Portland District Health Annual Report 2005 - South West Alliance of ...

Medical Services DivisionKey Points• Clinical Case Reviews: In order to improve thequality of services over a wide range of clinicalservices, a total of 10 case reviews was conductedfrom January 2005 – June 2005. Outcomes fromthese have improved systems related to quality ofclinical care.• Credentialing and Scope of Practice: A documentwas prepared outlining the Clinical Scope ofPractice for all disciplines of the Portland DistrictHealth medical workforce. This document wasaccepted by all VMO’s and incorporated into theCredentialing policy. The credentialing processwas conducted incorporating the guidelines fromthe Australian Council for safety and Quality inHealth Care. In all disciplines representativesof the relevant colleges were in attendanceto comment on the college requirements forcredentialing.• PDH has completed this process and all VMO’s ofthe service, are fully credentialed to work withintheir limitations (scope of practice). The processis ongoing and all VMO’s will be credentialedevery 3 years, to ensure that all discipline complywith the quality and safety standards of PDH.• Documentation Audits: Documentation auditsto ensure compliance with the quality standardsare conducted on a monthly basis. From theseaudits improvements in clinical note keeping arebecoming evident. The current documentationpolicy has been updated to reflect the changein quality requirements. Audits will now beconducted to ensure compliance with the policy.• Mortality and Morbidity Meetings: All deathsat PDH are audited to ensure best care wasprovided at all times. The results of these auditsare discussed in a multidisciplinary forum.• Maternity Services: 2004 – 2005 saw the birthof the Woman and Child Health Clinic inPercy Street. The Wentworth women’s Clinic,Warrnambool Pediatricians Group and GPObstetricians operate from these premises. Theseservices are being integrated with midwiferyservices of PDH. We hope to expand this serviceto incorporate some Family and Child HealthServices.Performance2004/2005 has been a turbulent year with variousissues relating to the medical workforce beingaddressed.The continuation of Medical services after hours hasbeen a problem and a more permanent solution to theproblem is being addressed at present.Medical recruitment remains a high priority ofPortland District Health. We are actively seekingGP’s, anesthetists and obstetricians to complementour current workforce.OutlookOur ultimate aim is maintenance and provision of afull range of appropriate quality medical and alliedservices to the community.An exciting future awaits PDH with a major projectbeing that of establishing a PDH Medical Centre toensure accessibility to GP’s. I am positive that theafter hours situation will be solved within the comingyear.Recruitment will continue to ensure continuationof services. As we have an aging specialist medicalworkforce, succession planning will includerecruitment of specialist medical staff to Portland.RadiologyDoctors Woolner and MartinKey Points• Nancy Woolley retired in early June after 20 yearsas Radiology Receptionist/Medical typist. Nancyis currently holidaying overseas before returningto take up retirement at ‘Allora’ near Heywoodwhere she and her husband Les have establishedan olive grove.• Other staff changes have seen the addition ofMarlene Tait as Receptionist/Medical Typist, andJillian Goldsworthy has joined us in this area aswell.• Meegan Mulvogue is with us as Radiographeruntil early December when we hope to obtainthe services of a new Graduate Radiographer.• Visiting radiology group Western DistrictRadiology have two new radiologists Dr JohnNagorcka and Dr Neale Walters who now attendour Radiology department on a rotating roster24