Friday 15 August 2025 | 13:25-14:50 

Format: Presentation

Stream: Safety

Part 1: Using Multi-pronged Integrated Program in Reducing Assault Incidence in a Long-Stay Forensic Psychiatric Ward

Assault incidents often pose significant challenges to patients, staff and the organization. These assaults, which can be both patient-to-patient and patient-to-staff, results in significant physical injuries, emotional trauma, staff burnout, and decreased morale. In a forensic long-stay ward at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), such incidents were frequent, necessitating a focused quality improvement initiative. The goal was to reduce the assault rate by 50% over a six-month period. The initiative focused on several interventions. A Patient Categorization Exercise (PCE) was introduced to group patients based on their psychiatric diagnosis, aggression risk, and rehabilitative potential. This facilitated better monitoring and individualized care plans. Token Economy system was implemented to incentivize patient participation in structured, rehabilitative activities, with rewards for maintaining assault-free behaviour. Staff also received comprehensive training designed to increase their confidence in managing challenging patient behaviours. Importance of empowerment and positive change agents was imperative for this initiative. 

Kalaivanan Dakshnamoorthy Institute of Mental Health; Singapore

Part 2: Achieving and Sustaining Reduction in Hospital-Acquired Complications in an Australian Local Health Service

Reducing prevalence of hospital-acquired complications (HACs) is paramount for both patient safety and hospital financial performance because of its impact on patient’s recovery and health service delivery by diverting resources away from other core patient care activities. While numerous reports available in the literature for projects that successfully reduce specific HAC, questions remain about the sustainability of this isolated approach and there may be benefits for more wholistic programs that aim to align prevention strategies across hospital. This study describes such a program that utilises evidence and theories in the literature to achieve and sustain reduction in HACs in an Australian local health service between 2019 and 2023.

Catherine Li Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group; Australia

Part 3: Care Transformation in the NUH Emergency Department: A Trifecta & Co-design Approach

Join us for an insightful peek into the mixed-method co-design approach behind award-winning improvement initiatives in the National University Hospital (NUH) Emergency (ED) & Children’s Emergency (CE) Departments, where multi-disciplinary teams tackle both process and service challenges to enhance patient experience and safety. This session will delve into NUH’s unique trifecta collaborative approach involving clinicians, nursing and operations. Learn how we engaged all stakeholders in effective change management and address the challenges faced by impacted job groups, ensuring both voices of patients and staff are heard during implementation. Additionally, discover strategies for leveraging different sources and types of patients’ feedback for iterating solutions to tailor-fit for a dynamic Emergency context. Attendees will gain valuable insights into creating a more responsive and agile patient-centric healthcare environment, making this presentation a must-attend for anyone committed to enhancing scores, reduce waiting time and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Jay Tan National University Hospital; Singapore