April 2022
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Detecting lung cancer earlier
Northern Health’s Endobronchial Ultrasound Service (EBUS) is helping to detect, diagnose and stage lung cancer at a quicker rate. The service, which launched four weeks ago, is a type of advanced bronchoscopy and uses two different types of scopes to diagnose and stage lung cancer. Funds for the service were successfully raised by Northern Health Foundation. Kanishka Rangamuwa, Respiratory Physician and EBUS Lead, said the service would provide northern patients better access to localised care and treatment for lung cancer. “One of the advantages is that we can stage and diagnose at the same time. Most of these patients have…
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Celebrating Patient Experience Week
As we celebrate Patient Experience Week 2022, we acknowledge the incredible care provided by our staff that impacts patient experience every day. Today, we are sharing feedback sent in by our community on the exceptional care they received while at Northern Health. “To the Progressive Neurology Disease Clinic at Bundoora – we truly want to thank you all for your ongoing support with Dad during his battle with MND. He put up a tremendous fight and he couldn’t have done it without all your support. You all played a significant part in keeping Dad at home and enabled us to…
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Staff flu vaccinations available
Northern Health staff and volunteers are now able to receive their annual flu vaccination. As the colder winter months approach, now is the time for staff and volunteers to come forward, roll up their sleeves and boost their immunity with the flu vaccine. With staff and volunteers having already received all required COVID-19 vaccines, the flu vaccination will provide extra protection against another virus. Anyone can be affected by the flu, and with little to no flu in circulation due to closed borders and lockdowns brought on by the pandemic, it is likely there will be more cases of influenza…
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Patient turns nurse and joins Northern Health after a remarkable patient experience
As we celebrate Patient Experience Week 2022, we acknowledge the incredible care provided by our staff that impacts patient experience every day. Stephanie O’Connor, a mum of two, with her third baby on the way, has changed careers and became our staff member after a remarkable patient experience she had at Northern Hospital in May 2018. Stephanie was preparing for the delivery of her first child, when she discovered she had a rare genetic heart condition – Long QT syndrome, which she could pass on to her children as well. “This is not a common condition. When this was discovered,…
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ANZAC Day: Lest We Forget
This morning, Northern Health held our annual ANZAC Day Service at Bundoora Centre. Our ANZAC Day Service has been closely associated with our patients for over a decade, particularly those at Bundoora Centre. The service provided an opportunity for us to come together to remember, reflect and pay tribute to those who made great sacrifices to make our country a safer place. Our Master of Ceremonies, Dr Bill Shearer, Executive Director, Quality Safety and Transformation and Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, opened the service. “On 25 April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed on Gallipoli, the first…
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Two years of Telehealth
Our Telehealth program at Northern Health is celebrating its second year in operation. Telehealth was introduced to the health service two years ago, as part of our response to COVID-19 and as a strategy to support patients attending our Specialist Clinics (Outpatients). Now, Telehealth is used in multiple departments including sub-acute services, inpatient wards, community programs, Virtual Emergency Department (ED) and our Transcultural and Language Services (TALS) team. Telehealth Coordinator, Tracey Webster, said Telehealth has given more time back to patients. “Patients have been able to have appointments by televideo or telephone instead of face-to-face. It has been very well…
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That’s a wrap on PRACC
Northern Health recently closed our mass vaccination hub at Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre (PRACC). PRACC was opened in June 2021 in collaboration with City of Whittlesea to help vaccinate as many community members as possible during the early stages of the vaccine rollout in Victoria. Over the last 12 months, Northern Health has provided over 340,000 vaccines to the community. On behalf of all staff at the vaccination hub, Shanice Molinaro, Nurse Unit Manager, expressed her gratitude to a number of teams across Northern Health for their incredible work during this time. “A very big thank you to…
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Be part of our history
Last Thursday evening, Northern Health hosted their annual Thank You Event to thank and acknowledge the generous support from our patrons and community over the past 12 months. The event was held at Seafarers Residences Display Suite in Docklands, and was attended by Debra Bourne, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Health and Northern Health Foundation Board Directors, Northern Health Executive, staff and volunteers and Northern Health Foundation Patrons Josie Minniti, Bev Carman and Trudi Hay. “Tonight, we acknowledge the efforts of our generous supporters and donors, and their contributions to the Northern Health Foundation. It is an opportunity for us to…