Epworth sharing overseas

Key points:

In 2022, there was:

• 125,900 surgical procedures across Epworth
• almost 42,000 orthopaedic operations at Epworth Richmond
• 260,500 RMD (Reusable Medical Devices) processed

Epworth HealthCare is swapping knowledge with overseas health services, to help keep surgical patients safe around the world.

In 2022, there were 125,900 surgical procedures performed across our hospitals, including 41,680 at Epworth Richmond.

32 operating theatres at Epworth Richmond are supported by the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), ensuring every doctor has the right equipment sterilised and ready for each patient.

Recently returned from Malaysia, Norlidah Othman, Nurse Unit Manager of CSSD met with the Ministry of Health (Nursing Division) to discuss education, training and qualification of CSSD personnel, while sharing information about how we do things at Epworth.

“In Malaysia, many staff receive on-the-job training, which is different to how we train Epworth staff” Ms Othman said.

Ms Othman has presented at conferences in the Netherlands and East Malaysia to share her experience about standards, quality and reprocessing of surgical instruments.

“It’s always good to meet with other health services around the world and exchange ideas.”

The Nurse Unit Manager hopes by exchanging ideas, and looking for opportunities to collaborate, patient care can improve.

“This is my passion. I love sharing my knowledge and experience to help others. My late father was very wise. He said, ‘You can’t take knowledge with you, you need to impart your knowledge, so you have space to learn more.”