Western Health’s Best Care Awards recognise individuals and teams providing exceptional care that is person-centred, coordinated, right and safe, and that reflects our values of compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and safety. In this year’s awards ceremony, the greatest contributors to providing ‘Best Care’ were acknowledged for their efforts over the course of the year.
Over the duration of the awards, a high calibre of candidates were recognised for their contribution to providing best care at Western Health.
“These awards are great opportunity to showcase the work of so many individuals at Western Health, who go above and beyond for their patients,” said Julia Harper, Western Health Foundation Director.
“Over such a difficult and intensive year, it was important to take a step back and celebrate the initiatives and projects that have improved and supported the provision of best care to our patients”.
The judging panel reviewed more than 20 applications across six award categories. The award recipients are as follows:
- Safe Care Award, sponsored by Maxxia
Fay Walsh, Dr Ruwani Mendis and Dr Maria Coperchini from Sunshine Palliative Care Unit for their project: ‘A better way: individualised falls prevention in palliative care. - Right Care Award, sponsored by Maxxia
Kimberly Brown, ICU Liaison Service for her project: ‘The implementation of a safe handover process using a multidisciplinary approach for critically ill patients in the ICU’. - Co-ordinated Care Award, sponsored by Maxxia
Jodie Antoniou, Suzie Ristevski and the team behind the West Metro COVID-19 Vaccination Program. - Person-Centred Award, sponsored by HESTA
Marlies Wanasili, Community Based Rehabilitation for the early support discharge for neurological patients’ project, and Alex Potter and Marie Hughes, Disability Liaison Service for the Sedation Vaccination Clinic - Emergency Department Award, sponsored by BankVic
Dr Tristan Harding, Sunshine Emergency Department, for the Sunshine SmileyScope project. - Best Care Award, sponsored by Best Care Governance and Support Division
Kylie Fisher, Paul Connors and Jo Mapes for the ‘Meeting the COVID demand in the West’ How the perioperative and critical care division responded through COVID surge.
"These awards would not be possible without the support of our corporate partners. Their generous donations enable staff to design, develop and implement projects and initiatives that have a positive impact on our patients and contribute to their experience at Western Health,"
— said Julia.
Each of the award winners were provided with a monetary reward valued up to $5000 – courtesy of the Foundation’s corporate partners; BankVic, Hesta and Maxxia. All Award winners will also receive a keepsake trophy to proudly display in their respective areas.
A list of award winners can be found here, alongside more information on each project.