Dr Nhi Nguyen was awarded Staff Member of the Year for her exceptional contributions to healthcare and her unwavering commitment to the community.
The Virtual Health Interpreters Project team received the Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare award for their innovative work in improving access to interpreters and enhancing patient care.
These awards celebrate the exceptional individuals and programs that are making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing to our community.
Chief Executive, Lee Gregory, expressed his immense pride in the achievements of both Nhi and the Virtual Health Interpreters team.
"I'm incredibly proud of our winners for their outstanding achievement. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of these individuals,” says Lee.
"I'm inspired by the passion and innovation that Nhi and the Virtual Health Interpreters team bring to their work. They are a true asset to our organisation," he added.
Dr Nhi Nguyen, a respected staff specialist, Board member, and Clinical Lead, has been instrumental in driving quality improvements and enhancing patient experiences within NBMLHD. Her commitment to her community and her colleagues is evident in her work.
“For me, the nomination is an opportunity to reflect on my contributions in health care. It is equally a recognition of all the amazing colleagues I work with everyday,” says Nhi.
The Virtual Health Interpreters Service has revolutionised the way interpreters are accessed, leading to significant improvements in patient care for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The project has increased interpreter use by 194% while reducing costs
Manager for Virtual Care, Tanya Baldacchino says the recognition of the award is a celebration of the collaboration between teams.
“The collaboration of the many teams who came together with a genuine shared goal, which was to improve the patient experience and access to interpreters, is something that I am very proud of,” says Tanya.
The introduction of the Virtual Interpreters service has shown a 194% increase in overall interpreter use comparing 2019 and 2023 usage levels. While interpreter use increased, the overall cost per service has decreased by 48% over this same time period.
This project shows that virtual care and the timely access to interpreters can significantly improve health care, especially for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients.
Being recognised at this level is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our winners to delivering great experiences, exceptional care and meaningful outcomes to patients and our community.
The NSW Health Awards ceremony was held on Thursday 24 October 2024, and a full list of winners can be found on the NSW Health website.
