Providing education
Developing and delivering education is a fundamental component to ensuring the improvement project's success. Education and training will need to be delivered to a variety of stakeholder groups at numerous points throughout the project lifecycle. The purpose and content of the education will vary pending on the project stage (for example, testing versus implementation).
Remember that when planning your education it must be linked with NSW Health Policy Directive Recognition and management of patients who are deteriorating (PD2020_18), the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Standard and local CERS policy on escalating patient, carer and family concerns.
Consider:
- Aiming for short and frequent sessions to increase attendance – consider how those staff who work night, evening or weekend shifts will receive education
- Starting the session with a recent patient story from your health service to promote the case for change
- Using an interactive poll or pre and post quiz to check perception and changes in knowledge
- Inviting a well-respected local champion to speak to the unit/ward where your improvement project is being conducted
- Collecting feedback following education sessions
- Keeping a record of the attendance.
Remember to collaborate on this across the team. You don't have to plan or conduct the whole education session by yourself.
REACH education resources
Training tools have been provided to support local working groups to implement REACH throughout the hospital or health service. The tools are designed to be flexible and easily adapted to local situations.
The scripts for educators, admissions and ward staff have been developed to provide a guide to best describe the REACH process.