The Continual Improvement team at Tennant Creek Hospital has been focussing on the hospital journey for patients with cognitive impairment.

Patients with a cognitive impairment are more likely to experience a fall resulting in harm, develop complications like pressure injuries and pneumonia and have an increased length of stay in hospital.

Tennant Creek Hospital Manager, Michele Smith said “Our team has implemented some straightforward and inexpensive changes to the design and fabric of our care environment and we’ve noted a considerable impact on the well-being of our patients.”

An activity lounge with comfortable chairs, a television and a wall mural painted by local artists has been developed as well as a dementia kit with games and activities.

“A number of patients have commented that the mural makes them feel like they are back home in the bush. A range of artworks created by local artists and donated by friends of the hospital and staff, adorn the ward corridor providing conversation starters and points of interest,” she said.

“We supply paints and canvases and for long-stay patients we personalise their bed space with a pin-board and photos of people and places of meaning to them.”

“The other real advantage we have here in Tennant Creek is that each hospital room opens onto the courtyard allowing that interaction with the outdoors that is particularly important to our Indigenous patients,” Ms Smith said.

 Media Contact: Sharon Hutton 8951 5123 or 0401 114 113