Layla Hehir Receives Leadership Award For Pop-up Simulation

Southern DHB Registrar Recipient of Leadership Award For
Pop-up Simulation Programme

Southern DHB Registrar, General Surgery, Layla Hehir has become the recipient of the 2017 Open for Leadership Award for her patient safety in-situ pop-up simulation programme, with a focus on deteriorating patients.

Southern DHB nominated Ms Hehir for the award, which recognises, celebrates and shares the work of emerging health care leaders who have made a difference to patient care.

Through the 2017 Southern Innovation Challenge, a contest where staff come up with innovative ideas to improve the quality of service at the DHB,Ms Hehir proposed to identify patient safety issues through an in-situ simulation programme – creating simulated medical scenarios for staff relevant to their clinical practice.

“Simulation is at the cutting edge of medical education with a focus on patient outcomes,” says Ms Hehir. “Scenario training is a very useful technique to recognise and manage a deteriorating patient. It can also be used as part of the quality cycle to test and improve hospital systems and guidelines.”

Ms Hehir, with the support of Clinical Skills Lab Co-Director Ohad Dar, has already successfully trialled the programme at the Dunedin Hospital, and has initiated a Simulation Working Group with plans to implement the programme organisation-wide.

“We’re delighted Ms Hehir has received this award,” says Southern DHB Executive Director of People, Culture and Technology, Mike Collins. “Ms Hehir has put the patient at the centre of this programme and harnessed her passion and innovation to bring it to life. We support this becoming standard training for clinical staff to contribute towards improved health outcomes for our patients.”

The Open for Leadership Awards are part of the Health Quality and Safety Commission’s ongoing partnership work with health providers to build capability and leadership, and share best practice.

The Award will be presented to Ms Hehir by Janice Wilson, Health Quality and Safety Commission Chief Executive on Thursday 18 January, 2018. Ms Hehir will be awarded a trophy, certificate and a free place at a Health Quality and Safety Commission event of her choice.

ENDS

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