Mercy Hospital Dunedin

10/12/2024

Here is another one of our amazing 2024 quality projects! ‘Optimising the Paediatric Patient Journey Through Patient Centred Care’ was led by Sarah Girven, Theresa McKay, Jo Davidson, Beth Bennison, and Emma Dickson.

The Mercy Hospital paediatric interest group is revitalising the paediatric area in the Coolock Day Stay Unit to create a welcoming and interactive space that reduces anxiety and enhances the hospital experience for children and families. Previously outdated, the area lacked opportunities for interaction and distraction, crucial for alleviating anxiety among young patients. Staff education highlighted the importance of distraction in improving patient satisfaction and recovery. Initiatives are underway to transform the space, aiming to ease anxiety as children and families prepare for procedures in the operating theatre.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

The Mercy Hospital paediatric interest group is revitalising the paediatric area in the Coolock Day Stay Unit to create a welcoming and interactive space tha...

22/11/2024

Here is another one of our outstanding 2024 quality projects! ‘Opening the Door on Mental Health’ was led by Will Smith, Aine Mulqueen and Adele Tregoning.

This project aims to foster a positive culture and mindset around mental health within our organisation. Through Mental Health Awareness Week, we aim to reduce stigma and promote safe conversations about mental wellbeing. We emphasise equipping individuals with knowledge and tools to care for their own wellbeing and seek help when needed.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

This project aims to foster a positive culture and mindset around mental health within our organisation. Through Mental Health Awareness Week, we aim to redu...

13/11/2024

Here is another one of our wonderful 2024 quality projects! ‘Ahakoa He Iti He Pounamu - Although It Is Small, It Is Precious’ was led by Jay Cooper, and Alofa Lale.

Recognizing the importance of Te Reo Māori at Mercy Hospital, staff came together to plan Māori Language Week and later Matariki celebrations. These initiatives expanded into embracing other cultural events like Samoan Language Week and Pacific Pronunciation and Protocols sessions. The establishment of the Nga Paerewa/Health and Disability Standard prompted Mercy to create Māori and Pacific Organisational Plans. This led to forming the Māori Kaihautu/Leadership Team and Pacific Leadership Team, including staff, consumer representatives, and cultural advisors, to guide these plans' implementation.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

Recognizing the importance of Te Reo Māori at Mercy Hospital, staff came together to plan Māori Language Week and later Matariki celebrations. These initiati...

28/10/2024

Here is another one of our amazing 2024 quality projects! ‘Green for Clean’ was led by Tracey Birch, Nickie Canning, and Natalie Duley.

Anaesthetic settings face unique challenges, with an estimated potential for 1200 hand hygiene moments per hour under World health Organisation guidelines, highlighting significant infection risks. At Mercy Hospital, we identified inconsistencies in the airway trolley setup, posing a potential cross-contamination risk.

The airway trolley is essential for both routine use and emergencies, yet emergency equipment can remain exposed across multiple cases, increasing infection risks. To address this, the project team proposed a standardised setup with designated clean and dirty areas, to enhance infection prevention and control practices and ensure patient safety in anaesthetic care.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

Anaesthetic settings face unique challenges, with an estimated potential for 1200 hand hygiene moments per hour under World health Organisation guidelines, h...

11/10/2024

Here is another one of our amazing 2024 quality projects! ‘Bundle Your Noggin’ was led by Sarah Hydes, Amanda Dalton, and Allison Burnett

This was a collaborative project involving past craniotomy patients, their families, and healthcare professionals at Mercy Hospital Dunedin. The project developed a bundle of actions to improve patient preoperative preparation, inpatient care, and postoperative advice based on interviews and expert input. As a result, surgical site infections for craniotomy patients were significantly reduced.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

“Bundle Your Noggin” was a collaborative project involving past craniotomy patients, their families, and healthcare professionals at Mercy Hospital Dunedin. ...

03/10/2024

🌟 Proud Moment for Mercy Hospital! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that Mercy Hospital has been recognised with a world-class patient experience award based on our Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a measure of how likely patients are to recommend us to others! This incredible achievement reflects our commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care, and the dedication of our staff who consistently go above and beyond for our patients.

