New Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology Service: towards a healthier and happier community

The Mental Health Division is pleased to announce the launch of a new specialist service, bringing together Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) clinicians and Addiction Psychiatrists, and merging the former Alcohol and Other Drugs Consultation and Liaison Service with the SPECTRE unit.

The Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology (APT) Service is available to consumers admitted through the Northern Hospital Emergency Department, medical and surgical inpatients, psychiatry wards, and for current consumers of our mental health services.

Services include specialist assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management of co-occurring substance use disorders and toxicity, secondary consultations with treating teams regarding advice on diagnosis, clinical management and treatment options.

The next phase of the service development will include a specialist Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology Outpatient Clinic.

Belinda Scott, Executive Director, Mental Health said, “This is a significant service, as we bring together our Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology expertise to care for consumers in Melbourne’s north.”

Associate Professor Joe Rotella, Clinical Toxicologist and Emergency Physician, said, “This is a unique opportunity to do something that forgoes the status quo and seeks to do better for our consumers. The creation of a multi-specialty and multi-disciplinary team is the very embodiment of our values, ‘Safe, Kind and Together’. As the quote goes ‘to get something different, you must do something different”.

Joby Philip – Manager for APT said, “We are committed to providing the best possible care to those struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental and physical health co-morbidities. The new Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology Service, is a step towards a healthier and happier community.”

Pictured from left to right (from the top): 

Belinda Scott – Executive Director Mental Health, Dr. Brian O Riordan – APT Toxicology Consultant, Associate Professor Joe Rotella- APT Toxicology Lead Consultant, 

Shiruo Liu – AOD Senior Clinician, Sonia Andersen – AOD Senior Clinician

Dr Aniruddh Narasimha- Addiction Psychiatrist, Dr Nathan Clinton- APT Toxicology Registrar

Dr Prince Rajamanickam- Addiction Psychiatrist, Trudy Mponda- AOD Senior Clinician

Dr Saada Malouf – APT Toxicology Consultant, Harjot Kaur Brar- AOD Senior Clinician, Emily Whitfield – Administration Officer

Joby Philip – APT Manager

In 1996, Melbourne’s LGBTIQA+ community took to the streets to show solidarity for the first ever Pride March. The 1996 March took almost the same route along St Kilda’s Fitzroy St, transforming the strip into a show of community pride. The March has since taken place each year, as an opportunity for members of the LGBTIQA+ community and allies to take part in a fun, colourful and joyful day of celebration.

This year, the Midsumma Pride March was held on Sunday, 4 February. 10,000 people took to the sweltering streets of Melbourne for the annual March, with thousands more lining the streets to watch the iconic parade.

Northern Health staff were among the many who braved the 38 degree weather to march along Fitzroy Street, together with other healthcare services and organisations. The presence of Northern Health at the Midsumma Festival Pride March shows our LGBTIQA+ staff, family and patients that we are a health care service that prioritises the wellbeing of our diverse community. This is Northern Health’s fourth time marching in the event.

Event Organiser and co-chair of the rainbow Committee, Electra Ulrich, was proud of the turnout.

“What another amazing Pride March with Northern Health! It was great to see some familiar and some new faces marching with us. I felt proud to be representing Northern Health,” she said.

Maria Soo, Director of Workforce Planning and Projects said, “It was incredible being part of the Northern Health contingent with representatives from across various campuses and directorates getting together to celebrate our uniqueness. There was so much excitement and buzz throughout the day, with people (and lots of canines) marching for the right to a discrimination-free existence. As a member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, I look forward to working with our workforce in 2024 to promote and celebrate diversity.”

First time marcher at Northern Health, Melanie Cricco said, “For me, joining in the Pride March under the Northern Health banner was a vibrant and colourful celebration, conveying that Northern Health is a safe and inclusive place for everyone to access its healthcare services.”

Andrew Grey, Rainbow Health Working Group Member, also echoed this sentiment.

“Pride March is an important day to celebrate those who are a part of the LBGTIQA+ community and to show our solidarity. It is important for our patients and their families to see that we are a supportive organisation and a LBGTIQA+ safe place to receive healthcare.”

