Discover the innovations of NSW Health |
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Innovation takes many forms – from adopting cutting edge technology, to introducing small tweaks with big ripple effects. The possibilities are exciting and many – including greater collaboration, better patient experience, improved patient outcomes, and providing staff more Time for Care.
For example, virtual care or the Internet of Things are already helping in many different ways. This includes better wound care, simplifying complex data analysis, and automating manual, repetitive processes.
Our recently-established NSW Health Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taskforce is also developing an AI Framework. It will ensure the successful and safe adoption of AI in ways that benefit staff and the communities we serve. |
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Last week’s opening of the state-of-the art Tweed Valley Hospital is a prime example of innovative healthcare delivery. Expected to care for around 5,000 extra patients per year, the new facility’s features include a clinical training and research hub, an interventional cardiology service, plus an integrated cancer care service. Locals will also have access to a new Urgent Care Service – an innovative care model designed to ease demand on emergency departments and ensure people get the right care in the right place at the right time.
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Congratulations and thank you to everyone in Northern NSW and beyond involved in achieving this significant milestone.
Along with visiting the Northern NSW Local Health District, I was delighted to recently join (in person and virtually) several staff events such as HealthShare’s town hall. It is always great to spend time chatting with different teams, listening to your stories, and answering your questions. I hope to join more of you throughout the year! Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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Transitional nurse practitioner Marcia Ingles has an innovative and fun way to engage clinicians in sepsis education.
The Sepsis Escape Room is an interactive game where teams of clinicians collaborate to solve puzzles before the clock runs out. The activities are geared to improving knowledge and compliance with the Adult Sepsis Pathway. It is proving a game-changer (pun intended) for Belmont Hospital Emergency Department in Hunter New England Local Health District improving staff knowledge and understanding of sepsis.
Since Marcia shared her project on the Innovation Exchange, the Sepsis Escape Room is making an impact across NSW and Australia.
“A clinical nurse educator from western NSW has run the Sepsis Escape Room and had great success. Someone from Adelaide has also reached out for more information,” said Marcia. |
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| Managed by the Agency for Clinical Innovation, the Innovation Exchange is an online platform for sharing innovative projects across NSW Health.
Marcia believes anyone can introduce innovative projects if they have the right support. “One of the best things about my job is that I’ve always been supported by my managers. I come up with ideas and I've never been discouraged from giving them a go,” said Marcia. “You just need a bit of creativity, some collaboration and teamwork, and then you can run with it.” |
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Mocking sedation – from fear to fearless |
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For children requiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, the tight space and the loud noises can be frightening. Children can be given general anaesthetic (GA) so they can stay still during the scan. But this comes with risks and side effects. |
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To reduce the number of patients needing GA, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead use the Mock MRI Program.
Child Life Therapists, like Neesha Mistry, play a crucial role in this process. “The mock scanner can replicate the movements and sounds of a real scanner.
“I work with children and families to familiarise them with the environment and assess their readiness,” said Neesha. |
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“With practice, many children become comfortable with the machine and don’t need to be sedated for the actual scan. This is a great outcome for everyone.”
In a recent project run by Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, 116 out of 131 patients avoided needing GA in their official scan after the mock scan. This also saved more than 1,500kg in CO2, highlighting that caring for people and our planet can also go hand in hand. “Being part of a child’s journey through successfully completing a non-GA MRI scan is incredibly rewarding,” she said.
“I’ve had so many parents say to me they didn’t think it would be possible. I always say to them, ‘let’s give it a go’.” |
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Time for Care: MedSync improves patient care |
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Miranda Pye is a nurse practitioner based at Concord Hospital in Sydney. She cares for remote patients across 11 local health districts, using the Teleburns service. Enabled by the clinical app, MedSync, Miranda is one of a growing number of clinicians using it to collaborate and improve patient outcomes.
“The ability to use technology to track the progress of a burn has been incredible,” said Miranda. |
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| “Being able to capture and share a 60-second video has meant more accurate diagnoses and clinical decision-making. It has streamlined decision-making about referrals, and helped determine treatment, including whether a patient can be treated locally or not.” A patient of Miranda’s who was based in Western NSW had a significant burn. “MedSync allowed us to work with the local community nurse, who sent real-time photographs, and used video consultation to assess wound depth and address any concerns.” |
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“Alongside the patient receiving specialist care at home, virtual care also provided a valuable teaching tool for the patient and clinician. The clinician, and the patient and his wife were then able to care for the wound,” she said.