Thank you to everyone who trusts us with their care – your feedback helps us keep improving to deliver the best possible experience. 🙏💙

27/09/2024

This week, 23 to 29 September 2024, is Mental Health Awareness Week.

This year’s theme, "Community is what we create together", highlights the importance of connection and collaboration. This week at Mercy, we held daily activities to support and promote mental wellbeing.

Good wellbeing doesn’t just happen—it requires care, attention, and intention. This week serves as a reminder of the strength we find in community and the positive impact it has on our collective wellbeing.

Let’s continue to support and look after ourselves and each other—not just this week, but every day!

27/09/2024

Rounding out the award winners at this year's Quality Awards, 'Practice Makes Perfect, Simulation Makes Professionals' was a project led by Niki Bujak and Joanne Baxter. This project won the Highly Commended - Innovation award.

Simulation enables participants to safely navigate real clinical scenarios, refine decision-making, and enhance leadership skills. It fosters teamwork and transdisciplinary practice by coordinating clinical and communication skills. This project aimed to create a sustainable simulation program, overseen by a simulation committee, featuring brief in-situ simulations. The goal was to improve healthcare outcomes, minimise risk, ensure safety, enhance practice, and improve system performance at Mercy Hospital.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

Simulation enables participants to safely navigate real clinical scenarios, refine decision-making, and enhance leadership skills. It fosters teamwork and tr...

24/09/2024

On the 24th of September every year, Sisters of Mercy and their friends around the world celebrate 'Mercy Day'. This is the day on which the founder of the Sisters of Mercy - Catherine McAuley - first opened the House of Mercy in Dublin Ireland and dedicated it to Our Lady of Mercy.

This is a day to celebrate all the wonderful work Sisters of Mercy and their friends have done and continue to do around the world.

13/09/2024

'Optimising Oxygenation in PACU' led by Jenna Hales, was a project that won the Kotahitanga - Collaboration award at Mercy's annual Quality Awards.

While supplemental oxygen is crucial for addressing hypoxia, this team explored additional strategies for nurses to assess and treat low oxygen saturation, before introducing oxygen through nasal prongs. They developed the Optimising Oxygenation Loop, which uses nursing and physiotherapy skills to optimise patient positioning and teach deep breathing exercises, addressing hypoxia without immediate supplemental oxygen. This approach also educates nurses to improve patient assessment and communicate effectively with anaesthetists about oxygen management.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

While supplemental oxygen is crucial for addressing hypoxia, this team explored additional strategies for nurses to assess and treat low oxygen saturation, b...

30/08/2024

'The Mercy Way' led by Lianne van Egdom and Niki Bujak, was a project that won the Whakaute - Respect award at Mercy's annual Quality Awards.

Healthcare challenges, such as rising costs and nursing shortages, have worsened globally. Locally, COVID-19 exacerbated New Zealand's healthcare worker shortage, prompting leaders to find innovative solutions. One such innovation was integrating non-regulated Health Care Assistants, known as Kaiāwhina, into clinical nursing teams. Mercy Hospital used the Calderdale Framework to effectively integrate Kaiāwhina, ensuring the right skills are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

Healthcare challenges, such as rising costs and nursing shortages, have worsened globally. Locally, COVID-19 exacerbated New Zealand's healthcare worker shor...

16/08/2024

'Surgical Count Review' led by Shelley Nickerson and Natalie McLean, was a project that won the Atawhai - Care award at Mercy's annual Quality Awards.

A comprehensive surgical count for every patient is crucial in reducing the risk of retained surgical items. This project team reviewed current surgical count practices at Mercy Hospital, examined relevant literature and evidence, and developed a new, consistent approach to surgical counting procedures.

Learn more in the video below.

Thanks to the team at Firebrand - Marketing & Digital Transformation for the fantastic videography.

A comprehensive surgical count for every patient is crucial in reducing the risk of retained surgical items. This project team reviewed current surgical coun...