March 2019
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Celebrating World Social Work Day
Today we celebrate social workers’ contribution to making a difference to people’s lives, respecting their dignity and rights. This is also an opportunity to recognise the contribution social workers make world-wide, and to acknowledge the great work and achievements of our social workers across Northern Health. Associate Director Allied Health, Penelope Vye, said the theme of World Social Work Day 2019 is ‘Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships’. “Given the recent horrific event in New Zealand, it is a very timely day to reflect on the importance and power of building positive relationships. It is also a day to acknowledge…
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Think before you cannulate
Every year in hospitals the size of Northern Health, there are about 8-10 cases of staphylococcus bacteraemia mostly related to intravenous cannulas. These infections can result in death, but most are preventable. Northern Health is looking to improve how we care for patients with Peripheral Intravenous Cannulas (PIVCs). During the Safe Practice Forum on Wednesday 20 March, staff will be able to hear more about safe cannulation practices and patient case studies, as well as hear about Northern Health’s new cannulation policy, now available on Prompt (click here to download). Clare McCarthy, Project Manager, said the three-day focus on cannulation…
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Happy Mothers Group: Combining culture and community
The Assyrian/Chaldean population mainly displaced from Iraq, make up a large sector of the refugee population in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Women of refugee backgrounds are at risk of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes and are more likely to have complex health needs. They also face multiple barriers accessing pregnancy care or navigating health systems in Australia. Northern Health was selected by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) to be one of four regions in Melbourne to pilot an innovative approach to antenatal and postnatal care. This is how the ‘Happy Mothers Group Pregnancy Care’ sessions were born. The sessions…
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Going Above and Beyond for her patients: Michelle Robins
Northern Health Diabetes Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Robins, received the ‘Above and Beyond’ award at the recent Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards. The award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond in providing care or support to a patient, family or work colleague. Michelle was nominated by Melissa Langborne, for the care and understanding she provides to all of her patients, and assistance she provides to her colleagues. Melissa works at front reception at Craigieburn Centre, and has come to know Michelle quite well, feeling confident while working together with Michelle to ensure great patient care. Melissa says she works…
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Respiratory Care Unit turns one
During its first year, the Respiratory Care Unit (RCU) has seen 284 patients, looking after patients who would most likely be taken to intensive care. Gavin Fahey, Respiratory Clinical Nurse Consultant, says this unit bridges a gap between critical care areas and ward beds, where staff can manage more complex respiratory patients, enabling patients to receive a closer observation. “The nurse to patient ratio here is one to two for the four beds the unit has. The patients usually stay here around two to three days, and that varies as we’ve had patients who had referrals elsewhere. Here, we also…
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New ICU, Strategic Plan and ‘My HR’
Northern Hospital ICU The Northern Hospital Stage 2 expansion project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the $22m early works. This provides a modern 18-bed intensive care unit, freeing up space for a future cardiac care unit, as well as delivering a new loading dock and facilities for support services. The new Intensive Care Unit will open in two weeks with the latest high-tech monitoring equipment, with improved comfort, care and privacy for patients and their families and new staff facilities. Well done to our Capital Planning team and everyone else involved in this key stage of…
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Michelle Fenwick: My HR
This week, I am pleased to announce that my team at People & Culture are launching the ‘My HR @ Northern Health’ Campaign. During this launch, Northern Health staff will be able to see how all the pieces of the ‘My HR’ puzzle are being upgraded or implemented. Another change is that some services will be returning to an in-house service model. The pieces of the ‘My HR’ jigsaw puzzle are six core foundational systems and processes, which make up a dynamic and responsive HR Business Model, supporting HR services across Northern Health. One of the new features I am…
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Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment Clinic launches at Craigieburn
In July last year, Paediatric Allied Health, in collaboration with our Paediatrics Department, were successful in obtaining a Department of Health and Human Services Grant entitled ‘Advancing Practice in Allied Health Workforce in Autism Spectrum Disorder’ (ASD). The aim of the program is to improve outcomes for Victorians with Autism, and encouraged applications for projects that support practitioners to work to their full scope of practice in a multidisciplinary and innovative way. The grant program came about, due to a two year parliamentary inquiry into services for people with Autism, providing 101 recommendations to improve the serious shortcomings identified within…