Cognitive impairment in hospital is often associated with adverse outcomes, such as falls. For some people with cognitive impairment and for their carers and families, a hospital stay can be a negative experience. Staff may struggle to provide the right care in the absence of appropriate education and training.
In recognition of cognitive impairment as an important safety and quality issue, the Commission has included specific items in NSQHS Standards (second edition).
Through the cognitive impairment program, the Commission is supporting health service organisations to improve the safety and quality of health care for people with cognitive impairment.
Patients at risk of specific harm are identified, and clinicians deliver targeted strategies to prevent and manage harm.
Integrated screening and assessment processes are used in collaboration with patients, carers and families to develop a goal-directed comprehensive care plan.
Leaders of a health service organisation establish and maintain systems and processes to support clinicians to deliver comprehensive care, and establish and maintain systems to prevent and manage specific risks of harm to patients during the delivery of health care. The workforce uses the systems to deliver comprehensive care and manage risk.
Escalating care
Correct identification and procedure matching
Minimising restrictive practices: restraint
Preventing delirium and managing cognitive impairment
Preventing falls and harm from falls
Preventing falls and harm from falls
Preventing falls and harm from falls
Designing systems to deliver comprehensive care
Partnering with consumers
Applying quality improvement systems
Integrating clinical governance
Applying quality improvement systems