Voting closed: 17,686 votes in for People’s Choice Award 2017

Voting has now officially closed for the NewsLocal People’s Choice Award in the 2017 Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Quality Awards – and a record 17,686 votes have been cast!

Winners of the 2017 Quality Awards will be announced in 15 categories at a glittering invitation-only event at ANZ Stadium on September 7.

Many votes for the People’s Choice Award were cast at the five Quality Awards showcases, held last week at Mount Druitt, Blacktown, Cumberland, Auburn and Westmead hospitals.

Auburn Hospital director of nursing & midwifery Kate Murphy at the Auburn Hospital Quality Awards showcase.
Western Sydney Local Health District executive director of nursing & midwifery Joanne Edwards and Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton cast their votes.

Dozens of staff and members of the public used iPads, set up during the showcases, to vote for their favourite project –  and there’s some fantastic projects to choose from!

Staff voting at Blacktown Hospital for the 2017 Quality Awards.

The finalists in the 2017 WSLHD Quality Awards are:

Patients as Partners Award

Stanford chronic disease self-management program is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: Health coach primary care and community health Robyn Miller, senior Aboriginal health officer Lynette Mieni, multicultural health worker Hanaa Nosir, health education officer Hill Community Health Centre Yan (Mary) Li and trained Stanford leader Sarjita Dave.
Health coach primary care and community health Robyn Miller, senior Aboriginal health officer Lynette Mieni, multicultural health worker Hanaa Nosir, health education officer Yan (Mary) Li and trained Stanford leader Sarjita Dave.

Stanford chronic disease self-management program, which has improved self-management in chronic pain sufferers from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and overseas backgrounds by using culturally-appropriate techniques. Health literacy and confidence improved, leading to better clinical outcomes, and participants felt more supported and better able to manage their health.

Transforming care at the beside is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured are registered nurse Yingqi Li, registered nurse Michael Franco, patient Stephen Bias, nurse manager Mia Shui and Dr Edward David.
Registered nurse Yingqi Li, registered nurse Michael Franco, patient Stephen Bias, nurse manager Mia Shui and Dr Edward David.

Transforming care at the bedside, which involves patients and carers in handovers at the end of nursing shifts to improve patient experiences. The result: fewer trip-ups in care, and greater involvement and empowerment for both patients and carers. After 12 months, more than 65 per cent of patients are regularly asked to join in the handover at the end of each shift.

VOTE HERE

Integrated Health Care Award

Community eye care in Westren Sydney is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured; Optometrist Bendy Ng, practice manager Anh Kieu, optometrist Joe Nazarian, Associate professor and ophthalmologist Gerald Liew, optometrist Margaret Nguyen (front middle), CEYEC service coordinator Belinda Ford, associate professor and ophthalmologist Andrew White (seated on desk)and optometry technician Shahe Nazarian.
Optometrist Bendy Ng, practice manager Anh Kieu, optometrist Joe Nazarian, associate professor and ophthalmologist Gerald Liew, optometrist Margaret Nguyen (front middle), CEYEC service coordinator Belinda Ford, associate professor and ophthalmologist Andrew White (seated on desk)and optometry technician Shahe Nazarian.

Community eye care in Western Sydney, which has improved access to eye care and significantly reduced the need for hospital appointments. The program partners with local optometrists, who do standardised exams which are then reviewed remotely by Westmead Hospital ophthalmologists. waiting times for eye care have been slashed.

The RACE program is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Picture: Social worker Gayatri Anand, registered nurse Thai Binh, registered nurse Prakash Acharya, physiotherapist Mian Wang, Dr Shailesh Shettar, Dr Raymond Cabela and occupational therapist Myfanwy Bryant and (front) nurse Melanie Seymon and physiotherapist Shalini Balram.
Social worker Gayatri Anand, registered nurse Thai Binh, registered nurse Prakash Acharya, physiotherapist Mian Wang, Dr Shailesh Shettar, Dr Raymond Cabela and occupational therapist Myfanwy Bryant and (front) nurse Melanie Seymon and physiotherapist Shalini Balram.

