small steps to - northern nsw local health district · contemporary building, replacing the former...
TRANSCRIPT
Editor: Fiona Baker, Manager Media and Corporate Communications
Phone: 6620 2141
Email: [email protected]
Northern Exposure is published 8 times a year by the Northern NSW Local Health District. We welcome your contributions, suggestions and feedback.
SMALL STEPS TO KEEP CALMThis month, I feel it’s almost impossible to write about anything else except coronavirus.
Aside from the obvious impacts the virus is having on people’s physical health, there’s also a mental toll which comes with not knowing how things will play out, or when things will return to normal. Changes are happening quickly, and I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling like it’s hard to keep up.
Working in health, many of us are experiencing increases in workloads, but outside of work our worlds are getting smaller by the day.
Beyond Blue has some tips to reduce stress and look after our mental health, by doing simple things we can control at the moment.
They include getting enough rest, eating healthy food, practising good hygiene, doing exercise, keeping in touch with friends and family, and being selective about the news or media we consume. It’s really important to seek out help if you feel you need it, you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or our own EAP on 1300 361 008.
If you have the chance, you could reach out and show kindness to others - it will brighten their day and boost your wellbeing, too.
Send someone a letter, write an email, pick up the phone for a chat. And don’t forget to wash your hands!
www.facebook.com/northernnswlocalhealthdistrict/
https://twitter.com/NNSWLHDCover: Evans Head HealthOne opening
Richmond Valley Waterfall Photo: Jeremy Billett
We are now seeing the massive impacts of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) both in our region and in Australia.
We have opened three COVID-19 fever clinics at Lismore Base, The Tweed and Grafton Base Hospitals to help assess and test patients with symptoms or at risk. We are prepared to open more hospital-based clinics across our footprint if demand grows.
Across our organisation we have advised
our staff to cease any travel to Sydney
except in extreme circumstances, and we
are reviewing workshops in line with public
gathering orders.
The NSW and Federal governments are
responding to the unfolding situation,
regularly updating their advice to the
public, businesses, education providers
and other sectors. All these actions have
been taken to reduce risk of people
contracting the virus and spreading it
amongst our communities.
We are undertaking workforce planning
to ensure we are ready to respond to a
variety of operational scenarios should
they eventuate.
Training for our clinical workforce on
infection control precautions, including
effective use of personal protective
equipment, has been ramped up to ensure
our workforce is safe when the numbers of
COVID-19 patients requiring hospital care
starts to escalate.
Executive Update
Wayne Jones Chief Executive
As Board Chair, I regularly receive feedback about our organisation from members of the public, business and community leaders, local politicians and staff.
I am always pleased to hear positive comments about our staff, our services and facilities, or about the compassionate care someone received in their time of need.
I also receive negative feedback where people haven’t been pleased with some aspect of the organisation. I welcome this feedback as much as the compliments.
Feedback is important for any organisation that wants to keep improving. It helps:
ä highlight the positives and the things we need to keep doing
ä identify blind spots – the problems that we may not be aware of
ä reveal opportunities for improvements ä provide the spark for innovation and
new ways of doing things.
Finding out what our patients think is vital to ensure we give them the best patient experience. NNSWLHD has a range of mechanisms for providing feedback:
ä speak to a staff member. It is best to discuss an issue at the time it occurs as it gives staff an opportunity to address it. Of course, staff always appreciate a kind word of thanks, too.
ä complete a feedback form. These are available from our facilities or on our website.
Brian Pezzutti Board Chair
NNSWLHD has taken a lead role in working with our local health partners and stakeholders to ensure the right information is getting out to them and the broader community. We are working hand in glove with North Coast Primary Health Network to ensure we develop a network of services that can support our communities.
The experts advise us novel coronavirus will be with us for a number of months, so we need to be prepared for a marathon response, not a sprint. As such we need to look after each other as we all work through this challenge.
I have every confidence that we will work through this as we did with SARS, MERS and other health challenges, but to do so will require us to all to work together. We have established a range of communication channels including weekly staff forums, email updates and a dedicated email inbox for Q&A’s so you, our staff, are fully aware of what is happening and how we are responding. Find out more on page 5.
From the Board Chair ä contact the service or facility directly to
provide feedback. ä contact our Consumer Relations/
Privacy Manager by email [email protected] or phone on 1800 108 078.
The Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) we established last year are also an excellent source of input and we encourage CAG members to bring their own experiences and those of their friends and family to the table.
All CAG meetings also include an agenda item where we share recent patient feedback.
Most organisations believe that “feedback is a gift”, however it’s what we do with this gift that really matters. It’s important to treat complaints seriously and look carefully into the details, as this provides opportunities to learn and give patients a chance to feel heard and valued.
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operation which enabled Health to acquire the land and keep red tape to a minimum, and Woollam Constructions for finishing the project on time and on budget.
The Evans Head HealthOne is located at 19-21 Woodburn Street, Evans Head, phone (02) 6683 9030.
The new HealthOne at Evans Head opened its doors in February, with locals getting to meet staff and tour the facility.
Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, officially opened the new Evans Head HealthOne in front of a crowd of locals, council, business and Health District representatives on 11 February.
The new facility is a modern and contemporary building, replacing the former Community Health Centre.
Mr Gulaptis said the state-of-the art facility would benefit locals and visitors alike.
“A modern facility like this is a big deal for a relatively small and isolated local community like Evans Head, and the fact that it is right in the middle of town on the site of the old health centre, which had reached its use by date, is just icing on the cake,” Mr Gulaptis said.
Between 50-100 community members toured the new facility, and met Community
Health staff who will be working on site.
The new HealthOne opened to patients on Monday 17 February. It will deliver existing and new services, and will allow the LHD to work towards attracting specialists to the community in future.
New, tailored services will be provided on site, thanks to the state of the art clinical rooms, gymnasium and treatment spaces.
Health services which will be provided include:
ä chronic diseases management and lifestyle groups
ä cardiac rehab and respiratory groups ä individual and group child and family
therapy including Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy
ä Child and Family Nursing ä Podiatry ä dietetics and diabetes education
services.
Mr Gulaptis praised Richmond Valley Council and the Living Museum for their co-
New HealthOne open for business
Richmond Valley Council Mayor Robert Mustow and Chris Gulaptis MP test the equipment
Kirby Barker, local Bundjalung custodian, performs welcome to country
Evans Head HealthOne project team
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The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone, and particularly for our health workforce. Here are a range of ways you can find information, both for your workplace and for the community.
Where can I find the latest health advice?
The NSW Health website is the best place to find the most up-to-date information about COVID-19, health advice and precautions: www.health.nsw.gov.au
The NSW whole of government website also contains information for community and businesses in NSW, media releases and press conferences https://www.nsw.gov.au/
The Commonwealth Department of Health website has information about the national response, and advice for travellers and public gatherings, vulnerable groups and others: www.health.gov.au/
Updates for staff We have established a central email address for all COVID-19 related questions: [email protected] . This email is monitored daily, but in times of high demand, it may be a few days before we can respond to your query directly.
Weekly staff forums are on every Tuesday from 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Dial in details can be found on the intranet.
We’re publishing the Q&As from each staff forum so you can refer to the discussion items anytime. These are emailed to all staff and also available on the intranet.
Important updates are being emailed to all staff as they become available, including details about Work Health and Safety, staff
travel advice, and leave management.
The NNSWLHD intranet contains all the above staff updates, as well as links to other resources. Look for the COVID – 19 picture or the news post on the home page titled COVID-19: Updates for staff: https://intranet.nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/
For frontline teams, the Clinical Excellence Commission has provided updated COVID-19 infection control guidelines: h t tp : / /cec .hea l th .nsw.gov .au/keep-patients-safe/infection-prevention-and-control/Coronavirus-COVID-19
What we can all doFor all staff, the best way to protect yourself and each other is the same as you would against any respiratory infection. Practise good hygiene:
ä Clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
ä Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow.
ä Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
ä Stay home if you are sick.
If you need more help please talk to
your line manager in the first instance with any questions, or email our central email address: [email protected]
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available for all staff and their families, providing short term counselling and support 24 hrs a day.
Find EAP on the intranet:
Or call EAP on 1300 361 008.
Members of the public are being encouraged to phone the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
For medical review and assessment of symptoms, people are being encouraged to contact their GP, or call HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. People can also present to an Emergency Department if they have acute symptoms.
