Gold Coast¡¯s premier public health innovation event has awarded more than half a million dollars to staff ideas which will directly improve patient care.
This year the Gold Coast Health¡¯s 9000-person workforce submitted 224 project proposals across six categories in the annual staff innovation awards known as The Improvers.
Thirteen finalists were invited to present their ideas in a one-minute presentation to a panel of judges and a live audience, with staff participating via a live stream as well.
Judging panel member and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles thanked the hundreds of staff who shared their new and innovative ideas.
¡°While it¡¯s important to gather inspiration from across the world, The Improvers is a reminder that some of the best ideas are home-grown right here in Queensland,¡± said Mr Miles.
¡°From new ways of recycling medical equipment to creating state-of-the-art rehabilitation spaces, each of the submissions is another step towards delivering better care to the community we serve.
¡°It¡¯s been a privilege to listen to each of the finalists and I congratulate the winners who I have no doubt will make a real difference in the lives of patients.¡±
This year¡¯s winning ideas included:
- Category 1 ($50,000-$250,000 annual funding): Blood Management Solutions ¨C An electronic blood fridge management system which helps reduce blood wastage, particularly for trauma patients who have a critical need for blood and blood products
- Category 2 ($100,000): Nicola Morley ¨C Buy three Ultrasonic Wound Debridement machines for the vascular wound service to help prevent diabetic amputations
- Category 3 ($50,000): Caitriona Quinn ¨C Install a CT/MRI simulator which prepares children for an MRI or CT which traditionally might require a general anaesthetic
- Category 4 ($25,000): Lauren O¡¯Connor ¨C Buy a MOTOmed which mobilises ICU patients in their beds to help them to prevent loss of body mass, which can take up to five years to recover from
- Category 5 ($10,000):
- Matthew Links - Implement video technology capable of capturing lectures and workshops across Gold Coast Health
- Lisa Gray - Implement facilities to enable recycling PVC from IV bags and oxygen tubing from non-infectious patients in ICU and OT
- Daniel Wray: Create a ¡®LIFEspace¡¯ area for Robina Hospital Rehabilitation area.
- Category 6 (People¡¯s Choice, up to $50,000):
- Julie-Ann Hendry and Dr Joanne Doran - Virtual reality headsets allowing palliative care patients to tick off bucket list items
- Grace Brandjerporn ¨C installing a sensory garden for babies and mothers in the state¡¯s only publicly funded perinatal inpatient unit, the Lavender Unit
In addition to the formal category winners, judges awarded funding to the following projects:
- Targeted laser therapy for breast and gynaecology patients ($100,000)
- Introduce ¡®Netcoaching¡¯ which encourages children to eat ($100,000)
- Mobile/tablet charging stations in high-traffic public areas of the hospitals ($25,000)
- Naming and branding our 16 mobile dental clinics ($50,000)
Since the launch of The Improvers in 2014 more than $1.5 million has been awarded to staff to bring their innovative ideas to life.