Quality Week at the Hospital

Quality is not a buzzword for staff at our Hospital. It is the fabric of our work and dictates how we interact with patients, their families and our colleagues. Quality Week is an opportunity to showcase what has been achieved through the year and areas we would like to work on in the future.

This year we would like to give staff the opportunity to learn from those who are recognised in industry as having the closest attention to quality, particularly in a service industry like our own.

Research shows that when people are admitted to hospital or use outpatient services they expect good health care. They actually judge their experience on the service that they receive whilst in our care from staff. That is, whether staff are sensitive to their needs, realise the impact that the hospital stay has on a patient and their family and provide a cheerful environment.

And why Teamwork? Teamwork was chosen to maximise our awareness of the contribution that can be made by making a conscious effort to work together to achieve greater quality in health care. It also complements and supports the Working as a Team - The Way Forward key message of the Government Action Plan for Health.

We have invited some key presenters to speak specifically about aspects of teamwork:

• Lessons from sport, Peter Fitzsimmons. Tuesday 23rd.
• Humour in teamwork, The Clown Doctors. Wednesday 24th.
• Partnership in teams, Dr. Andrew McDonald. Thursday 25th.
• Parents as partners. Tuesday 23rd.
• Staff support for high performance teams. Monday 22nd.

^^^ Finalists include Department of Gastroenterology (Peer review audit to reduce unnecessary upper GI endoscopy in children), Department of Oncology (Physical As Anything - collaborative support for students with disabilities and medical conditions), Clinical Practice Improvement (Pressure area prevention in children).

Contact the Service Improvement Unit on 61 2 9845 3442 if you require any further information about up-coming events.

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Gilly Paxton
Manager Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Locked Bag 4001
Westmead 2145
Tel: (02) 9845 3568
Fax: (02) 9845 3567

Click here for more information.