Tiana Bell1, Reanna Butler2
1Kimbereley Aboriginal Medical Services, 12 Napier Terrace Broome, WA, 6725, tiana.bell@kamsc.org.au, 2Kimbereley Aboriginal Medical Services, 12 Napier Terrace Broome, WA, 6725, reanna.butler@kamsc.org.au
Biography:
Tiana Bell
Tiana Bell is a Registered Nurse currently working as the Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator for Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services and Kimberley Renal Services. Tiana has a background in paediatric nursing, moving into infection prevention and control in 2020. She is in the final stages of completing her Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and is passionate about rural and remote health.
Reanna Butler
Reanna Butler is a Gooniyandi and Banjima person from the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia. She works for Kimberley Renal Services as the Senior Administrative Officer for Fitzroy Crossing Renal Health Centre. Reanna is currently near completion of their Aboriginal Health Worker Training and is eager to continue studies in healthcare, with a particular interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care.
Abstract:
The incidence of Kidney Disease in the Kimberley region is one of the highest in Australia. Kimberley Renal Services (KRS), as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, provides Aboriginal Community Controlled renal services at four rural and remote sites and currently has 165 satellite haemodialysis positions.
Delivering an infection prevention and control program across the Kimberley region for the haemodialysis centres presents unique challenges, often best met by looking beyond the basics of an IP&C program to consider the geographical and cultural context, resources, and the patient experiences outside of the healthcare setting, and within the healthcare system.
Notably, the Kimberley region sees some of the highest rates of haemodialysis related bloodstream infections, primarily related to long-term central venous catheters. This presentation will detail the tailored IP&C program implemented by Kimberley Renal Services, emphasising the successes in reducing haemodialysis related bloodstream infections and other improvements achieved through targeted quality improvement activities.