Helen Boocock
I have some great news!
Yesterday we had the verbal end of accreditation presentation by our surveyors. I am delighted to tell you that we received no formal recommendations around improvements to our service and have effectively passed our first ACHS survey with flying colours.
I’ve had feedback that it is very unusual for a new hospital not to gain formal recommendations for change in their first year of business or their first full survey, which makes our result a standout.
I’m not going to highlight individual services and staff groups as, frankly, every service, floor and team were highly spoken of in the surveyors’ wrap up yesterday afternoon. A notable observation by the surveyors was that from the start of the survey to the end, every single staff member treated the surveyors with respect and kindness and, more importantly, you all demonstrated how proud you were to be a STARS staff member and how competent and compassionate you are.
A big thank you to Ella van Raders and the Safety and Quality team for pulling all our information together for our survey and leading and supporting our great safe, quality care.
On a slightly amusing note, the surveyors did think this courtesy, warmth and enthusiasm may have ‘waned’ a little towards the end of the survey – that it wasn’t completely legitimate and was a bit of a show for our survey team – however they noted with glee that it was maintained all the way through the survey, because that is who we are.
All the patients who our survey team spoke to were complimentary about our expertise, compassion and care, which is what we’re all about – great patient care.
The surveyors picked up on a phrase frequently used by our staff around a “healthy together” culture. I feel our support for each other and our patients is beautifully described through this phrase and endorses our great Best Practice Australia score from six months ago. Despite numerous challenges with COVID surges, floods, Code Purples, and a great deal of very tiring and challenging days for most of you, it is testament to our strength that we remain “healthy together”.
I couldn’t be more proud of us as a hospital and every single staff member, service and team. STARS has proved itself once more to be such an asset to our patients, Metro North Health and our community, and I can’t thank you enough.
Here’s to the next 12 months of STARS and an even better survey result next time 😊.
You are stars, and We Are STARS.
Have a lovely weekend.
Helen Boocock
A/Executive Director
Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS)