Colac Area Health Annual and Quality of Care Report 2009

Day Surgery Unit
At Colac Area Health, a high proportion of patients
are admitted via the Day Surgery Unit (DSU) and
are either transferred to the Acute Care Unit postoperatively
or discharged home from DSU.
Day Surgery staff work collaboratively with the
Preadmission Discharge Planning Coordinators,
Operating Suite and the Acute Care Unit to provide
continuity of care.
Staff are committed to continually improve
the service. This year, quality activities within
the unit have focused on a review of patient
discharge sheets, patient satisfaction with patient
information on wound management and updating
of surgeons’ pre operative preparation.
Staff continually update their skills and
professional development by attending internal
and external education sessions. This year, all
DSU staff attended a Preceptor Workshop. This
has assisted us in providing support to nursing,
medical and work experience students. All staff in
DSU embraced this opportunity.
In June 2009 Associate Nurse Managers
successfully completed reassessment for Advanced
Life Support. Examples of other education
attended include:
• Intravenous cannulation competency
• Enhancing Practice Program.
Julie Allen (Associate Nurse Manager) is currently
undertaking Advanced Diploma of Management.
Jenny Lang RN Div 1/Julie Allen RN Div 1
Associate Nurse Managers
Day Surgery Unit
Haemodialysis Unit
The Haemodialysis Unit at Colac Area Health has
been operational since November 2007. From
the establishment of the unit, it has grown from
treating one patient per week, to accommodating
up to six patients per week. There are currently
four regular patients from Colac and surrounding
districts utilising the facility, requiring treatment
three days per week. Some of these patients travel
up to 45 minutes to attend the unit at Colac.
This financial year has seen many enquiries for
holiday placements for patients requiring dialysis
whilst on vacation. Some of these requests
have come from as far as New Zealand. As well
as undertaking dialysis for renal patients, the
Haemodialysis Unit treats patients requiring day
stay infusions from other departments within the
hospital.
Staff have continued to demonstrate their
commitment to ongoing education by attending
study days at Barwon Health and attending renal
conferences.
In the next financial year, the day to day
management of the Haemodialysis Unit, will shift
from Perioperative Services to Acute Services. We
look forward to working more closely with the
Acute Care team.
Finally, in recognition to the care provided by the
Haemodialysis staff, a DVD player was donated
this year by a patient’s family. This kind gift allows
patients to bring in their own DVDs to watch. All
patients are very appreciative of this thoughtful
donation.
Helen Morrissy
Registered Nurse
Haemodialysis Unit
26 Colac Area Health