Strengthening Wound Management Practice in Victoria

Introduction

Skin integrity is a significant issue for older people. Complications from chronic wounds significantly reduce quality of life for many older people. The treatment of chronic wounds also places a considerable burden on the Victorian health system, a situation that will only increase as the population ages. The Strengthening Wound Management Practice strategy aims to benefit older people and staff caring for older people and strengthen wound management practice across the state. The funding is targeted to older people living at home and in public sector residential aged care services (PSRACS).

Rural Region Wound Management Clinical Nurse Consultants

This initiative aims to improve outcomes for clients in rural Victoria who are receiving Home and Community Care (HACC) funded district nursing and bush nursing services and residents of high level care public sector residential aged care services (PSRACS) by establishing wound management clinical nurse consultant (CNC) positions. CNCs provide access to expert advice in the management of chronic and complex wounds and build capacity in staff through mentoring, on site support and the delivery of specialist training sessions. The equivalent of one full time position has been established in each rural region.

For more information visit: Victorian Rural Wound Management Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) project
http://www.grhc.org.au/vic-wound-man-cnc-project

Evaluation of regional wound management (CNC) initiative

The department has undertaken an evaluation of the Regional wound management clinical nurse consultant (CNC) initiative. The evaluation conducted by Campbell Research and Consulting, showed very positive results and has underpinned the department’s decision to fund the regional wound projects through Home and Community Care growth funds in 2012-13.

The executive summary from the Campbell Research and Consulting evaluation report is provided below.

The department agrees that the focus of the CNC positions should continue to concentrate on:

• strengthening wound management practice through providing consulting services such as clinical reviews and clinical leadership and
• ongoing training and workforce development through workshops including on-line delivery and workplace training and support.

In the next phase of the projects, the ongoing strategic directions for the positions will be jointly developed and managed by department Regional offices in collaboration with the funded projects and CNCs.

Connected Wound Care project

This is a collaborative project between the regional wound management clinical nurse consultants, the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) and the department. The Connected Wound Care project has joined the expertise and experience of the CNCs and RDNS staff to focus on targeted strategies to support more consistent and quality wound care practice with nursing staff in high care PSRACs and HACC district nursing and bush nursing centres.

The focus of the first phase of the project has been on developing educational and information resources to assist nurses and the people they care for in preventing and managing wounds. A suite of materials has been developed including:

• Connected Wound Care – 'How to use' booklet.
• Three (3) health care guides for nurses covering nutrition for people with wounds; the assessment and management of skin tears; and care of wound equipment and dressing field.
• Six (6) health care guides for individuals receiving care covering activity and healing for venous leg wounds; care of high-risk feet; footwear for high-risk feet; healthy eating for healing; skin care and care of compression garments.
• A diabetes foot resource kit for rural/regional sites. This tailored education kit has been developed to assist nursing staff to educate and enable individuals to independently care for their feet, and help prevent future problems.
• Promotional posters.

The anticipated benefits of the resources for nurses and individuals across the state are:

• Improved wound outcomes by educating nursing staff and individuals in important areas related to wound care
• A more standardised clinical approach to wound care
• A more independence promoting approach to wound care.

The department has distributed copies of these resources to all high care PSRACS and HACC funded district nursing and bush nursing services in rural regions.

To download electronic versions please go to the following website -
http://www.grhc.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:connected-wound-care-project&catid=36&Itemid=193

For more information please contact the clinical nurse consultant in your region.

Funding for Special Equipment in PSRACS

Support has also been provided to public sector residential aged services to maintain the skin integrity and comfort of frail, older residents. In April of this year, over $1.5 million of funding was provided to public sector services across Victoria for new specialised electronic beds with pressure care mattresses. This builds on over $10 million of state funds previously invested in beds and mattresses specifically for aged care residents living in public sector services.

Download

Regional wound management CNC initiative evaluation executive summary 2012 (175kb, pdf)

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