Northeast HealthWangaratta

Is it possible to improve the elective surgery waitlist framework

in a sub regional health service?

Presenter: Peter Simpson-White Elective Surgery Coordinator

Innovation Poster SessionHRT1215 – Innovation AwardsSydney 11th and 12th Oct 2012

3-3b_HRT1215-Session_MILLNER_CARRUCAN_WOOD_ADHB_NZ

Northeast HealthWangaratta

DEMOGRAPHICS

•3 Operating theatres

•220+ beds

•5480 theatre attendances 2011-12

X 3

•No staff specialists

•No outpatient referral clinics on-site

•VMO allocates patient surgery date

Northeast Health Wangaratta

Northeast HealthWangaratta KEY PROBLEM

Low % of elective surgery patients treated within clinically

recommended time

Northeast HealthWangaratta AIM OF THIS

INNOVATION

Primary Objective:

Increase % of elective patients treated within

clinically recommended time to - 95%

Secondary Objective:

Increase compliance of Elective Surgery Access Policy to - 100%

Northeast HealthWangaratta BASELINE DATA

89% of all elective surgery patients treated within clinically recommended time in September 2010

38% Elective Surgery Access Policy compliance measures could be assured

Northeast HealthWangaratta

KEY CHANGES IMPLEMENTED

Governance procedures• Reference documents• Peri-operative Services Committee

Regular auditing regimes • Validate the status of waiting

patients• Review compliance measures

Real time front end database• overall waitlist statistics• display by VMO or specialty• individual patient narrative

Northeast HealthWangaratta

OUTCOMES SO FAR

97% of all elective surgery patients treated within clinically recommended time in July 2012

100% of Elective Surgery Access Policy compliance measures could be assured

Northeast HealthWangaratta LESSONS LEARNT

Achievements The establishment and hardwiring of:

• Regular auditing regimes• Real time data availability • Collaborative governance

Remaining challenges• Aligning theatre utilisation with the

waitlist