Using Change Management Tools to Successfully Implement Safety Improvements:

Empowering the horse to drink

In this webinar we will demonstrate with the support of an effective change management model and the contributions from perioperative nurses at all levels, lasting changes can be created to improve safety in Operating Theatres.
CPD HOURS: 1
Registration Year: 2024-2025

Course Content

The perioperative suite is a complex environment, with multiple stakeholders who must work together to achieve the best patient outcomes.

In this environment, there are many competing demands for time, attention, and resources. Perioperative leaders planning change projects face significant organisational barriers, even when the change will improve safety for staff and patients.

It is estimated that only 30% of change projects in organisations are successful. This presentation will cover how perioperative leaders can utilise John Kotter’s 8 Step Process for Leading Change to create buy in from perioperative and management stakeholders, enable positive behavioural change during implementation stages, and ensure sustainable, long term improvements.

Learnings from Australian hospitals who have successfully implemented safety engineered devices to meet revised sharps safety guidelines will be studied to highlight the practical applications of Kotter’s model.

In this webinar we will demonstrate with the support of an effective change management model and the contributions from perioperative nurses at all levels, lasting changes can be created to improve safety in Operating Theatres.

Learning Outcomes

In this session you will:
  • Describe three key barriers and three facilitators for the successful implementation of projects to improve perioperative safety.
  • Identify a perioperative safety risk that could be addressed and prepare a change management project plan based on recommendations from post COVID seminal publications.
  • Utilise change management tools and models, including Kotter’s 8 Step Process for Leading Change, to implement improvements to perioperative safety.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of safety improvement projects within perioperative units to ensure sustainable change is maintained.

Chamindika Konara

B.ENG (BIOMED), PHD (BIOTECH)

Dr Chamindika Konara received her Doctorate in Biotechnology from University of Queensland and her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the National University of Singapore ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 accredited auditor.

Mairin Monteath

Mairin Monteath is a passionate advocate for workplace safety. Since receiving their Bachelor of Communications from the University of Queensland, Mairin has worked with healthcare professionals and medical device innovators to streamline how safety solutions can be effectively implemented into healthcare facilities' existing processes.