Wound Awareness Week
Wound Awareness Week is running next week from 15-21 August. Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) has been leading a Wound Management Pilot Project over the past 13 months since June 2021.
WVPHN has worked closely with four general practices located in the Wimmera Grampians region on quality improvement activities and education to upskill the practice’s clinical staff in the treatment of hard to heal wounds. One practice has since established a nurse-led wound clinic.
Education was provided by Professor Geoffrey Sussman and a suite of health literacy resources were developed for consumers. Where possible allied health, pharmacy and district nurses were included in our training to adapt a cohesive approach to treatment and dressings.
Results from the Pilot include:
- 65 patients within the Wimmera Grampian region accessed the services available to them reducing the need to travel great distances to access wound care
- 14 Latrobe University scholarships & 19 William Light scholarships were awarded as part of the project to upskill nurses from the Wimmera Grampians region
- 224 people attended online webinars delivered by Jan Rice, covering Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Venous Leg Ulcers
- Health Literacy resources were developed in partnership with Healthily, this included five educational videos on Wound Care, including ‘When to Worry & What to Do’ and Good Wound & Skin Hygiene which can be accessed here.
Further wound education is being delivered by Professor Geoffrey Sussman across Hamilton, Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Ballarat with 227 people currently registered. To register, please see Westvic News or visit our website.
Please visit HealthPathways for more information on Wound Care here.
Consultations for Chronic Conditions Support Services
Chronic conditions support service providers are invited to attend one of a series of upcoming consultation sessions as WVPHN moves toward an enhanced, new model for service delivery.
WVPHN is committed to ensuring the chronic conditions support services we commission are delivering the right outcomes for both patients and health providers. Chronic condition support organisations and services – large and small – are invited to take part. This includes both current and non-current providers in the WVPHN region.
National Stroke Week
This week is National Stroke Week, running until 14 August, with this year’s campaign focusing on: Act FAST to enjoy precious moments.
The campaign is asking you to help others to keep enjoying precious moments by sharing the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke message with your patients, family and friends. Resources are available here.
For more information, visit the HealthPathways Stroke pages here.
Red Nose Day
Red Nose day is this Friday (12 August), inviting Australian’s to get silly for a serious cause to raise much needed funds to help stop little lives being cut short and support grieving families.
According to the Red Nose Day website, funds raised over the last 30 years have resulted in an 85 per cent reduction in sudden infant deaths. That’s 11,357 babies saved and counting.
For resources, including posters for your clinic, please visit the Red Nose Day website here.
Please visit HealthPathways for more information on infant health and decreased fetal movements.
Rowena Clift
Chief Executive Officer