April 2023
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Roll up your sleeve for the flu vaccination
Northern Health staff and volunteers are now able to receive their annual influenza (flu) vaccination. As Melbourne’s cold 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. It is recommended by the Department of Health that individuals receive their annual flu vaccine from mid-April onwards to ensure protection against the flu is at it’s highest during the peak flu season, typically between June and September. Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, received his flu shot last week. He said the vaccine was an important step…
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Get to know: Lisa Bethune
#WeAreNorthern Meet Lisa Bethune, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care Service Q: Tell us about your role at Northern Health? A: I am a palliative care nurse practitioner and I work with the Northern Health Palliative Care Consult Service, caring for patients with palliative care needs. This can be providing symptom management, participating in family meetings and communicating with patients and families about what is the most important thing to them. Often this involves facilitating discharge home with palliative care supports or referral to our palliative care unit. I am also involved in education and support for staff providing palliative care and…
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EMR training registration opens next week
Northern Health Electronic Medical Record (EMR) training registration opens on Monday, 17 April. The EMR team started working with various stakeholders within the organisation to design and build the system in 2021. Fast forward to April 2023, the EMR is now ready for the final stage of testing, before training takes the spotlight in June. The EMR training schedule was published on the EMR website and via an All Manager email. In a 10-week window, the EMR training team will train more than 5,000 staff before our go live in September. Thanks to the engagement of more than 20 stakeholder…
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Lending a helping heart
Northern Health’s Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) is lending a helping heart to heart failure patients. Heart failure is a complex chronic condition, with one in four patients with heart failure readmitted to hospital within 30 days of being discharged. To help heart failure patients after a hospital admission, Safer Care Victoria (SCV) has partnered with HARP to co-design and test a service delivery model called Heart Helper. “There is an increased need for patients and families to acquire disease self-care skills to successfully manage their condition outside of hospital due to shorter hospital stays,” said Oksana Kasapis, Project Lead.…
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We Are Northern: This is the Revenue Services team
The Revenue Services team at Northern Health provides a financial billing and collection service to the organisation for a number of different patient accounts. The team is comprised of multiple key areas that liaise directly with patients, insurance companies and third-party compensable companies (TAC and Workcover Insurance) regarding hospital accounts. The four areas of Revenue Services are: Private Patient Liaison Officers (PLO’s) Cashiers and Collections Patient Billing Doctor Billing and Payments The Revenue Services team consists of 22 staff members, ranging from cashiering, patient accounts management, accounts payable and receivable. They use their knowledge and skills to assist patients on…
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The Symptom Urgent Review Clinic introduces extended hours
The Symptom Urgent Review Clinic (SURC) at Northern Health is a nurse-led clinic that provides services to cancer patients who are experiencing distressing side effects from undergoing systemic (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) treatment at Northern Health. SURC provides an alternative to patients attending the Emergency Department (for those with non-critical issues), and is staffed by experienced cancer nurses, who may provide patients with advice over the phone or request that they come into the clinic. The aim of the clinic is to recognise and manage problems early to help keep people well at home and prevent and minimise hospital presentations and…
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Northern Health innovating virtual examination using TytoCare
Northern Health is the first public health service in Australia to launch a digital examination tool to enable better access to specialist assessment care for patients from their own home. TytoCare has developed a small, portable hand-held device that includes a comprehensive exam kit with multiple attachments including a digital stethoscope for heart and lung examinations, a thermometer, and a tongue depressor to examine throat and tonsils. The device is designed to enable a comprehensive medical exam from any location and includes a hand-held, all-in-one toolkit comprised of a camera, microphone and screen. The device is easily paired with a user-friendly…
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We Are Northern: This is the Koori Maternity Service team
The Koori Maternity Service (KMS) at Northern Health provides culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families through pregnancy until six weeks after birth. The Aboriginal health workers and midwives aim to provide continuity of care and holistic care by connecting families with local Aboriginal community services. The KMS service includes: Culturally sensitive care Pregnancy care and advice Support through labour and birth Links and referrals to other services Tours of the birthing suite, maternity and special care nursery including our Ngay Nga-Ango Aboriginal Birthing Room Breastfeeding support Information and advice after the birth of…