A Buderim Private Hospital nurse and clinical educator, Anna Ballantyne, has had her role in inventing the world’s first portable patient isolation room recognised in the UnitingCare Queensland Full Circle Awards and in the latest edition of ’Time’ Magazine.
Anna was awarded the ‘Wish I’d Thought of That’ Award at UnitingCare Queensland’s annual employee recognition awards for helping to invent the ‘Rediroom’, which was also recognised in Time Magazine as one of the ‘Best Inventions of 2022’.
“I am incredibly honoured to receive a Full Circle Award and delighted to see the Rediroom featured in Time Magazine,” Anna said.
“It’s wonderful that UnitingCare has an award to encourage and support ideas and they have recognised that by striving to make a difference in your world, you can help make a difference to the whole world,” she said.
The UnitingCare Full Circle Awards seek to recognise and celebrate the outstanding efforts of its 16,500 staff across Queensland working in services including hospitals, BlueCare and Lifeline.
The Rediroom is an instant patient isolation room which has been proven to improve patient isolation required for multiple reasons (which inlcudes COVID-19), by isolating patients anywhere.
Shane Mitchell, General Manager of Buderim Private Hospital said the hospital team was very proud of Anna and her amazing accomplishments.
“Anna is a fantastic ambassador for Buderim Private Hospital and the greater Sunshine Coast and she should be commended for her creativity, drive and commitment to helping people around Australia and across the globe,” Shane said.
“Anna’s invention dovetails in perfectly with UnitingCare Queensland’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities and we look forward to seeing the Rediroom in many more hospitals in the future.”
As part of UnitingCare, the Buderim Private Hospital is owned by the Uniting Church and is the only not-for-profit provider of private hospital services on the Sunshine Coast.