For decades now, coded data has been used to ensure hospitals can be reimbursed for their activity and better plan for services in the future.

Clinical coding usually occurs after the patient has been discharged from hospital, where information written in patient notes is translated into coded data and entered into hospital information systems.

It is important that hospitals code episodes of care accurately to ensure the right resources to provide care for patients is received. For Northern Health, coding helps to fund our clinical services and equipment needs.

Medical Unit 4 at Northern Hospital Epping has been involved in a coding audit review process for over four years.

The process involves the whole team meeting with Patricia Savino, Health Information Manager (HIM), on a monthly basis and answering any clinician questions about documentation.

Northern Health’s regular audit is a great example of ensuring data is accurately reflecting the patient’s episode of care, and we are optimising our eligible Weighted Inlier Equivalent Separation (WIES) income. Medical Unit 4 has achieved 77.10 WIES YTD – that’s $372,624! This figure is expected to double for the remainder of the year.

Medical Unit 4 Consultant, Sandeep Sharma, says “our monthly meetings are a great opportunity for our Unit Clinicians to come together and discuss complex patients, and for our junior staff to see how clarification in documentation can lead to significant changes in funding.”

“We know it’s imperative for our junior medical staff to learn financial aspects of medicine, as we do not live in the world with unlimited resources,” Sandeep says.

Frances Barnett, Medical Director Oncology, has been interested to learn more about WIES optimisation and data quality improvements after Mary Kouvas (pictured above), Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS), spoke at a Heads of Unit meeting.

Frances believes there is an opportunity for doctors to have a better understanding that documentation has both a clinical and revenue purpose. An example of this is the diagnosis of pneumonia treated with antibiotics.

“To me, this means a bacterial pneumonia, but a coder requires bacterial pneumonia to be specified rather than implied. If the documentation is done for both purposes the first time, it is more efficient for everyone,” Frances says.

“I have set up regular meetings for 2019 so that my junior medical staff can learn how the process works, thereby reducing the need for queries to be generated and answered.”

Another way of improving data is by being involved in the documentation improvement process on the ward. Mary Kouvas reviews concurrent medical records to ensure the documentation is written in a specific way the coders can translate into codes. This Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) program looks at improving documentation in real-time, to reduce re-work at a later date.

If you wish to get involved and reap the benefits, please email mary.kouvas@nh.org.au or call CDS on 8405 2038.

Do you have an interesting story for iNews? Please send it to our team at iNews@nh.org.au.

On Tuesday, 26 February, Northern Health’s Strengthening Hospital Response to Family Violence Team will be running an “Accidental Counselling” workshop at Northern Centre for Health Education & Research.

Accidental counselling refers to situations where emotional support is given by one person to another, where the person giving support is not a trained counsellor.

In our workplace or personal life, we can cross paths with people, clients or customers who are sometimes upset, distressed, sad, hurt and lonely, or simply need someone to listen to them. If you’re not a trained counsellor, it may be difficult to manage these situations with confidence.

The practical and interactive workshop will help participants develop skills in effective listening, empathetic communication, positive body language, assisting others to consider new possibilities, asking the right questions, focussing others towards solutions, setting boundaries and restraining the urge to ‘fix’ anyone or solve another person’s problem.

The workshop will be run by Linda Wilson, a qualified, practicing counsellor in private practice and experienced facilitator. Linda has worked with thousands of people to help develop their personal and professional skills, and has over 20 years of experience within the business sector and private practice.

Natasha Knapic, Project Officer, Strengthening Hospital Response to Family Violence, says “the workshop is a great way for people to better understand what to say and do to help others who are struggling, whether it be in the workplace, at home or in the community, and will provide valuable tools and skills no matter what situation you find yourself in.”

For information about the workshop, course fees and to register, please complete the registration form below and send to the Strengthening Hospital Response to Family Violence Team by 11 February 2019.

Accidental Counsellor Registration Form

February is Northern Health’s month dedicated to healthy and smart eating, with a ‘4 Week Staff Smart Eating Challenge’.

The inspiration comes from the Dietitians Association of Australia Smart Eating Week, celebrated from 11 – 17 February.

Amy Castelli, Clinical Dietitian, said our dietitians have developed a 4 Week Smart Eating Calendar, with every day smart eating tips, and encourages all staff to participate and win a prize.

“The calendar has a small challenge for every day of the week and ties in with the Dietitians Association of Australia campaign and also links with Northern Health’s Healthy Choices Campaign. This also follows from the Rethink your drink display, located in the Craigieburn Centre foyer,” she said.

The Rethink your drink display, developed together with Cancer Council Australia, showcased how much sugar many popular drinks contain, raising awareness of the hidden sugar content in drinks and promoting healthy choices, for which the team received a lot of positive feedback, especially from parents.

While that campaign was targeted both at staff and visitors, the 4 week Smart Eating Challenge aims to help Northern Health staff make healthier choices day by day.

“This is a good time – the year has just started and everyone is still motivated to get back on track with their nutrition. The calendar we have developed in not a weight loss programme, it’s not a diet, just simple steps people can make every single day to become a little bit more balanced,” Amy added.

