Over the past two months, Northern Health (NH) and Kilmore District Health (KDH) have undertaken a thorough consultation process to explore the future delivery of healthcare services in the Northern Growth Corridor.

Part of this process included engaging directly with the community of Kilmore and surrounds, and KDH staff and stakeholders so we can collaboratively determine what is needed and wanted. The end result will be closer and stronger partnerships, with the possibility of a voluntary amalgamation between both services.

Please click here to read the Better Connected Care Newsletter – June 2023.

This is a significant time to be working in the mental health sector, as we declare our commitment to the ambitious reform agenda, set out by the Mental Health Royal Commission.

Next week, we welcome the Broadmeadows Aged Persons Mental Health Unit (BAPMHU) and the new Specialist Older Adults Consultation Service (SOACS). This is the final transition of services, as recommended by The Royal Commission, into Mental Health.

Today, we speak to Huggins Mhlanga, Nurse Unit Manager – Broadmeadows Aged Persons Mental Health Unit.

Let’s start with your coffee order?

Extra hot latte – no sugar.

Tell us about your role and what it entails?

I’m the Nurse Unit Manager at Broadmeadows Aged Persons Mental Health Unit. I’m responsible for the overall operational management of the unit. This includes supporting our multidisciplinary team to deliver effective and efficient care to our service users, their families and other stakeholders. In collaboration with key strategic partnerships both internally and externally, the role is also responsible for ensuring that our service has the necessary resources required to enable quality service delivery to our communities.

Tell us what you were doing prior to this role?

I have worked in mental health nursing since 2000, both here in Australia and the UK. Most of my career I have worked in various clinical settings in adult mental health services both in inpatient units and community services.

Prior to this role, I worked in the community residential recovery programs at North West Area Mental Health Community Care Unit (NWCCU) and North West Area Mental Health Prevention and Recovery Care Service (PARC). I held a few clinical leadership roles during this time including the Secure Extended Care (SECU) liaison role for Northwestern Mental Health before joining the team at Broadmeadows Hospital Older Adults Mental Health Unit in 2018.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is no typical day on an inpatient mental health unit. However, my day usually starts with meetings relating to bed management including clinical handover, to name a few. The rest of the time is spent supporting the team as required to manage the daily demands of the unit, including engaging with our service users, their families and other stakeholders.

What excites you about your role?

The passion, collaboration and commitment of our clinical team to deliver quality care in spite of the ever-changing nature of healthcare service delivery.

What are some of the challenges of this role?

Too many to mention but there are always opportunities, despite these challenges, to improve the way we do things.

Lastly, what would people be most surprised to know about you?

I’m not an AFL fanatic, however, when I’m asked which footy team I support, I always say St. Kilda. When I arrived in Australia, I was told that every Victorian was “required” to pick an AFL team to support, and when I did my assessment, they were the only team that wore the same colours as my beloved Manchester United.

Northern Health’s Transition Care Program (TCP) provides care coordination and low-level therapy for clients that have had a recent hospital admission, for up to 12 weeks.

Based at Bundoora Centre, the program allows clients to continue their recovery while appropriate long-term care arrangements are finalised; this may be a return to the community, with or without community services, including Home Care Packages or permanent residential aged care.

There are two arms to the TCP – Home-Based (HB) and Bed-Based (BB).

The Home-Based Program is offered in the client’s own home. The Bed-Based program is located within Baptcare, Wattle Grove in Lalor.

Whilst on the program, the client will receive care coordination, brokered home support services (HB only), medical support and low-level therapy based upon the specific needs and goals of the client. Care Coordination is provided by the TCP care coordinators and medical support is provided collaboratively by the client’s GP and the TCP Geriatrician.

During the pandemic, the team faced many challenges including remote working and facilitating virtual care to clients who were reluctant to receive in-home care services. But, despite all the hurdles, TCP staff were praised by their clients for their perseverance and dedication to the service.

Edgar Menchavez, TCP Care Coordinator, commenced with the TCP in 2019 and has received outstanding feedback on a number of occasions from the many patients he has worked with, and their families, outlining his compassion, empathy, dedication and knowledge of community supports.

“Working with TCP can be a challenge. It is a constantly changing environment; we all have to adapt and respond to the changes appropriately. Nevertheless, I consider this job a privilege. I love working with older adults and our wonderful team,” he said.

This year, the team is looking forward to the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) which will support open communication to the inpatient teams, increasing awareness of clients receiving community services via Northern Health.

“The Transition Services Team is one of the most flexible, dynamic and adaptable groups I have had the pleasure to lead,” said Matthew Wood, Transition Services Manager.

