Published on 11 October 2022

At Western Health, we are committed to providing quality care that is person-centred, co-ordinated, right and safe. In essence we are committed to Best Care.

Best Care is how we demonstrate the Western Health values in everything we do; it is how we demonstrate compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and safety (CARES).

To provide Best Care we must always listen to our patients and their families, ensure that our care is informed by their needs, wishes and goals, and constantly review what we do so that we continue to deliver high-quality care.

Often when we use the words Best Care, we think of the contribution our clinical staff make to patients. But at Western Health, everyone has a role in delivering our commitment to Best Care. It should be front of mind and demonstrated by all staff and volunteers, whether you are patient facing or part of one of our support teams like me. Best Care is everybody’s business.

Supporting us in the efforts to lead, drive, create and achieve Best Care is the Division of Best Care Governance and Support (previously known as Quality, Safety and Patient Experience).

The division, with the leadership oversight of Lisa Smith (Director Best Care Operations) and Alison Rule (Director Best Care Governance Systems) is showcasing its services during Advancing Best Care Week from 7 to 13 November 2022.

There will be more information to follow about the program of events for Advancing Best Care Week. But for now I wanted to let you know that submissions are open for the Best Care Awards 2022, with winners to be announced during Advancing Best Care Week.

Best Care Awards 2022

Every day, I see and hear amazing examples of Best Care at Western Health – some will be showcased in the upcoming Inspire Awards.

If you have recently completed a project demonstrating how your service aligns to Best Care, I encourage you to submit your entry to the Best Care Awards 2022 and help us recognise and celebrate the high-quality care we provide.

Prizes in the form of departmental funding are available from our corporate sponsors Maxxia, BankVic and HESTA for the following categories:

  • Person-centred care – Person-centred care involves seeing the person in every patient and providing care that is welcoming, respectful and designed to engage the patient in their health care decisions.
  • Coordinated care – Coordinated care entails prompt access to patient services, resulting in an effortless patient journey that is designed to optimise time to care through efficient services provisions.
  • Right care – Right care implies providing appropriate, equitable and effective care for each person.
  • Safe care – Safe care supports the design and delivery of care and services to patients to minimise the risk of patient harm.

The awards recognise either a completed or proposed improvement project or initiative.

For more information about the submission and entry requirements, visit the Live Best Care microsite. Submissions close 5pm Friday 4 November 2022. Winners will be notified on Friday 11 November 2022.

For any questions, please direct enquiries to: BestCareAwards@wh.org.au