January 2019
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Clinical Coding: Are you making the most of your data?
For decades now, coded data has been used to ensure hospitals can be reimbursed for their activity and better plan for services in the future. Clinical coding usually occurs after the patient has been discharged from hospital, where information written in patient notes is translated into coded data and entered into hospital information systems. It is important that hospitals code episodes of care accurately to ensure the right resources to provide care for patients is received. For Northern Health, coding helps to fund our clinical services and equipment needs. Medical Unit 4 at Northern Hospital Epping has been involved in…
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Workshop: Counselling skills for the accidental counsellor
On Tuesday, 26 February, Northern Health’s Strengthening Hospital Response to Family Violence Team will be running an “Accidental Counselling” workshop at Northern Centre for Health Education & Research. Accidental counselling refers to situations where emotional support is given by one person to another, where the person giving support is not a trained counsellor. In our workplace or personal life, we can cross paths with people, clients or customers who are sometimes upset, distressed, sad, hurt and lonely, or simply need someone to listen to them. If you’re not a trained counsellor, it may be difficult to manage these situations with confidence. The…
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Join the staff ‘4 week smart eating challenge’
February is Northern Health’s month dedicated to healthy and smart eating, with a ‘4 Week Staff Smart Eating Challenge’. The inspiration comes from the Dietitians Association of Australia Smart Eating Week, celebrated from 11 – 17 February. Amy Castelli, Clinical Dietitian, said our dietitians have developed a 4 Week Smart Eating Calendar, with every day smart eating tips, and encourages all staff to participate and win a prize. “The calendar has a small challenge for every day of the week and ties in with the Dietitians Association of Australia campaign and also links with Northern Health’s Healthy Choices Campaign. This…
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Our Strategic Plan and welcoming new clinicians
I hope that you all had a happy and safe Australia Day weekend, surviving the heatwave! Strategic Plan 2019-2024 A key focus for us this month is our work towards developing our Strategic Plan 2019-2024. One of the ways we are finding out what matters to staff is through an online Strategic Plan staff survey. Â I am pleased to let you know that the survey is now open. Please click here to complete the survey. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete, and will provide us with valuable insights into how you think Northern Health should look…
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Dr Gina Ibrahim wins Chris Maxwell medal for best registrar
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recently held the annual Chris Maxwell medal for best registrar presentation at NCHER. This medal honours the contributions of Dr Chris Maxwell, who worked at PANCH and Northern for over 35 years and was a dedicated teacher and trainer of junior medical staff. Four Obstetrics and Gynaecology junior medical staff entered the competition, and the winner was Dr Gina Ibrahim, who was presented with a $500 prize and medal by our guest judge, Professor Sue Walker from Mercy Hospital for Women. Dr Paul Howat congratulated the other participants – Dr Amanda Quatrocelli, Dr Kelly…
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Art from the heart
In recognition of International Day of People with Disability, the Northern Health Disability Working Group ran an art competition titled, ‘Celebrating Ability’. First prize was shared between Emiliano Zucchi for his photograph – ‘Music for my eyes’, and Mike Masilamani, for his poster design – ‘Feet, what do I need you for?’ The Transcultural and Language Service (TAL’s) team came a close second, with their poster entry titled ‘Differently Abled’. Emiliano had this to say about his entry: “When I go to galleries, I always have my noise-cancelling wireless headphones on. I love listening to music, especially in quiet places like…
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Northern Health welcomes nurses of the future
This week, we welcome 54 graduate nurses and midwives to Northern Health. For the 2019 intake, a record number of applications were received and from that, 127 graduates have been employed by Northern Health – 107 General Nursing and 20 Midwifery & Nursing/Midwifery. Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Debra Bourne, said, “it’s always an exciting time of year when we welcome our new nursing graduates to Northern Health. We welcome the opportunity that these graduates provide in bringing their knowledge, enthusiasm and passion to nursing at Northern.” “In turn, we aim to ensure that we will support and further educate these newly…
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Welcome back volunteers!
This week, we welcome back our wonderful Northern Health volunteers. The hospital halls and wards haven’t been the same without the smiling faces and cheerful personalities of our volunteers, with many of our staff commenting on how much they have been missed during the holiday break. Senior Coordinator Engagement, Henni Wade, says, “everyone was asking me where the volunteers were and when they were coming back, because they’ve really missed their presence – not just their happy, smiling faces, but also their assistance with everything behind the scenes, like putting together hundreds of administration packs a week.” “Some people were…