Dietitian, Cliona Twohig, added that the main reason the challenge is targeting staff is that we often look after our patients, but sometimes forget to look after themselves.

“In order to be able to take care of others, we need to be able to take care of our needs and stay healthy, taking care of our mind and body, and nutrition is a really good way to do that,” she said.

Cliona added that the challenges during the ‘smart eating’ month are really simple – it can be just having an extra piece of fruit or sitting down and enjoying your meal and not rushing it at your desk.

“Every challenge is actually designed to lead to a long-term change and that is something we’d recommend. Even if just two to three new habits develop, that is a step in the right direction,” she added.

There is no pass or fail in this challenge, and that is why everyone should participate. The goal is to improve your health score, and to develop new habits.

Join the challenge and share your new smart eating habits or a healthy lunch with us to win a $100 Coles Myer Gift Card.

Click here to find out more.

Do you have an interesting story for iNews? Please send it to our team at iNews@nh.org.au.

I hope that you all had a happy and safe Australia Day weekend, surviving the heatwave!

Strategic Plan 2019-2024

A key focus for us this month is our work towards developing our Strategic Plan 2019-2024.

One of the ways we are finding out what matters to staff is through an online Strategic Plan staff survey.  I am pleased to let you know that the survey is now open.

Please click here to complete the survey.

The survey will only take a few minutes to complete, and will provide us with valuable insights into how you think Northern Health should look five years from now.

The survey will be open for three weeks – giving everyone plenty of time to participate and get actively involved.

It is important that we all share our views, working together to build a health service we all enjoy working in, while we continue to provide trusted care to our community.

Along with the survey, our strategic planning team will be visiting all campuses over the next couple of weeks to talk to our staff about their vision and strategic goals for Northern Health. I encourage you to participate in the conversation and have your say.

This will be a great opportunity for you to have a conversation with the planning team, share your vision of Northern Health in 2024, and contribute to creating strategic pillars for the future.

My upcoming Chief Executive Forums will also be a time to find out more about the Strategic Plan. [Please see below]

Welcome to our 2019 interns and graduates

This month we are welcoming  40 new interns, 10 new hospital medical officers and 54 graduate nurses and midwives to our health service.

It is always great to see our Northern Health community grow, and with each new intake comes passion, skills and knowledge that will ensure we continue to provide trusted care to our community.

I wish all new staff good luck on the beginning of their Northern Health journey, and hope they have an enjoyable and rewarding time working and learning with us.

Thank you to everyone on a fantastic start to the year.

Siva Sivarajah

Chief Executive

 

All Staff Chief Executive Forums

Northern Hospital Epping    2pm Monday 18 February – Lecture Theatres NCHER

Broadmeadows Hospital      2pm Thursday 21 February – Meeting Rooms 1 & 2

Bundoora Centre                      2pm Monday 25 February – Conference Room

Craigieburn Centre                  2pm Wednesday 27 February – Education Room

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recently held the annual Chris Maxwell medal for best registrar presentation at NCHER.

This medal honours the contributions of Dr Chris Maxwell, who worked at PANCH and Northern for over 35 years and was a dedicated teacher and trainer of junior medical staff.

Four Obstetrics and Gynaecology junior medical staff entered the competition, and the winner was Dr Gina Ibrahim, who was presented with a $500 prize and medal by our guest judge, Professor Sue Walker from Mercy Hospital for Women.

Dr Paul Howat congratulated the other participants – Dr Amanda Quatrocelli, Dr Kelly Mirowska-Allen and Dr Bee Ng (pictured below) for their participation and fine efforts, and the winner, Dr Gina Ibrahim, on an excellent presentation.

“Gina impressed the judges with a stylish and innovative presentation, and was also well across the subject and able to respond comprehensively to the audience’s questions,” he said.

Gina presented a rare case about a woman who had an ovarian cyst causing her to have psychological and neurological symptoms. Gina said it was very hard to diagnose at the beginning as the patient presented with psychological symptoms, and was even admitted under the psych team for two weeks.

“As well as having an interesting case, my presentation style was also unusual as it was all animated as a board game. I explained the case in a step by step manner; how she presented to the Emergency Department, what investigations she had, then revealing the diagnosis at the end, which kept everyone intrigued. Most of our team had not heard about such a case before,” Gina said.

Gina has been with Northern Health for almost a year and what she loves most is the work environment.

“I’ve worked in many hospitals both overseas and in Australia, and have never truly felt comfortable and happy. Here, all the bosses are so friendly and very easy to approach. Even before starting, my interview with Dr Howat was the most comfortable interview I’ve had,” she said.

On a final note, Paul said, “we hope this achievement will help Gina attain her dream of being accepted into the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist training program.”

Photos:

Above left to right: Professor Sue Walker, Dr Gina Ibrahim, Dr Amanda Quatrocelli, Dr Kelly Mirowska-Allen and Dr Bee Ng

Feature image left to right: Professor Sue Walker and Dr Gina Ibrahim

In recognition of International Day of People with Disability, the Northern Health Disability Working Group ran an art competition titled, ‘Celebrating Ability’.

