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Patient Safety DVD

15 November 2011

Partnering with You in Your Care

St John of God Health Care has produced ‘Partnering with You in Your Care’, a patient safety DVD to encourage patients and their families to ask questions and provide feedback, in particular if they feel things are ‘just not right’.

This is part of a global trend towards a shared model of care, with health consumers moving along the spectrum of participation to become active participants in their care. With all of the evidence pointing to improved patient outcomes, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.

On a strategic level, we will be asking consumers and patients to partner with us in the review, planning and development of our health services, while on a day-to-day level, we will be encouraging patients to join us in an open communication model of care to improve patient safety and reduce the number and severity of adverse events.

Group Manager Clinical Risk, Mrs Chen Anderson, who drove the project, said while the informational DVD is a quick and effective way to communicate with our patients, it is equally important that front line caregivers, clinicians and other people are exposed to the DVD because it requires a shift in culture from one of providing care to shared care.

“The benefits to patients and the organisation, including increased staff satisfaction, are potentially significant so we will be promoting this initiative enthusiastically,” she said.

This example of evidence-based practice at its best also aligns with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care’s standard ‘Partnering for Consumer Engagement’, the Western Australian Health Department’s ‘Patient First Program’, and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standard’s EQuIP5 program which focuses on patient-centred care.

Patients will be encouraged to view the film either prior to admission via an online version located at www.sjog.org.au/about_us/patient_safety.aspx or on admission via a variety of A/V channels, backed up by an accompanying brochure. It will also be used for staff orientation and in-service training.