Council activity

Page content: In progress | Completed

Projects approved by the VQC for development include the following:

In progress

• Clinical Governance
  In 2003 the VQC released the Better Quality, Better Health Care: A Safety and Quality Improvement Framework for Victorian Health Services, it was later revised in 2005.  The framework explores the roles and responsibilities of Boards, CEO’s, Senior Management, Consumers and Clinicians. Clinical Leadership is a strategic objective for the 2008 -2012 term of council.  It is anticipated that further initiatives will be undertaken to build on work completed in previous terms.
  Current Status: In Progress/Under review
  
  
• Consumer leadership - development program
  The VQC Consumer Leadership Development Pilot Program involving 18 participants commenced on February 6 and ran until October 2008.
  
  The program aimed to develop consumer leadership and effective participation in health care and included action learning workshops, a peer support network and mentoring.  Council is currently considering the future of this program.
  Current Status: In Progress/Under review
  
  
• Creating Safety: Addressing seclusion practices
  The VQC and the Chief Psychiatrist's Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) have formed a partnership to address the use of seclusion within Victoria's Area Mental Health Services. Full information on the project can be accessed at www.health.vic.gov.au/creatingsafety/
  Current Status: In Progress
  
  
• Data
  In 2008 the VQC released ‘A Guide for using Data for healthcare quality improvement’. In 2004 the VQC also released the Healthcare Quality and Safety Data Directory. The data directory is listed as a strategic objective and is due to be reviewed during the 2008 – 2012 term of council.
  Current Status: In Progress/Under review
  
  
• Falls Prevention
  The VQC has produced a number of different tools and resources to help to minimise the instances of falls in the acute, sub-acute and residential aged care setting.  Work is currently underway to develop an online falls education package, focusing on the link between individual risk factors and the prevention strategies implemented. The package is due for completion in August 2009.
  Current Status: In Progress
  
  
• Interhospital Patient Transfer
  A workshop was conducted in March 2008 and a report produced.  It is likely that further work will be undertaken in this area under the current council’s ‘Improving the Patient Journey’ strategic goal.
  Current Status: In Progress/Under review

Completed

• Acute Pain Management
  20 public and 5 private health services participated in the Acute Pain Management Measurement Toolkit (APMMT) implementation project. A final report was published in September 2008. The VQC has recently (June 2009) released an audit tool to support local measurement of acute pain management processes.
  Current Status: Completed 2009
  
  
• Change Management
  A proposed action of the 2005-2008 (term 2) strategic plan was to develop a paper to assist health services to implement and evaluate safety and quality activities. In order to introduce change successfully there is a need to understand change management. This paper has been developed to assist the “beginner” in project management or the clinician on the ward who has been given the responsibility of implementing practice change.
  Current Status: Completed 2006
  
  
• Clinical handover
  The clinical handover project conducted at three metropolitan and one regional health service was completed in December 2007.
  Current Status: Completed 2007
  
  
• Hand hygiene project
  The VQC Hand Hygiene Project was designed to provide common training, practical resources and promote culture change. Sustainability rests in existing systems and connections between infection control and quality programs.
  Current Status: Completed/Delivered to the department
  
  
• Medication Safety
  The purpose of this qualitative study (2004) was to gather qualitative baseline information on medication safety management practices in Victorian health services. The study was undertaken via a survey of Directors of Pharmacy to determine the current procedures in Victorian hospitals. For related information please go to Victorian Medical Advisory Committee: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/vmac/
  Medication Safety approach (248kb, pdf)
  Current Status: Completed 2004
  
  
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention
  The VQC produced two Pressure Ulcer Point Prevalence Surveys, consumer information material and online education packages addressing the basic elements of pressure ulcer prevention and management.  One package developed for use by clinicians (released in 2006) and the other for the residential aged care setting (released 2009).
  Current Status: Completed/Delivered to the department
  
  
• Process Mapping
  In 2007 the VQC produced a Process Mapping guide.  Having a variety of methods, or quality improvement tools, to guide activities, can make the process for change/review simpler and more logical for all involved.
  Current Status: Completed 2007
  
  
• Safety and Quality Education program
  Western Health, Wimmera Health Care Group and Colac Area Health completed a pilot of the five modules of the VQC Safety and Quality Education Program.
  Current Status: Completed 2007
  
  
• Sustainability
  The VQC included Sustainability in its work in March 2007. A report on Sustainability in Healthcare was commissioned and in October 2007 and a ‘Sustainability Symposium was held in Melbourne.
  Understanding the Sustainability of Health Programs and Organisational Change (73kb, pdf)
  Current Status: Completed 2007
  
  
• Test Results
  In November 2004 the VQC released a report on the Failure to Communicate Significant Abnormal Results’.  The report includes findings of case examples and current (as at 2004) evidence in literature.
  Current Status: Completed 2004
  
  
• Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
  The NICS VTE prevention program was undertaken from November 2005 to November 2007.  It aimed to improve use of VTE preventative measures in hospitalised patients, the assessment of all patients at risk and to integrate effective thromboprophylaxis systems into the core business of Australian hospitals.
  Current Status: Completed 2008

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