Rapid access to care and evaluation (RACE) program, which has implemented safe, early departures from Westmead Hospital’s emergency department for eligible elderly patients. Average length of stay in hospital has decreased significantly, and almost all patients on the program say they’d recommend it to others.

VOTE HERE

Translational Research Award

Pelvic floor muscle training pre and post radical prostatectomy is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. pictured; Physiotherapists Chrissian Segaram, Katherine Maka and Gerard Regan and Westmead director of physiotherapy department Maria Quinlivan.
Physiotherapists Christian Segaram, Katherine Maka and Gerard Regan and Westmead director of physiotherapy Maria Quinlivan.

Pelvic floor muscle training pre and post radical prostatectomy, which has improved urinary continence levels – and general wellbeing – in post-operative prostate cancer patients. More than 80 per cent of urologists said it was effective in returning their patients to urinary continence, and 95 per cent said of patients said they were satisfied with the program and nine months after treatment.

VOTE HERE

Local Solutions Award

Westmead Hospital's after hours cannulation team is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured; Registered nurse Asmita Chand, registered nurse Shu Mei, clinical nurse consultant Fiona Stewart, clinical nurse specialist Irene Lo, clinical nurse specialist Rocela Munoz and registered nurse Anthony Marshall.
Registered nurse Asmita Chand, registered nurse Shu Mei, clinical nurse consultant Fiona Stewart, clinical nurse specialist Irene Lo, clinical nurse specialist Rocela Munoz and registered nurse Anthony Marshall.

Westmead after-hours nurse cannulation team, which shares the cannulation workload across nursing and medical disciplines so staff can be where they are needed most.  The change has allowed both teams to focus their skill sets where they are needed most, and improved outcomes for both patients and staff.

Physiotherapist Kylie Flynn, physiotherapist Tracey Clark and occupational therapist Meredith Rogers, are part of the hand therapy blitz program that is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Physiotherapist Kylie Flynn, physiotherapist Tracey Clark and occupational therapist Meredith Rogers, are part of the hand therapy blitz program that is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

Hand therapy blitz, which makes every hand therapist and student available to treat chronic hand conditions on pre-determined days, reducing waiting lists enormously and leading to much greater patient satisfaction levels.

VOTE HERE

Preventive Health Award

Reducing Public Health Risks associated with Water Splash Parks is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured; WSLHD environmental health officer Anie Truong, manager, environmental health Helen Noonan, environmental health officer trainee Trent Auld and WSLHD environmental health officer Haylee Sneesby.
WSLHD environmental health officer Anie Truong, manager of environmental health Helen Noonan, environmental health officer trainee Trent Auld and WSLHD environmental health officer Haylee Sneesby.

Reducing public health risks associated with water splash parks, which reduced cases of cryptosporidiosis after auditing splash parks and implementing modified health guidelines for operators.

Rethink your Drink @ Westmead Hospital is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: Coca Cola Amatil’s Kristen Geromboux, Zoukis’ Tamas Olah, Westmead Hospital corporate services director Mathivanan Sakthivel, WSLHD Population Health’s Rachael Graham and Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton.
Coca Cola Amatil’s Kristen Geromboux, Zoukis’ Tamas Olah, Westmead Hospital corporate services director Mathivanan Sakthivel, WSLHD Population Health’s Rachael Graham and Westmead Hospital general manager Andrew Newton.

Rethink your drink, which has removed sugar-sweetened drinks from food outlets and vending machines at Westmead Hospital. Water was pushed as the drink of choice, leading to a 44 per cent increase in sales. There was also a spike in other healthy drinks as both patients and employees supported the trial.

VOTE HERE

Collaborative Team Award

To home or elsewhere is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: : FACS project officer Gillian Murphy, group manager Mt Druitt CHS Jo Fuller, social work team leader Women's and Children Health Lisa Tonkin, social worker Kylie Hughes, manager client services Kathryn Roels, social work department head Theodora Bikou and social worker Anna Fainuu.
FACS project officer Gillian Murphy, group manager Mt Druitt CHS Jo Fuller, social work team leader Women’s and Children Health Lisa Tonkin, social worker Kylie Hughes, manager client services Kathryn Roels, social work department head Theodora Bikou and social worker Anna Fainuu.

