In this presentation, find out how Gold Coast Health created a software platform that can model the spread of any communicable disease in any city or region. The platform was used to accurately model the 2020 COVID-19 outbreaks in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast and is also being used to inform the potential impact on hospital and ICU admissions, resource utilisation, and to explore potential vaccination strategies and their interaction with social restrictions.

In response to the restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior music therapist at Gold Coast Health introduced a new way of working with patients to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and enhance self-expression.

Clients were invited to participate in ukulele lessons in the form of individual and group lessons, with patients encouraged to continue learning in their own time. Client behaviour was observed during the lessons with positive changes seen in attention, memory and self-expression. Clients also showed high rates of motivation.

The Digital Sepsis Algorithm Project is designed to test the sensitivity and specificity of a sepsis algorithm developed by the Westmead Hospital in New South Wales using data in the ieMR to predict the onset of sepsis. The algorithm uses both rigid data sources such as pathology data and vital signs, as well as free text contained within the record. As a time-sensitive medical emergency, faster identification and management of sepsis leads to better patient outcomes.

Sit, Talk and Yarn—or STaY—is an innovative suicide prevention initiative in Cherbourg, implemented under the Darling Downs Indigenous Health Unit. Dovetailing best practice suicide intervention with a whole of community approach, the service is drastically improving support provided to consumers identified as lower risk in the clinical setting.

Through embedding non-clinical interventions, connecting support networks and embedding social and emotional wellbeing principles in the standard model of care, the project is destigmatising suicide and improving outcomes for the community.

The team developed a culturally and clinically appropriate preoperative health and wellness check by phone to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are appropriately prepared to undertake surgery.

Utilising clinical and administrative data, the team developed a script to give Nurse Navigators all the information they need to ensure the consumers are informed and comfortable to continue with their care.

Biosecurity restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic presented significant obstacles to clients in affected communities accessing care. For the residents of Yarrabah requiring dialysis, this threatened to displace them from the community to continue to access life-sustaining haemodialysis.

Not only did this model support the continuation of life sustaining care, the move on Country reduced travel time for consumers and costs for the service, which can be reinvested in delivering more care.

Waijungbah Jarjums means place of mother and child and is a one-stop community service that provides continuity of care for First Nations People. Our service offers continuity of care by a known Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwife and child health nurse from conception to the first 1000 days (2 years).

Truly co-designed, the model was built in consultation with families and through meaningful partnerships with the local community and organisations with one goal: to not only safely bring jarjums into the world but welcome them into the community.

Based out of Princess Alexandra Hospital, this model of care improves access to kidney transplantation services to First Nations communities across the state.

Indigenous-led and proudly supported by the National Indigenous Kidney Taskforce and Clinical Excellence Queensland, the team have liaised extensively with local Elders and traditional custodians to ensure that the outreach truly meets the needs of the community.

From appropriate education to face-to-face yarning, this on Country outreach is drastically improving transplantation rates.

The Ambassador program is focused on the proactive engagement of patients and visitors to improve the patient experience to prevent and/or reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviours.

In collaboration with the Surgical and Perioperative Nursing leads, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s Protective Services team, and QOVSU, it was established that the trial would be undertaken in the three most high-risk wards who regularly house complex surgical patients.

Darling Downs Health know that selfcare and wellbeing looks different for everyone and that their people experience a wide range of thoughts, feelings and reactions, especially when presented with the challenges posed by a global pandemic.

To keep their team mentally and emotionally strong during the disruption caused by COVID-19, they developed a multi-modal staff wellbeing support system, including support from the clinical psychology team to resources for self-guided mental health strategies.