COVID-19 – Stay in the loop, we’re in this together
https://intranet.nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/work-health-safety-injury/employee-assistance-program/
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A trial of the Let’s Get Physical toolkit is underway at Kurrajong Mental Health Unit.
The Let’s Get Physical toolkit project is progressing well, with a 38-page toolkit now printed and currently being trialled at the Kurrajong Inpatient Mental Health Unit.
This site was chosen as the pilot site for a number of reasons, including the dedicated and hardworking multidisciplinary team of staff. Prior to implementation, baseline data was collected from a file audit of 20 patients, and 38 multidisciplinary team staff surveys. This data will be used to compare with post implementation data in three months’ time.
To date the implementation has included:
Kurrajong team gets physical for patients’ health
ä a Let’s Get Physical Noticeboard for effective communication
ä a team of 17 Let’s Get Physical Champions
ä regular Let’s Get Physical Champions meetings
ä Let’s Get Physical education sessions ä dedicated Physical Health days ä regular meetings with project sponsors ä project presentations to stakeholders.
The pilot site trial will be completed at the end of April 2020. Toolkit feedback is being collected during this time and edits will be made by the graphic designer. The feedback on the toolkit so far has been positive with comments including ‘it’s real and practical’, ‘informative’ and ‘eye-catching’.
By the end of June 2020, the research project and data will be evaluated, and an implementation package will be developed for further rollout at other mental health sites across the District.
Tallowwood Mental Health Inpatient Unit
has been chosen as the next site to roll out the Let’s Get Physical toolkit and Nursing Unit Manager, Inkah Fischer, is kicking off preparations with staff.
The toolkit will then be rolled out in Tweed, Byron, Lismore and Grafton Community Mental Health sites and in Lilli Pili and Tuckaroo inpatient units as value adds to the work already being done at those sites.
“I would like to congratulate and thank all stakeholders for all their work so far and to the Kurrajong Team for embracing the toolkit project and championing physical health in mental health services,” Cassandra Porter, project lead, said.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in our patch
Jacqui Cross, NSW’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, visited Tweed, Murwillumbah, Nimbin, Lismore, Ballina, and Byron during March.
Jacqui met with nurses and midwives to hear first-hand about the great work happening in our LHD.
Jacqui also updated our teams on key pieces of work her office is leading across NSW, including Essentials of Care, Take the Lead 2, In the Lead and Exploring Student Experiences (ESME), to name a few.
2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. The NSW Nursing and
Midwifery Office is partnering with all local health districts and speciality networks throughout the year to support nurses and midwives to further maximise their impact on patients and our health system. The focus will be on:
ä enabling nurses and midwives to work
at the top of their scope of practice
ä raising the profile of the professions by clearly articulating and promoting the difference nurses and midwives make for people every day
ä leadership development including emerging nursing and midwifery leaders.
Jacqui Cross (centre) meets with Lismore Base Hospital Nursing and Midwifery leaders, and NNSWLHD Director Nursing and Midwifery Services, Katharine Duffy (far right)
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If you or someone you love are looking for ongoing mental health support in the wake of the bushfires, you’re not alone.
Following the bushfire disaster that affected a large part of our LHD during the second half of 2019, Sam Osborne and Steve Carrigg from our Rural Adversity Mental Health Program are still busy providing ongoing support to individuals and communities during the recovery phase.
Sam and Steve are working closely with interagency partners such as North Coast Primary Health Network, the Red Cross, Disaster Welfare, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services and local
councils in Northern NSW to ensure that people who require ongoing psychological support are linked in to the right program.
“We continue to attend many community led events and get-togethers to make sure people know support will be there for as long as is required,” Steve said.
North Coast Primary Health Network are also offering free psychological support for bushfire affected people without the need for a GP referral. People can call the ‘Connect To Wellbeing’ program on 1300 160 339.
“People are broadly presenting with three types of situations,” Steve said.
“Firstly, people are experiencing loss and grief if they have lost their homes, pets, stock, and in some situations a person close to them.
“Others have described being subjected to a very traumatic experience where they
ONGOING SUPPORT FOR BUSHFIRE-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
felt like their lives were in danger. Lastly, many people with pre-existing mental health problems have experienced an exacerbation of symptoms requiring extra support and follow up.
“These are all perfectly natural responses to trauma, and we really encourage people to seek out someone to talk to,” Steve said.