Pictured: L – R back row: Elza Alice Joseph, Vanessa Hodge, Najeebuddin Mohammed, Sharyn Green, Sally-Anne McFawn, Mathew Wood, Elizabeth Pentland, Sharyn Stockdale, Sara Faccini., Jill Rachel, Rachel Raucci.

Front Row: Yin Min Aye, Jenny Christof, Edgar Menchavez, Kirk Ombina.

Northern Health’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) super user training kick starts today.

From designing and building the EMR to testing and endorsing the workflows, the time has finally come to get our staff ready for our EMR go live in September.

EMR training will be mainly delivered by our team of 15 EMR trainers. However, we have some special guests who will also be taking on the role to train their peers during the 10-week training period.

Jake Geertsema, Ben Peake, Ben Wong, Jamie Mackay, Charlie Harding, Ben Wong, and Jason Ma, Anaesthetists at Northern Health, volunteered to undergo a ‘train the trainer’ program on 19 and 20 June to learn the new workflows and familiarise themselves with the training module, before providing formal classroom training to their peers.

There will be theatre slowdown to allow the team of seven trainers to train the 77 consultants and 30 JMOs in the department within the eight-week training schedule.

To prepare for training, Jason Ma, Deputy Director of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, said they have started incorporating EMR demonstrations into their weekly meetings.

“This slowly introduces the system and allows us to answer questions. In August, every meeting will have snippets to refresh those who may have had their training much earlier and provide updates on processes.”

Jason is excited to see how EMR can improve workflows across Northern Health.

“Simple things like recording observations five minutely will be a thing of the past, allowing us to concentrate more on patient management. It will be easier to see current patient issues and should reduce the amount of copying of information,” he said.

Cliff Wiltshire, EMR Training Manager, thanks the leadership’s involvement.

“The team has been able to nominate five staff as EMR trainers, which will set them up to train the more than 100 consultants and JMOs and have the expertise to support their team members at go live,” Cliff said.

All EMR classroom training will commence today and continue until 2 September to train more than 4,000 staff working in the inpatient setting, Emergency, Theatres, and some working in specialist maternity clinics.

“Remember, no training, no EMR access.  Make sure you are booked into training and attend the scheduled session,” Cliff adds.

Thank you to all of you who were involved in this tremendous task and let the EMR go live countdown begin.

Featured image: Ben Peake, Jake Geertsema, and Jason Ma, Anaesthetists attending EMR ‘train the trainer’ program. 

Since October 2022, Northern Health has focused on a targeted program of attracting and recruiting internationally qualified nurses and midwives, as part of its Nursing and Midwifery recruitment strategy.

In undertaking this work, senior nursing leaders from Northern Health recently attended job fairs in Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, promoting the diverse and exciting healthcare opportunities available both in Victoria, as well as in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Grant Taylor, Director of Nursing Workforce, advised that the program has been an enormous success having recruited and onboarded a total of 18 new nurses since the program began, with another seven about to join Northern Health soon.

Grant continued, “Our new international recruits have joined Northern Health from a variety of overseas countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.”

Working across numerous wards at Northern Health in departments as diverse as Emergency, Paediatrics, Mental Health and Operating Theatres, the recruits bring new perspectives and transferable skill sets.

Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, said, “It has been fantastic to see the influx of highly qualified and experienced nurses and midwives from Northern Health’s international recruitment program. These nurses and midwives support our local applicants and current staff and provide a unique opportunity to create a truly diverse nursing and midwifery team.”

Director of Nursing (Mental Health), Gary Ennis, commented, “Over the past four months the Division of Mental Health has welcomed a number of mental health nurses from New Zealand and Canada. There has been a steady stream of interest from overseas mental health nurses enquiring about coming to work for us at Northern Health, with a number of UK based nurses preparing for a move later this year.”

“Our values of Safe, Kind and Together really appear to resonate with the nurses who have applied for positions at Northern Health. There is a lot of choice for mental health nurses when picking a health service to work for and it’s great to see that the division of Mental Health at Northern Health continues to attract quality overseas applicants.”

Northern Health warmly welcomes our new international recruits, and trusts your time with us will be a symbiotically fruitful one.

Pictured in featured image: Grant Taylor with some of our new international recruits.

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Karen Ayres, Support Services Supervisor at Bundoora Centre. Karen began her journey at Northern Health in 2016 as a Patient Services Assistant (PSA), a year later accepting the role of ‘In Charge’. Now, as a supervisor, she looks after the 15 to 20 PSA’s working at Bundoora.

The Support Services student placement program, which offers a number of institutions the opportunity for their students to gain real world experience at the end of their course, recently extended beyond the walls of Northern Hospital Epping.  Karen has been instrumental in providing a welcoming environment for the first student to attend Bundoora Centre. A brilliant opportunity to live out our ‘Safe Kind Together’ values.