First prize was shared between Emiliano Zucchi for his photograph – ‘Music for my eyes’, and Mike Masilamani, for his poster design – ‘Feet, what do I need you for?’

The Transcultural and Language Service (TAL’s) team came a close second, with their poster entry titled ‘Differently Abled’.

Emiliano had this to say about his entry:

“When I go to galleries, I always have my noise-cancelling wireless headphones on. I love listening to music, especially in quiet places like galleries; it helps me connect to the artwork and to my inner self. On this occasion I was in Brisbane, at the Queensland Art Gallery. I saw this cool man, in a cool wheelchair, framed in a beautiful, accessible public space, doing exactly what I like to do.”

Mike said, “My poster brings together two sources of inspiration – an image from the Invictus Games, and a quote from one of my favourite artists Frida Kahlo, who had multiple disabilities including polio as a child, and spinal and pelvis damage from a car accident. Throughout her life, Kahlo came face-to-face with her disabilities and turned them into art.”

The second placed entry from the TAL’s team:

Operations Director, Community, Gillian Dickman, said the aim of the competition was to underline Northern Health’s commitment to promoting respect and inclusion, and celebrate individual differences.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Do you have an interesting story for iNews? Please send it to our team at iNews@nh.org.au.

This week, we welcome 54 graduate nurses and midwives to Northern Health.

For the 2019 intake, a record number of applications were received and from that, 127 graduates have been employed by Northern Health – 107 General Nursing and 20 Midwifery & Nursing/Midwifery.

Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Debra Bourne, said, “it’s always an exciting time of year when we welcome our new nursing graduates to Northern Health. We welcome the opportunity that these graduates provide in bringing their knowledge, enthusiasm and passion to nursing at Northern.”

“In turn, we aim to ensure that we will support and further educate these newly qualified nurses to become highly-skilled health practitioners that will at all times, reflect key Northern Health values of kindness and empathy,” she added.

The aspiring nurses and midwives will take part in a two-day orientation of training and workshops, before commencing their rotations.

Orientation to Northern Health is designed specifically to support graduate nurses and midwives, addressing both clinical and administrative aspects over a comprehensive program in our state-of-the-art Northern Centre for Health Education and Research.

Rotations across varied clinical areas allow time to consolidate, build confidence and independence, while graduates have the opportunity to work across all Northern Health’s campuses – Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora and Craigieburn campuses.

As a tertiary teaching health service, Northern Health offers three streams of graduate programs: General Nursing, Midwifery, and Combined Nursing & Midwifery, providing a number of options for graduate nurses and midwives.

Our graduate programs aim to support beginning practitioners as they make the transition from student to registered nurse or midwife, with opportunities provided to merge undergraduate theory and knowledge with practical skills.

Graduate Program Co-ordinator, Katia Forbes said, “support is the key to success as a graduate nurse or midwife.”

“We have many experienced clinical staff who provide practical assistance and support to our graduates at Northern Health,” she said.

Congratulations and good luck to all nurses and midwives beginning their Northern Health journey in 2019.

We asked some of our new graduates what they are most looking forward to about working at Northern Health. Check out what they said in the video below!

Do you have an interesting story for iNews? Please send it to our team at iNews@nh.org.au.

This week, we welcome back our wonderful Northern Health volunteers.

The hospital halls and wards haven’t been the same without the smiling faces and cheerful personalities of our volunteers, with many of our staff commenting on how much they have been missed during the holiday break.

Senior Coordinator Engagement, Henni Wade, says, “everyone was asking me where the volunteers were and when they were coming back, because they’ve really missed their presence – not just their happy, smiling faces, but also their assistance with everything behind the scenes, like putting together hundreds of administration packs a week.”

“Some people were also getting lost around the corridors because the volunteers weren’t there to help them find their appointment rooms or friends or family members staying at the hospital,” she says.

Speaking to the volunteers, it was very clear they couldn’t wait to come back. When asked if they missed the hospital whilst on holidays, it was a big resounding “Yes!” from the group.

The volunteers said what keeps them coming back is the friendships, the smiles from the people they help, and making a difference in the community.

Henni says the whole hospital system works better with the help of the volunteers, as they have various tasks and schedules during the day, which contributes to seamless flow of patient care.

“Sometimes, it’s difficult to realise how much the volunteers contribute to the hospital and our community and how much they help until they’re not here,” she says.

One in particular, Brian Hoctor, a Northern Hospital volunteer driver, demonstrated true Christmas spirit at the end of last year.

When he heard one of the winners from our annual Northern Health Foundation Christmas raffle was having difficulty getting to the hospital to pick up her prize basket, Brian jumped at the chance to make the special delivery to her home.

In between picking up patients and dropping them off for appointments, Brian made the trip to see Phyllis (picture below) to personally deliver her prize.

Henni says, “This is just another day for our volunteers…doing wonderful things that make a real difference.”

“Our volunteers are an integral part of how the hospital operates and our mission to provide trusted care.”

Do you have an interesting story for iNews? Please send it to our team at iNews@nh.org.au.