2005 Finalist

Hospital Clinical Skills Laboratory - Improving quality of care and patient safety

A clinical skills learning lab at Hutt Hospital is helping junior doctors improve their clinical examination and procedural skills after it was observed that many had never carried out or seen certain basic clinical procedures when they graduated.

Changes in health care provision such as fewer inpatients, quicker patient turnover and more community-based treatments have meant many new doctors and nurses no longer have the opportunities to establish and maintain their clinical skills.

Dr Iwona Stolarek raised money for the skills lab where staff can practice clinical procedures on manikins and test their examination skills on simulators.

Dr Stolarek says: "Patients want skilled, trained doctors. The only way to master a skill is to practice, and until recently the problem has been that the subjects necessary to practice on, were humans."

Junior doctors who have undergone a skills workshop in the lab are reporting they are happier and less anxious in their new positions, which improves job satisfaction, recruitment and retention.

"With better procedural and examination skills the quality of care improves and hopefully adverse events errors can be reduced," says Dr Stolarek.

Hutt Valley District Health Board
Contact: Dr Iwona Stolarek (04) 5666 999
Email: Iwona.Stolarek@Huttvalleydhb.org.nz