The Communiqués Podcasts

Apr 09 2024 11
The Communiqués Podcasts artwork

Welcome to The Communiqués Podcasts. Our podcasts present cases of preventable deaths that occur in health and aged care settings. We explore 1) What happened? 2) Why did it happen? 3) What action can we take to prevent it from happening again? The cases are the accounts from completed medico-legal death investigations of the Coroners Courts, and our team of senior medical and nursing practitioners present this information to meet the needs of clinicians. The Clinical Communiqué focusses on acute care, the Future Leaders Communiqué designed for recent health graduates, and the Residential Aged Care Communiqué examines care in nursing homes. Visit our website at https://www.thecommuniques.com/.

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RACC Podcast Episode 17: Diabetes mellitus

Apr 09 2024 43 mins  
Welcome to Episode Seventeen of our podcast series. This features material from our August 2023 print edition of the Residential Aged Care Communiqué. This podcast presents the lessons to be learned from the premature deaths of residents due to suboptimal management of diabetes mellitus.Episode Contents01:10 Editorial03:51 Case #1 I am fine14:34 Case #2 An old drug and a known com

CC Podcast Episode #12: Extubation Crisis

Feb 06 2024 45 mins  
In this episode we feature two cases of worsening upper airway swelling leading to fatal airway obstruction following routine extubation of patients after surgery. Despite many advances in airway management, extubation-related incidents have not reduced. The cases highlight the actions leading to the loss of airway protection, a failure to recognise the severity of the situation, a

RACC Podcast Episode 16: Wheelchair Fall

Feb 06 2024 30 mins  
This podcast episode presents the results of the investigation into the premature death of a resident who had a fall from a runaway wheelchair. The three commentaries draw on clinical and research experts to address how to balance improving mobility with a wheelchair while mitigating potential harm. We also welcome a new narrator Ashleigh Redmond who is a practising registered nurs

Residential Aged Care Communiqué Episode #15: Unexplained absence

Nov 28 2023 38 mins  
Escaping, absconding, unexplained absences lead to death. The investigation into a resident’s unexplained absence determined the cause of death as hypothermia secondary to becoming lost in surrounding bushlands. The inquest findings are presented along with expert commentary around how to prevent unexplained absences.This is Episode Fifteen of our podcast series and features mate

Clinical Communiqué Episode #11: First Nations

Oct 10 2023 62 mins  
In partnership with First Nations Peoples from clinical, education, design, and consumer advocacy backgrounds, this critical edition of the Clinical Communique presents two coroners' cases where a lack of cultural safety in the health care system led to preventable and tragic consequences. Special thanks to Mr Olli Wynyard Gonfond who narrated this episode, and Dr Jordana Stanford

Future Leaders Communiqué Episode #11: Locums

Sep 05 2023 35 mins  
Welcome to Episode #11 of the Future Leaders Communiqué podcast. In this episode, we present a thought-provoking summary of the events leading to the tragic death of JL, a 69-year-old woman recovering from an elective neurosurgical operation. We reflect on the challenges faced by junior doctors engaging in locum work and the chain of communication in medical imaging reports.Episod

RACC Podcast Episode 14: Choking CPR and Dementia

Aug 01 2023 34 mins  
The investigations into the deaths of two residents from choking on food are described. Two experts address the challenges of managing the impact of dementia on residents’ ability to eat, as well as, staff managing ethical decision about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This is Episode Fourteen of our podcast series and features material from our November 2022 print edition of the

Residential Aged Care Communiqué Episode #13: Hoist and Chair

Jul 11 2023 38 mins  
Two deaths due to head trauma related to use of a mechanical hoist and a lift chair could happen in any aged care home. The lessons for improving practice go beyond the actual cases as illustrated by the accompanying reflective exercises. Commentaries provide insights into recall bias, quality improvement rounds, cognitive testing and parallels with motorised mobility scooters.Epis

Clinical Communiqué Episode #10: Alarms and Alerts

Apr 25 2023 38 mins  
This episode draws on the September 2022 edition of the Clinical Communiqué and features two cases that describe alarm fatigue and the failure to escalate care. We look at technology and decision-making tools and explore how while they can be used to support clinical processes, there are inherent risks with the loss of critical thinking.Episode Contents01:32 Editorial by Associate

Future Leaders Communiqué Episode #10: Transfers from critical care units.

Apr 18 2023 38 mins  
Welcome to Episode #10 of the Future Leaders Communiqué podcast. In this episode, we reflect on the journey of a complex patient as they transition from an Intensive Care Unit to ward-based care. A breakdown in communication during this transition is the first in a cascade of events that ultimately ends in the patient’s death. In the episode we explore relevant issues in the man