The Northern Health Foundation was very happy to support Pride March by purchasing the flags. This was part of the funds donated by staff through the Northern Health Workplace Giving Program. The Foundation is passionate about supporting causes that promote equality and inclusiveness and this is a fantastic opportunity to further our commitment to the LGBTQA+ community.

The Workplace Giving Program is agreat way to contribute and support these ongoing initiatives that are making a difference. The form is available on PROMPT or you join by getting in touch with the Foundation team via email foundation@nh.org.au. 

If you would like to get involved with the Northern Health Rainbow Working group, email rainbowgroup@nh.org.au

Featured image: Northern Health staff at Midsumma Pride March 2024.

Our values – Safe. Kind. Together. Simple, straight to the point, memorable and actionable. These are the values that have become entrenched in the fabric of Northern Health.

The intention, however, is that they are not merely bright coloured words on a poster or screen, but qualities we can practice with our patients, families, community, and most importantly, each other, every single day.

In 2023, we focussed on the ‘Year of Together’. This year, ‘kindness’ will take centre stage.

As we launch into this brand-new year, we ask all staff to join us to make ‘kindness contagious’ by engaging in random acts of kindness as often as possible.

So, will you help us fill our hallways with kindness? How, you might ask? Well, the choices are endless…

A thoughtful gesture, a smile, a warm acknowledgment is one of the most valuable things you can give to another person. Not only does it warm the heart of the person receiving it, but it gives great reward to the person administering the act of kindness. Everyone wins with kindness.

Should you come across these ‘random acts of kindness’ please share them on our virtual wall for everyone to see. While you are there, you can give a shout out to a member of staff who you believe demonstrates this value.

Speaking of which, we recently asked some of our staff to tell us what kindness means to them. Here is what they had to say…

If you would like to add some kindness to your email signature, you can download a new logo here.

Pina Di Donato

Executive Director Public Affairs and Foundation 

 

Each week in the lead up to Accreditation, Northern Health will focus on a different Standard. You will hear from the Chair of each of the Standard Committees about the key points you need to know.

This week we speak with Dennis Gyomber, Divisional Director, Surgery, and Chair of Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers.

Northern Health is committed to delivering patient-centred care. Partnering with consumers is central to ensuring that our patients and their carers are at the core of all the work we do.

According to Dennis, “Delivering person-centred care depends very much on our partnership with our patients and consumers. This care extends even further than the patient/clinician relationship. It encompasses the relationship between Northern Health and the wider community. It is a relationship based on trust, mutual respect, and the sharing of knowledge to deliver the best health outcomes.”

What is this standard about?

Standard 2- The Partnering with Consumers Standard aims to create a health service in which there are mutually beneficial outcomes by having:

• Consumers as partners in planning, design, delivery, measurement and evaluation of systems and services.
• Patients as partners in their own care, to the extent that they choose.

This standard is about partnering with consumers at all levels of our work.

At a direct care level, it is about Shared Decision Making, that is getting to know your patients and their preferences and values, meeting their needs and providing them with information that they can understand and use to make decisions about their care and to consent to treatment.

At a service and system level, it is about listening to the voices of our patients and their carers and involving them in the work we do to improve our services. The information received from the Northern Health patient survey and feedback data provides opportunities for service improvement at the local level and organisational level.

At Northern Health, this standard looks like….

Patient Centred care for best outcomes: https://inews.nh.org.au/2023/03/shared-decision-making-how-partnering-with-consumers-creates-best-outcomes/

Our Consumer Network:

Patients are encouraged to become Consumer representatives and support Northern Health in different areas.

The patient journey: feedback data is always helpful to improve our patients experience and informs a variety of projects such as the Emergency Department redevelopment and the recently established Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.

Building and infrastructure: consumer input has influenced the design of our new mental health ward that was opened in 2023

Developing our second innovative Reconciliation Action Plan: many of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners have made a significant contribution to the development of the plan including what is important to the Aboriginal community.

Our publications: the CLEAR group (consumer group) provides feedback on the patient information Northern Health produces so that they get the consumer tick of approval that they are written in language our community can understand.