“Disaster recovery from a mental health perspective takes years and I best describe it as a marathon, not a sprint.”
Lifeline also has a dedicated Bushfire Recovery Crisis Support Helpline on 13 43 57.
Falls are one of the top five Hospital Acquired Complications (HAC) recorded in this LHD, but a new project is looking to curb the numbers with a simple solution.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Allison Wallis, who focuses on inpatient falls and prevention management, has developed a new program focused on reducing falls related to equipment use.
“Our goal is that by standardizing the falls equipment we’ll improve staff and patient knowledge of the equipment, and reduce the need for different devices that provide the same function,” Allison said.
The falls prevention project, Standardised and Appropriate Falls Equipment (S.A.F.E.) aims to develop a recommended and standardised falls equipment guide for use across the District within two years. This will ensure staff are trained in how to make sure the equipment is safe prior to using, and in how to escalate the need for repair or replacement if required. The project was
done with the support of the Nursing and Midwifery leadership team.
In studying falls within NNSWLHD, Allison identified that in 2019, approximately 27 patient falls were caused by equipment failures, and there were gaps in standardised purchase, repair, and replacement of equipment.
The project estimates that the average cost per day of a hospital bed is $1000, meaning there are significant savings to be made by preventing falls, since the average falls injury results in a patient needing an extra 6.9 days in hospital.
The program is part of Allison’s project for the Clinical Excellence Commission Executive Clinical Leadership Program – which she graduated from in February 2020.
The 12-month clinical leadership program builds each graduate’s capability in
Falls equipment gets the S.A.F.E. treatment
improvement science, collaboration and effective communication with a view to increasing patient safety and quality improvement. Graduates acquire knowledge in contemporary approaches to patient safety and clinical quality systems, and skills in conflict resolution and team leadership.
For more information about this project, contact Allison Wallis at [email protected].
CNC Allison Wallis with Carrie Marr, Clinical Excellence Commission Chief Executive
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Growing up in a tiny town in Western NSW with a mother who was well-known for her community spirit, Peter was probably always bound to develop a strong sense of community and commitment to helping others.
“Mum had a strong sense of service and I think she developed that in me,” Peter says.
“From swimming club to tennis club, whatever was going, she participated in.”
In high school Peter left his hometown of Mungindi to board at St Johns College in Lismore, where he says he further developed his strong sense of service.
It was no surprise that after graduating, Peter headed off to Sydney to turn that calling into a career in nursing.
“It had just changed from a hospital-based training to college-based training,” Peter says.
“I think I was the third intake of students, ever.
“There were only around 180 of us and after the first semester about half of the people failed or left.
“I stayed and developed more than just a career, but I guess a calling or vocation.”
After graduating, Peter got his first gig at Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, starting out on the respiratory ward.
“I quickly got over any aversion to sputum,” he explains with a laugh.
“A lot of my colleagues struggled with it, but I didn’t.
“After that I went straight into the gastro ward and got over any other aversions.”
Following this introduction to nursing, Peter spent another year in the Emergency Department, which was often on standby for the nearby Sydney Airport.
“We had to be ready and were on call when anything minor went wrong, like a wheel not deploying properly,” Peter says.
“But we never had any major issues while I was there.”
After marrying a Northern Rivers local, Peter and his wife moved back to be near his wife’s family in Bentley - a place he was more than happy to commit to.
“I had a connection to the local area, it is such a beauty.”
“Work opportunities were good at the time, I got a job really easily and went straight into a role at Casino where I worked for 13 years.”
Since then, Peter has also worked as Clinical Nurse Manager at Urbenville, and had a short contract as acting Facility Manager of Uniting Care Ageing, Marima, Goonellabah
The same sense of service is what Peter says keeps him enjoying his current role as a registered nurse, working with his colleagues at Nimbin who he says share his passion for care.
Three of Peter’s four children have now also graduated from St Johns College Woodlawn, with his youngest child in their final year of school there.
On the weekends, Peter is a keen “Twitcher” and enjoys bird watching, particularly keeping an eye out for his favorite bird; the King Parrot.
He also loves mountain biking and bushwalking, though he admits he’d love to get out more.
Nimbin Nurse Peter Doyle reflects on his calling to care for others, and the longstanding connection to the local community that brought him back to the Northern Rivers.
