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is pleased to be involved with supporting current research focusing on
OPEN DISCLOSURE
Together we can contribute to providing better health for the South West
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19 November 2008
ECU and partners investigate critical communications in health care
Edith Cowan University has announced plans to collaborate with health, insurance, and legal organisations to understand the right way to communicate with patients when things go wrong in health care.
Open Disclosure involves a frank discussion between the health professional and patient about what went wrong, why it happened and what is being done to prevent it happening again. Health Ministers around Australia have endorsed Open Disclosure as part of a transparent and open health system.
Professor Alfred Allan, who leads the ECU team, has practiced as a lawyer and a psychologist, and explains that researching Open Disclosure across industries is a unique approach and has never been done before in Australia.
“This research will allow Western Australia to contribute to the national debate in how Open Disclosure is put into practice,” said Professor Allan.
The seed funds for the project were provided by the Val Lishman Health Research Foundation, a community-driven, independent volunteer organisation based in the South West.
Val Lishman Health Research Foundation Honorary Executive Officer Dr Graham Fisher is committed to the project, having worked as a clinician for many years in the region.
“The Val Lishman Health Research Foundation is extremely proud to have helped initiate a project in the South West that will be of national significance,” Dr Fisher said.
“Hospitals in the South West are no different to any hospital anywhere in the world and unfortunate outcomes can happen to patients without an individual being to blame,” Dr Fisher said.
“An adverse outcome can be managed more kindly and with better results for everyone through a system that practices Open Disclosure than one that is closed and looks to find blame.”
Professor Allan agrees that Open Disclosure is an ethical approach that is widely supported in principle by all industry partners.
“Our partners from the health, insurance and law areas agree that Open Disclosure is good practice. However there are complex barriers in place across professions that need to be discussed,” he said.
“We need all the issues to be on the table, and to consider how they can be addressed, in order for Open Disclosure to work in Western Australia,” said Professor Allan.
ECU have partnered in this research with WA Health, Ramsay Health Care, St John of God Health Care, MDA National, RiskCover, the Health Consumers’ Council, the Australian Medical Association (WA), the Office of Health Review, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and Avant.
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Media contact: Pip Elms, ECU Corporate Communications, on 6304 2208 or 0402 016 344.
ECU strives to develop valued citizens for the benefit of Western Australia and beyond, through teaching and research inspired by engagement and partnerships. ECU serves over 20,000 students across two metropolitan campuses, a regional campus in Bunbury, and centres in Margaret River and Geraldton. |