An innovative Royal Children’s Hospital program helping chronically ill children who have “grown up” at the hospital to “graduate” to adult care has won a Victorian Public Healthcare Award.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews tonight announced the hospital’s Transition Program had won the Excellence in Continuity of Care award.
Until the hospital implemented the program at the end of 2004, the idea of transition to an adult hospital was daunting for many teen patients and their parents, and some chose to drop off their long-term treatment and maintenance.
“But the time and effort the Royal Children’s Hospital put into its Transition Program has really paid dividends for its patients,” Mr Andrews said.
“This was really highlighted at a transitions conference in Toronto last year, where it was shown that the program was a leader in the field compared to other children’s hospitals around the world.
“Preparing early and gradually helps to reduce anxiety for the patient and their family.
“The adult hospitals have also played a key role in the Transition Program, and 10 clinics have been established in these hospitals to treat the young people with chronic complex conditions such as cerebral palsy or diabetes.
“This enables the young patients to seamlessly transfer their treatment and maintenance across from the Royal Children’s Hospital to the adult hospital, and continue to receive the help and support they need.”
Mr Andrews said more than 300 patients were transitioned to adult care last year, and each patient was contacted and surveyed six months after the transfer.
Two other health agencies were highly commended for their programs in the Excellence in Continuity of Care award category.
Otway Health & Community Services was highly commended for its family support program, which helps families prepare for and cope with a new child, even though the agency does not have its own birthing service.
Darebin Community Health was highly commended for its Northern Hearts & Lungs Service, which links hospital and community agencies to better manage chronic heart and pulmonary disease.
The Victorian Public Healthcare Awards were established in 2005 to celebrate the dedication and expertise of the people who provide publicly funded healthcare to the Victorian community. The awards have been embraced by the sector with great enthusiasm and generated considerable goodwill.
The award categories seek to honour the best health services and reflect important areas of practice across the health spectrum, regardless of the setting, service or specialty. With 10 categories plus the Minister’s and Premiers awards, they offer healthcare agencies the opportunity to be recognised for their commitment to providing the best possible care to the people of Victoria.
Representatives from health services, academia, non-government organisations and consumers judged the entries and the 72 judges, led by the Chair of Judging Dr Norman Swan, gave generously of their time and expertise to arrive at the finalist entries.
The 2007 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards give an illustration of the scope of innovation and excellence within Victorian healthcare and celebrates the health sector’s achievements.
Media contact: Tim Pigot on 9651 5799 / 0419 817 098. Contact www.vic.gov.au