Peter Doyle
Peter Doyle with his family
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Kurrajong Tweed Mental Health Unit has been working to improve the patient experience at their site, reducing seclusion and restraint and bringing benefits to patients and staff.
Back in 2015, Kurrajong Tweed Mental Health Unit recorded some of the highest levels of seclusion and restraint among mental health units across NSW. But after some effective changes in staffing structures, team communication and culture, they’ve seen seclusion episodes decrease significantly.
The use of seclusion has continued to reduce over time, and from January to March 2020 there was a period of more than 60 days in which no seclusion episodes were recorded at all.
Seclusion and restraint are used to maintain safety for a patient, staff or others, after less restrictive alternatives have been trialled or considered.
Nurse Unit Manager, Lauren Maguire, said these changes have been extremely beneficial, providing a less restrictive environment for patients .
“Seclusion and restraint is always a last option, and by communicating well within our team we can explore better alternatives for our patients, and find solutions quickly,” Lauren said.
With the support of Executive, and management at Kurrajong, the unit now has three Clinical Nurse Specialists who have chosen Reducing Seclusion and Restraint as their clinical portfolios.
Better communication between staff is keeping everyone up to date with outcomes and procedures, greatly improving teamwork and resulting in a culture change within the unit.
Staff members attended specialised
Reducing seclusion and restraint in Tweed
training to reduce seclusion and restraint, and brought this knowledge back to the rest of the team in Tweed.
“Staff are now more skilled in managing patients who require a higher level of care and have successfully implemented a variety of strategies to care for highly agitated patients with behavioural disturbance,” Lauren said.
“We have a very strong focus on delivering person centred, trauma informed care.
“We also introduced new ways to recognise the good efforts of our staff, with appreciation afternoon teas where we give certificates and acknowledge people who are doing an excellent job.”
From left, CNS Tony Lovi, Nurse Unit Manager Lauren Maguire and CNS Keith Fyse
The influenza vaccination is now more readily available for families, with the NSW Government lowering the age for children to receive flu jabs from a pharmacist from 16 years to 10 years old.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the move to reduce the eligible age for pharmacy-administered influenza vaccinations was sensible, considering the likely convergence of a COVID-19 pandemic with the winter flu.
“While the flu vaccine won’t combat COVID-19, it will help reduce the severity
NSW lowers age of Pharmacy flu jab
and spread of flu, which can lower a person’s immunity and make them susceptible to other illnesses,” Mr Hazzard said.
This year’s flu vaccine is expected to be available from mid-April.
“Each year in NSW, we have hundreds of flu-related deaths and many of those who die were infected by the people they know and love who weren’t vaccinated,” Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer said.
“Not only do you risk your own life by not getting vaccinated against flu but you can potentially spread the infection to others more vulnerable, like children and the elderly.”
People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with high-risk medical conditions can be vaccinated for free by GPs under the National Immunisation Program. The free NSW-funded vaccine is available to all children aged six months to five years.
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Hep C can be cured Lismore Liver Clinic is excited to be part of a new Hepatitis Australia campaign to reach people living with or at risk of hepatitis C in Northern NSW.
The three-month TEST CURE LIVE campaign aims to engage and motivate people in the region to speak to a doctor about testing and cures for hepatitis C.
Jenny Heslop, Manager North Coast HIV and Related Programs (HARP), said the three-month campaign is running from February to April 2020 throughout Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina. It’s a collaboration between Hepatitis NSW, Lismore Liver Clinic, North Coast HARP and Hepatitis Australia.
“Messages about risk factors, the common symptom of fatigue, and the new highly effective hepatitis C antiviral medications are being promoted through newsprint, radio, online, social media and aeroplane banner advertising,” Jenny said.
Since 2016, more than 4,000 people are being diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C in New South Wales every year.
“We want to ensure that people living in
NSW are aware that hepatitis C is curable and that they take advantage of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’s (PBS) inclusion of new direct-acting antiviral medications.”
The campaign is aimed at people aged over 50 who:
ä received blood products or a blood transfusion before 1990
ä have ever injected drugs (even just once in their youth)
ä received an amateur or unsterile tattoo or body piercing
ä have had a dental or medical procedure overseas.
In the North Coast Primary Health Network region, more than 4,500 people living with hepatitis C remain untreated.
“Sadly, many people haven’t heard about the revolution in hepatitis C treatment and
are missing out on potentially life-saving medications,” Jenny said.
