NSW-based Specsavers stores in Dubbo and Dapto, and the Hornby and Dunedin locations in New Zealand, were celebrated at Specsavers Clinical Conference 2022 during the weekend, taking out the conference’s annual awards for clinical care and excellence.
Each of the stores was either the recipient of the Doug Perkins Medal, introduced in 2018 to recognise the Australian and New Zealand store that consistently demonstrates high standards of clinical excellence; or the Dame Mary Perkins Award, introduced in 2021 to acknowledge an individual or group within a store in each country who have delivered an exceptional act of patient care in the past 12 months.
Doug Perkins Medal for Clinical Excellence
This year’s Doug Perkins Medal winners were Ms Yvonne O’Sullivan, Mr Brian Thio and Ms Claire Curtin from Specsavers Dubbo, NSW, and Mr Lachlan Martin and Ms Hallie McCloy from Specsavers Hornby in Christchurch, New Zealand.
When presenting the awards, Specsavers ANZ head of clinical performance Mr Nick Gidas said the top 10 finalists represented the top 3% of practices in each country who had consistently demonstrated clinical excellence across all areas of practice.
“The award is based on nationwide analysis using data collected through Specsavers clinical reporting. This information was combined with data from Specsavers’ patient feedback platform, as well as health outcome data from the Oculo electronic referral system,” he said.
“We were looking for practices that are leaders in delivering exceptional patient outcomes; that demonstrate a consistently outstanding patient experience; that implement and improve store processes that deliver consistent quality eye care; who are committed to accessible eye health and who lead a positive workplace and culture. We were thrilled to be able to crown Specsavers Dubbo and Specsavers Hornby with the award this year.”
Dame Mary Medal for Patient Care
The Dame Mary Perkins Medals were judged by leading industry professionals Ms Justine Cain, CEO of Diabetes Australia, Mr Ian Wishart, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, and Ms Pippa Martin, managing director of Glaucoma New Zealand.
The awards were presented to two optometrists who stood out for going above and beyond in customer service, clinical care, clinical leadership or teamwork to benefit patient care.
They were Mr Surendran Naidoo from Specsavers Dapto and Ms Jennifer Robinson from Specsavers Dunedin.
Specsavers Dapto’s nomination was centred around the story of a patient who had a pituitary tumour detected in an eye test, leading to an urgent diagnosis and surgery that saved the patient’s life.
The patient came to see Naidoo in May/June last year complaining as if there was a vale over her vision. She couldn’t see cars coming towards her.
After initial testing failed to provide a plausible explanation, a visual field test found she had bitemporal hemianopia, a classic sign of pituitary tumour. Naidoo performed the same test the following day and received the same results. The patient was urgently referred for an MRI via the GP. She was sent to hospital for surgery that very night.
Naidoo stayed in close contact with the patient, even when the store was closed for three weeks to refit.
“Nobody knew why I had pain in my feet, elbows and wrists that wouldn’t heal. I’d get [regular] cortisone injections, but after the surgery, I felt numb, there was no pain or aches, it was the most bizarre feeling,” the patient said.
A few months after the surgery, the patient’s neurologist said she was surprised she was still alive when she went in for the operation.
“I have got Surendran to thank for that, because when I came to see him, he knew what the symptoms meant, everyone else didn’t take those steps,” the patient said.
Naidoo added: “We saved a life, a day later and she could have died, she would have left behind a daughter who has special needs and a husband and a son, just knowing I did that makes it all worth it.”
Similarly, Specsavers Dunedin’s nomination involved a brain tumour detection and over and above follow up care for a young patient who required chemotherapy treatment.
It also described a day where Robinson, the award winner, saw an out-of-town farmer with a retinal detachment, requiring same day surgery. The farmer had come to Dunedin alone and had nowhere to park his Ute and trailer while receiving the unexpected treatment which was causing him stress.
Robinson gave him her staff parking space until he had been given clearance to drive home so he could focus on recovery after surgery rather than city parking.
Wishart was honoured to be a part of the Dame Mary Perkins Medal judging panel for this year’s award.
“All the nominees displayed incredible service for their patients and employed the values of Professor Fred Hollows,” he said.
“They embodied kindness, compassion and integrity in their everyday lives. In the words of Fred himself, they truly demonstrate that ‘every eye is an eye,’ and ensure all people receive the care they deserve. Thank you for the opportunity to recognise their actions.”
To find out more about the Doug Perkins Medal and the Dame Mary Perkins Medals, visit spectrum-anz.com
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