August 2020
-
Staff wellbeing matters in ED
Our Emergency Department (ED) is taking staff wellbeing seriously, with a number of creative and fun initiatives rolling out to ease the everyday challenges. Dr Kirin Channa, Emergency Physician and ED Quality Lead, explained the ED Wellbeing Committee was formed in 2019, after a staff survey showed what the team would like to do to improve their mental and physical state. “We started TREAT Rest and Recovery sessions, therapy dogs coming into ED, exercise classes, fruit platters and similar. However, with COVID-19 measures, we had to find some new ways of keeping well,” she said. The strict COVID-19 measures and…
-
Northern Health launches virtual childbirth education classes
Northern Health has recently launched virtual childbirth education classes to support expecting mothers and families in our community during this time. The pandemic has changed the way we work and we have had to implement new and creative ways to ensure we continue to provide the best possible care to our community. Nicole Carlon, Director of Operations, Women’s and Children’s Services, is proud of her team and the way they have quickly adapted to the constantly changing situation and been able to respond to the needs of families. “Unfortunately due to COVID-19, we aren’t able to run face to face…
-
Vera and Paul and the Community Visitor Scheme
This is a story about our Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) that allows our volunteers to visit socially isolated and lonely elders residing in aged care facilities. It is also a story about the beautiful friendship one of our amazing volunteers – Vera Bosheva has cultivated with Paul Ruckert, a resident of Vasey RSL Care (Vasey House). When Vera was first interviewed for the CVS Program at Vasey House, she assumed she would be matched with a female resident. However the coordinator made a strong case for Paul, as someone who could benefit from Vera’s visits. Vera began visiting Paul in…
-
We are Pharmily! I’ve got all the winners with me!
Pharmacy exercise team, ‘Pharmily’, has won the inaugural Northern Health’s 15 Minute Exercise Challenge, receiving a $50 Rebel Sport voucher for each team member and the 15 Minute Challenge Cup. The 15 Minute Exercise Challenge was a six-week online team competition which encouraged participants to be active every day and to form good exercise habits. The challenge started on Monday, 22 June, and resulted in 350 individual participants and 50 active teams exercising from all campuses. Praseetha Koyadan Chathoth, pharmacy technician and the captain of ‘Pharmily,’ said they saw the promo on the Intranet and decided to join the challenge…
-
Local Hero – Vote for Josie
Northern Health Foundation Patron and local fundraising hero, Josie Minniti OAM, has been nominated as a Westfield Local Heroes finalist for 2020. Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition and awards program that discovers and celebrates individuals who make a positive impact to their local community. Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with three finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant. We are thrilled this year that Josie Minniti has nominated Northern Health as her chosen charity. Should Josie be successful, she will contribute the funds towards the purchase of an EBUS machine for our…
-
Speech Pathology Week: Communicating with confidence
Speech Pathology Week promotes the profession and work done by speech pathologists with over 1.2 million Australians who have a communication disability. The theme for Speech Pathology Week 2020 is Communicating with confidence. Rebecca Lamont, Northern Health Speech Pathologist, explained the team works with all aspects of communication challenges, relating to language, understanding and expression, voice, fluency and similar. The same muscles used for speech are used in swallowing, so the team are experts in that field too, and can also help with cognition and thinking skills. Maree Spencer is one of Northern Health’s patients that Rebecca has been treating…
-
Strategic Priority 5: Engaged learners, inspired researchers
The fifth strategic priority in Northern Health’s new Strategic Plan 2020-24 focuses on research and learning, working towards the goal of equipping staff with the latest knowledge and best practices to support positive patient experiences and safe, effective care. Prof. Bill van Gaal, Director Cardiology Service and Divisional Director Emergency Services says, “Northern Health is committed to building a culture of research and educating the workforce of the future.” In order to elevate our research profile and translate research into healthcare practice, Northern Health is keen to create a workforce of engaged learners and inspired researchers, by enhancing teaching and…
-
CLEAR group turns five
Northern Health’s Consumer Literacy Evaluation and Review (CLEAR) group turned five this month. They are one of the longest running consumer groups who have eagerly contributed to Northern Health. The group has a very specific task of reviewing and providing feedback on all information developed within the health service, that will be given to patients and their families. Paula Murray, Health Literacy Coordinator, explained the group focuses on ensuring the information aimed at patients makes sense, is useful and relevant and easy to understand. “The group also looks at whether the information in a brochure, for example, provides the information…