October 2023
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Get To Know: Justine Ellis
Justine Ellis, our new Research Operations Manager, is busy building towers – figuratively, at least. Justine says, “Many of the building blocks are already here, so my role is to work collaboratively to turn those blocks into towers!” Click on image below to learn more Q: Justine, could I start with your coffee order? A: A chai latte, please! Q: Tell us about your role in the Research Office? A: Overall, my role is to work with the Research Executive Committee and Director of Research to ensure research at Northern Health grows and prospers for the benefit of patients living…
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Unlocking Healthcare’s Digital Future: Telehealth Awareness Month
October is Telehealth Awareness Month, a time to celebrate and enthusiastically promote the numerous ground-breaking achievements and unparalleled opportunities offered by the transformative world of Telehealth, notably amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth involves delivering healthcare services remotely through the use of information and technology, with the added capability of supporting education. Telehealth is most commonly delivered through telephone and video calls. At Northern Health, Telehealth and virtual care also encompass any projects where technology is used to assess or communicate with patients in a non-face-to-face setting, such as clinical apps or software. This year’s theme for Telehealth Awareness month is…
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Thank Your Cleaner Day
Today is Thank Your Cleaner Day, a special day dedicated to all cleaners who keep workplaces and public buildings clean, safe and hygienic. Northern Health has an amazing team of Patient Service Assistants (PSAs) and ISS cleaners who go above and beyond in keeping our health service spick and span for staff, patients and the community. Among our team is a lovely mother-daughter duo, Amiben Gor and Radhvi Gor. They both work as PSAs at the Northern Hospital Epping and are both proud to be part of team responsible for protecting our employee’s and patients’ wellbeing every day. Amiben has…
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We are Northern: People Experience team
The People Experience team believes the experience of our workforce is fundamental to Northern Health’s organisational success. The team acts as the organisational ‘ears’ to understand current employee experience using people metrics and insights from engagement surveys, pulse checks and exit interviews. The team supports and consults leaders to improve employee engagement, while also driving the implementation of initiatives within teams and across Northern Health to facilitate a people-focused workplace. This includes reward and recognition programs and culture transformation projects like Speaking Up For Safety. The team also works towards making Northern Health an employer of choice and has established…
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Call, Push, Shock – it could save a life!
Restart a Heart Day is acknowledged annually on 16 October each year, and is part of Shocktober – a month-long campaign which aims to highlight, raise awareness, and educate the community about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Elise Sutton, Resuscitation and Clinical Deterioration Coordinator and Simulation and Safety Coordinator, Northern Health, says there is an average of 18 cardiac arrests in Victoria every day, with 76 per cent of these arrests occurring in the home. “On average, only 10 per cent of people with an out of hospital cardiac arrest will survive,” said…
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Get to know: Lila Coope
October is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the lived and living experiences of those impacted by mental illness – the consumers and carers – and those working in the field who are consistently raising awareness, having courageous conversations, and advocating for improved mental health and wellbeing for all. Today, we feature Lila Coope, a Peer Support worker involved in Reclink, an exercise program from Northwest Area Mental Health. Peer Support workers are an important part of our Lived Experience Workforce. Their ‘lived’ expertise and insights help others access our services. We spoke to Lila at a…
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Thunderstorm Asthma Season has rolled in
The arrival of October brings the start of grass pollen season running from 1 October to 31 December annually, which also increases the chance of Thunderstorm Asthma. Warmer weather, increased amounts of grass pollen in the air and certain types of thunderstorms when combined can result in an Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma (ETSA) event triggering severe asthma. Symptoms of ETSA include an itchy and runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing and/or chest tightness. Some of these symptoms can become very severe, very quickly, and may require urgent medical assistance. Extreme ETSA events, like that experienced on 21 November 2016, can result in…
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Be a nutrition champion!
This week Northern Health is proud to recognise Malnutrition Week ANZ. A time dedicated to raise awareness of the role nutrition screening plays in the prevention and treatment of the staggering rates of malnutrition detected in Australian and New Zealand communities and healthcare settings. Every inpatient at Northern Health is required to be weighed and screened for malnutrition risk within 24 hours of admission to hospital. Further re-screening is also required weekly thereafter. “At Northern Health one in five inpatients are malnourished,” said Nadia Obeid, Senior Dietitian. “Malnourished patients tend to stay longer in hospital, are more likely to be…