Finalists for ‘Improving the Patient Experience’ category at this year’s Best of Health staff awards
Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced the three finalists in the ‘Improving the Patient Experience’ category at this year’s Best of Health staff awards.
The Best of Health awards are organised annually by the University Health Board to recognise and reward the extraordinary achievements of its staff and volunteers, many of whom often go beyond the call of duty in their work for the benefit of patients and service users. This year, 100 entries were received from across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The winners will be announced at the Best of Health Awards ceremony, sponsored by Health Shield at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday 16 January.
Lisa Gostling, Director of Workforce & Organisational Development said: “These nominations reflect just some of the high quality patient care provided by many of our staff and volunteers and highlight the fantastic efforts and achievements above and beyond their normal day-to-day work. I wish all the nominees the very best of luck.”
The ‘Improving the Patient Experience’ category seeks to reward Excellent practice in reducing harm, improving quality and delivering better outcomes; a significant contribution to improving the care, pathway, experience and/or environment of the patient; or a significant contribution to ensuring patients and staff are always treated with dignity and respect and the finalists for 2014 are:
The Community Pharmacy Tuberculosis Medication Compliance Service for demonstrating how a service traditionally provided from a hospital can be provided in a community pharmacy for the benefit of the patient. Debbie Hartman, Respiratory Nurse at Glangwili Hospital, approached the Primary Care team to discuss new ways of providing medication for TB patients. For diagnosed TB patients good medication compliance is vital to ensure the best health outcome. At the time the only option available was to attend a hospital respiratory department three times a week to receive and take the medication and for one patient in particular this was proving to be problematic.
A community pharmacy located close to the patient’s home was identified and asked to trial the service. The patient reported that the service had been fully explained, that they had been involved in the choice of pharmacy, had felt able to ask questions of the pharmacy staff and added “Thanks very much to Roy [pharmacist] who was awesome with me and my medication and very helpful. I could talk to him about anything; thank you Roy”.
Sister Lisa Marshall, Withybush Hospital has been recognised for her passion, care and dedication with regard to dementia care for older people evidenced through her work at the hospital, her academic achievements and her voluntary work.
Lisa has been instrumental in helping to champion dementia care throughout the hospital and whilst working full-time as a Sister is undertaking a part-time Master’s Degree in Dementia at Stirling University. Lisa has introduced ‘Rummage’ and ‘Memory Boxes’ on her ward for people with dementia. This idea she has championed has had a huge impact on improving patient care, helping staff and patients alike to work with each other in a more dignified way and ensuring that staff see beyond the sometimes challenging behaviours that are sometimes presented with.
And if this wasn’t enough Lisa has voluntarily set up a local dementia café in her own time, organising and pulling together support from the church, local authority, general public and hospital to achieve this. This group meets twice a month and is a fantastic support mechanism for people with dementia as well as their carers.
South Carmarthenshire Rapid Access Multidisciplinary Services (SCRAMS) based in Prince Philip Hospital, the service provides urgent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) by Geriatricians and community multi disciplinary professionals. It is widely acknowledged that hospital admissions and long lengths of stay can compromise the independence of the frail elderly. Referrals are accepted from primary care and community clinicians or health care professionals of frail older adults who are identified as at high risk of hospital admissions in order to prevent unnecessary admissions.
Since its introduction, SCRAMS has seen a 71% reduction in emergency department attendance / in patient admissions of recurrent fallers; improved access to health and social care through the creation of a ‘one stop shop’; shortened the length of stay in those electively admitted; and reduced harm and reduced falls risk through proactive medicines management.
The awards are sponsored by Health Shield Friendly Society Ltd and Chief Executive of Health Shield Jonathan Burton said: “It is a big achievement to be recognised for the great work that you do in any profession, but even more so at the Hywel Dda Best of Health Staff Awards. On behalf of all of us here at Health Shield I would like to say congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted.
“We would like to wish everyone the best of luck in the awards, and well done for reaching this stage. You deserve all the recognition you get as I know that you regularly go above and beyond the call of duty.”
