Media release from Southern Cross Healthcare Group

Southern Cross Hospitals has won a New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association (NZPSHA) 'Leaders in Quality' Award for an innovative medicine management and IV therapy certification initiative.

The private hospital network's online medicine management certification module was the winner of the NZPSHA's 'Leaders in Quality' Clinical Practice/Innovation Award.

Southern Cross Hospitals CEO Terry Moore said, "Previously each hospital had its own certification education and testing process. This was less than ideal, so the module was developed with the aim of having a standardised medicine management certification process."

The module spans the network's nine wholly-owned and four joint venture hospitals.

Mr Moore said with certification not yet standardised between all District Health Boards, there had been strong interest in Southern Cross Hospitals' approach from the health sector.

"The online certification module is designed to standardise knowledge requirements and practices throughout our network, while also accommodating each hospital's differing policy and procedures. So it certainly has applications elsewhere."

He said a single online certification process created significant efficiencies for Southern Cross Hospital's extensive clinical education programme and when tracking staff completion.

"It's also had the flow on effect of ensuring our hospitals are consistently using the most current, evidence-based knowledge to inform clinical practice, and therefore providing an environment for optimal patient outcomes."

The content and online tests are aligned with national standards such as the recently released Intravenous Nurses of New Zealand (IVNNZ)  infusion therapy standards of practice. The practical component of certification continues to be assessed  within the individual hospitals.

Nearly 600 nurses and anaesthetic technicians have successfully completed the new certification process. All nurses and anaesthetic technicians complete the certification on induction, and again throughout their career at Southern Cross Hospitals as required.

Southern Cross Hospital's joint venture Ormiston Hospital was also the joint winner of the NZPSHA's 'Leaders in Quality' Clinical/Non Clinical Support Award for the design of a facility equipment and systems guide. This was designed to be a comprehensive but simplified guide that could be used by a range of people within the hospital to allow for clear, robust decision making when and if issues arise.