Accelerating the adoption of MedSync is one of ten Time for Care quick win initiatives implemented across NSW Health. There have been over 300,000 secure media uploads across the state so far. It aims to relieve the administrative burden from front line clinicians by improving patient flow and communications, freeing up more time to deliver safe, reliable, person-centred care. |
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When there is no suitable, pre-existing equipment that supports a patient’s mobility needs, a customised solution is required. This is where Dr Iain Brown and the Assistive Technology and Seating team in the Northern Sydney Local Health District come in. |
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Dr Iain Brown, Danielle Murphy and Dr Ambika Murthy |
| As Senior Rehabilitation Engineer, Iain and a multidisciplinary team work directly with clients. They assess clients' needs and create bespoke solutions that improve health outcomes and quality of life.
“This might include reconfiguring a wheelchair to better suit a client, or matching them with appropriate equipment. Sometimes we make something completely unique if there isn't anything on the market that will work,” said Iain.
“These clients may only represent a small percentage of the population, but a personalised solution can make the difference between a life of restrictions or a life of independence. |
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“We have worked with many clients with recurrent pressure injuries that require indefinite bed rest. But with our service, they were able to regain their independence through a personalised pressure care cushion.”
The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) is working with clinicians like Iain to ensure medical device reforms introduced nationally by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) are embedded across the state.
“The medical device reforms ensure new and existing technology and innovations meet the highest safety standards. The requirement for post-market monitoring for certain medical devices encourages innovators to continually refine their devices based on real-world performance and feedback,” said Dr Ambika Murthy of the CEC’s Medical Device Governance Program.
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Measuring Graduate Outcomes: Let’s Count What Counts
Register now for the second HETI Evaluation and Research Webcast Series webinar for 2024. Join Professor Tarun Sen Gupta on Wednesday 12 June, 6pm to 7pm, to explore the importance of appropriate graduate outcome measures that focuses on meeting community needs. For more information about the series, visit the HETI website. |
| End of life and palliative care education
In acknowledgement of National Palliative Care Week (19 - 25 May), HETI is sharing the End of Life Care Learning Navigator. It supports professional development and enhances practice capability of NSW Health professionals.
It offers simple, self-paced e-learning for medical, nursing and allied health professionals via My Health Learning. |
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Meet our people: Dr Jan Fizzell |
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Dr Jan Fizzell is a Public Health Physician and Senior Medical Advisor Office of the Chief Health Officer at the NSW Ministry of Health. She is also one of the 26 members on the NSW Health Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, who will help inform and guide the use of AI in our public health system. Watch the video below as Dr Jan shares what excites her most about AI. |
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Cardiac arrest care on wheels |
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For some patients having a cardiac arrest, receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) within the first 45 minutes is crucial. ECMO is a form of heart and lung bypass which provides blood flow and oxygen to the brain, heart and other vital organs. It allows time to identify and treat the cause of the cardiac arrest.
The treatment has only been previously available within the hospital setting. But a clinical trial by NSW Ambulance is set to change that by bringing ECMO to patients outside of hospital. |
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Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (E-CPR) trial |
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| Dr Natalie Kruit, Chief Investigator, said the trial has the potential to increase the survival rate of some patients from less than five per cent to around 30 per cent. "The Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (E-CPR) trial is a world-first. A dedicated clinician in the control centre identifies cardiac arrest patients suitable for ECMO and notifies the team immediately. “A team of medical specialists and critical care paramedics mobilise to bring the ECMO machine to the patient with a dedicated vehicle.
"Transporting ECMO to eligible patients means we are delivering critical, onsite care faster than ever,” she said. |
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A skin graft for melanoma removal left Alexandra Smith with a troublesome wound on her ankle. Despite numerous attempts to heal it, she was immobilised by pain. |
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The turning point was the referral to the RPA Hospital's Wound Care Command Centre in the Sydney Local Health District. Through the Tissue Analytics app, Alexandra received prompt, personalised guidance on dressing changes and wound management, all from the comfort of her home.
"Talking with someone who understood my wound and provided immediate feedback was incredible. I felt supported every step of the way,” said Alexandra. |
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| Miranda Shaw, General Manager, RPAVirtual, said virtual wound care improves access to expertise and patient outcomes. Plus, care is delivered efficiently and at a reduced cost.
Along with virtual consultations, the Virtual Wound Care Command Centre has standardised documentation to ensure consistency and accuracy in patient record. It also educates staff on using virtual care for wound management.
"We will be building on this innovative model of care. Extending support to local GPs and communities in rural and remote areas means they will not need to travel long distances to receive the same level of care," said Miranda.
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| The Future Health Podcast | Series 5 arrives The Future Health Podcast is a podcast by NSW Health. It features thought-provoking discussions about current and emerging trends in healthcare and the future of work for our workforce and beyond. Series 5 has kicked off on 15 May, with a new episode released every Wednesday for eight weeks.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations. Recent features include:
Same-day discharge rate for minimally invasive gynaecologic oncology surgery, antenatal telehealth services, and pandemic preparedness and response
Enhancing community-based specialty access through virtual care and an OECD report on defining AI incidents and related terms
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare. |
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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