Developing our staff: consumers have presented their stories and experiences at training sessions such as the Safe Practice Forum and Refugee and Asylum Seeker Study Day. Consumer stories are a very important part of our Partnering with Consumers Clinical Improvement Committee.

These examples show the impact of partnering with the consumers on our Consumer Network or the consumers who receive care in a local service:

What are the top six ways staff can be prepared for Accreditation against this Standard?

1. Involve your patients and their carers in goal setting and care planning – click here for an animation about Shared Decision Making
2. Ask the patient what matters to them, what is their goal for the day and document this on the bedside communication board.
3. Identify the substitute Medical Treatment Decision Maker if a patient does not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves – click here for how to ask (or visit https://intranet.nh.org.au/departments-and-services/advance-care-planning/brochures-forms-documentation/)
4. Explain their Rights and Responsibilities and provide a patient information brochure.
5. Check that your patient understands the information you are providing and encourage patients to provide feedback and act to resolve any problems while they are in your care
6. Wear your name badge and introduce yourself.

What are the top five questions staff needs to be able to answer about this Standard?

1. When should a patient be provided with Northern Health’s Healthcare Rights and Responsibilities?
2. How do you partner with patients and carers in care planning and treatment decisions?
3. What do you do if a patient is at risk of not understanding the information you are providing to them?
4. How would you respond to a patient who was dissatisfied with their care?
5. How is Northern Health partnering with consumers in activities to improve our services?

Northern Health’s ‘Partnering with Consumers Plan’ is a valuable source of information and can be accessed here.

Click here to learn more about Standard 2: Partnering with Consumers.

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Grace Parisi, Receptionist, Northern Hospital Epping.

What is your coffee order?
My coffee order is white skinny latte, one sugar.

Tell me about your role at Northern Health and what it entails?
I was employed at Northern Health in January 2020 on a casual basis and am now permanently employed on a variety of different shifts. My shifts are day, afternoon and night shifts.

My role at Switchboard/Reception is to answer calls. The Switchboard/Reception department plays a pivotal role in our organisation, seamlessly managing various responsibilities to ensure effective and smooth operations. At the forefront, we skilfully handle the switchboard, serving as the primary point of contact for the public. Our adept communication skills shine as we engage with diverse individuals, addressing inquiries and aiding with professionalism and courtesy.

Moreover, the Switchboard/Reception department extends their expertise to liaise with doctors and nurses, fostering clear and efficient lines of communication within the healthcare team. This includes coordinating and relaying critical information to facilitate the seamless flow of patient care.

In the midst of a dynamic healthcare environment, the team excels at multitasking, effortlessly juggling responsibilities to meet the demands of a fast-paced setting. Our ability to remain composed and focused while handling various tasks concurrently is a testament to our dedication and organisational expertise.

Beyond interpersonal skills and multitasking capabilities, the Switchboard/Reception department also plays a pivotal role in logistical aspects, diligently organising equipment to ensure its timely availability. This careful attention to detail contributes significantly to the overall efficiency of our healthcare services.

In essence, the Switchboard/Reception department stands as a linchpin in our organisation, skilfully managing the switchboard, engaging with the public, collaborating with medical professionals, multitasking with finesse, and organising equipment seamlessly to support the delivery of exceptional healthcare services.

How do you like to relax after work?
There is no hesitation in relaxing with a large Moscato after work.

What is your favourite travel destination and why?
I travelled to Europe in 1990 and one of my favourite destinations was Paris. I would love to experience it again with my partner and admire the beautiful Eifel tower and romantic scenes together.

What is one thing people might be surprised to know about you?
That I am a proud grandmother of two beautiful grandsons, aged four and nearly two.

Northern Health is committed to promoting a sustainable and healthy community, and recognises the need to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 addresses Northern Health’s environmental impacts in its operations, and sets out planning, policies and procedures to support this commitment in the future.

Through this plan, Northern Health has set bold targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, ahead of the 2050 target set by the Victorian Government.

Northern Health’s greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 120,660 tonnes of carbon for the financial year ended 30 June 2022. This represents a decrease on the previous financial year of 1,450 tonnes of carbon, this was despite the expansion of our services and the opening of additional beds. The decrease is largely due to more renewable energy being passed through the
grid (approximately 30 per cent) which has reduced our Scope 2 (indirect) emissions.

