August 2022
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This is Stroke Week
The theme for this year’s National Stroke Week (8 – 14 August) is, ‘celebrating and enjoying the precious moments that you or your loved ones can continue to enjoy, during and after your recovery from stroke’. While there are some risk factors for stroke which can’t be avoided, like age, gender, family history and prior stroke, it is estimated that more than 80 per cent of strokes can be prevented, simply by managing these risk factors and living a healthy lifestyle. Australians are encouraged to take charge of their own health with these steps: Eat well Stay active Be smoke…
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Have you been fit tested?
With increased patient visitation and ongoing cases of COVID-19, colds and flu, it is more important than ever for staff at Northern Health to continue wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and N95 respirators safely. All staff required to wear N95 respirators must be quantitatively fit tested, and undergo repeat testing every 12 months to ensure that masks previously worn continue to fit satisfactorily. N95 respirators worn at Northern Health must be approved, and are not to be adapted, for example, straps pulled off and re-tied. A fit test is also required where there are significant physical changes to the face,…
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Multidisciplinary management leads to a first in surgery
Our values, ‘safe, kind, together’ drive our approach to patient care, and our vision of a healthier community. This is amply illustrated in our story today, of two life-threatening cases that were successfully treated here at Northern Health. This was achieved thanks to cutting-edge technology and multidisciplinary management – the latter underlining the importance of ‘together’. Dr Bibhusal Thapa, Northern Health Thoracic Surgeon, said, “Significant development of capabilities in Interventional Radiology (IR), Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery at Northern Health, has allowed us to effectively treat patients with hemoptysis of varied rare etiologies – or causes – in a collaborative…
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A welcome space for Junior Doctors
With support from the Junior Medical Staff Association (JMSA), our junior doctors have completed a ‘Block style’ renovation of their residential lounge. Liz Shaw, Director, Northern Doctors Workforce – Operations, says the transformation included “a lick of paint, new furniture and flooring, spray painted kitchen cupboards, and the courtyard receiving a much needed upgrade with new furniture, plants and even a herb garden.” “The extra styling and special touches give the whole space a homely feel – the perfect place for our doctors to unwind. In particular, the succulent ornamental pots were created by Dr Bee Yen Ooi, who makes…
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Virtual ED expanding to residential aged care facilities
From next week, Ambulance Victoria’s triage services will begin drawing upon the Virtual ED run out of Northern Health to improve how Triple Zero calls from aged care facilities are triaged, ultimately providing better care for residents. The new pathway will allow some Triple Zero calls for aged care residents who don’t need an emergency ambulance to instead be connected to the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED). This expansion into aged care forms part of work underway to boost the overall capacity of the VVED. Currently seeing an average of 300 patients per day, additional funding will see the service…
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Meet Dr Vinay Lakra, Divisional Director, Mental Health
On 1 July, Northern Health officially became a designated mental health service. Approximately 800 staff were welcomed to the Northern Health family. Collectively, this makes us the third largest mental health service in Victoria. Today, we introduce yet another of the key members leading the new mental health team at Northern Health – Dr Vinay Lakra, Divisional Director Clinical Services. Vinay, let’s start with your coffee order? A latte, but I drink coffee more to have a hot drink than in the interest of coffee. Sorry coffee lovers. The other thing I enjoy is a well made Indian tea with…
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ePrescribing now available to patients
Northern Health patients can now access prescriptions electronically with Electronic Prescribing (ePrescribing) – a digital version of a paper prescription. During a telehealth consultation, the healthcare provider can send electronic prescriptions to patients or carers via SMS or email. The new innovation has been implemented to enable telehealth patients to receive their prescriptions in a more timely manner. Once the electronic prescription has been received, the patient or carer can take the prescription to the pharmacy personally, or send it to the pharmacy electronically. Northern Health staff will always check with their patient, to ensure they are able to receive…