A VICTORIAN registered nurse has won a national aged care award for her work improving wound management.
Camille Koch, of Gisborne, has been hailed as a champion for change around best practice wound management strategies through her work with Macedon Ranges Health and Gisborne Oaks Residential Aged Care.
Camille picked up the individual distinction award at the HESTA Aged Care Awards in Canberra last month. She started her nursing career working in the acute care surgical ward, where she saw older patients with severe wounds.
This eventually led her to establish a multi- disciplinary Wounds Resource Team within Macedon Ranges Health to lead to improved practice, a reduction in wound severity and better documentation.
“I really wanted to prevent residents from developing wounds that require hospitalisation and the Wounds Resource Team aims to prevent and manage wounds holistically and in an evidence-based manner,” she said.
The team comprises registered and enrolled nurses, personal care assistants, occupational therapists, dietitians, a clinical nurse manager and podiatrists.
Winners at the awards night were recognised for their exceptional contribution to improving the life of older people in three categories: outstanding organisation, team innovation and individual distinction.
Another award winner was a north Queensland nursing home that was hailed for its groundbreaking program aimed at keeping residents out of hospital.
PresCare Alexandra Gardens in North Rockhampton received the team innovation award for its pilot sub-acute care program to better manage clinical deterioration among residents. In the project’s first year, the number of residents transferred to Alexandra Gardens fell by half and the total number of days residents were in hospital was reduced by 57 per cent.
Southern Cross Care in South Australia and the Northern Territory won an outstanding organisation award for its wellness program. Since launching gyms in 13 of its facilities across SA and the NT, fractures have dropped by just over half.
Director of operations Jo Boylan said the changes had been extraordinarily positive, with about half of all residents attending the centres.
HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey said the three winners reflected the vital work of aged care professionals in meeting the challenge of providing high-quality care and support to a growing number of older people.
“Our winners each have an amazing story about how they are making real differences to the lives of older Australians,” Ms Blakey said. Fourteen finalists were celebrated at the awards night.
