Page 2084 - Week 06 - Thursday, 26 June 2008
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A new 16-bed intensive care unit, a high-dependency unit and a coronary care unit will be provided at Calvary Hospital to address the service needs of Calvary as part of the territory-wide network of critical care services. This will also incorporate a territory-wide ICU information management system.
The digital mammography initiative will result in the transfer of all equipment used for the breast screen program from the current analog modality to digital modality. Digital imaging provides many advantages in breast screening in relation to increased clarity of image, operational efficiencies and direct and improved client benefits and clinical outcomes. The digital system will include a purpose-built breast screen information system, an integrated picture archival communication system, a long-term archival system for large volume imaging and medical records, digital imaging equipment and associated computer connectivity and networking between equipment and screening sites.
The proposed neurosurgery suite at the Canberra Hospital will be among the most advanced neurosurgical operating environments in Australia and will enable significant improvements in the effectiveness of neurosurgery at TCH. The new environment will enable MRIs to be undertaken during surgery, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of surgery as well as safety to patients and improved patient outcome. Establishing this theatre for neurosurgery will also free up one of the existing theatres at TCH for other emergency and elective surgery work.
The capital asset development plan has identified the need to provide expanded health services to the community by the existing community facilities. The existing facilities are outdated and do not provide a seamless service to the community. These will be upgraded and, where necessary, redesigned with the capability to create walk-in centres and have closer information technology and clinical linkages with existing hospital and community services.
A SAPU at TCH will streamline the admission process for non-critically ill surgical patients, allowing for increased throughput and rapid turnaround of short-stay surgical patients. It will accept patients for up to 72 hours prior to transfer to surgical wards, or home if appropriate. This will enhance patient safety and quality of care and assist with the reduction of access block in our emergency department. This complements our successful MAPU, which was commissioned in 2007, and in the first 10 months of 2007-08, it has managed 969 episodes of care, provided a total of 3,767 patient days, operated at an average of almost 13 beds a day and had an average length of four days per stay.
Some 24 additional beds will be provided at Canberra Hospital. These beds will assist in dealing with the increased throughput for patients and the need to reduce waiting lists for surgery and deal with patient flows. A new skills development centre on the Canberra Hospital campus will provide skills training for medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, technical, administrative, managerial and clerical staff. The centre will be located at TCH, adjacent to the ANU Medical School, as part of an education and research precinct for ACT Health.
Project definition planning will essentially be a rigorous detailed planning and design stage, including decanting and staging strategies, and it will involve the engagement
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