The Northern Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment Clinic (NASDAC) is a multidisciplinary clinic located at Craigieburn Centre. It provides assessment for children to determine whether they meet the diagnostic criteria of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The clinic was established in 2019, and was initiated by a review of new referrals to speech pathology over the first three months of 2018. This review indicated that 50 per cent of the children presented with ASD concerns, warranting further diagnostic investigation. In 2018, Northern Health applied for a grant and was successful in the application.

The project aimed to improve the pathways to assessment for pre-school children in the outer-northern suburbs of Melbourne, with the objectives to:

• Re-design the triage and referral pathways for children referred with suspected ASD to make sure the most suitable service pathway was identified and to reduce the waiting times.
• Train allied health staff in evidence-based ASD assessment tools, allowing them to work to their full scope of practice.
• Implement a MDT ASD assessment clinic with allied health and a paediatrician.
• Collaborate with key Transcultural and Language Services (TALS) staff to ensure timely and cohesive assessment for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Today, the team consists of six staff members, a developmental paediatrician, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, psychologist and two paediatric fellows, who rotate through Craigieburn every six months and receive training in clinic. In February 2020, NASDAC received a Northern Health Staff Recognition Award for “Innovation”, for implementing a better way to deliver care and service through a new idea or initiative.

“Since the opening of the clinic, our team has worked with a large number of families and the demand continues to grow. The team has worked together to streamline the assessment and triage processes, and we continually look for ways to improve this fledging specialist service. NASDAC illustrates how working together greatly improves what we do,” said Justine Slattery, Allied Health Education Lead.

Leanne Reynolds, NASDAC Occupational Therapist, says she is thrilled to be a part of such amazing team.

“I love working with such a skilled, client-centred and supportive multidisciplinary team. I learn something every day from working with them,” she said.

The team treat children who live in the northern catchment area and are referred to the service by the age of six years. These patients usually have more complex needs and require a more extensive and coordinated team assessment.

During the pandemic, the team found it challenging to assess the communication skills of the children with autism via Telehealth, with many of the assessments having to be postponed until face-to-face appointments were reintroduced.

“Our team complete the ADOS – Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule, a play-based assessment to observe social communication and imagination in a play environment. However, this couldn’t be completed over Telehealth during the pandemic. During this time, we managed to still conduct family interviews and set up structured observations of different activities over Telehealth, but not without challenges,” said Amanda Lees, NASDAC Speech Pathologist.

In 2023, the team are excited to continue to work together as one team and further develop the service and ensure they are providing the best diagnostic services for their young patents.

Thank you to our staff at NASDAC for all your wonderful work.

Pictured (L-R): Leanne Reynolds, Occupational Therapist, Amanda Lees, Speech Pathologist and Clinic Coordinator and Dr Jolene Fraser, Paediatrician.

From 18 – 24 June 2023, Northern Health will acknowledge Refugee Week, an opportunity for staff to learn more about the challenges faced by refugee and asylum seekers.

This year’s theme is ‘Finding Freedom’ and aims to shine a light on aspects of the refugee experience and help the broader community to understand what it is like to be a refugee. Highlights at Northern Health will include lived experience presentations, case studies, and a background information session.

Stefania Zen, Education and Engagement Manager, Transcultural & Language Services/Narrun Wilip-Giin Aboriginal Support Unit, is one of the presenters at the Refugee Study Day on Tuesday, 20 June. She says, “every refugee is different, and each journey is unique.”

The Study Day will run from 9.30 am to 12 pm, both online and in-person. The program will cover topics including refugee and asylum seeker data, definitions, and the internal and external services available to support this patient population. The program will also include lived experience presentations and case studies from our Paediatric Refugee Health Clinic – a joint initiative between Northern Health and The Royal Children’s Hospital.

On Wednesday, 21 June, Women’s Health in the North will host a webinar on Refugee Women’s Health and the social and cultural aspects of Female Genital Cutting. It will cover definitions, the settlement process, health issues, implications for health care, and cross-cultural communication.

Some of the challenges that refugees and asylum seekers face include the dramatic transition from one culture to another, the loss of home, families and community, together with the loss of language, social and professional status.

Transcultural and Language Services (TALS) will address these challenges in a webinar titled, ‘Migration and Settlement in the Health Context – Working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers,’ on Thursday, 22 June from 1 pm to 2 pm. This webinar will provide a global picture of refugees and strategies on how to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate care to patients from refugee backgrounds.

In addition, the library team has set up a page dedicated to Refugee Week with resources and articles related to refugee and asylum seeker health, which you can access here.

Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer, encourages staff to participate in the week’s events, saying, “It’s important to understand the lived experience of refugees and asylum seekers. It helps us plan and deliver appropriate services to this diverse and unique patient group. You can register here.”

Featured image from Refugee Council, Australia.

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Yen Nguyen, Audiologist, Speech Pathology, Orthoptics and Audiology.

Q: What is your coffee order?

