2006 NZ Health Innovation Awards Winners

2006 NZ Health Innovation Awards Winners

A spinning cardboard wheel that saves lives has won the Supreme Award at the 2006 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards.

The simple and inexpensive device, developed by engineers and doctors at Christchurch Hospital, is revolutionising the care of intensive care patients with a form of stress-induced diabetes.

The SPRINT system, Specialised Relative Insulin Nutrition Tables, tells nurses quickly and accurately how much insulin and food these patients need to control their glucose levels.

The system was cheap to put in place and is simple to use, but is also an original concept with huge international potential.

It is estimated it could save at least 150 lives and $3 million a year nationally.

SPRINT has already reduced deaths by 30 percent in patients who spent less than three days in intensive care at Christchurch Hospital.

Christchurch Hospital intensive care specialist Dr Geoff Shaw leads the winning team.

It is the second time Dr Shaw has won at the Health Innovation Awards. In 2005, he led the award-winning Infuse Rite team, with their improved method of providing sedation to critically ill patients.

The Health Innovation Awards are a joint initiative by the Ministry of Health and ACC. They promote the sharing of good ideas across the health, disability and rehabilitation sector.

Five of this year’s six award winners were from the South Island, four from Canterbury District Health Board and one from the West Coast District Health Board.

Waitemata District Health Board also won an award for its Beverage Guidelines, developed to show schools the healthiest drinks they can stock.

The finalists and Awards Steering Committee also voted for a People’s Choice award. The winner was Waitemata District Health Board's Beverage Guidelines for schools.

The winner of each category receives $8,000. The Supreme Award winner received $15,000. The People’s Choice winner receives $5000.

The 25 finalists, chosen from110 entries, presented their ideas during an expo at Wellington Town Hall before the awards ceremony.

The Health Innovation Awards are administered by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation. An independent team of evaluators and a panel of judges assessed the applications and made site visits to scrutinise entries.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Trish Green on 021 687 201 or Anne-Marie Robinson on 021 500 634

The Winners

Supreme Award:
Winner: The SPRINT protocol for tight glycaemic control - Canterbury District Health Board.
Contact: Geoff Shaw 03 364 1077 geoff.shaw@cdhb.govt.nz

Process Improvement Award:
Winner: Mental health screening in a women’s prison - Canterbury District Health Board
Contact: Dr Mark Earthrowl 03 3391148 mark.earthrowl@cdhb.govt.nz

Highly Commended:
Blood usage project - Canterbury District Health Board
Contact: Felicity Woodham 03 364 1542 felicity.woodham@cdhb.govt.nz

Small Innovation Award: (1-20 people)
Winner: The SPRINT protocol for tight glycaemic control - Canterbury District Health Board.
Contact: Geoff Shaw 03 364 1077 geoff.shaw@cdhb.govt.nz

(Note: No highly commended for this category)

Large Innovation Award: (20+ people)
Winner: Beverage Guidelines for schools - Waitemata District Health Board
Contact: Bryony Hilless 09 486 1491 bryony.hilless@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Highly Commended: PrISM - Primary Integration Systems management - West Coast District Health Board
Contact: Wayne Champion 03 768 0499 wayne.champion@westcoastdhb.org.nz

People’s Choice Award:
Winner: Beverage Guidelines for schools - Waitemata District Health Board
Contact: Bryony Hilless 09 486 1491 bryony.hilless@waitematadhb.govt.nz

The awards ceremony from 7.30-10pm is being video streamed and can be viewed on the HIA website at: www.healthinnovationawards.co.nz

Ends

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