Cang Dang, Executive Director
Right now, Redcliffe Hospital is making some big changes that will impact the way the hospital cares for patients for many years to come.
With so much important work being done, we’ve arranged a series of half-day workshops to bring together hospital leaders and operational teams to make sure everyone’s efforts are well-coordinated and on track for success.
Thank you again to everyone who made time for these workshops. It’s been wonderful to see the positivity and teamwork in these sessions and the way everyone has been listening to understand – which is so important when making big decisions.
We’re keen to listen more, too. Right now, we’re calling for experienced clinical leaders to get involved with developing the new models of care we’ll need for our new Clinical Services Building. Find out more about how you can help.
One question that I’ve been asked recently, is what has impressed me the most about Redcliffe Hospital.
The answer isn’t an easy one, but this week, it’s been the Intensive Care Unit.
Earlier this week I spent some time with ICU Director Dr Hamish Pollock, NUM Gary Von Dohren, and their team on Level 2.
Listening to them talk about the design and layout of the ICU, hearing the way they talk to their patients, and watching how they interact with each other has left a lasting impression on me.
Their teamwork, dedication to patient care, and professionalism tells me that our hospital and the local community are fortunate to have clinicians of this calibre.
Celebrating our hospital volunteers
Redcliffe Hospital is proud to be supported by a community of 92 volunteers. The largest group among them are our Redcliffe Hospital Volunteers, who help us in SOPD, at the information desk, Admissions, Cancer Care, and in the Palliative Care Unit.
We’re equally proud of our Redcliffe Hospital Auxiliary, who have raised close to $1,000,000 to support patients since they were formed more than 50 years ago.
Our volunteer community also boasts Delta Dog Handlers, Justices of the Peace, and our Volunteer Chaplains – and we’re grateful to them all.
On Wednesday, we said thank you to our volunteers with a special morning tea, where Metro North’s Acting Chief Executive Jane Hancock presented certificates of appreciation to our volunteers.
National Reconciliation Week at Redcliffe Hospital
Redcliffe Hospital will observe National Reconciliation Week with important events, starting Monday with a Yarning Circle for National Sorry Day in the Staff Courtyard at 10am.
Next Wednesday, everyone is invited to join us as we unveil a permanent plaque acknowledging the stolen wages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders used to build the hospital. Please join us in the Healing Garden from 10am and for a morning tea in the Staff Courtyard.
On the following Monday (3 June), everyone is again invited to a Yarning Together morning tea for Mabo Day.
These events should be in everyone’s Outlook calendars and represent our ongoing commitment to Health Equity and Redcliffe Hospital’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
Please join us if you can.
Listening to consumer feedback
Earlier this week, our Consumer Liaison team received this from a consumer undergoing treatment through Cancer Care Services at Redcliffe Hospital:
… I cannot speak highly enough of every level upon which this clinic operates [it] does the Department of Health, the hospital generally the public health system and the individuals engaged proud …
In their feedback, they talked about the people caring for them:
…[my doctor’s] knowledge and commitment is outstanding – I am very lucky to have [this doctor] … at such a difficult time for me.
And I should not forget the nurses … compassionate and highly skilled and professional and very gentle in their administration of the treatment.
Nor should I forget the girls on the reception counters – efficient and with good sesnses [sic] of humour – much appreciated with a waiting room full of people suffering from such a terrible disease.
There are lessons we can learn from all patient and consumer feedback. This feedback tells us a lot about how the Cancer Care team have earned this patient’s trust and how their compassion and professionalism have given them confidence in our care.
We’ll make sure the Cancer Care team receive this feedback in full – along with our thanks for the way they’ve cared for this, and other, patients.
Senior Leadership Team changes
I’m pleased to announce our new Nursing Director for Ambulatory Care will be Jenny Ashton. Jenny will be joining Redcliffe Hospital after nine years leading ambulatory outpatient services at the QEII Jubilee Hospital.
Along with success in shaping alternative pathways for care and creating improved patient attendance, Jenny also brings extensive experience in digital healthcare, ESM and ieMR. Please join me in welcoming Jenny to Redcliffe Hospital and to our Senior Leadership Team.
This week, I also announced that Travis Bell, our Senior Communications Advisor, will be joining the hospital’s Senior Leadership Team.
Travis is well-known at Redcliffe and across Metro North and brings to the Senior Leadership Team more than 25 years of experience in strategic communications and public policy.
With so many changes coming, it’s critical we have the the right people at the table and we’re fortunate to have someone of Travis’ experience on our team.
ieMR – four weeks away
Digital Metro North ask that we all become familiar with the DMN Digital Resources site and its library of content – accessible via the DMN icon on your desktop.
More than 450 current and updated ieMR quick reference guides (QRGs), as well as business continuity resources, clinical workflow videos, practice activities, and more, are essential to become familiar with and help enable a successful ieMR go-live.
With go-live now just under four weeks away, I would encourage you to speak with your line manager as a priority if you have not yet completed all of your mandatory ieMR training.
For those who have completed training, you can maintain your skills by completing practice activities using a training replica of the ieMR.
This week’s Making it Count More tip
This week’s tip for the Count More campaign relates to sepsis and UTIs:
When the patient has systemic sepsis with UTI this requires two codes – one for the UTI, and one for Sepsis.
Include the likely anatomical location of the UTI (pyelonephritis, cystitis etc). Document clearly which one is the Principal Diagnosis – the UTI or the Sepsis?
Examples: Sepsis due to pyelonephritis; or IDC related cystitis causing sepsis.
With ieMR just weeks away, it’s never been more important that our clinical records are as accurate as possible. Find out more from Health Information Services on 3883 7295.
Lastly this week, a word about next Monday, when we’re expecting works near the front of the Emergency Department to be noisier than usual. The building contractors will be doing what they can to minimise noise, and the project team are working closely with the Emergency Department and other impacted departments too.
While the builders and project team are doing their best to minimise impacts and keep everyone safe – they need us to do our bit. We all need to pay attention to warning signs, diversions and detours. As staff members, we need to lead by example and not take shortcuts.
See you at the Yarning Circle on Monday.
Cang.
