Message from TPCH Executive Director

Today is Allied Health Professions Day and I’d like to acknowledge the many allied health staff at TPCH who support the delivery of high quality care to our patients. These staff play an important role in the physical and mental recovery of patients with diverse clinical conditions, helping improving their health outcomes and overall quality of life. Today I attended a special morning tea to recognise and thank our allied health team for the great work they do in supporting our patients at TPCH. Well done team!

TPCH Staff Excellence Awards

There’s only one week to go until nominations close for our TPCH Staff Excellence Awards. We’ve only got 10 nominations so far, which is not a lot for a team of almost 3,500 staff!  So it’s time to get nominating!

We have many standout performers at TPCH who contribute to the delivery of high quality patient care and research. I come across these people every week during my meetings, walkarounds and general conversations. No doubt you do too.

How many times have we thought to ourselves ‘gee that person is good at their job’ or ‘that person really cares about supporting others’ or ‘wow our team is achieving great outcomes for patients’?.
I encourage staff to act on these thoughts, and take the time to nominate an individual or team who they believe deserves recognition for their efforts. There’s a lot of skill, talent, commitment and care that happens at TPCH and I would like to highlight this at our Awards this year.

Categories are:

1. Outstanding performance
2. Innovation
3. Clinical Excellence
4. Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Education
5. Cultural Diversity
6. Consumer Engagement
7. Values in Action
8. Rising Star of Research
9. Research Support
10. Researcher of the Year

More information about the awards, including criteria and the nomination process can be found on TPCH Staff Excellence Awards page.

If you require some assistance with your nomination or have any queries please contact our Communications Unit on 3139 4329 or email: MetroNorth-TPCH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au

Executive update

Executive walkarounds

This week, I had the opportunity with new Director of Operations, Surgery and Critical Care, Melanie Dubbelde to visit Ward 2D and ICU to learn about some of the great work being done within these busy clinical areas.

Ward 2D is our orthopaedic fracture ward which includes the Fractured Neck of Femur service. The majority of patients admitted to the ward are between 80 and 90 years old, and represent a complex patient cohort, requiring clinical input and support from a multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic surgeons, ortho-geriatricians, nursing, allied health, administrative and operational staff. During our visit, we were  shown the ward’s very well organised storeroom, courtesy of AIN, Georgie Stringer.

A big tick!

During our ICU visit, we were taken around the unit by Nurse Unit Manager, Vanessa Rainbow; Clinical Nurse Consultant, Wendy Bennett; and Intensivist, Dr Denzil Gill, to see the progress of the pendant light replacement project currently underway. We also saw the beginning stages of the new ICU of the Future pods which are under construction and set for completion by late November. An exciting innovation that will support the first class care provided by our ICU team!

Yesterday I also visited our Adult Emergency Department (ED) where I had the chance to walk through the department with Nursing Director Emergency Department and Paediatric Services, Amanda Smith and PFlip Project Officer, Carol Jeffers during one of its peak times. A focus of my visit was the Short Stay Unit which is currently undergoing development as part of plans to expand the broader footprint of the department.

A highlight of my walkthrough was a chat with patient, Alex who was waiting in the Short Stay Unit for a physiotherapy consult on his shoulder which he had injured at work earlier that morning. I learnt that Alex is a waste collector and starts his normal work day at night. During our chat, I told Alex who I was, asked him about his hospital stay and offered to get him anything he needed while he waited. Alex thought he would use the opportunity to ask me if I could install a bar in the ED so he could have a drink, given it was around his normal work finish time. (Not your typical request!) I told Alex I appreciated his sense of humour, but unfortunately could not accommodate his request which he happily accepted. Thank you Alex for your feedback – you certainly gave us all a good laugh!

Listening Post

Yesterday Metro North’s Chief Executive, Jackie Hanson and Chief Operating Officer, Jane Hancock visited TPCH for a Listening Post with staff. We had a number of staff join Jane and Jackie in the staff dining area to discuss their issues and ideas. Both were impressed by the honest feedback and good ideas shared with them during the session, and we thank Jackie and Jane for their valuable time.

FAST FACTS

With face-to-face training and education having recently resumed, this week we will share some fast facts about our Education Centre.

Did you know?:

• The Education Centre has 14 rooms – 9 training rooms, 3 simulated learning environments (mock ward areas), 1 computer lab, 1 FIT testing room, as well as a designated ensuite training. bathroom, scrub sinks and a plaster sink
• The Centre can accommodate a total of 362 people when operating at maximum capacity
• It records an average of 484 bookings each month which equates to over 2000 hours of bookings
• Approximately 700 staff complete general orientation each year
• An average of 600 staff receive some form of simulation training each month
• Education Centre staff are responsible for day-to-day centre management, AV support, ID cards and proximity access, staff vehicle detail updates and parking permits, infringement notice follow ups, and lost property
• Over 300 staff require a new ID, proxy card or ID renewal each month.

Wow, what a busy service! Keep up the great work Education Centre team!

Staff profile

As today is Allied Health Professions Day, we will profile Senior Social Worker, Palliative Care Unit, Suzanne Main.

In this role, Suzanne provides support to patients who are nearing the end-of-life. This includes supporting patients with independent living at home, helping them adjust to changes in health and function, and responding to all emotions associated with end-of-life decisions and planning. She also supervises students as part of a Social Work Student Led Bereavement Service within Palliative Care.

Having previously worked in general surgery, cardiac surgery and complex chronic disease, Suzanne is passionate about ensuring patients have access to necessary supports and services, and enjoys working with dedicated members of the palliative care team to achieve this. She values ongoing improvement in service delivery and making sure Palliative Care standards are met to allow patients receive the best possible care and support.

In her spare time, Suzanne spends time with her family, often with kids sports, and when she can, she enjoys live music and yoga.

TPCH Charlies Week

The Common Good Giving Day

The Common Good’s Giving Day which will be held on Wednesday 30 November. This year, with your help, The Common Good is aiming to raise over $300,000 for equipment, upgrades, and patient-centred programs at TPCH. I encourage everyone to get involved in this important fundraising event for our hospital, whether that be by donating, fundraising or volunteering on the day. Giving Day is a massive team effort, so please reach out to the team at The Common Good if you would like to be involved.

Shout out

A big shout out this week to those staff who took the time to attend yesterday’s listening post in the staff dining area with Metro North’s Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, Jackie Hanson and Jane Hancock. A special mention goes to Patient Support Officer, Ronn Wells, who openly shared his thoughts with Jane around his commitment to serving our patients. Ronn, who is originally from Colorado in the USA, worked for Qantas for many years, instilling a strong sense of customer service which he applies to his day-to-day work at TPCH to ensure our patients’ needs are met. Jane Hancock was impressed by Ronn’s approach to health care, so thank you Ronn for your dedication to our patients. You’re a great asset to the team at TPCH!

Today’s quote

“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” – Don Alden Adams

Tami Photinos
Executive Director