PMP Health Project Summaries

The ‘Did Not Wait Analysis’ project profiled patients who left the Emergency Department (ED) before completing treatment. An international literature review was undertaken to understand patterns in did not wait (DNW) rates at comparable facilities. This included studies from paediatric and general tertiary hospitals to identify consistent themes and predictors of DNW among paediatric patients. Local emergency department data was analysed using elements from the literature review to assist in determining themes and similarities in patients who chose to leave the ED before completion of treatment.

This review summarised the adequacy issues of mental health services activity based funding (ABF) at Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Mental Health Service. The purpose was to compare the current approximate case weights and volume of patient services to the recent changes to mental health coding. This resulted in the identification of mental health patient services that are provided but are not adequately funded under the ABF model and identified alternate suitable funding methods.

The projects objective was to understand delays in neurology inpatients journeys who are based on neurology wards or elsewhere and to identify solutions. Key stakeholders were consulted across the neurology function to determine and understand the driving factors for delays. Activity data was analysed to understand the demand on the Neurology teams and teams that support this clinical care. Causes for delay and change improvements were identified that were achievable, relatively low cost, and when implemented improve efficiency, reduce length of stay and the availability of beds for other residents.

The project was to determine the demand on the hospital from Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). Activity data was analysed for this patient group over a three-year period this included emergency department data and common conditions being treated. Key stakeholders were consulted to understand the challenges and untapped opportunities encountered in the community. A final report was delivered with recommendations for the hospital and the District to work with local RACFs and the Primary Health Networks (PHN).

The Recruitment Processing Rapid Improvement event was completed in two local health districts in New South Wales. This involved nursing, medical and allied health recruitment processes including the interfacing processes with human resources and the central agency. A ‘Kaizen’ event is a process improvement project tool that has its origins in the Toyota Production system, which is better known as Lean or Lean thinking. Kaizen events are short duration improvement projects with a specific aim for improvement. Kaizen events are normally promoted as one-off events and are part of overall continuous improvement programs. These events all have common aims and structures and look to harness the ideas and creativity of your workforce in creating a step change improvement in a specific area of your business.