‘Reconstructing Medical Practice - Engagement, Professionalism and Critical Relationships in Health
Care’. Christine is passionate about finding ways to enable the doctors of the future to better engage with and influence the
healthcare system. During Quality, Safety and Research Week 2013 Christine will be speaking on ‘Clinical Hand-over and
Patient Safety’.
Prof Rachelle Buchbinder
Rachelle Buchbinder is an Australian NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. She has been the Director of the Monash Department
of Clinical Epidemiology since its inception in 2001 and Professor in the Monash University Department of Epidemiology
& Preventive Medicine since 2007. She is a rheumatologist and clinical epidemiologist who combine clinical practice with
research in a wide range of multidisciplinary projects relating to arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. Rachelle will be
speaking on a range of topics including: ‘Engaging with the Community’ and the ‘Evidence Practice Gap’.
Mr Nathan Farrow
Nathan is the National Trauma Quality Improvement Manager for the development of the Australian Trauma Quality
Improvement Program (AusTQIP). He has overseen the risk management and quality improvement frameworks for one of
the largest health services in Victoria. He has a background as a clinical nurse, specialising in critical care, emergency and
trauma nursing, and nursing education. He has a Masters degree in Professional Education and Training and undertaken
additional studies in Human Factors and Safety Management Systems.
Katherine Stevens
Katherine is a solicitor with Health Legal, and is also a qualified nurse who attained a Juris Doctor in Law in 2007. She was
admitted to practice as an Australian Lawyer in 2009 and has extensive legal experience in Australia and the UK. Katherine’s
time in nursing brings practical, real-life experience to her work as a lawyer. Katherine has assisted with matters before the
Supreme Court, the County Court, the Magistrates’ Court and VCAT, as well as with coronial investigations and inquests.
In addition, As part of the Quality and Risk/Research Study Day, Northern Health is pleased to present Hear Me, a powerful
and innovative play that examines all the complex issues that arise when things go wrong in health care.
Hear Me deals with the aftermath of a young patient’s death from the perspective of the patient’s mother, the CEO, the
supervising doctor and his colleague. The play was written by Alan Hopgood, in collaboration with the Australian Institute for
Patient and Family Centred Care. A facilitated discussion will follow the performance to examine the potential for improving
the quality and safety of healthcare through communication, partnerships between patients, families and healthcare
professionals, and staff culture.
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