Mater ICU Leading in Patient Outcomes

12/Dec/2019     Health

Mater’s Intensive Care Units (ICU) are leading Australia and the world in patient outcomes as found by the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Adult Patient Database (APD) report.

In the report Mater’s ICUs were commended for having the lowest mortality among all elite and tertiary intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand.

Director of Intensive Care Services Associate Professor Nai An Lai said Australasian ICUs, as a whole, have the lowest mortality rates for critically ill patients compared to the rest of the world.

“Mater had the best score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III-J (APACHE III-J) Illness Severity Adjusted Mortality Model” designed to measure the severity of disease which demonstrates we are outperforming other hospitals,” he said.

Associate Professor Lai attributes the success of the ICU to the strong work ethic foundation the Mater teams have laid down in their 26 bed unit across the Mater South Brisbane campus.

“The ICU has a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of specialists, doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, dieticians, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, ward staff, cleaners, administration and more,” he said.

“We are only as good as the components of our team and ours is a harmonious, collaborative and respectful one. I have worked in twenty ICU’s throughout my career and Mater is one of the best.”

In a recent patient feedback survey Associate Professor Lai was pleased to report the comments were overwhelmingly positive on their services.

One patient wrote; “If ever one could use “wonderful experience” and “ICU” in the same sentence this would be it. Every staff member seemed to go above and beyond to make my survival and recovery the best possible event.”  

Associate Professor Lai said family communication is another strength his team had when it came to providing excellent patient care.

“It’s important while we are focused on our work we don’t forget there are incredibly concerned and anxious family members by the bedside of their loved ones,” he said.

“Our team puts a great emphasis on the care and emotional wellbeing of the family members ensuring they are informed and communicated with properly.” 

Nursing Director Surgical and Acute Inpatient Services Maryanne Sinon said Associate Professor Lai and his team should be congratulated for this achievement.

“The Mater ICU team are world leaders in the care of critically ill patients with life-threatening illnesses, their dedication and hard work should be commended,” she said.  

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