To home or elsewhere, which reduced the number of vulnerable babies taken into care at birth by 75 per cent by working with families to break intergenerational cycles of behaviour.  Lasting change was achieved by taking a multi-pronged approach across multiple agencies.

The Make Healthy Normal partnership with St Vincent de Paulis a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: Back, L-R: St Vincent de Paul’s Phillip Basti, Susan Goldie,Edin Budriah, and Anna Ashenden, Population Health’s Louise McKeon and Belinda Duckworth and the deputy director of Population Health Christine Newman. Front: Population Health’s Victor Tawil, Janelle Imber, Renee Gwee and Rachael Graham.
St Vincent de Paul’s Phillip Basti, Susan Goldie Edin Budriah and Anna Ashenden, Population Health’s Louise McKeon and Belinda Duckworth and the deputy director of Population Health Christine Newman; (front) Population Health’s Victor Tawil, Janelle Imber, Renee Gwee and Rachael Graham.

Partners make healthy normal, which worked with St Vincent de Paul to raise awareness of healthy eating and lifestyles. At the end of the six-month program, participants were eating more fruit and vegetables and drinking more water.  There was a threefold increase to the Get Healthy Service.

VOTE HERE

Harry Collins Award

Stopping our SABSIs is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: (front) nurse educator Stephanie Wilcox, clinical nurse consultant Jo Tallon, pharmacist, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Kristin Xenos, clinical nurse consultant Kathy Dempsey; (back) staff specialist Dr Matthew O'Sullivan, patient safety and clinical quality officer Carmen Hoffman and staff specialist Dr Trish Ferguson.
FRONT: nurse educator Stephanie Wilcox, clinical nurse consultant Jo Tallon, pharmacist, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Kristin Xenos, clinical nurse consultant Kathy Dempsey; (back) staff specialist Dr Matthew O’Sullivan, patient safety and clinical quality officer Carmen Hoffman and staff specialist Dr Trish Ferguson.

Stopping our SABSIs, which saved lives by reducing the rate of staph infections in the 48 hours after hospital admission. In 2008, the rate of infection was more than three per 10,000 occupied bed days. By 2016, that figure had tumbled to just 0.7 per 10,000 occupied bed days.

Staff specialist Dr Matthew Watts, pharmacist Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Kristin Xenos, pharmacist Geoffrey Wills, whose Spurring on SPAT program is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Staff specialist Dr Matthew Watts, pharmacist Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Kristin Xenos, pharmacist Geoffrey Wills, whose Spurring on SPAT program is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

Spurring on SPAT, which ensured antibiotics were given to surgical patients at optimal levels. By September 2016, every audited antibiotic prescription at WSLHD was at optimal dosage. Only 15 per cent of surgical prophylaxis continued beyond the recommended 24 hours.

VOTE HERE

Arts and Health Award

Elvis impersonator Steve King with patient John “Sean” O’Malley, who is part of the Music and memory program, which is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Elvis impersonator Steve King with patient John “Sean” O’Malley, who is part of the Music and Memory program, which is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

Music and Memory program, which manages the devastating behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia using personalised playlists. Many patients now dance and sing, and chat where they previously didn’t. With improved interaction has come reduced agitation and aggression and fewer need treatment with drugs.

Ten Thousand Paper Petals, a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards: Origami master Yoshimi Lawler, Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals director of business analytics and performance Luke Elias, SydWest multicultural services Geodhini Sivaraj and SydWest multicultural services’ Sonia Kalsi.

Ten Thousand Paper Petals, a sculpture of origami flowers at Blacktown Hospital designed to build connections and reduce anxiety for the communities who use the hospital. An origami master worked with more than 100 people to create the work.