A: Actually, I don’t drink coffee. But if was sitting down with friends at a cafe, I’d go for a peppermint tea or hot chocolate.

Q: Tell us about your role at Northern Health and what do you enjoy the most?

A: I am an audiologist. I am one of two audiologists here at the Northern Hospital Epping and together we are now a five days-a-week clinic. Our role here is to perform diagnostic hearing assessments for children aged nine months to adults. I enjoy interacting and playing with children.

Q: What is your biggest challenge during work each day?

A: Finding creative ways to entertain and extract the required information from children to have a complete set of audiology results.

Q: What fictional character do you most relate to?

A: Chilli Heeler from Bluey – everything she says and does makes me feel seen as a mother. I love the lessons this cartoon teaches and enjoy watching the show with my two girls, who are about the same ages as Bluey and Bingo.

Q: What is at the top of your bucket list?

A: I have a green thumb and only started gardening three years ago. On my bucket list I wish to be (mostly) self-sufficient in fruits and vegetables in my suburban backyard. Along the way, my goal is to motivate as many people as I can, to grow their own food through social media.

Today, Northern Health celebrated Speaking Up For Safety (SUFS) Day.

In partnership with the Cognitive Institute, Northern Health launched the SUFS program last year to enhance the physical and psychological safety of patients and staff. The program consists of one-hour workshops to equip staff with the skills and confidence to escalate concerns around patient safety and/or staff safety with assertiveness and respect.

Over the past few months, each division has had the opportunity to attend a SUFS session. During these sessions, staff are educated on the Safety CODE (Checks, Options, Demands, Elevates) – a proactive tool that enables staff to speak up before mistakes happen to prevent unintended harm to patients and/or staff.

Staff are encouraged to use the Safety CODE at every team meeting, clinical handover, huddle, shift commencement and conclusion, ward walk-around and at every critical moment.

Michelle Fenwick, Executive Director, People and Culture, said the ability to speak up for safety is one of the most valuable resources we have to prevent errors of commission or omission, and to build a culture where speaking up, checking and being checked for safety is normalised and welcomed.

“I am proud that our organisation is actively working to improve the safety of patient care and a positive, safe workplace culture. I thank you for your support as we enter a new era of safety at Northern Health,” she said.

Bianca Fazzari, People Experience Business Partner, People and Culture, said, “creating a culture of safety where staff feel empowered and comfortable to raise concerns is essential at Northern Health.”

“The Safety CODE is a proactive tool that enables staff to speak up before mistakes happen to prevent unintended harm to patients and/or staff.

To celebrate SUFS Day, staff have been provided SUFS stickers. Staff are encouraged to wear the stickers on their name badges to symbolise openness and willingness to listen and respond effectively when others speak up for safety. SUFS cookies have also been distributed to staff today as a way to celebrate success in managing safety concerns and also discuss new ways to promote safety within teams.

For more information on SUFS, including how to attend a SUFS session, visit the Intranet.

Featured image: Maternity staff with SUFS cookies

Northern Health’s decision to implement an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) promises numerous benefits for clinicians and patients. While these benefits may not be immediately apparent during the initial stages of implementation, Northern Health is confident that as they transition to this change, we will start seeing the benefits.

It is anticipated that fewer tests will be performed, medication errors will be reduced, and patients will move quicker through the emergency department, with fewer re-presentations. Being able to see patient documentation and orders from any computer, anywhere, in near real-time, will make providing patient care quicker, safer and more efficient.

Northern Health’s Benefits Realisation plan, initiated in 2020, marks the beginning of a meticulous journey to measure and evaluate the impact and benefit of implementing an EMR.

Daniella Chapkoun, Nursing Informatics Officer and Benefits Analyst, is leading the EMR benefits program at Northern Health.

In developing the Northern Health benefits, Ms Chapkoun has reviewed the EMR literature and benchmarked with other Victorian and Australian hospitals. Northern Health’s tailored benefit realisation plan encompasses 15 expected benefits, primarily focused on enhancing consumer experience and outcomes and clinician efficiency.

One exciting part of the benefits program is a study on time efficiency for nurses, medical, and pharmacy staff using a pre-study and post-study design methodology. During the study, the team observed 180 hours of clinical practice using the WOMAT observational tool to assess the average time required to complete regular tasks before the implantation of the EMR, as well as 12 months after the implementation of the EMR. This comprehensive observation included documenting clinicians’ average time spent on clinical tasks, documentation, medication rounds and reviews. By collecting this data, Northern Health aims to gain valuable insights into the impact of EMR systems on workflow efficiency and clinical practice.

Ms Chapkoun expressed her anticipation for publishing their findings, aiming to demonstrate how implementing an EMR system can increase time spent with patients rather than being occupied with paperwork. She emphasised the scarcity of Australian literature on the implementation of an EMR system of this magnitude.

“As one of the last major metropolitan hospitals to undergo such a significant transition, Northern Health has a unique opportunity to measure the before, and after, effects of the implementation.  We are eager to contribute our valuable insights to the Digital Health industry, furthering our collective understanding and advancement of healthcare practices,” said Ms Chapkoun.

