The first-ever Transforming Emergency Departments towards Cultural Safety (TECS) meeting was held on 8 February, to develop a shared vision of collaboration to improve the health outcomes of First Nations peoples in Queensland.
Facilitated by CEQ’s PROV-ED (PROmoting Value-based Care in Emergency Departments) Project, the inaugural statewide TECS meeting included presentations from Ms Haylene Grogan (DDG Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division) and Dr Jillann Farmer (DDG Clinical Excellence Queensland).
TECS is one of six initiatives being rolled out under the PROV-ED Project and is derived from the work of the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department’s (ED) cultural safety working group, who achieved remarkable improvements in the cultural safety of their ED via grassroots changes.
ED Staff Specialist in Cairns Dr Stefan Kuiper, who submitted the initiative and worked with the PROV-ED Project to develop resources for statewide rollout, is very proud of how far it has gone. “The enthusiasm from EDs across the state is fantastic,” he said. “Eighteen departments have committed to implementing TECS to date and momentum is growing.”
The PROV-ED Team was determined to ensure the benefits of TECS were sustainable, and planned early on to establish a statewide group to come under the umbrella of the Queensland Emergency Department Strategic Advisory Panel (QEDSAP) moving forward. The inaugural meeting was an opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of TECS teams across the state and was chaired by PROV-ED Co-Professional Lead and SCHHS Emergency Physician Dr Andrew Hobbins King.
“By bringing together like-minded, passionate representatives from facilities across the state, we will provide a platform for sharing ideas, successes and resources – aligning with the PROV-ED ethos of avoiding ‘reinventing the wheel’,” said Dr Hobbins King.
“We look forward with anticipation to see how the collaboration can continue to build upon existing work and introduce new ideas to help improve healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
For further information about TECS and to explore other PROV-ED Project initiatives please visit the links above or email PROVED.Project@health.qld.gov.au.
Pictured above: PROV-ED Local Project Champion and Registered Nurse at Logan Hospital Chloe Zouppas (far left) with the Logan TECS team showing off their new entry door artwork.
