September 2024
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Happy International Translation Day
Today, Northern Health proudly celebrates International Translation Day, an opportunity to recognise the invaluable work of language professionals, including our very own team of in-house interpreters and translators at TALS (Transcultural and Language Services). While the terms ‘translator’ and ‘interpreter’ are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct roles, each with its own set of specialised skills. An interpreter works with spoken or signed language in real time, either face-to-face or via video or phone calls. In contrast, a translator takes written material from one language and conveys it in another, ensuring the meaning remains clear and accurate. Both professions are…
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Northern Health launches Asthma Digital Care Pathway
Northern Health’s Asthma Clinic has officially launched a co-designed Asthma Digital Care Pathway via the My Health @ Northern app, offering essential support for patients living with uncontrolled or severe asthma. The codesign process involved bringing together a group with people with lived experience of severe asthma and a multidisciplinary team of asthma clinicians. This collaborative approach fostered valuable connections and ensured that patients’ voices were heard throughout the process. Pam, a consumer and member of the co-design working group, shared her experience: “People formed a bond quickly and were respected when they had their say. We could see the…
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Get your back, back on track
Back pain is the fifth most common reason for visits to the emergency department, often leaving patients both debilitated and uncertain about how to proceed. “Back pain is a debilitating condition affecting one in six Australians and is the second leading cause of disease burden,” explains Dr Adam Semciw, Associate Professor at La Trobe University and Northern Health. When a patient with back pain arrives at the emergency department, they undergo a comprehensive assessment to identify the underlying cause and rule out any serious issues. Following discharge, patients are frequently referred to the Northern Health Back Pain Hot Clinic. Here,…
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Aboriginal Study Day
Last week, our Aboriginal Support Unit hosted Northern Health’s very first Aboriginal Study Day. The day was a comprehensive training program aimed at providing Northern Health staff with a holistic understanding of the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The program covered a range of topics, including Aboriginal history and social determinants of health, common barriers, communication tips, and the internal and external services available to support this patient population. Attendees were treated to lived experience presentations from Sharna Brown and Uncle Owen Butler, and a panel discussion facilitated by Northern Health’s A/Prof Jason Cirone, Chief Allied…
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Advanced-Practice Pelvic Health Clinic
The Northern Health Advanced-Practice Physiotherapy Pelvic Health Clinic is helping to streamline care for women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Urinary incontinence and prolapse imparts not only physical and psychological harm on affected patients but can also be a financial burden. Whist delay to appropriate assessment and treatment compounds these impacts, this effect is more pronounced among migrant women, who must overcome more barriers to seeking help before being placed on waiting lists to receive care. The impact of prolonged wait times is exaggerated by the cultural norms of many of our patients, with research demonstrating that incontinence…
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Get to know: Clare McCarthy
In this week of World Patient Safety Day, we sat down with the illustrious and vibrant Clare McCarthy, Director, Quality, Safety and Patient Experience, to chat all things patient safety, coffee and why she is still, “up for the struggle.” Firstly, what is your coffee order? Latte, preferably from St Ali or Dukes. What does ‘Patient Safety’ mean to you? A struggle … the system still operates traditionally, with safety dependent on the diligence of the practitioner and at its core is the relationship between them and the patient. I get this, and value it, but we need to recognise…
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Improving patient safety on a VHIM
World Patient Safety Day is celebrated on 17 September each year, and calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety. This year’s theme, “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety,” focuses on the essential role of accurate and timely diagnoses in improving patient safety. During the week of World Patient Safety Day, we take a closer look at one of the tools used at Northern Health to record and disseminate data, providing opportunities to improve overall patient safety. The Victorian Health Incident Management System (VHIMS) is a database used to record hazards, harm,…
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Malnutrition Week: Educate, empower and eliminate
This week is Malnutrition Week, an annual campaign dedicated to educating healthcare professionals, patients and consumers on detection, intervention and treatment of malnutrition. Malnutrition refers to deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance of essential nutrients or impaired nutrient utilisation. Malnutrition can cause a break down of tissue, which can lead to a loss of organ and muscle mass, further fuelling frailty and poor clinical outcomes. One in three adult hospital patients in Australia are malnourished. At Northern Health, healthcare professionals are working to reduce the incidence of malnutrition among patients. “Every Northern Health inpatient is required to be weighed…