Quality Improvement
Our Quality Improvement focus this month, November 2024, is Whooping Cough Vaccines.
Pertussis
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Tasmania has seen an increase in Pertussis (Whooping Cough) cases. There have been 72 confirmed cases to end of June 2024. This compares to five cases in the same period to 2023.
Vaccination Advice
It is important to maintain an up to date vaccination status. This is particularly important for:
- Pregnant Women (recommended between 20-32 weeks in each pregnancy). This protects infants in the first few months of life (Government Funded)
- Babies and young children (Government Funded)
- Adults who care for/or are in frequent contact with infants under 6 months of age who have not received a booster in the last 10 years. This may include partners of pregnant women, grandparents, older children living with an infant and people who work with infants (including healthcare and childcare workers)
Patient Feedback Survey
We would like to share with you the results of our recent Patient Feeback survey that many of your participated in.
The three top domains are:
Communication and interpersonal skills of admin staff
Interpersonal skills of clinical staff
Privacy and confidentiality
The three lowest domains are:
Provision of information
Continuity of care
Access and availability
The lowest performing items
Everything ran on time
I am able to see a doctor quickly when I need to
It is easy to make an appointment for a day and time that suits me
Suggested improvements
Everything ran on time:
- Our reception staff already try to contact patients ahead of their appointment if their doctor is running particularly late and they have long wait times expected. phoning more patients to advise the wait time of their doctor.
- Reception staff advise patients of how many patients are in front of them on arrival if their doctor is running behind time.
- If an emergency for a nominated doctor occurs reception staff will phone patients and advise that their doctor is running behind schedule.
- Our practice information sheet advises patients of our need to run on time and how just 4 minutes extra per consultations means that the doctor is one hour late by lunch time. This information is also on our website and noticeboard in the waiting room. Patients have the option to book longer consultations if necessary.
- Our doctors are aware of time constraints on appointment times and where possible will ask patients to come back for a follow up appointment if they have more than one issue to address.
I am able to see a doctor quickly when I need to
- Our appointment diary allows for urgent on the day appointments, and Urgent appointment time slots which only become available on the day. This allows for patients that require urgent attention and cannot wait for the next available appointment to obtain an appointment asap.
- Communicate processes for handling urgent requests from patients.
- We have introduced open access appointments for nominated doctors for patients that need urgent appointments on the day. This is in addition to our on the day appointments and urgent appointment time slots. These appointments run of an afternoon between 2pm – 5pm.
- Discussion is happening about extending our weekend clinics to not only allow for urgent on the day appointments but to have a doctor that will see their normal patients on a Saturday morning to allow for patients that cannot get to their doctor between normal working hours.
It is easy to make an appointment for a day and time that suits me
- We currently have Hot Doc on line book service. Patients can book via this app 24/7 so they do not have to rely on the practice to be opened to make an appointment.
- We currently have a cancellation/waitlist notification system so cancelled appointments can be filled and more patients can be accommodated. We need to ensure that this cancellation list is followed up and patients are recalled for appointments when we have cancellations.
- Patients are encouraged to make a follow up appointment for any test results, scripts etc as they leave the practice.
On Call Weekend Clinic - November 2024
- Nov 2nd & 3rd : Patrick Street Clinic
- Nov 9th & 10th : Victoria Street Clinic
- Nov 16th & 17th : Patrick Street Clinic
- Nov 23rd & 24th : Victoria Street Clinic
- Nov 30th & Dec 1st : Patrick Street Clinic
- Dec 7th & 8th : Victoria Street Clinic
Covid and Shingles Vaccines Clinic
Covid
Victoria Street Clinic has recommenced Covid vaccination.
Please book your vaccination by phoning 6425 2900 directly.
Shingles
The Shingrix vaccine (Shingles) was added to the National Immunisation Program for people over the age of 65 on the 1st of November 2023.
This vaccine replaced the previously funded Zostavax vaccine. Please contact the clinic to check your eligibility for this vaccine. Shingles presents as a painful rash, most commonly with blisters and can be followed by chronic pain.
Due to high demand and ordering restrictions there may be a wait, therefore please contact the clinic to arrange your appointment.
Continuous Improvement Statement
We thrive to improve our quality of service and access to medical care for our community. Our most recent improvements include:
Quality Improvement - We identified that we had a large number of patients that are eligible for a health assessment or GPMP. To successfully improve this, we employed two new chronic disease nurses and nominated one of our receptionists to be our Health Assessment coordinator responsible for bookings etc.
In 2023 we undertook an osteoporosis quality improvement through Reframe Osteoporosis Bone Bus. The plan was to identify and recall patients at risk of osteoporotic fractures on the search list and commence appropriate treatment for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.
This was very successful, and we will recommence this again in 2024.
Doctors – We continue to maintain the number of doctors at the practice, including 12 doctors and one registrar. We will have 2 new registrars joining the practice from July 2024.
Education
Plans are in place to organise training for our team including customer service elements.
Updated website
We have redesigned our website to become more attractive to the prospective appointment of GPs and registrars, optimizing the opportunity to recruit.
This is an ongoing project.
Computers – Consulting rooms now have dual computer monitor screens for ease of use and increased productivity.
Telephones
A new cloud-based phone system has been purchased. This phone system has helped to create a more flexible and efficient workflow for reception and includes an automated call logging system.
Theatre Equipment - Equipment and upgrades
We have a doctor that is very interest in Skin Procedures and eventually we would like to be able to run more of a skin clinic.
We have a dedicated theatre room for Removal of Lesions and small procedures. We currently run 3 procedure clinics per week
We are currently improving our waiting room to reflect a calming environment by updating the paint and adding some additional plants. We have listened to our patient feedback and have removed our “Church Pew” in the nurse waiting area and replaced it with waiting room chairs.
Important Notice
- Tasmanian Lung Service Appoinments 2025
Tasmanian Lung Service will no longer be with us starting in 2025. Their last day with us is the 11th of December 2024 and from January 2025 they will be seeing our patients at Health Dynamics Devonport (Shop 1/142 William Street Devonport - in the Fourways).
- Dr Ginita Oberoi is still on maternity leave 🙂
Dr Ginita leaves her patients in the trusted hands of the other amazing doctors of Victoria Street Clinic while she is on leave. If you are a patient of Dr Ginita and need any further info, questions answered or alternate bookings made while she is on leave- then please call 6425 2900 and speak to one of our receptionists.
