About Chermside Community Health Centre
The Chermside Community Health Centre has been a constant in the northern suburbs of Brisbane for many years providing a range of high-quality services.
The centre is located at The Prince Charles Hospital, and features key Community and Oral Health services including the Post Acute Care Service, Wound and Stoma Service, and the Community Based Rehabilitation Team.
Other key services offered include Complex Chronic Disease, Diabetes, the Alcohol and Drug Service, Indigenous Health Services, Community Mental Health Service and Indigenous Mental Health Services.
Sandgate Shining Star Winners (May / June 2023)
Post Acute Care Service – Kerry Parker, Administrative Officer
“Kerry is regularly observed to look out for her team, identify when processes need to be improved, providing the kind (supportive, direct and timely) feedback to the team when something needs to change.
“She makes the journey of supporting clients and the team so much smoother. Kerry is a joy to work with and makes everything so much easier.”
Post Acute Care Service – Jodie Blaik, Administrative Officer
“Jodie is a shining star because of the amazing contribution to the team. She is the glue that holds the team together, proactively stepping up to support when she identifies an opportunity and is constantly ensuring that she is checking in with her colleagues.
“Jodie is one of the first points of contact when clients ring the service, and she makes sure that they are linked to the right person. Jodie makes the team so much easier and a joy to be part of.”
Danielle McGovern, Speech Pathologist
“Over the years, Danielle has consistently demonstrated her compassion to her patients and commitment to always providing the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment.
“Danielle demonstrates that through her ongoing active involvement in speech pathology research. The Speech Pathology research team are always glowing in their feedback about Danielle’s experience and contributions.”
Robyn Fraser, Speech Pathologist
“Robyn is a highly experienced Speech Pathologist who brings great expertise to our team.
“She is patient focused and is always willing to step up and go the extra mile for her patients. Robyn is a quiet achiever, who consistently helps her colleagues in periods of leave or high caseload demands. She does this willingly and with a positive approach.”
Helen Perryer, Administrative Officer
“Helen has a ‘can do’ attitude and has helped me with some tasks that are a little different to usual business such as remodelling storage space to reduce clutter, segregating e-waste and other manual type jobs.
“She has used her experience in a previous management role to make suggestions to improve business processes within the centre. Helen’s hands on approach has led to very noticeable improvements around the facility.
“All this mingled with an easy-going personality makes Helen a fantastic staff member to have on the team!”
Post Acute Care Service
This nomination was based on the exceptional feedback we are constantly receiving about this team and in particular, the following compliment from a carer:
“On behalf of myself and my brother as fulltime carers for our mother I would like to express our appreciation and sincere thanks to all the members of the PACS team who helped in the care of our mother after her stroke.
“It was wonderful to see the respect, compassion and dignity for our mother which was shown by each member of the team who visited our home and those who followed up by telephone.
“To the physiotherapist, thank you for your home program of simple exercises for my mum to do. I persist and encourage mum to do them at her own pace as much as possible.
“To the occupational therapist, thank you for your suggestions and information I have de-cluttered our home to decrease the falls risk for mum.
“To the social worker, thank you for listening to all my concerns and the information you have provided.
“To the nursing staff, your visit and reassurance about bed sores and pressure points were most helpful and informative.
“To the speech pathologist, thank you so much for the pass mark! Once again thank you very much for all that you did. Blessings and best wishes to each and everyone of you.”
Spotlight: COH Nurse Leader of the Year 2023
“Monica is the ultimate role model for any nurse wanting to pursue a meaningful, satisfying and valuable career.”
As a Wound Management and Stomal Therapy Nurse Practitioner Monica Stankiewicz is committed to improving the physical health and wellbeing of patients with a stoma in her care.
At present she is leading a feasibility study that involves 30 patients and a group of Allied Health practitioners aiming to prevent hernias in people who have undergone stoma formation.
“It is important that we get people moving, especially after abdominal surgery or those that have a stoma,” she said.
Monica is playing a critical role in finding alternative pathways for improvement and developing a multi-disciplinary team to support patients.
Recently, she was named the Community and Oral Health Nurse Leader of the Year for 2023, and there are many additional reasons why:
“She continuously looks for ways to improve service provision within budget. Monica never allows herself to be defeated, always searching for alternative pathways for improvement.
“Monica contributes research articles regularly to the Ostomy Australian Journal and provides clinical support for further healthcare professionals – both internal and external to Metro North Health.
“Monica is currently supporting two Nurse Practitioner candidates, one clinically and the other one professionally. Monica is always willing to mentor other Registered Nurses to enhance their wound and stoma skills.”
Spotlight: Post stroke fatigue research study
Our Community Based Rehabilitation Team have delivered a successful research study that is helping to improve the treatment of fatigue post stroke.
This trial has involved the development of clinical guidelines and tools to use during therapy, as well as useful resources and techniques to help stroke patients suffering from fatigue.
Anthony Walsh, an Occupational Therapist in the Community Based Rehabilitation Team, worked very closely with University of Queensland researcher Hannah Gullo to deliver this trial.
The trial involved a qualitative survey involving four occupational therapists and 16 patients who were referred to community-based rehabilitation during a 10-week intervention.
The finding of this successful research project was presented at the World Congress on Brain Injury in Dublin, Ireland recently.
The trial has led to improved clinical decision making, assessment and application of guidelines, and resources for clinicians and patients which are tailored to their needs.
Spotlight: Innovation, technology and speech pathology
At Chermside Community Health Centre innovation and research is at the top of the agenda.
Our speech pathologists are currently involved in conjoint research with the University of Queensland researching Comprehensive High Intensity Aphasia Treatment (CHAT). The teams are about to start recruiting participants for the project which involves 14 hours of intensive speech therapy over an eight-week period.
The Community Based Rehabilitation Team are currently trialling new technology that allows the therapist to demonstrate apps on an ipad through the telehealth virtual clinic. With this new technology the therapists can demonstrate use of apps aligned with increase intensity of therapy and functional recovery.
Chermside compliment – Tahlia Lee, Enrolled Nurse, Chermside Wound and Stoma Clinic
“I just wanted to take this time to acknowledge the amazing job all your staff do, but in particular Tahlia Lee and her amazing patient care.
“From the first moment I met Tahlia she welcomed me with an amazing smile and was attentive to my needs and care, explaining we had a little way to walk to the examination room and if I was able to do this without assistance.
“Tahlia takes real care when working on your wounds and explains each step she is carrying out. She also helps with explaining the medical terms that she could see by the look on my face, I was a little confused about.
“She works extremely well with other team members, so you feel everyone is working together to help me and my needs. During my visits, I have had three different Wound Specialist Nurses who were amazing.
“I would like to thank Tahila for making me feel at ease and like a person, and not just a patient number. Also, for taking the time to get to know me both personally and as a patient by truly listening to my responses and most importantly never making me feel judged.
“No other staff member has made me feel any differently while in their care. They are all very professional and caring. Thank you for your wonderful work, and professional and caring environment, you do make a difference in your patients’ lives!”
Nominate a North Lakes Health Precinct Shining Star!
Our next Shining Star Award will be focused on the North Lakes Health Precinct alongside the executive visit on Tuesday 25 July.
We encourage North Lakes staff in particular to nominate a colleague or team for the
July Shining Star Award by sending a 50-100 word submission to COH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au
Nominations close Wednesday 19 July.