Neurosurgery Network Projects
Achievements:
- Development of a Model of Care for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of medication refractory movement disorders.
- Completion of a cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) of DBS for the treatment of medication refractory movement disorders.
- Development of a Neurological Observation Chart.
- Development of an Education Package to accompany the introduction of the Neurological Observation Chart.
- Appointment of a temporary part-time Project Officer to implement a Pilot Program to trial the Neurological Observation Chart and education Package.
- Paediatric Neurosurgical Nursing representatives from John Hunter Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead have joined the Network Executive.
- Convention of an annual (multi) Allied Health Disciplines Clinical Day.
- Election of two members of the Network Executive to the roles of President and Secretary of the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses’ Association (ANNA).
- Amalgamation of Interventional Neuroradiologists (INR) into the Network
Current priorities:
- Table DBS Model of Care and CEA for DBS at the DoH;
- Develop a financial build for DBS to be tabled with State Treasury;
- Complete and evaluate Neurological Observation Chart pilot project;
- Develop Standards of Care for 24 hour micro-discectomy including extended day-only (EDO);
- Nomination of a neurosurgeon from the Network Executive to join the Surgical Services Taskforce;
- Writing Version 2 of the Combined Clinical Audit Database minimum data set;
- Developing a state wide neurosurgical services referral plan;
- Begin establishment of a state and national Shunt Registry;
- Working with the Demand and Performance Evaluation Branch to refine the neurosurgery specific data extracted from the Surgery Dashboard;
- Establishing a generic list of consumables for INR services for the purpose of bulk purchasing;
- Consumer initiated project to establish the compulsory wearing of protective head gear on ski slopes