Management process for the admission and discharge of a Bariatric patient. - Melbourne Health

Melbourne Health "Management process for the admission and discharge of a Bariatric patient". The package provides guidance to Melbourne Health staff to ensure the safe handling of bariatric patients throughout Melbourne Health and to - a) reduce the risk of injury to staff and patients b) ensure the patient is moved in a comfortable and dignified manner.
Melbourne Health is a major public health provider in Victoria.

What was the issue/s at the workplace?

Melbourne Health provides care for an increasing number of Bariatric patients (previously referred to as obese or morbidly obese) who require specialised equipment and work practices.
Emerging industry issues
- Healthcare professionals encountering bariatric patient in all clinical settings
- Care of the Bariatric patient becoming an area of nursing and allied health specialisation
- Occupational hazards for Bariatric patients need to be identified - detailed information outlined on immediate solutions for their safe handling and broader recommendations regarding their long term management

What did you do to control it/resolve it?

Objectives
- Defined "Bariatric" and defined "Bariatric patient at Melbourne Health"
- Identified the potential hazards and risks associated with managing Bariatric patients throughout each step of the hospital stay.
- List the determined risk controls for elimination or minimisation of each hazard and risk
- Determine current Bariatric equipment resources within Melbourne Health
- Develop a Bariatric equipment list and determine how to access the equipment (buy/hire)
- Identify and communicate with other stakeholders needing involvement
- Update "Manual Handling of Bariatric Patients" Policy (once equipment in place)

Who did you talk to about the issue/s or who helped you resolve it?

Organisational wide project
Short term working party established to research issue and recommend risk controls.
Membership include
Managers, OHS reps, key stakeholders from the following areas.
Executive sponsor, medical staff, radiology staff. allied health, clinical assistants, Divisions of Surgery, Division of Medicine, Neurosurgery, OHS services, Critical Care, Emergency

What was the outcome? How is the workplace better now?

Key Outcomes
The Management Process for the Admission and Discharge of a Bariatric Patient.
- Risk assessments documented throughout each phase of the patients journey through the hospital
- Specific bariatric equipment to be purchased in line with working parties recommendations
- Purpose designed bariatric areas located in Emergency, ICU, 5 South West and Rehabilitation
Process of Continuous Improvement
- Bariatric design needs to be considered as part of further building and development projects
- Ongoing monitoring of equipment list in consultation with key stakeholders
- Ongoing monitoring of incident reports and claims relating to management of bariatric patients

*Disclaimer:
The publishing of entries on the WorkSafe Awards website and or/the granting of an award does not constitute any endorsement by WorkSafe Victoria of a product, method or service, or the occupational health and safety performance of the workplace. Monthly Champions must undergo expert review to progress through to the stringent validation and judging process and can only progress to the next stage of entry once WorkSafe are satisfied that the entry/entrant has met the relevant award category criteria and terms and condition of entry.

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