A program to save rural and remote renal dialysis patients unnecessary travel through the use of telehealth technology has been recognised as the best in the state at the 2017 Queensland Health and Department of Health Awards for Excellence.
The Queensland Health Regional, Rural and Remote Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to representatives from Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Renal Services at a gala awards event in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board Chair Mr Mike Horan said the award was a tremendous reflection of the innovative work of the DDHHS Renal Services team.
"To be recognised and honoured at such a prestigious event is a tremendous achievement," Mr Horan said.
"The DDHHS Renal Services project 'Reduce MILES, Spread SMILES' is based on the provision of specialist renal care via telehealth video-link for patients in rural and remote areas, and it is making a tremendous difference to the lives of patients throughout the DDHHS and beyond.
"On behalf of the Board I would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to the Renal Services team on their win, and thank them for their commitment to finding innovative ways to deliver enhanced patient care."
DDHHS Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies said DDHHS was well represented in the Regional, Rural and Remote Award for Outstanding Achievement category.
"In addition to the winning project from our Renal Services team, Toowoomba Hospital's Acute Geriatric Evaluation Services (AGES) Integrated Model of Care was also a finalist, and our congratulations go to both project teams," Dr Gillies said.
"The winning 'Reduce MILES, Spread SMILES' project has been largely driven by Dr Sree (Krishna) Venuthurupali, with support from medical, nursing administration staff in the renal unit at Toowoomba Hospital.
"The success of this initiative is evident in the fact that 25 per cent of all our chronic kidney disease patients have been seen via telehealth, with more than 100,000km travel saved since the project began."
Dr Venuthurupali, a senior staff specialist in nephrology, said the service had been extremely well received by patients.
"We established a telehealth service for renal patients because many of our patients are elderly, with multiple health issues, and also many of them don't drive, so as much as they want to come and see a specialist regularly, for some people that is very difficult," he said.
"With the telehealth service we do the first consultation here in Toowoomba, face-to-face, then when the patient is back in their local hospital or health care centre we can communicate via the telehealth link.
"All our DDHHS facilities have telehealth capability and we are also seeing patients from Southwest Hospital and Health Service, from places including Roma, Charleville, St George and Mungindi."
Director of Renal Services Dr Sridevi Govindarajulu said teamwork had been a cornerstone of the success achieved by the project.
"This award is great recognition, because it has been a team effort, particularly by staff in our rural and regional areas," she said.
"It's a way to complement face-to-face consultations and has provided a great outcome for many patients in those rural and regional areas."
---
Quelle/Source: The Chronicle, 14.12.2017
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
