Our radiology department's charge sonographer Liz Hunt has won the national Sonographer of the Year award.
The ASA (Australasian Sonographers Association) Awards of Excellence recognises one sonographer per geographical area, who, by their personal efforts and desire for excellence, advances the profession of sonography.
Liz is a leading example of an individual who has improved clinical care, patient safety, patient experience and health outcomes.
Her expertise is particularly in obstetrics where she works closely with the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Hutt Hospital. Liz is generous with her expertise and confidently leads teaching sessions for Doctors, Registrars, Midwives and the Radiology staff. Examples of her input in the last 2 years include:
- Improving scanning protocols regarding complications of multiple pregnancies.
- Producing guidelines to assist with the appropriate use of Doppler (blood flow assessment) in pregnancy.
- Assisting with scanning experience for radiologist registrars and O and G doctors.
Liz has also volunteered her services as a sonographer and helped with sonographer education at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Samoa. She has used the cultural experience gained in Samoa to assist with developing a culturally sensitive Radiology Department at the HVDHB, with the aim to improve attendance levels and service satisfaction of Pasifika patients.
Liz has been actively involved in the combined Immigration NZ and Kiwihealth sonographer recruitment campaign to address the national shortage of sonographers. This is involved producing a video to aid recruitment of overseas sonographers. (Target audience UK, US, Canada and Australia).
Plus Liz has improved departmental morale by organising multiple team building social events. Most recently is the recording of a Radiology Christmas CD with profits being used to donate livestock to families in Niger.
