Queensland Health’s most innovative staff were awarded for their fresh approaches to services at the recent 2011 Healthcare Improvement Awards ceremony in Brisbane.

Twelve award winners were acknowledged during the ceremony held as the showcase of Queensland Health Week 2011 from more than 300 abstracts.


Health Minister Geoff Wilson said more than 300 abstracts were submitted for the awards with 29 finalists selected in each of the nine categories.


“The quality of those abstracts was outstanding. They demonstrated that our staff are committed to delivering innovative services sooner and closer to home.


“It was terrific to recognise the hard work of clinical, research, non-clinical and allied health staff from all areas of Queensland Health.


The two special award winners announced last night were:

Director-General’s Award for Best Demonstration of Queensland Health Values – High Schoolers Hooked on Health Care, Sunshine Coast Health District.

Minister’s Award for Best Innovation – Remote Assessment and Management of ill infants by Telemedicine, Metro North Health Service District.


The Award category winners were:

Theme 1: Acute and chronic disease prevention: promoting better community health and well being

  • Dr Rachel Cole – A resource to develop supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating in local government areas, Division of the Chief Health Officer.


Theme 2: Better Clinical practice: better patient outcomes

  • Dr Tim Donovan – Remote assessment and management of infants by telemedicine, Metro North Health Service District
  • Nina Muscillo - Embedding standardised capture and transfer of accurate medication information, Clinical and State wide Services.


Theme 3: Consumer partnership: Improving healthcare together

  • Michelle Edwards – Effective consumer involvement in the establishment of an early psychosis service, Gold Coast Health District.


Theme 4: Improvement through leadership development: better culture better care

  • Debra Cutler – Seizing the future at The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Health Service District.


Theme 5: Improving Indigenous health outcomes: closing the gap

  • Masoud Ali-Akbari – Reducing the burden of acute Rheumatic Heart Disease, Division of the Chief Health Officer (Cairns)
  • Mandy Gibson – Indigenous young women’s social and emotional wellbeing program, West Moreton Health Service District.


Theme 6: Non Clinical improvement initiatives fostering collaboration towards health service delivery

  • Lorelle Rounsefell – Respectful pathways to success and recognition, Mackay Health Service District


Theme 7: Research informing healthcare improvement: from bench top to bedside

  • Professor Ajay Rane – Perigee - born in Townsville and changes the world of prolapsed repair, Townsville Health Service District.


Theme 8: Right place, right time, right care: improving access to patient care

  • Dr Elizabeth Whiting – Right patient, right time, right technology, Metro North Health Service District in collaboration with the Centre for Healthcare Improvement.


Theme 9: Skilling for the future - innovative skills and systems development

  • Judith Singleton – Upskilling the pharmacy assistants and technician workforce, Clinical and Statewide Services.