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HESTA honours difference-makers
Awards recognise achievements in managing wounds, clinical decline and fitness.
By Dallas Bastian
Camille Koch, Jo Boylan and Sandra Thomson. Photo: HESTA
A commitment to keeping residents out of hospital while still providing proper care was at the heart of the work recognised at this year’ s HESTA Aged Care Awards. The awards recognise professionals whose work has improved the quality of life of ageing Australians in their homes, retirement villages and aged-care facilities.
The organisations and professionals recognised each decided to make changes to the ways in which care was provided to better support older Australians.
The winners were recognised in three categories: Outstanding Organisation, Team Innovation and Individual Distinction. There is a $ 30,000 prize pool.
HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey said the winners reflected the vital work of aged-care professionals in meeting the challenge of providing high-quality care and support to older people, adding each has an amazing backstory about how they are making real differences.
RN Camille Koch, from Macedon Ranges Health-Gisborne Oaks Residential Aged Care in Victoria, won the Individual Distinction Award for her work improving wound management across the provider’ s homes. Koch established a multi-disciplinary Wounds Resource Team to improve practice, reduce the severity of wounds and upgrade documentation.
After starting out her nursing career in the acute-care surgical ward and seeing older patients with severe wounds, Koch wanted to prevent residents from developing wounds that require hospitalisation.
The wounds resource team consists of registered nurses, enrolled nurses, personal care assistants, occupational therapists, dietitians, a clinical nurse manager, podiatry and district nursing.
Koch said the award acknowledges the work done by the entire team, adding:“ Macedon Ranges Health continues to support further innovation in wound management and prevention, bringing in a broad range of skills from specialist allied health professionals.”
A team approach also helped PresCare’ s North Rockhampton Alexandra Gardens facility win the Team Innovation Award for its pilot program aimed at better managing clinical deterioration in residents. By establishing the Sub-Acute Care Program, the home hoped to help avoid unnecessary hospitalisations, while maintaining high standards of quality care.
Following the win, Sandra Thomson, PresCare Alexandra Gardens facility manager, said:“ The people we care for don’ t want to go to hospital, they can feel lost and scared in an unfamiliar environment.“ Through this program, our skilled staff are able to conduct a comprehensive assessment and an informed decision can then be made to keep them in the facility, rather than send them to hospital.”
The 12-month program was evaluated by CQUniversity researchers Lynne Parkinson and associate professor Trudy Dwyer. They looked at the improvements in health outcomes and the economic benefits of the program. They found that the number of residents transferred to hospital decreased by 50 per cent and the total number of days residents were in hospital decreased by 57 per cent.
HESTA also awarded Southern Cross Care( South Australia and Northern Territory) the Outstanding Organisation Award for its establishment of health & wellness centres in 13 of its residential care homes. In the spaces, qualified fitness co-ordinators provide individualised programs aimed at improving residents’ strength, fitness and general wellbeing.
Southern Cross Care director of operations Jo Boylan said the centres have resulted in a 54 per cent reduction in fractures.
“ We are all about keeping our people mobile so they can keep doing all the things they enjoy in life,” Boylan said.“ Our healthfor-all approach means that not only residents but also staff can use the gyms, which are free and give them access to fitness facilities they may not otherwise have.” ■
8 agedcareinsite. com. au