This figure is set to reduce even further with the installation of solar panels across Northern Health sites. By mid-February, the final two solar arrays will be installed and operational at Bundoora Centre and Northern Hospital Epping. When combined with arrays already harvesting electricity from the sun at Broadmeadows, Mclellan House, NCHER and the new Mental Health Building, it’s expected to be able to generate in excess of 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.

The benefits of a more sustainable operation aren’t just restricted to environmental concerns. Alex Jovanovski, Director of Engineering & Building Services, said “The system has the potential to save Northern Health up to 20 per cent off it’s electricity bill annually.”

The solar panels also relay information from across all sites which can be used to generate reports on energy collected and savings made.

“This is a great innovation,” Mr Jovanovski continued, “as you can see real time updates on how we are tracking over time.”

Siva Sivarajah, Northern Health Chief Executive, shared this encouragement in his message from the opening pages of the plan. “Northern Health continues to embrace its environmental responsibilities and I encourage staff, patients, contractors and suppliers, and our community to actively participate in creating a healthier and more environmentally sustainable Northern community.”

If you would like to read The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 it is available here.

The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world. The race is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world. Because of the popularity of the race, participants are chosen largely by a lottery system.

Lorinda McPherson and Enisa Birdahic, both from our Acute to Community Coordination team, were two such lucky participants last year.

Says Lorinda, “I wanted to run an iconic world major marathon; there is none more iconic (in my opinion) than the New York marathon!”

“The New York City Marathon was incredible and surpassed my dreams. The streets were lined with thousands of supporters, almost across the entire 42.2km course. The course in itself is iconic, covering all five Boroughs of New York and crossing five bridges.”

Enisa ran the Tokyo marathon in 2015. She says the atmosphere and support from the crowd at the New York Marathon was “unparalleled.” She estimates there were over two million spectators.

Enisa started running in her forties and was attracted to marathons, “as I wanted the challenge it offered.” She trained six days a week, “sometimes in rain, in the dark, and almost always on my own.” She says she is known in the local neighbourhood as the ‘crazy running lady’.

Lorinda on the other hand, was kept company by training partners, on bikes or running alongside her. She trained for over six months, with a run of 38km, being her longest training run.

She ran her first Melbourne Marathon at 28 years of age-the same age her father was, when he ran the first ever Melbourne Marathon in 1978. “I decided to run them for the challenge of both mind & body. It’s hard but worth it!” says Lorinda.

Lorinda is now training for the Gold Coast Marathon in July and says, “I would love to run another overseas marathon in 2025.”

Says Enisa, “I would love to run another marathon but suspect that being treated like a rock star by the people of New York is hard to top.”

Pictured from left to right: Enisa Birdahic and Lorinda McPherson

Welcome to the realm of the Northern Health’s Public Affairs team – where words mingle, stories dance, and quirks are our favourite accessories. Meet the wizards behind the scenes who work tirelessly to share the heart and soul of Northern Health and turn everyday news into a symphony of smiles. Get ready for a journey with the coolest crew in communications!

Pina Di Donato: As the Executive Director of Public Affairs and Foundation, I get to fulfill my passion for both philanthropy and communications, fields I have worked in over many years. I have a love of storytelling and content production, but most of all, I enjoy leading teams. It is my goal to raise the profile of Northern Health through our communications, and I believe the Public Affairs team are equipped with the skills to do that.

I am privileged to be the leader of this dedicated, passionate and hardworking team. They make every day a joy to come to work. For this, I thank them.

Emma Cutajar: I’m Emma, Director, Public Affairs at Northern Health. I am passionate about creating engaging and impactful communications through forming meaningful connections with our staff, patients and community, and sharing their inspiring stories.

I am extremely proud to lead the Public Affairs team at Northern Health, which consists of an extraordinarily talented group of individuals. Together, the team supports all internal and external communication activities across Northern Health. My role is also responsible for the management of media issues, crisis communications and reputation.

