Project LEO & Project Waka - providing modern hospitals
Project LEO (redevelopment of the Tauranga Hospital site) is the culmination of eight years of deconstruction
and construction costing $156.6 million. Not only has this work delivered a leading edge facility but also met
all the project criteria set at the beginning of the project.
Project LEO was completed on time and within budget.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Medical Day Stay, Children’s,
and Maternity, Services for Older People, Emergency Department (ED) extension and upgrade, Admissions
Planning Unit (APU), Perioperative and Theatre suite, along with the helipad, pharmacy and Imaging upgrade
were all part of Project LEO.
The Emergency Department now includes a state-of-the-art resuscitation wing and an X-ray unit which is
completely digital, and uses three wireless detectors to acquire images for the whole range of general X-ray
procedures.
Fletcher Construction was awarded the main contract for building the new Whakatane Hospital. The total
value of Project Waka is $67.2 million.
To commemorate the start of work on the new hospital we produced a booklet titled Whakatane Hospital Te
Whatumauri Hauora – A History. The book tells the story of the places, the people and the buildings
associated with health that have serviced the various communities within the Whakatane district over the past
100 years. Author Dr Ian Shearer researched and wrote the book as well as sourcing the extensive collection
of photographs.
In early 2014 when we open the new Whakatane Hospital, the Eastern Bay of Plenty will have a modern 21st
century health facility providing excellent health care for the people of the region.
Using innovation and creativity to address issues
Staff working in Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals, are now able to see an up-to-the-minute snapshot of
each ward, including ED and key support areas thanks to new state-of-the-art technology developed by our IT
team.
Ward Views are displayed on four large tv screens in the hospitals, with information automatically updating
every 12 minutes. The information taken from Webpas and Trendcare shows the day’s predicted discharges,
the day’s elective admissions and hospital occupancy and service occupancy information. We have also
developed Theatre View and are currently working on Radiology View, Hospital Dashboard, Service Views and
an EOC View (Emergency Operations Centre).
Clinical staff worked closely with our IT team to ensure the information is user-friendly and relevant for staff.
Bay Navigator, has successfully brought clinical staff from a range of disciplines to the table to design and
agree care pathways for both primary and secondary clinicians, to benefit patients. Bringing all parties
together through a series of pathway development meetings has resulted in "boundary-crossing", and the
strengthening of clinical networks to share knowledge, produce efficiencies and reduce errors.
The care pathways will ensure we provide patient care in the right place at the right time.
Improved communication and coordination between different parts of the health system and between
hospital clinicians and general practitioners can only improve patient care.
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