To find out more about those shortlisted in the Best of Health Awards’ other categories please visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/bestofhealth
The Best of Health awards are organised annually by the University Health Board to recognise and reward the extraordinary achievements of its staff and volunteers, many of whom often go beyond the call of duty in their work for the benefit of patients and service users. This year, 100 entries were received from across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The winners will be announced at the Best of Health Awards ceremony, sponsored by Health Shield at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday 16 January.
Lisa Gostling, Director of Workforce & Organisational Development said: “These nominations reflect just some of the high quality patient care provided by many of our staff and volunteers and highlight the fantastic efforts and achievements above and beyond their normal day-to-day work. I wish all the nominees the very best of luck.”
The ‘Improving the Patient Experience’ category seeks to reward Excellent practice in reducing harm, improving quality and delivering better outcomes; a significant contribution to improving the care, pathway, experience and/or environment of the patient; or a significant contribution to ensuring patients and staff are always treated with dignity and respect and the finalists for 2014 are:
The Community Pharmacy Tuberculosis Medication Compliance Service for demonstrating how a service traditionally provided from a hospital can be provided in a community pharmacy for the benefit of the patient. Debbie Hartman, Respiratory Nurse at Glangwili Hospital, approached the Primary Care team to discuss new ways of providing medication for TB patients. For diagnosed TB patients good medication compliance is vital to ensure the best health outcome. At the time the only option available was to attend a hospital respiratory department three times a week to receive and take the medication and for one patient in particular this was proving to be problematic.
A community pharmacy located close to the patient’s home was identified and asked to trial the service. The patient reported that the service had been fully explained, that they had been involved in the choice of pharmacy, had felt able to ask questions of the pharmacy staff and added “Thanks very much to Roy [pharmacist] who was awesome with me and my medication and very helpful. I could talk to him about anything; thank you Roy”.
Sister Lisa Marshall, Withybush Hospital has been recognised for her passion, care and dedication with regard to dementia care for older people evidenced through her work at the hospital, her academic achievements and her voluntary work.
Lisa has been instrumental in helping to champion dementia care throughout the hospital and whilst working full-time as a Sister is undertaking a part-time Master’s Degree in Dementia at Stirling University. Lisa has introduced ‘Rummage’ and ‘Memory Boxes’ on her ward for people with dementia. This idea she has championed has had a huge impact on improving patient care, helping staff and patients alike to work with each other in a more dignified way and ensuring that staff see beyond the sometimes challenging behaviours that are sometimes presented with.
And if this wasn’t enough Lisa has voluntarily set up a local dementia café in her own time, organising and pulling together support from the church, local authority, general public and hospital to achieve this. This group meets twice a month and is a fantastic support mechanism for people with dementia as well as their carers.
South Carmarthenshire Rapid Access Multidisciplinary Services (SCRAMS) based in Prince Philip Hospital, the service provides urgent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) by Geriatricians and community multi disciplinary professionals. It is widely acknowledged that hospital admissions and long lengths of stay can compromise the independence of the frail elderly. Referrals are accepted from primary care and community clinicians or health care professionals of frail older adults who are identified as at high risk of hospital admissions in order to prevent unnecessary admissions.
Since its introduction, SCRAMS has seen a 71% reduction in emergency department attendance / in patient admissions of recurrent fallers; improved access to health and social care through the creation of a ‘one stop shop’; shortened the length of stay in those electively admitted; and reduced harm and reduced falls risk through proactive medicines management.
The awards are sponsored by Health Shield Friendly Society Ltd and Chief Executive of Health Shield Jonathan Burton said: “It is a big achievement to be recognised for the great work that you do in any profession, but even more so at the Hywel Dda Best of Health Staff Awards. On behalf of all of us here at Health Shield I would like to say congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted.
“We would like to wish everyone the best of luck in the awards, and well done for reaching this stage. You deserve all the recognition you get as I know that you regularly go above and beyond the call of duty.”
To find out more about those shortlisted in the Best of Health Awards’ other categories please visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/bestofhealth
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