VOTE HERE

Innovation Award

Not another DVT is the ED is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Front L-R: Dr Yvonne Brennan, clinical governance’s Catriona Middleton Rennie, Dr Jennifer Curnow, Back L-R: Dr Leonardo Pasalic, medical officer, resident support Dr Louis Do, registered nurse Jason Montgomery
Not another DVT is the ED is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: (front) Dr Yvonne Brennan, clinical governance’s Catriona Middleton Rennie, Dr Jennifer Curnow; (back) Dr Leonardo Pasalic, medical officer, resident support Dr Louis Do, registered nurse Jason Montgomery

Not Another DVT in the ED, which improved treatment of people presenting to the emergency department with deep vein thrombosis. There was a 60 per cent increase in appropriate investigation, treatment and referral. The time between ED assessment and follow-up in the acute clot clinic fell; 92 per cent of patients were seen in three days or less.

Registered nurse Tamara Claxton and registered nurse Andrew Bartlett demonstrate the innovation position aids that are a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Registered nurse Tamara Claxton and registered nurse Andrew Bartlett demonstrate the innovation positional aids that are a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

Innovative positional aids, which provided airway and forearm support for patients in the cardiac catheter laboratory, greatly improving access and stability for clinicians and comfort for patients.

VOTE HERE

Education and Training Award

Aboriginal portfolio team executive assistant Lois Newman, senior statewide Aboriginal educator Natalie Short, Education Centre Against Violence (EVAC) director Jo Campbell and Aboriginal portfolio team leader Marlene Lauw, whose Aboriginal pathways program is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Aboriginal portfolio team executive assistant Lois Newman, senior statewide Aboriginal educator Natalie Short, Education Centre Against Violence (EVAC) director Jo Campbell and Aboriginal portfolio team leader Marlene Lauw, whose Aboriginal pathways program is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

ECAV Aboriginal qualification pathway, which increased the number of Aboriginal workers skilled in violence prevention. More than 270 people have graduated from through the pathway, specialising in areas including trauma counselling and social work.

Implementation and evaluation of trauma team training is a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: Director of trauma Westmead Hospital Jeremy Hsu, nurse educator Margaret Murphy, staff specialist Giles Miller, nurse educator Nathan More, emergency department staff specialist Kevin Lai and nurse educator Julie Seggie.
Implementation and evaluation of trauma team training is a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards. Pictured: Director of trauma Westmead Hospital Jeremy Hsu, nurse educator Margaret Murphy, staff specialist Giles Miller, nurse educator Nathan More, emergency department staff specialist Kevin Lai and nurse educator Julie Seggie.

Trauma team training, which used real-world simulations to prepare staff for challenging injury presentations. As a result, patients with major trauma are getting to surgery in less than half the time, and mortality in this urgent operation group has fallen by 25 per cent.

VOTE HERE

Bob Leece Award

Consumer representative Erron Palmer, and program manager, patient centred care Kay De Ridder, who were part of Pateint feedback - online, real time, anytime, a finalist in this years WSLHD Quality Awards.
Consumer representative Erron Palmer, and program manager, patient centred care Kay De Ridder, who were part of Patient feedback – online, real time, anytime, a finalist in this years WSLHD Quality Awards.

Patient feedback – online, real time, anytime, which allowed patients and carers to provide real-time feedback on their experiences at Westmead and Auburn hospitals. More than 1300 surveys have been completed to date, and patient insights are improving services across the district.

Acting department head and clinical senior dietitian Melanie Schier and diet supervisor Lucia Contreras, who are part of the team involved in Now You See It, a finalist in this year's WSLHD Quality Awards.
Acting department head and clinical senior dietitian Melanie Schier and diet supervisor Lucia Contreras, who are part of the team involved in Now You See It, a finalist in this year’s WSLHD Quality Awards.

VOTE HERE

Now You See It, which ensured inpatients Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals have all the nourishment they need by collecting data showing what patients order and how much they consume. Dietitian assistants have been upskilled to identify patients at risk of malnutrition,  and up to 40 patients who need nutritional support are now identified each day where they would previously have gone undetected.

VOTE HERE

The Chair of the Board’s Award, Chief Executive’s Awards and WentWest Partnership Award will round out the awards.

The awards will be attended by VIPS including NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff, Clinical Excellence Commission chief executive Carrie Marr and local MPs.

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