New hospital manager has reason to celebrate
Kingsway Hospital scoops runner-up award for quality improvement processes.
TO the delight of newly appointed general manager of Kingsway Hospital, Annatjie Demetriou, the health facility scooped a runner-up award for quality improvement processes within the Netcare group.
The winners were announced two weeks ago. “We earned one of two runner-up places for two processes, patient satisfaction and improvement in overall hospital quality,” said Annatjie.
The annual awards saw 59 hospitals submit more than 200 improvement processes to the judging panel. “We did a presentation in November in Johannesburg and received the good news at the beginning of March. We are ecstatic as we are a small hospital compared to some of the larger facilities.”
Annatjie invites the community to give feedback. “Let us know what we can improve on, we value patients’ and visitors’ suggestions.”
The two-tiered goal for this year is ongoing improvement in patient satisfaction and to keep staff motivated to deliver excellent service.
After serving in an acting capacity, Annatjie officially took up the post of general manager on 1 March. Her previous position was nursing manager.
A registered nurse, she has worked in the Netcare group for the last 10 years, having started at St Augustine’s Hospital. She moved to Kingsway in 2007. “Nursing has always been my passion. Being an ‘old-school’ nurse is a calling, not a job.”
Annatjie grew up in the Free State and trained in Bloemfontein. She considers her mom, also a registered nurse, her role-model. “I remember wanting to accompany my mom when she went to work. As a nurse you are in a position to make a difference, even if it is in one person’s life. The same principle applies to Kingsway and the quality award, making a little bit of a difference.”
The hospital also plans on forging closer ties to the community. “We recently did a session on helmet safety to create awareness on International Head Trauma Day at Twini Primary School. At Kingsway High School, we provided CPR training to grade 10 and 11 pupils.”
The hospital will also be at the Highland Gathering at Hutchison Park on Saturday, 3 May with a health awareness stall. “We want to build a relationship with Toti. Being out in the community is an opportunity to find out what the needs are.”
Plans in the pipeline at Kingsway include upgrading older wards, extending parking increasing doctors facilities.
In her spare time, Annatjie enjoys spending time with her husband, Socky, a keen social fisherman.
