February 2022
-
Helping our smallest patients
Our Neonatal Unit at Northern Hospital Epping received a Rad 5 Pulse Oximeter with Neonatal Sensor donation, through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. The piece of equipment enables a new model of care that will ensure all newborns have their vital signs checked at 48 hours after birth, and checked prior to discharge. Barbara Rischitelli, Nurse Unit Manager Neonatal Unit, said the equipment was vital, especially at the early stages of life. “Oxygen in the blood is really quite vital when babies are first born. The baby might need oxygen and, without that monitor, we are not able to actually monitor…
-
The final chapter: Elizabeth Wills retires
Elizabeth Wills is retiring today, after 47 years of working at Northern Health. She has been known for advocating tirelessly for the best outcome for every patient, working with kindness, respect and consideration of how she can positively impact every staff member. Elizabeth reflects on how it all started. “I was a 10 year old girl when I decided I wanted to become a nurse. I had a deep sense that I wanted to make a difference by looking after people who are unwell and needed care. In 1970, following my mother Irene’s profound footsteps, I began my career at…
-
Join us on Ward 22!
Over the course of the pandemic, Northern Health has cared for over 2,900 COVID patients. It’s pleasing to see decreasing case numbers and hospitalisations in our community, however, as some of our dedicated COVID wards have now closed, we acknowledge the tremendous work of the remaining COVID wards still in use as they continue to work through the pandemic. One of these wards is our specialised ‘pandemic ward’ – Ward 22. Working entire shifts under stringent PPE and infection prevention protocols, staff on Ward 22 have shown dedication and commitment to continue to care for our community during difficult times.…
-
On 22/2/22, remember our emergency code number 2222
Today, on 22/2/22, it seems only fitting to remind staff of our new emergency code number – 2222. On 1 November 2021, Northern Health transitioned our internal code phone number from 444 to 2222 following the Department of Health requirement for Victorian health services to introduce the standardised 2222 phone number by the end of 2021. The old in-hospital emergency number 444 has continued to run in parallel with 2222, to ensure no emergency calls are missed for the six months following the transition. On 31 May this year, the old 444 phone number will be decommissioned and all calls…
-
Empowering patients with IBD
The Northern Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Service has proudly led a national effort to develop and disseminate dedicated patient information materials for people with IBD, a potentially debilitating condition that affects over 100,000 Australians. Initiated and chaired by A/Prof Mayur Garg, Director of Gastroenterology, Northern Health, with extensive contributions from Dr Aysha Al-Ani (consultant gastroenterologist), Meera Rajendran (IBD pharmacist), Mr Basil D’Souza (colorectal surgeon), Katherine Healy (senior clinical dietitian), and Charys Winter (IBD CNC), this working group of 29 leading clinicians and consumer representatives from around Australia came together to serve an unmet need for patients with IBD and…
-
CARPs keypads assisting our Emergency Department
New CARPs keypads have been installed in the Northern Hospital Epping Emergency Department (ED). The keypads, which are located in the Blue Pod and Assessment areas of the ED, streamline the process of booking CARPs jobs in the ED. “Rather than having to go to the CARPs logger like everywhere else in the hospital, and typing in all the details, the keypads have some quick little shortcuts where the nurses are able to book jobs,” said Steve Carnell, Support Services Supervisor. “Particularly in ED, where time is everything, it does streamline things, instead of having to type in all the…
-
Nina Yhap: Barbados dreaming
“To get here was my biggest challenge, travelling 10,000 miles, alone from Barbados. As any international medical graduate knows, it’s a fairly strict and rigorous process to get here. I came here alone, without family, but I had a goal in mind – my country had a goal in mind for me,” says Nina Yhap. Soft spoken as she is, you can hear the resolve in Nina’s voice when she says, “I feel a very strong purpose to give back.” Nina has been at Northern Health for the last two years receiving post-fellowship training to be a vascular and endovascular…
-
The ‘Big Idea’ turned clinic: Men’s Health Physiotherapy
Last year’s ‘Big Idea’ is now a new Men’s Health Physiotherapy clinic at Northern Health, opening on Wednesday, 23 February, and running out of the Epping, Bundoora and Broadmeadows campuses. Ryan Hon, Men’s Health Physiotherapist, explained how he developed an interest in Men’s Health Physiotherapy after finding out patients were suffering in silence due to chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) or chronic prostatitis (CP). “Other common symptoms associated with CPPS/CP include pelvic or perineal pain; urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction. Despite courses of antibiotic, the patients found no success in symptom resolution. Curiosity got the best of me and I…