
Setting the standard for the way we do things at Northern Health
This week, Northern Health launched the ‘Internal Standards for Safe Patient Flow.’
These standards establish clear and unambiguous description of values and behaviours and support flow of patients, from arrival in the Emergency Department, to leaving hospital. They centre around the patient journey and process of care and help to confirm expectations and roles of staff across their journey.
Debra Bourne, Chief Operating Officer, officially launched these standards on Monday, 27 February 2024.
“The Internal Standards for Safe Patient Flow set the tone for how we do things at Northern Health and will help guide our staff on how to support our patients, and each other, across the journey of inpatient care,” said Ms Bourne.
“Through widespread consultation and extensive benchmarking, we have developed 16 standards, which align with our three values of safe, kind and together. They have been created, and agreed to, by our clinical leaders and endorsed by the Northern Health Access Committee.”
Staff will begin to see and hear about these standards at regular staff meetings, huddles and events across the health service.
“The power of these standards to influence safe patient flow will come from clinicians translating these into professional behaviours, and by individual staff members demonstrating these in their daily interactions with fellow staff and patients,” said Ms Bourne.
“These standards help to confirm expectations and roles of staff across the patient journey, and I am looking forward to seeing their impact on our operations and our community.”
Please see the below document or click here for further information.
If you have questions about the standards, please discuss these with your direct line manager.