She also extended her gratitude to Trish Aldridge, EMR Director, and Anthony Gust, Executive Director of Digital Health, for supporting the benefits program and facilitating the procurement of the WOMBAT observational tool. “Their assistance has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the study.”

For more information on EMR benefits, click here.

Featured image: Daniella Chapkoun, Nursing Informatics Officer and Benefits Analyst

Northern Health Foundation, or ‘The Foundation’ as it’s typically referred to, is the fundraising arm of Northern Health. Their aim is to raise funds to support staff and patients across Northern Health.

The Foundation team is led by Pina Di Donato, Executive Director, Public Affairs and Foundation, and Melissa Grenville who recently joined as Director, Foundation. Melissa leads a small group of enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about making a difference with her team, consisting of Margaret Rivette, Fundraising Campaigns Officer and Tatjana Dimoska, Administration and Database Officer. They work closely with Henni Wade, Volunteer Services and Manager, who is a fantastic support to the team.

Over the last 18 months, they have funded more than $800,000 in medical equipment and research across all four Northern Health campuses, including state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology to enhance patient care, supporting the upgrade of patient and visitor facilities and funding PhD scholarship to support ground-breaking medical research.

This year, their major campaign has been focused on fundraising for an Anorectal Laboratory to help minimise risks associated with OASIS patients (Obstetrics Anal Sphincter Injuries) at Northern Health. To ensure its success, the Foundation reports to its own independent board made up of diversely skilled individuals who volunteer their time to provide strategic guidance. They are passionate about raising funds to improve patient experience and support our staff.

When the pandemic hit, the Foundation pivoted into support mode, doing anything they could to support staff during this difficult time. They developed some fabulous initiatives, such as the ‘Shout a Coffee’ campaign where corporate supporter, Riverlee, kindly donated $5,000 worth of coffees for all the dedicated staff in 2021, which the Foundation was able to facilitate. They also raised funds through major raffles allowing a staff member to win a brand-new car in 2020. These funds eventually supported the purchase of a Gastro-ultrasound at Northern Hospital Epping.

Northern Health staff are also wonderful contributors through the Workplace Giving Program. Pre-tax contributions are dollar matched by BankVic up to $20,000 and are used to fund projects around our health service. Most recently, Workplace Giving contributions have enabled the purchase of beautiful art pieces in the Palliative Care Unit at Northern Hospital Epping.

Melissa Grenville, Director Foundation says, “We’re a small team who do amazing work, tirelessly fundraising to support our staff and our health service. As the new Director, I am excited to work with the board, executives, Pina and the Foundation team to implement our strategic plan and grow our team to be fully resourced. We are also developing some fantastic initiatives and events to support our upcoming campaign for 2023-24.”

While there is fantastic support from government funding, there are many areas within the health service where staff and departments identify a need and come to the team for assistance. The Foundation works towards fulfilling those needs with the available resources, to build on the services and become an even larger support system for staff and the community.

In 2023, the team is excited to meet new people and continue working with staff to fundraise to support various departments across Northern Health.

Thank you to The Foundation team for all your hard work and support.

Pictured (L-R): Margaret Rivette, Fundraising Campaigns Officer, Melissa Grenville, Director Foundation and Tatjana Dimoska, Administration and Database Officer.  

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Dr Michael Farber, Geriatrician

Q: Tell us about your current role at Northern Health?

A: I am a Geriatrician. I look after Acute, Subacute, Community and Outpatient services. I work in the Continence Clinic, Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) and General Medical Outpatients. I am a clinical lead for Broadmeadows Hospital and a supervisor for junior medical staff.  I have been an employee of Northern Health since 2010.

Q: What is your favourite thing about your career?

A: I work in different settings and see patients during acute and subacute stages of their care. I receive tremendous satisfaction from providing support to the patient but also to the organisation in providing holistic care.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Continuing in my current role, just older and wiser.

Q: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?

A: 2010 and 2012, to see my children as babies again, they grow up very quickly.

Q: What is the best gift you have been given?

A: My family.

Later this year, the Australian people will be asked to vote YES or NO to a single referendum question to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Constitution.

This change was called for in the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’, a statement endorsed by 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru on 26 May 2017.

Northern Health wholeheartedly supports the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our health service is built, the Wurundjeri people, and we acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

Through our Reconciliation Action Plan and Aboriginal Cultural Safety Plan, we commit to continuing our work towards closing the gap, improving Aboriginal cultural safety, and improving the health and wellbeing of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and community.

Northern Health encourages its staff to engage in healthy and respectful research and consultation, in line with our organisational values of safe, kind, together, to inform their personal position on the referendum vote.

Northern Health will continue to monitor community response to the referendum and may realign its position accordingly.

Suggested Resources:

https://voice.gov.au/

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/support-a-voice-to-parliament/

https://www.vacca.org/content/Document/VACCA_Submission_IndigenousVoice_30Apr21.pdf