Mrs Yolanda Morris1, Mrs Alex McMillan1, Mr Ciaran Voyce2, Mr Curtis Naylor2
1Royal Flying Doctor Service, 2St John WA
Biography:
Alex McMillan, Head of Clinical Governance Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations
Alex is a Registered Nurse and an Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Care Management, an Affiliate of the Governance Institute Australia, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Alex’s role is Head of Clinical Governance, and her passion is driving innovation whilst building capacity to support patient safety through continuous quality improvement. She joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2021 and led the organisation through two successful accreditations, with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. She continues to lead and support the clinical team in building relationships across health service boundaries to support opportunities to enhance patient experience.
Abstract:
This presentation introduces a cognitive aid “TREES”, a Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations, and St John WA collaboration, designed to enhance communication and refine manual handling practices during patient transfers across multiagency assets.
Methodology
An examination of current practices has highlighted significant challenges stemming from variations in stretcher design, multiple sequential moves, in the presence of uncontrolled environments and high cognitive load. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving teamwork and reducing risk across multiagency equipment and asset transfers.
To address these challenges, this cognitive aid incorporates a structured Safety Briefing framework, inspired by WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, aimed at fostering team cohesion and communication, improving readiness, and ensuring a coordinated approach. The cognitive tool TREES, guides teams through critical steps:
T-Team time out (assigning roles and responsibilities),
R-Risks identification (evaluating potential risks and planning contingencies),
E-Equipment (preparing and verifying necessary equipment),
E-Execute the Move (performing safe and coordinated movements across equipment),
S-Safe to Go (ensuring patient and equipment secured before transport).
Effective communication is at the heart of this, promoting clarity, risk mitigation, and synchronized actions while involving the patient as an active participant.
We anticipate the evaluation will show enhanced teamwork across agencies, leadership, and safety awareness.
Implications of the uptake of this tool across agencies will provide for improved patient safety and experience.