Evaluation of a novel salaried medical officer position on service provision and performance at a rural health service: An exploratory mixed-methods study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a new salaried medical officer position on health service provision and organisational performance.

Design: Health service staff were invited to complete a survey to ascertain their overall satisfaction with the salaried medical officer position and impact on their workflow. Purposive sampling identified respondents for interviews to further explore the experiences of health service staff.

Patient satisfaction with a consumer codesigned lower limb cellulitis leaflet.

Objective This study evaluated whether a consumer codesigned leaflet about the common skin infection cellulitis would improve patient satisfaction. Methods A patient information leaflet was codesigned with consumers incorporating health literacy principles and attached to a new adult lower limb cellulitis management plan launched in three regional Victorian health services. Health service staff were educated to provide the leaflet during hospital care.

Impact of time to first antimicrobial dose on length of stay and 30-day hospital readmission in patients with lower limb cellulitis.

Objectives: There have been efforts to promote timely antimicrobial administration for patients with sepsis, but the importance for other infections is uncertain. This study analysed whether time to first antimicrobial dose (TFAD) in patients with lower limb cellulitis influenced outcome measures such as acute length of stay (LOS) in hospital and 30-day hospital readmission rates for cellulitis.

Methods: Medical records of patients admitted with lower limb cellulitis or erysipelas over a 15-month period (1 May 2019 to 30 November 2019 and 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2020) were reviewed.

Towards OPtimising Care of Regionally-Based Cardiac Patients With a Telehealth Cardiology Pharmacist Clinic (TOPCare Cardiology).

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is a major burden on the health of Australians, and cardiac health disparities exist for those who live outside of metropolitan areas. Poor patient medication literacy was identified by cardiologists at a regional Victorian health service as a barrier to medication optimisation and a factor in inefficiency in their service. Studies in Australia and overseas have shown pharmacists involved in multi-disciplinary and pre-admission models result in more accurate medication histories, increased patient medication knowledge and lower medication related adverse events.

Sustainability of antimicrobial stewardship programs in Australian rural hospitals: a qualitative study.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the features of sustainable antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs in Australian rural hospitals and develop recommendations on incorporating these features into rural hospitals' AMS programs. Methods Lead AMS clinicians with knowledge of at least one AMS program sustained for >2 years in a health service in rural Australia were recruited to the study. A series of interviews was conducted and the transcripts analysed thematically using a framework method.

Similarities and differences in antimicrobial prescribing between major city hospitals and regional and remote hospitals in Australia.

Many regional and remote hospitals (RRHs) do not have the specialist services that usually support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes in major city hospitals. It is not known if this is associated with higher rates of inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The aim of this study was to identify similarities and differences in antimicrobial prescribing patterns between major city hospitals and RRHs in Australia.