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Projects
Victoria is fortunate to have a well developed surgical services system that offers high standards of safety and quality. Despite this, there are opportunities to improve systems of care and patient experiences at all stages of the surgical journey. A number of recent projects have focussed on the systems that provide care in order to improve care delivery to Victorians.
- Improving emergency surgery
- Improving emergency surgery services in Victorian public health services is a priority for the Department of Health in Victoria. Two documents have been developed to assist health services to improve emergency surgery services:
- 'A framework for emergency surgery in Victorian public health services' was prepared in consultation with the Emergency Surgery Working Group, to assist Victorian health services to maximise the quality of emergency surgical care.
A framework for emergency surgery in Victorian public health services
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A literature review of good practice in management of emergency surgery was developed in consultation with the Emergency Surgery Working Group
Good practice in management of emergency surgery: a literature review
- 'A framework for emergency surgery in Victorian public health services' was prepared in consultation with the Emergency Surgery Working Group, to assist Victorian health services to maximise the quality of emergency surgical care.
- Matching capacity and demand in elective surgery
- The Department of Health with the assistance of Victorian health services staff has produced a tool to assist health services to better manage their theatre capacity and surgical demand. This tool focuses on the balance of elective and emergency surgery, demand for surgery and the operating theatre schedule.
- Wireless operating theatres
- Wireless technology for surgical services: enables improvements in patient tracking, supply chain management, communication and access to clinical information. Further information is available in the document:
The wireless operating suite: A review of good practice - June 2009 - Extended day surgery
- Extended Day Surgery models of care build on the day surgery and day of surgery admission principles that have been developed and refined over the past ten years. Extended Day Surgery care models recognise that selected procedures, not otherwise suitable for day surgery, can be provided within a 23-hour period in a non-inpatient environment.
Extended day surgery: Guidelines for the implementation and evaluation of 23-hour service models in Victoria - Prompt assessment for patients referred for joint replacement surgery
- Osteoarthritis is a condition amenable to early intervention. When left untreated osteoarthritis can cause the joint to degenerate to the point that joint replacement surgery may be required. An initiative funded under Stage 2 of the Commonwealth Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan provided early comprehensive assessment of patients by a physiotherapist and subsequent fast-tracking to surgical assessment as required.
For many patients, provision of conservative management helps them to be in better shape to recover from surgery or prevent the need for a joint replacement altogether. Osteoarthritis Hip and Knee Services have been implemented in 14 Victorian public health services. All services report reductions in time from referral to assessment by an orthopaedic surgeon with most reporting this time has halved.
For further information please see the Osteoarthritis (OA) Hip & Knee Service website. - A better model of care for morbid obesity
- Obesity is a major health problem for Victorians. Obesity is the cause of preventable health problems and mortality. It is strongly linked to type two diabetes and is a risk factor for many other chronic conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and arthritis. Care for patients who are morbidly obese is complex.
Although surgery has a relatively minor role in the overall fight against obesity, it does need to be considered for a small segment of the population whose health is seriously compromised by morbid obesity.
Bariatric surgery service self-assessment tool - August 2009
Surgery for morbid obesity: Framework for bariatric surgery in Victoria's public hospitals - Fast-track surgery
- Recent efforts to improve patient outcomes and to reduce hospital stay focus on enhancing postoperative recovery with a multimodal approach. The concept of fast-track surgery, also known as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has evolved as a result of recent evidence-based advances in the care of surgical patients. These models aim to consolidate best practice evidence to promote more rapid return of a patient's normal function and activity after both major and minor procedures. This will result in faster discharge and reduced length of hospital stay without an increase in patient complications or readmissions.
More information including reports of a Department of Health funded Fast-track pilot program for major abdominal surgery in three Victorian hospitals can be accessed through the following links.
Fast-track surgery: A summary of the evidence
Brief review: Fast-track surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs - March 2009
Report to Department of Health- Enhanced recovery after major abdominal surgery Fast track Surgery- A pilot into fast track for major abdominal surgery - Paediatric Orthopaedics
- The Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network supported by the Department of Health has overseen the development and implementation of a range of initiatives to strengthen the capacity of statewide specialist paediatric orthopaedic services and has worked to position the system to better respond to complex challenges. These achievements and the futre directions of the system are outlined in the Paediatric orthopaedics: recent achievements and future directions - May 2009.
More information on Paediatric orthopaedics including a range of comprehensive resources for patients and carers and clinicians can be accessed through the Victorian Paediatric Orthopaedic Network website.
