August 2022
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Kaytlin Wills on the benefits of postgraduate nursing
Kaytlin Wills is a current student in our medical nursing postgraduate program, and was the recipient of the 2021-2022 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholarship from the Department of Health. After completing her Bachelor degree at Deakin University, Katy gained a graduate position with Northern Health and has worked here for the last four years, on pool and now on Ward 22. Katy says she decided to take up postgraduate studies to enhance her nursing skills. “I wanted to improve my clinical skills and knowledge base so that I could provide my patients with the best care possible, but I…
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Acute General Surgical Unit moves to Ward 13
Northern Health’s Acute General Surgical Unit (AGSU) formally opened on Wednesday, 22 June in Ward 13. The space has been refurbished to provide a purpose-built environment and a new model of care, and designed to enhance patient flow. The objective of the model is to improve access and flow from the Emergency Department (ED) by providing a dedicated area for the surgical team to review and treat patients. The AGSU model of care started at Northern Health in February 2013, with none other than our Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Wanda S Stelmach, as Head of Unit. In her team…
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Julie Loughran wins Credentialled Diabetes Educator of the Year
Julie Loughran, Diabetes Nurse Consultant, has received the award for ‘Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) of the Year – Victoria’ from the Australian Diabetes Educators Association. A CDE is Australia’s go-to qualified healthcare professional for people with diabetes. They are qualified to provide a personalised approach to diabetes education and care. They work with other healthcare practitioners, and provide services to people with diabetes, to help empower and assist them in dealing with daily self-management. Julie has been working in the diabetes profession for more than 20 years. She trained in the UK before she moved to Australia, 10 years ago. She…
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Get to know: Chrissy Nicolaidis
In today’s ‘Get to know’ profile, we catch up with Chrissy Nicolaidis, Acting Operations Manager Health Information Service (HIS), and co-chair of the Rainbow Working Group. Firstly, what is your coffee order? Soy latte please! Tell us about your Northern Health journey – when you started and your roles here. I came to Northern Health after working at the Department of Health and Human Services. I wanted to be working closer to the coalface of health service delivery, so I joined as a Health Information Manager in 2016, filling in on a six month maternity leave contract. Nearly seven years…
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Northern Health Reception: Going above and beyond
Being a Receptionist and Switchboard Operator necessitates a very consumer-centric focus, while at the same time, demands a vast amount of knowledge of Northern Health and its ever changing operations. There are over 40 Reception and Switchboard Operators who work across Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre. The role is chiefly responsible for greeting and assisting patients, staff and the general public, answering and directing phone calls from internal and external stakeholders, and prioritising and responding to the 2222 Emergency Code phone. Outside of these duties, the team control the paging system across the health service, maintain and…
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Staff Health Clinic – Exercise Physiology now open
Northern Health’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Department and Wellbeing Team are excited to announce the launch of the staff Exercise Physiology Service. This new Staff Health Clinic is an expansion to the successful staff physiotherapy service. With the health and wellbeing of staff in mind, it is aimed at promoting a culture of fitness and increased physical activity at Northern Health. Exercise Physiologists specialise in clinical exercise prescription and the delivery of lifestyle modification programs for the prevention and management of chronic disease, musculoskeletal injuries and improved wellbeing. “We all know that being physically active is essential for good…
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Cardiovascular project empowering patients
The Northern Health Cardiology Heart Failure team is aiming to improve outcomes by empowering patients to self-manage their condition, with appropriate clinical support. The Cardiovascular Ambassador Project involves 20 participating health services and hospitals, including Northern Health, and aims to improve the quality of cardiac care delivered to patients and reduce unplanned hospital readmissions. Participating hospitals have received funding for a cardiovascular liaison nurse to plan, lead, implement and coordinate appropriate multifaceted interventions for each site’s model of care. Heart failure self-management has been regarded as a central part of heart failure care. Self-management is the central pillar that allows…
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Good communication, better communities
This week is Speech Pathology Week – an opportunity to promote the speech pathology profession, and the work being done by speech pathologists. According to Speech Pathology Australia, 1.2 million Australians have a communication disability that affects their ability to understand, and be understood by others. Levels of limitation range from mild to profound, and be can temporary or last a lifetime. Children and older people make up the majority of those with a communication disability. The theme for this year’s Speech Pathology Week is ‘Good Communication, Better Communities. Northern Health’s Speech Pathology department know that good communication for all,…