We are incredibly proud to have taken home two out of three Minister for Health awards at last night’s 2019 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards (VPHA).
The VPHA is an annual celebration of excellence, dedication and innovation in public health.
Monash Health is pleased to receive the awards for ‘Excellence in women’s health’ and ‘Improving the integration of care for patients with chronic and complex conditions’. Congratulations to our winners:
Excellence in women’s health – “Keeping mothers and babies together: a better way of assessing sepsis risk” – award accepted by A/Prof Ryan Hodges and Dr Alice Stewart
Monash Health was the first health service in Victoria to implement the use of the Neonatal Early Onset Sepsis (NEOS) calculator to provide individualised sepsis risk assessments that keeps more well babies with their mothers rather than exposing them to unnecessary blood tests, antibiotic therapy and admission to the neonatal unit.
The ‘keeping mothers and babies together’ initiative represents the integration of best evidence, innovation and team engagement to improve the quality and safety of care that Monash Health provides to babies and their mothers.
Improving the integration of care for patients with chronic and complex conditions – “Early Neurodevelopment Clinic” – award accepted by Dr Atul Malhotra, Catherine Machipisa and Francyne Finlayson
Preterm infants and neonates with complex neonatal conditions are at high risk of developmental disorders of childhood, including Cerebral Palsy (CP). Traditionally, CP was diagnosed at 1-2 years of age but new standardised assessment tools enable us to diagnose CP as early as three months old.
The Early Neurodevelopment Clinic was established in 2018 at Monash Children’s hospital for screening infants at high risk of CP using evidence-based assessment tools. The clinic follows a multidisciplinary model of care for chronic and complex conditions, enabling early intervention and support for infants and their families.
We would also like to congratulate our three finalists from Monash Health:
Minister for Mental Health’s Award for excellence in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Victorians – “Promoting recovery and trauma treatment in public health”.
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Award for excellence in public sector aged care – “Guardianship in Hospitals: a health services/OPA pilot program”.
Safer Care Victoria compassionate care award – “Delivering a better quality of life to patients with malignant ascites with in-home paracentesis via an indwelling drain”.