Congratulations to Central Adelaide Local Health Network’s clinical and clinical-support staff named as finalists in the 2024 SA Health Awards, announced today by the Department for Health and Wellbeing.
The Awards recognise the skills, commitment, and excellence of our healthcare professionals and demonstrates the valuable contribution they provide for the South Australian community.
Well done to seven CALHN finalists across six categories of the highly competitive awards, and thank you for helping to shape the future of health with world-class care and world-class research.
Award winners will be announced in November.
Premier’s Award – Healthcare for Future Generations
Sustainable healthcare for SA with CALHN’s Kangkanthi clinical services building
Opened in July 2024, CALHN’s Kangkanthi clinical services building at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a flagship for South Australia. Home to critical healthcare services, Kangkanthi showcases successful engagement and co-design with consumers to create sustainable benefits for generations to come. Through collaboration, the project team delivered the first all-electric public hospital building, creating a world-class facility that all South Australians can access and be proud of.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing
Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing (PPMP) is a collaborative model of care, where credentialed pharmacists work in partnership with doctors and patients to ensure timely, accurate and safe prescribing of medications. The pilot has shown significantly fewer undocumented medication discrepancies and lower potential risk of patient harm compared to usual care. To date, over 1,500 patients have received care using the PPMP model with the successful pilot expanding across LHNs.
SA Pharmacy, Statewide Clinical Support Services, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Minister’s Award for Innovation
Prioritisation in the Pocket (PiP)
The Prioritisation in the Pocket (PiP) tool designed to help healthcare workers identify patients that need complex medication review. By algorithmically streamlining the identification of complex patients and targeting interventions in medicines management, PiP reduces preventable medication- related harm. Integrating data from Sunrise EMR, PiP empowers healthcare workers to deliver timely, expert care, improving patient outcomes and supporting the sustainability of hospital pharmacy services.
SA Pharmacy, Statewide Clinical Support Services, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Dr Phil Tideman Award for Improving Access and Equity
RAH Burns Unit is Improving Healthcare Access and Equity Across South Australia
The RAH Burns Unit has expanded its delivery of exceptional patient care, outcome-focused research and innovative practice from metropolitan Adelaide to regional/remote SA. Through our Rural Education Program, Burns Link Program, telehealth consultations and educational resources, local access to specialist clinical expertise is now available across our state. Travel burden, financial duress and social disruption are reduced for patients and practitioners. This model is adaptable for other healthcare specialities.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Improving Patient Care
FAAIRI Service for management of children IV access
FAAIRI is the first nurse-led comprehensive paediatric vascular access service in South Australia and nationwide. Through ultrasound guidance, 98% of patients (mostly babies and children) get their IV inserted successfully from the first attempt avoiding unnecessary pain, vein damage and psychological trauma caused by failed attempts which was common before FAAIRI service, ensuring optimal care for children particularly those with chronic conditions who require regular needles.
SA Medical Imaging, Statewide Clinical Support Services, Central Adelaide Local Health Network / Women’s and Children’s Health Network
Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Health
Aboriginal Women’s Business Clinic
The Aboriginal Women’s Business Clinic provides access to cervical cancer screening, prevention, and gynaecological needs for Aboriginal women at the Wonggangga Turtpandi Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service in Port Adelaide. The already successful clinic commenced in May 2024 and was immediately well attended with successful lifesaving treatment provided for Aboriginal women including colposcopy and timely access to surgery and other women’s business procedures.
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care
Improving Patient Safety at CALHN with Disinfection Caps for PICC Lines
Hospital-acquired infections via peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) lead to illness or death, increased length-of-stay and elevated healthcare costs. A multidisciplinary RAH team initiated a care bundle including alcohol disinfection caps to reduce PICC-associated infection in blood cancer patients. After 16 months of implementation, the CALHN team detected over 70% reduction in infection rate. Disinfection caps are an effective, sustainable, and adaptable approach for patient safety and quality of care.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
