June 2020
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Crazy Socks for a clear head
Today, Northern Health celebrates CrazySocks4Docs Day, encouraging all staff to wear their most colourful socks and start the conversation around mental health. Dr John Ferguson, Chief Medical Officer, explained the catalyst behind the event. “Dr Geoff Toogood, founder of the movement, was self-managing depression and feeling he could not seek help because that was not the “done thing” for doctors. One day, he put on two totally different socks and a senior colleague questioned his sanity,” said John. “That gave cause for pause and the advent of this day to recognise and destigmatise mental health in general, and in doctors…
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Northern Health receives first Better Care Victoria Innovation Grant
Northern Health was successful in receiving a Better Care Victoria Innovation Grant for our project proposal to use analytics to improve Chronic Disease Consequences (ACDC). The ACDC project will build on Northern Health’s existing ‘Staying Well’ initiative, which focuses on helping those with complex chronic conditions maintain their wellbeing, instead of waiting until they need to come to hospital. The Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund (the Fund) is a key platform for supporting sector-led innovation and improvement projects in the Victorian health sector. Established in 2016, the Fund calls for applications annually, and has delivered four rounds of innovation projects,…
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New Referral Manager launches 25 June
Northern Health is introducing an electronic Referral Manager (E-Triage) system on 25 June, capable of processing 130,000 patient referrals per annum. The Referral Manager will replace the current paper process in use and was a need identified by Ernst and Young in 2018 and endorsed by our Audit and Risk Committee. Daniella Chapkoun, Project Lead, Referral Manager (E-Triage) Project says, “Because the current system is a paper process, it’s harder to track the referral once it leaves the Business Centre.” Says Daniella, “With the new Referral Manager, we can ensure the security of the referral, ensure our patients get their…
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CSSD on the move
In the coming months, the Central Sterilising Services Department (CSSD) at Northern Hospital Epping will be preparing to move into their new home in the tower. Sometimes known as the “heart of the hospital”, the CSSD is a 24/7 department that cleans, disinfects and sterilises all reusable medical devices used in procedures, providing services to the operating theatres and other departments and campuses of Northern Health. The move comes as part of the Northern Hospital Stage 2 Expansion Project. Led by Nurse Unit Manager, Evient Koh, the team have been working hard to undertake extra training, implement new technology and…
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Craigieburn Centre Rapid Access Iron Infusion Clinic
Over the last year, Craigieburn Centre has ramped up their Rapid Access Iron Infusion Clinic. The pilot project, which started in late 2018, is targeted at reducing waiting times for patients in need of an iron infusion. The clinic keeps four chairs in the Craigieburn Day Medical Unit available – two of those chairs are used for referrals from Northern Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED). “One of the key benefits is that it helps free up the Short Stay Unit in ED. Our aim is to get the patient in as quickly as possible, so we book an appointment and it’s…