ORANGE hospital has ticked all the boxes following a three-day accreditation check designed to measure the hospital against national standards.
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The hospital was reviewed in the compulsory 10 clinical categories, as well as an optional five categories.
Naturally, general manager Catherine Nowlan is thrilled with the result and says all staff at the hospital are to be congratulated for the massive effort to come through accreditation with a perfect score.
“We couldn’t have achieved these standards without the fantastic health care team which we have here at the hospital,” she said.
“Potentially we could have had 350 recommendations to be actioned to improve our systems and procedures and there was not one,” she said.
“In all the years I have worked in health I have not been in a hospital where this type of achievement has come about over so many categories.”
During their examination of the systems and procedures at the hospital, the panel carried out random checks on patient information, following through from their initial assessment to ongoing treatment or discharge.
The additional categories the hospital put forward for accreditation related to workforce planning and management, information management, property services and systems (including waste management and WHS procedures and corporate function).
The panel comprised St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne pharmacist Toni Howell, Royal Prince Alfred obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Jock Murray, financial executive management NSW representative Ben Sherman, and Registered Nursing Executive Nursing South Australia representative Di Norris.
Ms Nowlan said among the procedures that came under the microscope were the hospital’s approach to patient falls, any medication errors, blood and blood products and infection control.
“Staff were also interviewed about the way they carry out their jobs and the procedures they follow,” she said.
Ms Nowlan said the panel was particularly impressed with the level of community engagement at Orange hospital.
“They told me Orange seems to have a real sense of ownership, which is shown by the art and health program placing artworks around the hospital, and the number of volunteers who come in every day from the Wayfinders, to the Blue Ladies and Men, the [Hospital] Auxiliary and the grandparents group volunteers,” she said.
Dubbo hospital will undergo accreditation next month and Bathurst hospital will go through the process in December.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au