Patients benefit from award-winning hip op classes
Bob Gomersall, left, chairman of the Virtual College, presents Daniel Harte occupational therapist, Stephanie Lewis, physiotherapist, and Clifford Mitchell, service improvement faciltator, with the award for the hip op class initiative. INPT10-011
PATIENTS undergoing hip operations in Craigavon Area Hospital are going back to the classroom as part of a new initiative which recently won a major UK healthcare award.
The class informs and prepares patients for their operation and helps them adjust more easily to life after it.
Patients are given information about a range of issues including the surgical procedure, the role of each professional, precautions they need to take, mobility, exercises, transfers, personal care, domestic activities, returning to work, hobbies, driving and more.
A team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers in Craigavon Area Hospital began working together to deliver the classes last May and they now run every week. A group of five people normally attend each class and about 250 people will attend over the course of a year.
The Southern Trust team recently won the Best Impact on Patient Experience Award for the initiative at the Lean Healthcare Academy Conference and Awards Event in Leeds.
Local man Derek Woods underwent a hip operation and said the information he was given before his operation was “very clear, with questions fully answered”. Derek added, “A year later I feel really well. I am walking miles and I play golf three times a week.”
Letters about the pre-operation class are sent to patients to encourage them and a family member or carer to attend, with the purpose being to give a clear indication of what is involved in the surgery and what to expect after the operation.
In the class, a skeleton is used to explain the surgical procedure and what patients can and can’t do after the operation. Video is also used as part of the learning. Patients also complete a questionnaire which helps to reduce duplication and saves time for both staff and patients.
Daniel Harte, occupational therapist at Craigavon, said the aim was to reduce anxiety by giving patients all the information they needed.
Dr Gillian Rankin, southern trust director of acute services, said, “Bringing staff from different teams to work together in a very novel way is really improving the patient experience and winning this award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the success of this initiative.”
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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