April 2022 Update

Alannah with Curtin University supervisors Professor Gavin Leslie and Dr Janie Brown

ESCALATION System Clinical Simulation Study ACTION
With the completion of the study 'ACTION: Optimising educAtion for the esCalation sysTem through clInical simulatiON' we are delighted to share our key findings and recommendations below:
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• Using clinical simulation, we found the ESCALATION System education and training package was adequate to prepare health professionals with a variety of paediatric experience to use the ESCALATION System.
• Minor refinements are recommended to support implementation fidelity.
• Clinical simulation provides additional opportunity to practice using all components of the ESCALATION System.
• The clinical scenarios further enhanced the education and training program and can be used to support implementation of the ESCALATION System state-wide. 
• The state-wide ESCALATION System education and training package should be completed by all nurses and doctors who care for children.
• Additional strategies are needed to support nurses to voice their concerns about sepsis and clinical deterioration.
• State-wide scale up is feasible and, to be sustainable, the program should be integrated into routine education for health professionals.

 
In other news:

• Implementation of the ESCALATION System state-wide continues, with rollout at Armadale Hospital in March.          Fiona Stanley Hospital and Rockingham Hospital are commencing April and evaluations scheduled in May.
• For information about the state-wide rollout contact: Janine.Lemke@health.wa.gov.au
• In April A/Professor Fenella Gill is presenting about the implementation of the ESCALATION System at the              Annual Scientific Meeting on Intensive Care in Sydney.
• Congratulations to Dr Alannah Cooper on her PhD          graduation in February.

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PhD scholarship opportunity:

The PhD scholarship is funded through Curtin University as a support package for a research grant entitled: Embedding the ESCALATION System in WA Country Health Service. 
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide a full-time PhD stipend to enable doctoral research that aligns with the grant aims: 

• To use Implementation Science methods to 1) evaluate the scale up and sustain the implementation of the ESCALATION System (paediatric early warning system) in WA Country Health Service and 2) strengthen the family involvement component for Aboriginal families to maximise the benefits for Aboriginal children and their families.

 
The exact PhD topic is negotiable but must align with the above research grant. Preference will be given to those with an interest in acute paediatric and/or child health care, safety and quality, health systems research, early recognition of clinical deterioration, sepsis, co-design, Aboriginal child health outcomes, family involvement in hospital care.

Please contact Fenella Gill 0402881604 or f.gill@curtin.edu.au to further explore this opportunity.
For more information please visit the link Scholarship details | Curtin University, Perth, Australia

February 2022 Update

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ESCALATION System Clinical Simulation Study ACTION
Last month WA nurses and doctors participated in four clinical simulation days in the Perth Children’s Hospital simulation suite. The clinical simulations formed a component of the study ‘ACTION: Optimising educAtion for the ESCALATION SysTem through clInical simulatiON’.  
The study is funded by a 2021 Clinical Simulation and Training Advisory Network (CSTAN) grant and the WA Chief Nurse and Midwifery Office.

The aim of the clinical simulations was to assess if the ESCALATION System education and training program developed for Perth Children’s Hospital staff adequately prepares health professionals who work in other hospitals in WA. The results will inform the state-wide education and training program for the ESCALATION System to assist nurses and doctors to identify and care for children who are becoming more unwell in hospital.  There is a focus on involving the family and on sepsis recognition.

There were 14 participants who attended (11 Nurses, 3 Doctors) from Fiona Stanley Hospital, Rockingham Hospital, Bunbury Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital.  Participants had completed the ESCALATION System education and training program prior to participating in the clinical simulations. They participated in up to four clinical scenarios using the ESCALATION System.
Thank you to David and Jon at the PCH Simulation suite who ran the clinical simulations so beautifully. 
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​Feedback from participants about the ESCALATION System has been extremely positive. We are currently analysing the data and look forward to sharing our key findings.

Participants from Bunbury Regional Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital with Fenella Gill

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​Participants in action with actor Megan in the role of a concerned Mum