E 3 Flow update
Eastbay.Everyone.Excellent.
By Fiona Burns and Dave van Dijk, Service Improvement Programme Managers.
ED ‘ALPHA’ team – first to patient
A dedicated team of Allied Health and Pharmacy staff is working
with staff in ED as part of a plan to improve care co-ordination for
patients coming to Whakatāne Hospital’s Emergency Department.
The ALPHA team was put in place in June as part of a ‘test of
change’ to work in collaboration with ED medical and nursing
staff and ‘case find’ patients who may benefit from early ‘ALPHA’
intervention. In the first six weeks of this pilot, the ALPHA
team has assessed and provided more than 300 appropriate
interventions to more than 200 patients. The range of interventions
has been varied from relatively simple things such as providing
advice on using crutches, to complex care co-ordination with
primary care providers.
The ALPHA team is at three whiteboard rounds a day in ED at
0830, 1100 and 1400. Outside those times, ED staff can call up
the ALPHA team when they have identified a patient.
Initially the name ‘ALPHA’ depicted the make-up of the team as it
involved Allied Health (physiotherapy, occupational therapy and
social work) and Pharmacy. The ALPHA name took on a new
meaning when other clinical support joined the team including
the highly valued Kaupapa Māori ED service provided by Nurse
Practitioner Theresa Ngamoki. ALPHA has now morphed into first
or early response to the ED patient.
The ALPHA team will continue to work with ED staff providing a
more holistic approach to patient care.
Occupational Therapist, Neil Pendleton and Paediatric Liaison Nurse, Lydia Snell
- part of the ALPHA team working with Registered Nurse Ruth Lloyd (middle) in
ED, on a case finding mission.
Patients on the move
Improving our patient flow also means doing our best for patients on
the move between hospitals.
On average 55 patients are transferred from Whakatāne Hospital
each month for investigations or treatment not available in the
Eastern Bay.
Ensuring a safe journey is the responsibility of the transfer nurse
with the St Johns Patient Transport Officer, and while there is a
dedicated transfer nurse role, often and especially after hours,
other clinical staff may become part of the transport team.
Whakatāne Hospital Bureau Nurse Helen Habgood has developed
a series of transport training videos, as part of a training package
for staff who may be assigned to transfer a patient.
The series features Helen and is designed to be a practical teaching
tool covering all aspects of traveling with a patient including
equipment, documentation and communication on the road.
The first phase of filming has been completed and once editing
is finished, they will be reviewed by dedicated transfer nurse Deb
Middleton and “tested” with key nursing staff.
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Caught on film - Whakatāne Hospital Bureau Nurse Helen Habgood is
developing a series of training videos for staff who are called on to transfer a
patient to or from the hospital.