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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Over 3 000 experts and professionals from the local, Mainland and international healthcare sector have gathered at the two-day annual Hospital Authority (HA) Convention 2011 being held today and tomorrow (June 7 and 8) to share innovative ideas for the improvement of the health of the community and also to help shape the direction of healthcare development in the years to come.
The main theme of this year's HA Convention is entitled "Collaborative Healthcare", which is underpinned by the following subthemes:
- "Pioneering Excellence in Quality Patient Care"
- "Financing Sustainable Healthcare System"
- "Engaging Trustworthy Services"
- "Globalisation of Health Care"
The HA Convention 2011 was officially opened this morning by the Minister of Health, Mr Chen Zhu; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang; the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; HA Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu; and HA Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin.
In his welcoming address, Mr Anthony Wu thanked the 60 000-strong staff force for their dedication, commitment and hard work and the Government for its unwavering support in rising to challenges in the past 20 years.
He spoke about his appointment by the Ministry of Health as an Advisor for health care reform in Mainland China last year. "This is a real honour, not for me but for everyone at the HA in recognition of our excellent work and outstanding achievements."
Looking head, Mr Wu pointed out that medical services will be an economic driver for Hong Kong. "The Government has identified Medical Services as one of the six priority industries for Hong Kong and this has also been reiterated in China's 12th Five Year Plan."
Mr Wu said he believes that Hong Kong will become the medical hub and centre of excellence in Asia, "but the fundamental issue is talent. We do need more medical professionals to be in Hong Kong."
He remarked that the HA has to work with all stakeholders including medical professionals, the private sector, universities, professional bodies, research centres and other institutions around the world to build the talent pool.
Mr Wu concluded his address with a note of thanks to all officiating and participating guests, and in particular the President of International Hospital Federation and all the Governing Council members from 15 countries for attending the Convention and holding its council meeting in Hong Kong.
Delivering his keynote speech entitled "Collaboration - The Prescription for Quality Care", the Authority's Chief Executive, Dr Leung Pak-yin, outlined the prerequisites and principles of collaborative care.
He began with his views on the personal attributes, apart from healthcare "hardware" and passion, required to deliver quality care. "Quality care also depends on effective interpersonal and inter-professional relationships. Such relationships must be based on a clear understanding of each patient's unique needs and a shared vision about how we can satisfy them. The patient journey cuts across specialties and professional groups."
He appealed to healthcare professionals to look beyond the walls of hospitals and to establish, nurture and maintain close partnerships with the other stakeholders.
"If we successfully nurture and sustain all these relationships, we should be able to create synergy that will allow us to build a healthcare system network that not only delivers services that satisfy Hong Kong's medical needs, but one that enables its residents to enjoy healthier and happier lives too."
He continued by citing an example of collaborative care when medical specialists and primary care physicians collaborate to devise and deliver customised treatment to match the individual needs of each patient.
"Another is when nurses collaborate with patients and their families by teaching them about their diseases and how to manage them."
He went on and pointed out that one of the critical success factors for collaborative care was an emphasis on cooperation, rather than competition or supremacy. "It requires us to share our knowledge and resources with each other, instead of guarding our 'professional mystique' in a way that makes our work incomprehensible to the very people who depend on it. That is the only way collaborative care can release its full potential."
Dr Leung remarked that the HA is already moving toward collaborative healthcare by enhancing collaboration between health carers, patients and other stakeholders.
In collaboration with health carers, the key to success is staff engagement, he said, while effective communication is one of its crucial building blocks.
"We know the HA cannot develop and implement good strategies unless we systematically listen to the insights of our colleagues about how we can do better. Everyone has something valuable to contribute. Effective listening lets us tap into the huge and profound collective experience, knowledge and wisdom that exists in the HA."
He named the recent measures to address doctors' manpower strain and the grade review for supporting staff as examples of collaborative partnerships with staff.
"To build effective and trusting partnerships with patients, we have to look at things through their eyes, so that we can clearly understand their needs and address them more fully," Dr Leung said on the background of the HA's first territory-wide Patient Satisfaction Survey, which concluded earlier.
He elaborated on the HA's initiatives to increase patient involvement, which include the Patient Partnership in Action Programme and the establishment of the Patient Advisory Committee.
Dr Leung also discussed the collaboration with other stakeholders in a number of recent programmes involving the private sector, academic institutions, overseas and Mainland China professional bodies and counterparts, local government and non-government organisations, and community organisations.
He said the initiatives quoted only scratched the surface of all the potential that existed in collaborative care. But the results have revealed the benefit of the collaborative model.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Leung reiterated the need for collaboration to achieve quality care. "TEAM means 'Together, Everyone Achieves More'. Coming together is just the beginning. Staying together is the precondition for progress. Working together makes it possible for us to achieve results."
Ends/Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:26
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