I love working at Northern Health and continue to be inspired by the commitment of our staff, resilience of our patients and support from our community.

Christina Xavier: Hello there! I’m Christina, Senior Communications Coordinator and your go-to gal for all things external comms, especially social media, at Northern Health. My passion lies in uncovering stories and transforming them into visually stunning narratives. Working closely with my incredible team, I collaborate across departments, guiding impactful creatives and marketing campaigns. Creativity is my heartbeat, I live and breathe it. From perfecting branding to exploring design intricacies, it is my creative playground. A genuine people enthusiast, connecting with you is where the magic happens!

I absolutely love my job and my awesome team, brainstorming with them is a pure joy! A couple of years ago, I jumped on the Artificial Intelligence bandwagon, turning it into our digital productivity powerhouse and I’m thrilled to see it soar higher.

Jessica Micallef: Hey there! I’m Jessica, Senior Communications Coordinator. In my role, I am responsible for leading internal communications for Northern Health, which involves working closely with many departments to promote their work internally within Northern Health. Anything that involves communicating a message to staff, I’m your girl.

Internal communications don’t just mean all staff emails, iNews stories and a banner on the Intranet. I also get to work on many events throughout the year like Quarterly Awards, Length of Service Awards and my personal favourite, the ANZAC Day Service at Bundoora Centre.

Mike Masilamani: I am the one in need of a shave in the picture. I believe, “With a great beard, comes great responsibility.” I have been here long enough to know where the bodies are buried.  I have been called, ‘Magic Mike’, ‘Uncle Mike’, ‘Mikey’, ‘Mick’ and a whole lot more.

Together, we get to work on some great projects and meet some incredible people. Of the many projects from last year, undoubtedly the most heart-warming was the amalgamation of Kilmore District Hospital. This year, I am looking forward to working on special projects with my illustrious Exec Director, Pina. This includes a ‘new look’ to our Women and Children’s Unit and my very own cancer survivorship program. Look out for the launch of ‘WellAhead’, a wellbeing program, for those living with and beyond cancer.

The team I work with, has some amazing talent. So, here’s some advice. DON’T ask us to come and take a photograph. That’s the least of our skills. Tell us instead of the project you have in mind. We are here to add value to your project – not just make you look pretty. In fact, the former might be easier than the latter. Just saying.

Danche Trajkovski: Hello! I’m Danche, your friendly Communications Advisor at Northern Health. With a passion for storytelling, I traverse the realms of both internal and external communication, curating captivating iNews stories and crafting social media captions that resonate with our diverse audience.

In this dynamic role, I’m weaving the threads that connect us all. From unravelling the inspiring tales within the hospital’s walls to ensuring our online presence sparkles, I’m here to bridge the gap and keep you informed with a dash of flair! #ilovemyjob

Steve Carnell: Hey there. I’m Steve, Content Producer. Although I’ve only been with Public Affairs for a short time, my love of conveying stories and emotion through sound has been part of me forever. My primary focus is on our Northern Health podcast Visiting Hours with a skosh of video production thrown in for good measure, but I’m happy to jump into other projects as they present.

There is a truly collaborative spirit within our team, with an ebb and flow of ideas, suggestions and assistance, but it’s you guys that are the real heroes! We hope to see more of you across all sites, as we seek out new stories and innovations to share.

Christopher Alory: Hi, I’m Christopher, or Chris for brevity. I’m the Digital Communication Advisor and the newest member of the team. I joined in October, and since then, I’ve been energetically updating websites, overseeing the design of most visual communications, indulging in casual photography, and, last but not least, managing VVED socials.

Working at Northern Health provides an excellent opportunity to apply my skills in serving people, facilitating connections, and navigating the digital world seamlessly.

Now that you’ve met our wonderful team, please come and say hi and share with us your inspirational stories, professional triumphs, moments of pride and aspirations for a bigger and brighter future at Northern Health and let us work our magic!

Email: Publicaffairs@nh.org.au

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Jessica Micallef, Steve Carnell, Christina Xavier, Danche Trajkovski, Emma Cutajar, Christopher Allory, Silvia Zanon (photographer), Pina Di Donato, Mike Masilamani.