July 2021
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Dr Yiannis: Talk to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine
Dr Yiannis Efstathiadis, Emergency Department Registrar, made headlines last year when he shared his story on contracting COVID-19 and ending up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) fighting for life. A year after, and now fully vaccinated, he looks back at the scariest time in his life. The 35- year old doctor had all the usual symptoms – fever, headache, muscle ache, joint ache, and worsening lethargy. “By about two weeks in, I started to get the dry, annoying cough and by the third week, I couldn’t look after myself. I was home alone, as I had to self-isolate. When…
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Celebrating NAIDOC Week with children
This week marks NAIDOC Week, an annual event that acknowledges the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To celebrate NAIDOC Week, Narrun Wilip-Giin (Aboriginal Support Unit), have kindly gifted Aboriginal designed children’s colouring books, supported by Northern Health Foundation, to all children in the Northern Hospital Epping Children’s Ward. The book’s artwork has been created by Gary Saunders, a proud Bangerang, Yorta Yorta, Wiradjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung man. In the book is a selection of animals, birds and symbols that are important to Aboriginal people, such as the Kangaroo. The Kangaroo is of cultural and…
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Have you submitted your Big Idea?
‘What’s the Big Idea?’ initiative, launched mid-June invites staff to submit their creative ideas that, if selected, will be turned into successful projects in just 90 days. It has been a busy two weeks on IdeaScale, Northern Health’s portal for innovation and idea sharing, with 45 creative and out-of-the-box staff ideas submitted so far. “We have quite a range of clinical and non-clinical ideas, a lot of tech ideas like apps and process redesign, ideas on utilising our volunteer service, garden and staff spaces, COVID-19 vaccination, linking with our community, refugee health and research,” said Cassie Bramston, Project Officer. “If…
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NAIDOC Week 2021: Trinity Saxby’s long journey
NAIDOC Week recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Heal Country’. It calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protection for our lands, waters, sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration and destruction. As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we had two eminent physicians – Dr Angela Dos Santos and Dr Graham Gee speak at a virtual Grand Round last Thursday. Angela spoke on the importance of providing more awareness about strokes in Aboriginal communities. Her presentation highlighted statistics that showed a…
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Learn about training for EMR
A large part of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) implementation across Northern Health is ensuring staff are adequately trained using the new system and are confident using it. Navigating Northern Health through EMR training is Cliff Wiltshire, our new EMR Training Manager. Prior to joining the Northern Health EMR Project, Cliff worked at Austin Health, delivering training to all clinical groups, from induction to the implement of new functionality within the EMR. “My knowledge of the clinical system, from design, implementation, and support, will help to provide a clear understanding of the current EMR functionality and how this will be…
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50,000 reasons to celebrate!
We are pleased to announce our COVID-19 Vaccination Program has hit a mighty milestone this week – 50,000 vaccines have been administered since the rollout began. Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, visited our COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre (PRACC) in South Morang this week to thank the hardworking staff and to celebrate the occasion. “A big thank you to our staff, volunteers and everyone involved for achieving this amazing milestone. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is an important step in keeping our community safe and I strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine,…