Better care coordination of staff
leads to shorter stay in hospital
A project focused on having the right health
professional see patients in a timely way at
Whakatāne Hospital is leading to in some cases
faster treatment and a shorter hospital stay.
Since June the ALPHA team which includes a broad
range of health professionals such as physiotherapist,
occupational therapists, podiatrists, pharmacist and
nurse specialists has been working closely with doctors
and nurses in the Emergency Department (ED),
quickly identifying patients whose treatment aligns
with their profession.
The team attend three whiteboard rounds in ED a
day, meeting with the ED nursing and medical team,
identifying patients who’d benefit from the team’s
health skills.
Whakatāne Hospital ED Clinical Lead Dr Tamsin
Davies says, “They pick up a broad range of
things such as fitting appropriate splints, reviewing
medications and coordinating care in the community
for patients with complex health needs.
“It’s a shift from the traditional way of doing things
where those patients were only seen by those health
professionals once they’d either been admitted to a
ward or from an ED referral.
“For patients picked up by the ALPHA team what
we’re finding is that they are getting the healthcare
they need much sooner. Particularly our older patients
(75 plus), faster treatment means a better recovery and
less time spent in hospital.”
Dr Davies says some patients are also avoiding a
hospital stay altogether by being connected with the
right health support they need in the community.
The ALPHA team is part of a wider programme
underway at Whakatāne Hospital this year to improve
the care treatment pathway, making better use of
hospital resources and saving our patients time.
Service Improvement Programme Manager Fiona
Burns says, “We’re constantly looking at ways to
improve the timeliness and quality of care provided
at the hospital, we don’t want patients waiting
unnecessarily when there’s no good medical reason to
do so.”
“We have been monitoring progress closely and since
the programme began approximately 7 out of 10
patients are going home a day earlier.”
Globally research shows just a few days in bed
can reduce muscle strength and increase the risk of
complications, particularly for our frail older patients.
Getting older patients up and moving has been shown
to reduce falls, and reduce their length of hospital stay
by up to 1.5 days.
‘EndPJParalysis’ is something the hospital fully
ED Clinical Lead Dr Tamsin Davies with part
of the ALPHA team, Occupational Therapist
Ellise Robinson, Nurse Practitioner Theresa
Ngamoki and Podiatrist Amanda Johnstone.
supports. As part of our improvement progamme we’ve
designed activity plans for patients. Where appropriate,
patients can expect to be encouraged to get up and get
moving. “PJs say you’re unwell, clothes say you’re
getting better,” says Fiona.
Eastern Bay people
and lifestyle attract
new doctors
This month six new doctors start
their medical careers at Whakatāne
Hospital. For three, it’ll be a chance to
reconnect with the Eastern Bay people
and lifestyle they experienced
as students.
Each year the New Zealand Resident
Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) ranks
the nation’s hospitals in order of where
final year medical students would like to
work after qualifying. For the 2019 year
Whakatāne Hospital took top spot as most
preferred employer, with twice as many
applicants as positions.
Three of the intern doctors may be
familiar faces to some Eastern Bay
people. Kip Mouldey, Eleanor Harvey
and Alice Hunter were previously on
the Whakatāne based Rural Health
Interprofessional Programme (RHIP),
a joint student placement initiative
between the BOPDHB’s Clinical School,
the University of Auckland and Health
Workforce New Zealand.
Established six years ago, the five week
student placement initiative brings
together students from a range of
health disciplines including medicine,
nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, social
work, paramedicine, speech pathology,
midwifery, occupational therapy and
podiatry. The students live together in
student accommodation and learn together
looking at health through a rural lens.
Staying on local marae listening to
kaumatua about the history of local iwi
and how this relates to health as well as
visiting local industries are just some
of the things students are exposed to on
RHIP.
For this trio of intern doctors, it’s
the hospital’s supportive working
New doctors starting their medical careers at Whakatāne Hospital. Pictured left to right:
Mercy Moxham, Alice Hunter, Anahera Herewini, Eleanor Harvey, Ben Keren and Kip Mouldey.
environment, a desire to improve the
health status and reduce disparities within
the community and the great outdoor
Eastern Bay lifestyle that’s attracted them
back.
Kip Mouldey says he considers it a
privilege to start his medical career at
Whakatāne Hospital.
“As a student I got an up close look at
the health issues facing people living in
rural areas on placement at the Te Kaha
Medical Centre.
“It really broadened my outlook and
cemented my passion for rural health, and
improving the health status of Māori.”
The first year doctors will be here for two
years. In their first year they will work 13
week rotations across most specialities
as they work towards gaining full
registration.