Health Matters EBOP May 2018

Move it in May Eastern Bay Secondary students doing work experience at Whakatāne Hospital pictured with Medical Leader Dr Matt Valentine (left), BOP Clinical School Programme Coordinator Matt Sinton (back) and Hospital Coordinator Julie Chapman. Eastern Bay teens experience working at the hospital Awakeri School’s Jump Jam team show off their moves at the hospital. Awakeri School’s Jump Jam team showed patients and staff some of its moves at Whakatāne Hospital’s ‘Move it in May’ launch earlier this month. Research shows just a few days in bed can reduce muscle strength and increase complications, particularly for frail older patients. And that can lead to a longer stay in hospital. Service Improvement Programme Manager Dave van Dijk says, “We all benefit from staying active, particularly in the colder months, it helps us to stay well. Move it in May aims to raise awareness about the debilitating impacts for patients of spending long periods in bed. “Traditionally people think if they’re in hospital they must stay in bed. We need to shift that mindset and, as soon as possible encourage our patients to get up and move.” Three mornings a week after the bell rings at Awakeri School, students meet to do their Jump Jam exercise routine. Principal Peter Fitzgerald says, “It’s a great start to the day; the children love it, those who don’t do jump jam go for a 10-minute run. Being active is important for children. It has a positive impact on their physical, and mental wellbeing and ability to learn.” Earlier this week Whakatāne Hospital held a Keep on your Feet community Strength and Balance group class. The Sport Bay of Plenty classes are provided across the Eastern and Western Bay of Plenty, as part of the nationwide initiative. Project Leader Rachel Garden says the classes involve simple but effective exercises to improve leg strength and also challenge participants balance in a fun and safe environment. Research shows that older people with muscle weakness, balance issues or mobility limitations are 3-5 times more likely to fall in any one year than those without these problems. There is also evidence that community group strength and balance classes can reduce falls by 29%. This Monday patients at the hospital will have the opportunity to see dancers from Footnote New Zealand Dance, give a brief show before they head out of town on their nationwide tour. “As a national dance company, movement is what we're all about, so it's such a pleasure to be able to share our passion while we're in Whakatāne. With this short performance at Whakatāne Hospital, an excerpt of our brand new show Search Engine, we hope to inspire people to Move it in May,” says Richard Aindow, General Manager Footnote New Zealand Dance. Eastern Bay teenagers who are thinking of pursuing careers in health are being given an up close experience of what their future may hold at Whakatāne Hospital. on their morning ward round as well as observe in ED. One will be assigned to the pharmacy while the others will shadow nurses working throughout the hospital. Eleven Year 12 and 13 students from Whakatāne, Trident and Tarawera high schools as well as Edgecumbe and Ōpōtiki colleges are doing ‘work experience’ at the hospital for a few hours a week for a four week period. “It’s a really valuable experience. Choosing a career path is a big decision for teenagers. The experience helps them to decide one way or another.” Whakatāne Hospital Medical Leader Dr Matt Valentine says, “The experience gives the students a real sense of what it’s like to care for patients in a hospital. Two of the students considering careers in medicine will accompany doctors Many secondary students who’ve taken up this opportunity in the past have gone on to study medicine or nursing. The students sign confidentiality agreements and are given a privacy briefing before they step in the hospital. They are also educated about hand hygiene. Improving our health services Latest feedback from patients on health services provided by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board shows an increase in those saying they are ‘completely satisfied’ with their care. As part of on-going work to improve the quality of health services provided across our communities, the DHB has surveyed patients and its staff. It’s the second survey of its kind, the previous occurred 12 month prior giving the DHB the opportunity to compare results. Programme Leader Rosalind Jackson says, “Research shows there is a clear relationship between the wellbeing of staff and patient wellbeing. And when patients report a better experience of care they also have better outcomes; shorter length of stay and faster recovery.” 241 patients participated in the latest survey compared to 289 previously. In both surveys 71% of our patients were either satisfied or completely satisfied with their care. What was heartening to see was that 57% reported they were now completely satisfied with their care, up from 40% a year ago. Patients tell us we have improved in some important areas: being able to use their own experience to aid their recovery; staff praising their efforts to help themselves get better; they are more confident and optimistic; and less scared. Rosalind says the feedback also shows us we need to continue work on improving the way we care and listen to our patients and involve them in treatment decisions. More than a thousand staff also provided feedback. She says overall the results show good progress since the previous staff survey, for example recognition of our CARE values and behaviours expected of staff and different teams and services working well together.