Testing for hepatitis C is a simple blood test. Once known as non-A, non-B hepatitis, hepatitis C can now be cured with safe and highly effective medications available from GPs. These medications can cure hep C in 8-12 weeks with 1-3 pills a day and little to no side-effects.
“Why not join the many thousands who have already been cured and are living life free from the worry of hepatitis C?”
Phone the Hepatitis info line on 1800 437 222 or contact Lismore Liver Clinic on (02) 6620 7539. More information is available at:
The Big Blue Van is taking HARP services to clients right across Mid North Coast and Northern NSW.
On 28 February, HIV and Related Programs (HARP) staff from Lismore Sexual Health and Needle Syringe Program headed west with the Big Blue Van to attend the grand opening of Casino’s Oak Community Centre.
“For the HARP team, this event kicked off what will be an exciting year of community clinical outreach and health promotion across the MNCLHD and NNSWLHDs, all made possible thanks to the Big Blue Van
(BBV) mobile clinic,” Jenny Heslop, HARP Manager, said.
The Big Blue Van is equipped to allow clinicians to provide sexual health and viral hepatitis testing, and to perform fibroscans for liver health checks.
Additionally, the van is set up with plenty of creature comforts to make health promotion activities inviting.
Throughout the year the Big Blue Van will be travelling all over the two LHDs, providing outreach to our community members.
“The HARP team are looking for more creative opportunities to reach community members,” Jenny said.
If you know of an event or location that would suit the Big Blue Van, contact HARP Health Promotion Officer Ben Corio at [email protected].
BIG BLUE VAN – THEY’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN!
www.testcurelive.com.au
From left, Deb Woodbridge, Ben Corrio and Lisa Lindsey (back)
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Five minutes with an Exec: Kylie WilmenThis month we catch up with Byron Central Hospital’s Executive Officer and Director of Nursing, Kylie Wilmen, about working in the most beautiful place in the country… and standup paddle boarding.
Q: What inspired you to get into nursing?A: I got into nursing very young, see thephoto? I always had a passion to be a nurse, my mother did nursing and so did a lot of my family members. It was a natural progression. I wanted to help people and support people through some of their hardest times.
I started as an AIN while I was still at high school, working at a nursing home. I then did my enrolled nursing and then registered nursing training at university. I also did an associate degree in law, but my passion was always with nursing and I’ve found it a really rewarding career.
Q: You obviously love your job, where has it taken you?
A: I worked in Ireland and around Europefor a number of years. In the early 90s I also worked in some remote aboriginal communities, including in the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory. But most of my time has been in the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast.
Q: How did you end up at this role in Byron?
A: I’ve been an RN for 27 years, and Ialways saw being a Director of Nursing as where I wanted to get to. I started off as an After Hours Nurse Manager in the private sector before doing After Hours management in the public sector at Murwillumbah and Tweed hospitals.
I went on and did a Masters in Nursing Management and worked as a Nurse Unit Manager in Emergency at John Flynn Private Hospital for 12 years. Then I saw the opportunity as the DDON at Murwillumbah District Hospital, which I did for some time before applying and getting the job as Executive Officer at Byron Central Hospital. It’s a role I always aspired to, where I think
I can make positive changes – I’m very honoured to get this opportunity.
Q: How is it going so far?
A: I love Byron! It is a tightknit communityand I’ve found the nurses here are very passionate about what they do, and they have an interest in the local community and the hospital. I’ve really enjoyed the open collaboration this hospital has, and that’s something I notice every time I walk around the site and do rounding. There is always a willingness to do better.
There is a great community feel at this
site and the staff seem to all really enjoy working here, which I think is reflected in the great job they do.
Q: When you’re not at work, what do you get up to?
A: I love standup paddle boarding – I wasa bit wobbly to start! But I love getting out in the water, my husband and my boys all surf, so we go out a lot. It is great and just takes me away to another place. We’re so lucky to live in a great place. People go all over the world to Hawaii, Bali, and I have, too, but I always come back and think, wow, we are just so spoiled to live here.