Q: What was your first car?

A: My first car was a sky blue EH Holden which I picked up for a bargain price of $495.

Q: Who do you most admire in your life?

A: My mum. I admire her for her unconditional love and kindness, and her great sense of humour.

Q: What are some things you have enjoyed about your job recently?

A: I have enjoyed working alongside my colleagues, getting to know them a bit more and having a laugh. I also enjoy having a student for the first time and teaching them the role of a PSA.

Q: What is something you are looking forward to in the future?

A: Seeing how well the student goes in the role. I am also really looking forward to having an overseas holiday to Bali.

Q: Early bird or Night owl?

A: Definitely an early bird, especially when on holiday. l love to see a good sunrise!

This afternoon, Northern Health hosted a free webinar on urgent medical care in Melbourne’s north.

Dr Loren Sher, Director, Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), and Neela Konara, Director, Partnerships, discussed two alternative options to attending an emergency department for non-life-threatening emergencies – the VVED and Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs).

The VVED provides emergency care from anywhere in Victoria, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is a first of its kind in Australia where patients are triaged and treated for non-life-threatening conditions virtually over camera.

“We are helping thousands of patients, to access the right level of care, at the right time,” Loren said.

“A lot of patients can be managed through a video. We aim to keep our patients at home and organise management in the community – we can organise eScripts to your local pharmacy, referrals to pathology and radiology, so there’s lots that can be done through video.”

PPCCs provide urgent medical care for people with conditions that require medical attention, but not an emergency response. There are two PPPCs located within the northern catchment.

“That means for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries,” Neela said.

“PPCCs are a place to get the urgent care you need, closer to home, without attending the emergency department. This includes conditions like mild infections, burns and suspected fractures. It is available to anyone and is especially a good option for anyone without internet access.”

Kirra McGaw, Primary Care Liaison Officer, works at Northern Health, and also lives in Mickleham with two young children. She has benefitted from using both the VVED and PPCC during times when she couldn’t get into a GP and didn’t want to visit the emergency department with her sick children.

“I received a really thorough consultation over VVED and I believed the advice I was given which meant I could prevent my son from being admitted to hospital. I was able to endure all of this in the comfort of my own bed next to my son which was great,” Kirra said.

“In another instance, I knew the Craigieburn PPCC took a lot less time to drive to than it was to get to the emergency department. We were seen by the nurse within minutes of arriving before the GP gave a really thorough examination of my son.”

“We got the required medication onsite at their pharmacy and were back home really quick. My mum-anxiety relieved.”

A special thank you to our key partners Banksia Gardens, City of Whittlesea, DPV Health, ECCV, Hume Council, Nexus Primary Health, NORTHLink, Whittlesea Community Connections, Whittlesea U3A and Yarra Plenty Regional Library, for supporting the event.

For more information and to access the VVED, please visit vved.org.au.

To find out more about PPCC and to find your nearest location, please click here.

To watch the webinar, please click here.

Featured image L-R: Mike Masilamani, Senior Communications Coordinator, Public Affairs, Neela Konara, Director, Partnerships and Dr Loren Sher, Director, VVED.

This week, Northern Health recognises World Continence Week. The focus is on raising awareness about incontinence, which affects over five million Australians. By using stories of lived experience, it is hoped to not only empower the sharer, but encourage others to be bold enough to seek treatment.

Christine Sumper, Continence Nurse Consultant and Team Leader of Northern Health’s Continence Service explains, “The importance of sharing stories of the lived experience of having incontinence helps us to break down stereotypes and stigma surrounding the condition.  For many, the realisation that they’re not alone is the first step toward seeking help.”

Incontinence of either the bladder or bowel, effects one in four Australians over the age of 15, with statistics showing it’s by no means an older person’s condition. Around 46 per cent of people who experience incontinence are under the age of 50 and over 1.34 million Australian boys and men experience incontinence.

Incontinence can affect people at any age, but in many cases, it can be prevented, better managed or even cured. “Breaking down the secrecy of concealment and shameful feelings that act as barriers to seeking help is our aim,” Ms Sumper added.

The Continence Foundation of Australia has a number of initiatives running throughout the week, including a new podcast series, videos and a lived experience panel webinar on Wednesday, 21 June at 5.30 pm. For further details please click here.

For help and more information about incontinence, call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 for free, confidential advice from Nurse Continence Specialists, Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm AEST.

Pictured above: team members from the Northern Health Continence Service; Katrina Ziebarth, Femy Jacob, Christine Sumper and Tara Webb.