Western Health is this week hosting internationally acclaimed Professor Brian Dolan who will present on what he calls “the most important currency in health and social care – patient time.”
His presentation and workshops form part of the third forum in our Best Care series, which looks at ways we can improve and deliver the best possible patient care.
Professor Dolan began a highly successful campaign known as End PJ Paralysis. It aims to help reduce falls and pressure ulcers and cut the length of time people spend in hospital by putting an end to “pyjama paralysis”. It has been embraced by nurses, therapists and medical colleagues worldwide to get patients up, dressed and moving.
Deconditioning through prolonged bed rest is one of the most common reasons for delayed discharge from hospital, with prolonged immobility a major factor in the decline in muscle strength and muscle mass, as well as physical and cognitive function.
The campaign has triggered changes with significant benefits for patients around the world – and Western Health hopes to embrace the End PJ Paralysis campaign to deliver the best possible patient care.
As members of the Victorian Care of Older People governance committee, consultant geriatrician Dr Clare White and Western Health Director of Community Services Jason Plant are hoping Western Health gets behind the campaign.
“Getting patients up out of bed can have enormous benefits,” said Mr Plant. “We know, for example, that for people over the age of 80, ten days in bed ages muscles by 10 years, and one week of bed rest can result in 10 per cent muscle loss.”
“The UK campaign has resulted in positive improvements in length of stay, pressure injuries, fall rates, staff and patient satisfaction. To add some fun to the campaign, participating health services encouraged staff to turn up to work in their favourite pyjamas,” he said.
The End PJ Paralysis 70-day challenge was first launched in April 2018 in the UK National Health Service. Its aim was to achieve one million collective days of patients being up, dressed and moving while in hospital. After six months this resulted in:
37 per cent reduction in falls
86 per cent reduction in pressure injuries
80 per cent reduction in patient complaints.
Safer Care Victoria has engaged Professor Dolan to learn how to establish this movement in Victoria, with expressions of interest to be sent out shortly, looking for motivated health services.
For more information about the campaign in Victoria see the Better Safer Care website.
For more information about the UK campaign see www.endpjparalysis.com
Prof Dolan has spent more than 30 years in various nursing, leadership, academic and consulting roles focusing on system re-design, culture, change and patient flow.
