Following the success of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Queensland program in Orthopaedics, Clinical Excellence Queensland is expanding the program to include emergency surgery as the next priority area under the Choosing Better Care Together program.
GIRFT is a clinician-led, data driven quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing unwarranted variation to improve patient outcomes. This is achieved through local data review and peer discussion and by addressing system-level barriers.
A/Deputy Director-General, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan said the decision to prioritise emergency surgery came in response to strong feedback from the surgical community. “Surgical teams want to ensure that outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients are continually improved across Queensland and we are proud to be able to support them in doing that.”
“Following an overwhelming expression of interest recruitment process, it is my privilege to introduce our two clinical co-leads for the GIRFT Queensland Emergency Surgery Program, Dr David Lockwood and Dr Matthew Burstow,” Adj Prof Nowlan said.
“Dr Lockwood brings a wealth of experience in emergency surgery and emergency surgery management, having worked across both regional hospitals to major trauma centres in Queensland, interstate and internationally and with all surgical subspecialties.”
Dr Lockwood is currently the Director, Trauma Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital.
“Dr Burstow has a long-lived passion for emergency surgery and quality improvement (QI), with a proven track record in developing and implementing a vast range of QI activities supported by a strong knowledge in epidemiology and statistics.”
Dr Burstow is a Consultant Acute and Trauma General Surgeon and, currently, A/Divisional Director of Surgical Services at Logan Beaudesert Health Service.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Lockwood and Dr Burstow and wish them all the best as they undertake this important role, enabling collaboration between Hospital and Health Service clinicians and executives, Queensland specialty directors, clinical teams and the Department to drive quality improvement at all levels of the organisation.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the ongoing work of all departments who make this invaluable program possible, including the Healthcare Improvement Unit and Statistical Services Branch of Clinical Excellence Queensland as well as the Healthcare Purchasing and System Performance Division and Strategic Procurement.”
For more information visit the GIRFT website.