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CERNER EMR CODE UPGRADE
In Mid-May, the Cerner eMR Applications will undergo a major version upgrade (PAS, Scheduling, PowerChart, eMeds, FirstNet & SugiNet). For staff working during the upgrade, the impact is minimal. Downtime is not expected to occur; there may be a need to exit Cerner and log-off and back-on to the computer in the middle of the night. In advance of this event, a go-live date will be announced and communications will occur to all sites.
WAITING LIST OPTIMISATION PROJECT
On 1 June 2020, the waiting list optimisation project will go-live across hospitals in both Northern NSW & Mid North Coast LHDs. This change benefits our staff as it replaces existing manual processes with a fully electronic process - from the beginning to the end of the patient’s surgical waiting list journey. Change Managers will soon commence engagement with key waiting list and surgical journey stakeholders.
NBN ROLL-OUT
The NBN rollout means some hospitals will get a new phone number that will replace the existing main phone number. Where this applies, the changes will be advertised on screen savers and existing phone numbers will be diverted to the new phone number for a period of 12 months. Some fax numbers will also change and where this applies, direct communication will occur with individual departments. Some hospitals have already recently changed their phone number due to the rollout.
BE CYBER SAFE AND CYBER AWARE, AT HOME AND AT WORK
To find out how, complete the on-line learning modules available from the catalogue in My Health Learning. Search for Cyber S.A.F.E. Phishing Awareness; Cyber S.A.F.E Email Security and Cyber S.A.F.E Physical Security.
Don’t open suspicious emails or click links in emails and text messages. To action an immediate IT investigation (at work), please phone the IT help desk 1300 28 55 33.
Digital Dose:
TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
NNSWLHD aims to increase the use of Telehealth by clinicians to reduce the distances patients and staff have to travel. Requests for outpatient clinics will initially be the priority. If you require additional information please phone NNSWLHD Telehealth Manager, Wendy Roulston on (02) 6620 0825.
Long-time nurse, Beth Stacey was farewelled by friends and colleagues in the Clarence Valley where she has worked for almost 40 years.
Beth Stacey grew up on a dairy farm at Alstonville and started her nursing career at 18 years old when she moved to Sydney after finishing high school.
Beth’s initial six-week traineeship at Royal North Shore included accommodation and three hot meals a day. Beth says her first wage was $75 a week, paid in cash.
Beth started midwifery in 1980 at Crown Street Women’s Hospital. After graduating from this training program, Beth and her husband moved to Maclean where she ended up working for 22 years.
Farewell to nursing veteranBeth Stacey
Over the years Beth has worked in the Theatre and Emergency Department, and continued to study multiple management and emergency management courses, later working as a NUM in the ED and Day Surgery Unit.
In 2004, Beth became the NUM, Surgical Unit at Grafton Base Hospital.
“My years here and working with the team at GBH have been very fulfilling as a nursing unit manager,” Beth says.
Over almost four decades nursing, Beth says she has made many lifelong friends, and still keeps in touch with many from the 1970s. She says “teamwork” has been the
best part of her role as a NUM. We wish Beth all the best!
Beth Stacey at her farewell on 9 March
The Telehealth mascot
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the use of the Child Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing Risk Assessment form for many years as the best place in the eMR to record all information relating to child wellbeing concerns, work has been underway at the state level to investigate the best options across the board.
Following expert review and consultation, the state-wide working party agreed on some minor improvements to the existing form, and the improved version is now available for use. It provides clear and simple guidance to aid documentation, ensuring all important information is recorded. The form is easy to find in the eMR ‘Ad Hoc’ and ‘Document Launcher’ menus.
Our local health district clinicians are also fortunate to have the ability to share child protection information effectively, using the innovative and evidence based Child-At-Risk alert system.
You can also contact Karen Jefferies, Child Protection Information Exchange and Service Support Officer on 6641 8987 or NNSWLHD-
A recent change has altered the way clinicians need to record child protection documentation in the eMR.
How we document our child wellbeing concerns can be critical to the ability of clinicians to accurately identify child abuse and neglect at future presentations. The electronic medical record (eMR) has exceptional capacity to share information between clinicians. In the case of child wellbeing risk, this can provide the opportunity to intervene early, and where possible, prevent further harm.
Under changes brought in by NSW Health on 20 January this year, clinicians are now required to complete child protection documentation using the Child Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing Risk Assessment form.
While Northern NSW has been promoting
Getting it right for child wellbeing
Local clinicians received the latest advice on the symptoms and treatment of functional neurological disorder (FND) in Lismore last month.
