Glynis Schultz, Executive Director
First day of service for OPARS
This week we saw some important milestones to cap off another great year.
On Monday we opened two new Community and Oral Health services at the Kallangur Satellite Hospital.
Our first oral health patient was treated at the Kallangur Oral Health Clinic following the relocation of the team from Pine Rivers Community Health Centre.
Besides a fresh new clinic, the relocated service has seen an important upgrade with specialist equipment to now support bariatric patients.
We also opened the new Older Persons Assessment and Rehabilitation Service (OPARS) to support aged-related
medical conditions for elderly patients in the Moreton Bay region.
Relocation of the Oral Health Clinic
OPARS is a wonderful new and much needed service in the region to support our aging population and reduce demand on our hospitals.
Celebrations and congratulations
We have now received the written confirmation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) which has awarded three years accreditation to Metro North Health – Community and Oral Health.
This is your achievement and you should be so very proud! At every feedback session during the week the accreditors were in COH, they relayed the stories of the clinical and non-clinical staff who go above and beyond to keep our facilities in good condition and provide great patient-centred care.
I am certainly proud of you and the way you greeted the accreditation team with enthusiasm and proudly showcased the great work you do every day in partnership with our patients, families and consumers.
Thank you COH! You are simply the best. I also want to thank Jodi Dwyer for her leadership through the week of accreditation and to thank Michelle Kane for her stewardship of Safety and Quality over many years.
Erika’s legacy in safe hands
Before I introduce our new Peer Responder Coordinator – Tracey Lyon, I want to pass on my gratitude and appreciation for Erika Hudson.
Erika played a pioneering role in leading and establishing the successful Peer Responder Program we see today in COH.
Through Erika’s commitment and dedication we have more than 20 peer responders located across our facilities helping and supporting our staff when it is needed as part of the COH Peer Responder network.
Thank you Erika and also please welcome Tracey, following is some details about our new coordinator:
“I have been a podiatrist for over 25 years and have worked across community and acute hospital settings. I am originally from the United Kingdom (Manchester), but I moved my daughters here when they were younger, they are now 29 and 24 so I became an “empty Nester”.
“With time on my hands, I completed a Master of Research and publications in communication. Following this, I moved to the People and Culture Team as the Wellbeing Coordinator at The Prince Charles Hospital and more recently Community and Oral Health.
“I am looking forward to 2024 working in this role supporting staff wellbeing.”
A final shout out
A Metro North Health feasibility study has shown that people living with a post-surgery stoma should undertake an abdominal exercise program to improve quality of life to reduce further complications.
Community and Oral Health Wound Management and Stomal Therapy Nurse Practitioner Monica Stankiewicz said while there was limited evidence around specific exercises for those living with a stoma, half of all people who have a stoma would develop complications due to low physical activity or increased abdominal pressure.
Glynis.