The Health Quality and Safety Commission’s Open for Leadership Awards are given out monthly to DHBs around the country – two a month from February to November.
Each month two DHBs are asked to put forward one candidate in the first five years of their career or clinical practice, who has shown clear emerging leadership qualities and made a difference to patient care.
Six nominations were received by the Hauora Tairawhiti Board. One of the nominees will receive an Open for Leadership Award trophy, funding for training of their choice and national recognition.
One of Hauora Tairāwhiti’s nominees is profiled below.
Health Quality and Safety Commission Open for Leadership Award nominee, Clinical Dietician Sara Bodel
Clinical Dietician Sara Bodel has been nominated for a HQSC Emerging Leaders Award, for improving the experience of care for patients on the coast.
"I feel very excited and honoured to be nominated," says Sara.
"I like offering the best service we can for our patients. I like going the extra mile too - if I feel like the patient will benefit, then I am happy to do it."
One example of "going the extra mile", occurred last year when Sara was able to teach a Ruatoria patient how to manage his PEG feeds at home.
This ultimately led to her HQSC award nomination by Clinical Dietitian Team Leader Hiki Pihema.
She says as a direct result of Sara’s “patience, people’s skills and technical know-how”, when teaching her patient how to administer PEG feeds, the Dietetic Service was able to overcome the challenges involved in PEG feeding on the coast.
“We now provide a service equal in quality to the rest of Aotearoa.”
Since the Ruatoria patient, there have been two more PEG feeding cases.
“They and their whanau have overcome any cultural differences they may have had around not feeding orally,” says Hiki.
“More importantly they have been relieved that they can continue to live back in their own community whilst managing to feed using PEG tubes.”
While working with the Ruatoria man, Sara also identified that there was a gap in the care of patients following discharge into the community, with patients showing up to ED if they experienced problems.
To remedy this Sara headed a training session to District Nurses on the use and care of PEG tubes. Now DNs have agreed to see these patients in the community, thereby removing the need for them to present to ED.
Hiki says Sara’s passion and commitment is exemplary.
“She has made a huge difference in the quality of care patients receive and is deserving of a Leadership Award.”