September 2023
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Ten years of renal services
Northern Health Renal Service has come a long way since its inception 10 years ago. Cheryl Rofe, NUM Inpatient Dialysis Unit (IDU) and Epping Satellite Dialysis Unit, stated, “Renal dialysis at Northern Health commenced as a small satellite unit from the Royal Melbourne Hospital,” she said. “Dr David Barit, Head of Nephrology, developed a case for a four-bed inpatient dialysis unit, in what is now Ward 4. As Northern Health grew, the need for the health service to have its own renal hub emerged. We now have a 12-bay inpatient unit and satellite units in Epping, Broadmeadows and Craigieburn, along…
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Making it easy to make healthy choices
Northern Health staff, visitors and patients will soon have healthier food options on offer. In a state-wide effort to improve the availability of healthy food and drink choices at public hospitals and health services, the Victorian Government is leading the Healthy Choices Policy Directive for Victorian Public Health Services. Through specific guidelines and targets, the policy ensures a greater number of healthy food and drink choices are on offer at health services, with the policy aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of staff, visitors and patients. In September 2022, changes were made to all vending machines and catering services…
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Triumphant Seven: Conquering the Primary Written Exam in Emergency Medicine
In a remarkable display of dedication and expertise, seven exceptional trainees at Northern Hospital Epping have achieved a significant milestone in their medical careers and successfully passed the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Primary Exam – the first hurdle for emergency medicine trainees to advance in their training. The exam tests student’s knowledge and understanding of the four basic sciences relating to emergency medicine – anatomy, pathology, physiology and pharmacology. There are two components to the exam; a written primary examination in August and an oral examination in November each year. Emergency Medicine Physician and Co-Director of Emergency Medicine…
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It’s a wrap – Northern Health is live with the EMR!
Northern Health is celebrating a huge milestone – in just two weeks, we went live with an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) at Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre, and Craigieburn Centre! In our rollout, we have included device integration including ECG management, results and orders, clinical documentation and medication management for inpatients and specialist modules for ICU, Emergency, Surgery and Anaesthesia. We are proud to say that Northern Health is also the first Cerner Oracle site to implement the maternity module for inpatients and outpatients. There are benefits to being one of the last metropolitan health services to roll…
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Get To Know: Tilak Weerasiri
#WeAreNorthern Meet Tilak Weerasiri, Consultant Gynaecologist/Obstetrician, Northern Health. Q: Firstly, what’s your coffee order? My usual coffee order is a standard latte, I’m not very adventurous when it comes to coffee. Q: Why and how did you choose your specialty? I actually fell into obstetrics. My main aim after graduation was Country General Practice which included obstetrics and anaesthetics. I went to England to get some experience in both. I did a six-month rotation in obstetrics and enjoyed it so much I kept on and specialised in it. Q: Can you tell us a bit about your career before starting…
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Northern Imaging Victoria – Coming soon!
Medical Imaging, encompassing diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology and nuclear medicine, will become an inhouse service under the banner of Northern Imaging Victoria (NIV) from 5 October, 2023. Radiology services are currently provided at three Northern Health campuses; Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre, and will all transition to NIV on this date. “Since early 2022, our project team has worked tirelessly to build the foundation of NIV,” said A/Prof Terry Kok, Director of Imaging Services, Northern Health. “This includes the introduction of new imaging IT systems (Agfa PACS and Kestral RIS) to physical expansion of our footprint across…
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Dementia Action Week: Act now for a dementia-friendly future
Dementia Action Week (18 – 24 September) encourages everyone to take a few simple actions to create a dementia-friendly future for all Australians. Dementia is the umbrella term for a number of neurological conditions, of which the major symptom is a decline in brain function. Dementia is a disease symptom and is not a normal part of ageing, with more than 100 diseases that may cause dementia. The most common causes of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. According to Dementia Australia, around two-thirds of people with dementia live in the community. A lack of…
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We are Northern: This is the Pain Management Service
The Northern Health Pain Management Service runs across Bundoora Centre and Broadmeadows Hospital. It provides diagnosis, management, and review of persistent pain conditions for patients in the north. It is a lifeline for individuals who continue to experience debilitating pain, despite seeking conventional medical and community care. The program works assist clients in managing their pain through an active service model. Most clients referred to the program will be required to complete a pain questionnaire. This information assists with triaging patients into their initial point of entry into the program and provides baseline information regarding the patient’s status. The team…