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Mt Wilga Private Hospital recognised for Clinical Excellence helping patients with lymphoedema

Apr 11, 2022

Mt Wilga Private Hospital has taken out the prestigious Clinical Excellence category at the 2022 Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) Awards for Excellence, for its lymphoedema rehabilitation program.

The Clinical Excellence category winner is chosen based on the quality of care and patient outcomes of the nominated program. 

Mt Wilga Private Hospital’s lymphoedema rehabilitation program was established in 1992 and since then has continually evolved to offer shorter hospital stays and better management of patients suffering from the chronic condition. 

Mt Wilga Private Hospital CEO, Lorrie Mohsen, said she is proud the hard work and innovation of the program team has been recognised. 

“We have spent the past three years evolving the model of care for our lymphoedema service into a more comprehensive multidisciplinary approach,” Ms Mohsen said.

“A lymphoedema patient was traditionally managed by their lymphoedema clinician and rehabilitation consultant, but our focus is now on offering a treatment pathway that is more responsive, tailored and draws on a vast array of allied health and medical expertise.”

“This helps us to deliver the greatest possible care for our patients in line with international best practice standards.

“I’m pleased to see the hard work of everyone involved be recognised in this award.”

Australia Private Hospitals Association (APHA) CEO, Michael Roff, said the awards recognise the impressive work being done in the private hospital sector and noted the high standard of all entries in this years’ awards. 

“Australia’s private hospitals have a long tradition of innovation and providing high quality health care to their patients,” Mr Roff said. 

“These efforts are particularly noteworthy given COVID pressures that include surgery restrictions, staff shortages, increasing cost pressures and helping public hospitals and aged care with the pandemic response.” 

The awards were voted on by an exclusive judging panel, with five percent of the vote being made up by peers. 

Mt Wilga Private Hospital’s lymphoedema rehabilitation program was described by judges as: ‘a multidisciplinary team approach to lymphoedema care that has resulted in reduced requirement for treatment sessions, increased skills across the nursing and exercise physiologist teams and increased communication with patients resulting in the service better meeting their care goals.’

Lymphoedema is characterised by swelling due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. This can occur in a single lymph, multi-limbs or even whole body, which can cause significant morbidity and loss of function for those affected by the condition.

Due to the uniqueness of the program, patients regularly attend from interstate and overseas to receive care at Mt Wilga Private Hospital.