Information technology enables the rapid relay of critical information across multidisciplinary clinicians, ensuring they remain up to date with treatment modalities and aware of current policies that may influence their practice. In burns care, existing communication platforms—such as email distribution, ad hoc education sessions, and various organisational implementation strategies—are commonly used to disseminate essential information to staff. Despite technology making communication easier, important updates are still often missed by frontline staff due to the volume of emails they receive and the difficulty of accessing them amid competing clinical priorities.
The Royal Darwin Hospital Burns Service developed an innovative e newsletter for all health professionals involved in burns care. The Newsletter is developed as a Quality Improvement activity that promotes engagement to users accessing it. The newsletter is created using Microsoft Sway, featuring visually engaging, easy to navigate pages that can be accessed instantly via QR code. The vol. 1 of the newsletter has reached to about 200 health professionals and contains information such as new policy updates, a year in review in burns, education opportunities and burns rehabilitation. The newsletter will be distributed every 2 months and ensures each content contains practical information for health professionals across different health settings.
References:
Brown J, Ali Z, Dao A, Wong M, Raghavan R. A Resident Led Newsletter Is a Powerful Communication Tool. HCA Healthc J Med. 2024 Jun 1;5(3):371-376. doi: 10.36518/2689-0216.1701. PMID: 39015596; PMCID: PMC11249169.