An inter-professional symposium held on Saturday 7 March gave local clinicians an education in the assessment, management and treatment of clients who present with FND symptoms or who have a FND diagnosis.
Sixty clinicians from fields such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Neuropsychology, Psychiatry, Speech Pathology, Social Work and Pharmacy joined the symposium hosted by the NNSWLHD Home Based Rehabilitation Service.
“The Mater Hospital FND team, now in private practice, were generous to give up their own time to come to Northern NSW Health District and bring us up to date with the latest assessment and management
practices,” Laraine Acfield, Rehabilitation Social Worker, said.
“We were privileged to have high quality speakers with a great depth of experience and knowledge.”
FND is a complex condition which can present with an array of symptoms that suggest a neurological disorder in the absence of identified pathology. In other cases, there is a known neurological illness or lesion. Common symptoms can include
Symposium dispels myths around FND
severe headaches, seizures, gait disorders, or dissociative episodes, but there are many different possible manifestations.
Presenters at the symposium dispelled myths about the diagnosis and treatment of FND, dismissing the assumption that the condition is “in their head; not real and attention seeking”.
If you’re interested in finding out more, visit the FND Australia website;
From left, Rian Dob, Alex Lehn, Laraine Acfield, Paul Pun, Vince Cheah and Alison Fenton
For more information about the Child Safety, Welfare, Wellbeing Risk Assessment form and the Child-At-Risk alert system, check out the Child Protection User guide available on the intranet:
https://intranet.nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/child-protection/
https://fndaustralia.com.au/
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New paths lead to pandemic adviceThe Pandemic Respiratory Illness pathway has been recently localised. This HealthPathway has been adapted from the pandemic influenza pathway. It is suitable for use by Clinicians in the current COVID-19 outbreak.
The ‘Management’ section provides a step-by-step guide on infection prevention and control, along with how to prepare a comprehensive pandemic plan, including staff, patient and environmental considerations.
The ‘Information’ section has links to other useful CDC, NSW Health and RACGP resources. The patient information section provides a link to RACGP’s patient information sheet, Taking care of Yourself During an Emergency or Pandemic.
For up to date COVID-19 information, see also:
ä NSW Health – Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
ä Australian Government Department of Health – Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
ä World Health Organization – Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Notifiable Diseases HealthPathway
The Notifiable Diseases HealthPathway
provides information about diseases and conditions which should be notified to the local Public Health Unit by the following groups:
ä Medical practitioners ä Pathology laboratories ä Hospitals ä Primary schools and childcare centres
Hospitals and medical practitioners are required to report notifiable conditions to the Public Health Units on the basis of reasonable clinical suspicion. Disease Notification should be initiated within 24 hours of diagnosis.
The Mid and North Coast HealthPathways team have recently updated the Notifiable Diseases HealthPathway with COVID-19 specific information as follows:
ä Added links to the NSW Health coronavirus information web page. (The ‘Latest Updates’ and ‘Health Professionals’ section on this page are updated multiple times daily.)
ä Moved the link to the Public Health Unit’s contact and resource page nearer the top of the pathway for quick access.
The ‘Management’ section provides a step-by-step guide and process on how to make
a notification to the Public Health Unit for a range of other notifiable diseases.
The ‘Information’ section has links to other useful NSW Health resources, including Notifiable Disease Process for doctors, hospital and laboratories, infectious diseases reports and alerts. The patient information section provides a link to Healthdirect’s ‘Notification of illness and disease’ webpage.
Keep up to Date! - Health Alert
Quick Links have recently been added to the Health Alert Section on the Homepage, and regular updates to this section are made as situations evolve.
See COVID-19 pathways for up-to-date alerts and information on the assessment and management of suspected cases, COVID-19 referrals, practice preparation, and general COVID-19 information.
See also:
ä Advice for Health Professionals: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19
ä NSW Health - Coronavirus (COVID-19) ä WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19)
webpage.
Mid and North Coast Localised HealthPathways
ä Username: manchealth ä Password: conn3ct3d
For further information about HealthPathways email [email protected]
https://manc.healthpathways.org.au/343503.htm
https://manc.healthpathways.org.au/77822.htm
https://manc.healthpathways.org.au
ISSUE 2 - 2020APRIL/MAY 15
