Innovation event showcases WA health’s best and brightest

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) recently teamed up with metropolitan health services, the Department of Health and MTP Connect to host the inaugural WA Health Service Provider Innovation Showcase.

Showcasing the work of innovative clinicians from across WA Health and healthcare start-ups, the event was an opportunity for like-minded health professionals to be inspired and learn from expert speakers, share ideas and cultivate innovative ideas into implementation plans.

At WACHS, harnessing innovation and technology is a top priority, highlighted by successes on a number of high-profile developments including the establishment of the award-winning Command Centre where researchers and clinicians are providing a range of virtual emergency services and using data to predict service needs and respond in real time.

Most recently, WACHS partnered with East Metropolitan Health Service to see Health in a Virtual Environment, or HIVE, go live in country WA for the first time.

HIVE harnesses the latest in remote monitoring technology and artificial intelligence to detect early signs of clinical deterioration, supporting patients and clinicians in the High Dependency Unit at Kalgoorlie Health Campus nearly 600 kilometres away.

WACHS Executive Director Strategy, Change and Innovation Melissa Vernon said the showcase was designed to bring people together to foster innovation right across health.

“We know that innovation across WA Health is driven by a passion for improving patient outcomes and creating a more efficient and equitable health system.

“Collaboration is central to our ability to harness innovation in healthcare. 

“This particularly holds true for regional WA, where every day we need to find new and innovative ways to deliver care on country and close to home,” Ms Vernon said. 

Ms Vernon said over the past three years, WACHS’ Pitch Your Pilot program has given the staff the opportunity to present and develop innovative service ideas.

“Since 2020, many of these ideas have been adopted and implemented across our business, making a real difference to patient outcomes and staff experience.”

“Being part of the showcase, hearing innovators share their ideas and experiences was incredibly stimulating and empowering.”

Ms Vernon also acknowledged the importance of health staff and innovators being empowered and supported to bring new ideas to life.

“No one knows country communities like our staff do,” she said.