As health workers and professionals, we’re all committed to providing safe and quality care every day.

As part of that commitment, we all need to be following the Metro North Patient Identification and Matching Procedure with every patient. The procedure sets out the requirement for all staff to use a minimum of three approved patient identifiers:

• each time a patient is admitted or registered
• whenever care, therapy or services are provided
• whenever medications are dispensed or administered
• when the patient is transferred to another care area, and
• when discharge documentation is generated.

Those identifiers that we can use include:

• The patient’s family name (UPPER CASE) and given names (lower case)
• The patient’s date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
• The patient’s Hospital Record Number (URN).

Where one of these three identifiers cannot be used, an alternative, such as a Medicare number or full home address, may be sourced. Our patients are always the primary source for this information. When identifying patients, make sure you’re asking the patient to tell you the answer – not simply reading the information out for them to confirm.

Communicating for safety means we’re always following this procedure.

Allied Health leadership development

This week, many of our allied health leaders participated in a leadership course in the Education Centre.

Allied Health Director Geoff Grima arranged the course, which was led by motivational speaker, trainer and facilitator, Anthony Bonnici.

The content for the two-day course was informed by many of the emerging themes from professional development plans within the allied health team.

Redcliffe Hospital ESM go-live update

Thank you to everyone who was part of the ieMR Enterprise Scheduling Management (ESM) go-live on Wednesday. The transition to using ESM to book outpatient appointments has gone very well overall, with only a few challenges faced in the early stages of adapting to the new system. This is a testament to everyone’s hard work completed in preparation for go-live and the positivity shown by those now using ESM across our ambulatory outpatient areas.

Our Digital Metro North colleagues expressed their gratitude for the excellent collaboration between their floorwalker support staff and Redcliffe staff on the ground – in particular, our Super Users.

If you require any assistance during the go-live support period, please first reach out to either a Super User or Floorwalker before calling the Digital Command Centre on 1800 921 342 for issues that require escalation.

Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day

Raise it for Redcliffe’s Giving Day is next Thursday.

Thank you to everyone who has put their name down to volunteer some of their own time in the phone room. If you think you might have some time to assist there, please let Sharyn from the RBWH Foundation know.

One of the day’s highlights will be the big bake sale from 8:30am in the Staff Courtyard. If you’d like to get involved by providing donations of baked goods, email Wendy.Luttrell@health.qld.gov.au.

There’s lots planned for the day, including food trucks in the West Block car park from 10am to 2pm. To see what else is happening on the day, check out the program.

Workforce Reform Roadshows

Metro North Health continues to explore how we can address workload demands and the global shortages of healthcare workers. Metro North’s Workforce Reform Roadmap has been co-designed by our people, external partners and workforce experts. It aims to support our employees by creating new and innovative ways to build and retain talent and innovate new ways to deliver our service.

The Roadmap outlines critical programs of work over the next 10 years to drive workforce reform and create a sustainable workforce into the future.

People and Culture are hosting 12 roadmap roadshows across Metro North, including two at Redcliffe:

• Monday 9 October, from 10.30am in the Education Centre
• Tuesday 17 October, from 2.00pm on Level 2 in MBICC

All staff are invited to participate.

#IamRedcliffe Team of the Month

There were 11 nominees for the #IamRedcliffe Team of the Month for September. Congratulations to all nominees, including the supply team, Materials Management Assistants team, Emergency Department nursing staff, Patient Support Services supervisors, General Medicine team, Ward 6 West, Kyla Marriott, Anne-Maree Bouwman, Melinda Whiteley, and the IHLO team.

Congratulations again to the award winner, Bridgette Foulds. Bridget received the award for her amazing work with our vulnerable patients and for her compassion to their families.

Nominations for the October #IamRedcliffe Team of the Month close on Sunday, 15 October.

As a reminder, you can also send an #IamRedcliffe Thank You or a Metro North Staff Shout-Out to recognise and thank team members for bringing their A-Game.

Voting arrangements for staff and patients

Hospital staff who are rostered on for Saturday 14 October are encouraged to plan ahead when it comes to referendum voting.

Postal voting may be an option for those unable to make it to vote in person on voting day, and some early voting centres are also open. Find out more about early voting options on the AEC website.

If a hospital patient or visitor asks you for information about referendum voting options, please refer them to the AEC website: www.aec.gov.au or ask them to call 13 23 26.

Metro North Health staff are also reminded of the Public Sector Commissioner’s guidance for public sector employees when talking about the referendum and associated matters.

Lastly this week, a reminder about next Monday’s #IamRedcliffe Staff BBQ. All staff are invited to join us for that free BBQ lunch in the Staff Courtyard from 11am.

See everyone there.

Louise.