Williams, Justine

Haste, Mark

Williams, Michael

Kangaharan, Nadarajah

Mathai, Deepa

Ilton, Marcus

2019-05-01

The Lighthouse Hospital Project – Phase 3 (LHP) is a joint initiative between the Heart Foundation, the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association and the Australian Government. The aim of the project is to reduce the incidence and impact of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples with acute coronary syndrome. The Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) are aiming to achieve this by providing care that is culturally safe and appropriate, responsive, accessible, evidence based and clinically appropriate. Implementing projects that will improve the experience of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Enhancing co-ordination of care between hospitals and other primary health care providers. Over the past 12 months strategies have commenced, examples of the work actioned in Coronary Care Unit (CCU) include DAMA de-escalation flow chart, assisting staff to activate increased support to reduce DAMA. Tracking and ensuring clinical discharge summaries are completed and sent to the correct Aboriginal Medical Service, leading to better care and follow up on discharge. Welcoming the patient to CCU has been a focus and welcome bags and a welcome brochure were developed. The space of CCU was repainted and artwork procured to soften the clinical space. The RDH LHP remains in progress and evaluation to date show positive results. The strategies put in place are leading to better engagement and communication with all consumers and in turn enhancing relationship building, patient care delivery and focusing on reducing DAMA rates.

The Royal Darwin Hospital Lighthouse Hospital Project - Improving Care Williams, Justine et al. Heart, Lung and Circulation, Volume 28, S49 - S50. DOI 10.1016/j.hlc.2019.05.129

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/13908

The Royal Darwin Hospital Lighthouse Hospital Project - Improving Care

Journal Article

Publication