Bairnsdale Regional Health Service is embarking on a review of its Emergency Department to ensure it maximises its resources and is prepared to meet the demands of the East Gippsland community now and into the future.
The project began this month and seeks to develop new service delivery options and models of care that set up the Emergency Department (ED) for the future, as East Gippsland’s population grows.
BRHS is working with Melbourne-based health consultancy Vative Healthcare on the review. Project Leads and experienced BRHS ED nurses Alex Trimnell and Karina Thompson are working with Vative Healthcare experts Karen Barker and Elisa Tumino. The project is expected to finish in September.
BRHS Chief Executive Officer Vicki Farthing said the goal is to ensure the ED is able to manage the increasing number of patient presentations into the future. “As East Gippsland’s population continues to change and grow, we are placing consumer-centred care at the heart of this review,” she said.
“Just like other health services in Australia and around the world, BRHS has seen how coronavirus has put additional pressure on our team, and we know that East Gippsland’s population is both growing and aging as more and more people opt to live in our region and enjoy its lifestyle benefits.
“So, we’re taking a strategic approach and refining our service delivery and processes to keep pace with anticipated demand in the years ahead.”
The ED review project is overseen by Manager Strategic Projects Julie Lawrence, a BRHS employee of 17 years’ standing who has extensive nursing experience, particularly in the ED.
She said the project team is gathering presentation data, observing current clinical systems and processes and providing their clinical and project expertise to give the BRHS Board of Directors a clear plan for the ED’s future operations.
“Our Emergency Department is a critical part of our health service because the team cares for patients who have life-threatening or other conditions that require urgent medical care,” she said.
“We have the only Emergency Department between Sale and Bega in NSW, and we serve a very large part of Victoria. This review will enable us to do our work as efficiently as possible into the future.”
