Thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome during my first week as Acting Executive Director, TPCH. I always enjoy coming to Charlies, so it’s great to get to know and be more involved with the detailed operation and business of the hospital. A big thanks to the Executive Leadership Team for their excellent support as always.

Even though I’m only holding the fort for another couple of weeks before Tami returns, I’ll be doing my best to get around the hospital to touch base with staff and learn some more about the great work you’re all doing here at TPCH.

This week, we celebrated World Delirium Awareness Day with a number of teams organising activities to help raise awareness of this challenging disease. We have many staff at TPCH who provide specialist care and support to patients with dementia, so this week was an ideal opportunity to recognise their commitment and input to this vulnerable patient group. Below are some photos from the week. Well done to those teams for their great efforts!

Undercover car parking ballot now open for staff

It is that time again when TPCH staff can lodge their name in the ballot to be in the draw for access to 12 months of undercover car parking at Jacaranda Place, the adolescent mental health service located on TPCH campus. There is a total of 110 car parking spaces available.

The ballot is open from today, Friday 17 March until Sunday 2 April 2023.

Interested staff should email their name, department and contact number to TPCH_Corporateservices@health.qld.gov.au by COB Sunday 2 April.

Successful staff members will be notified via email and provided with the necessary access for a commencement date in mid April.

Please note: TPCH staff who were previously allocated access in 2021 and 2022 will not be considered in this ballot.

For any queries, please contact Bretine Curtis, Director Corporate Services via email: TPCH_Corporateservices@health.qld.gov.au

Graduate Certificate Health Services Innovation – Recruitment starting

I was pleased to see at last month’s Operational Leadership Team meeting that Metro North Health has recently awarded Griffith University the contract to deliver a Graduate Level Program in Health Services Innovation. The Program, which is designed for both clinical and non-clinical staff, aims to equip our staff with knowledge and skills of health systems, leading innovation, health economics/cost effectiveness, and implementation science.  These are the skills we need to lead innovation and transform the health service to meet our current and future needs. It’s a competitive process with only 30-40 staff accepted into the program across Metro North.  Click here to visit the website for more information.

If you want to take an active role in leading change, I encourage staff to put their best foot forward! Applications close on Friday 21 April (coincidently – this is World Creativity and Innovation Day!).  Tami looks forward to reviewing and ranking the TPCH applications. If you would like more information please reach out to Metro North Research’s Learning Coordinator via email: (louise.dallura@health.qld.gov.au), book in a phone/Teams call, or register for the virtual roadshows.

FAST FACTS

This week we will profile TPCH Outpatient Call Centre.

Did you know?

• The Outpatient Call Centre’s main function is the management of appointment confirmations and general outpatient enquires for the majority of Outpatient Services conducted at TPCH.
• TPCH Outpatient Call Centre team consists of 6 staff, employed in both full-time and part-time roles.
• The team fields over 11,000 calls each month, as well being responsible for email confirmations and management of the patient “Did Not Respond” (DNR) process
• They are the conduit between patients and clinical areas, coordinating referral management, and script and medication enquiries directly with nursing and medical staff within relevant programs.
• Patient demographic data is checked and updated at each call to ensure data integrity is accurate and maintained.
• The Call Centre operates from 8.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, with the exception of public holidays.

The Outpatient Call Centre team is often the first point of contact for many patients referred to TPCH, priding themselves on starting patient journeys in a positive and supportive manner.

Staff Profile

In light of World Delirium Awareness Day occurring this week, today we will profile Consultant Geriatrician and General Physician, Dr Sarah Fox.

Sarah works in the Cognitive Assessment and Management (CAM) Unit where she cares for patients living with dementia both in the ward and outpatient setting, as well through the Memory Clinic.

Having spent the last year at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh as a consultant geriatrician, undertaking both acute inpatient geriatric medicine and orthogeriatrics, Sarah enjoys working as a part of teams that are passionate about providing high quality care to older patients and their families.

She believes that health care needs to be shaped to fit the needs of those she is caring for, and always maintains a strong focus on doing her best to help the patient, especially during stressful or difficult times.

Outside of work, when not completing her PhD research through the University of Queensland, Sarah focuses her time and attention on her family which includes four young children. When time allows, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, exercise, and being outdoors. And of course, she loves a good coffee!

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to Rehabilitation and Acute Stroke (RAS) Unit Nurse, Gayle Worthington who celebrated 35 years of service this week. First starting her nursing career at the RBWH, Gayle became a Clinical Nurse in 2002, moving to TPCH in 2007 as an inaugural staff member of the hospital’s first medical ward.  In 2013, Gayle moved to the RAS Unit as a Clinical Nurse, also undertaking the Clinical Nurse Clinical Facilitator role for several years. Gayle is well known among her colleagues for her extensive knowledge in rehabilitation, patient flow, team building and leadership. A strong advocate for patient-centred care, Gayle is considered a great role model, and is a highly respected valued member of the Internal Medicine Service team. Well done Gayle!

Closing thought

People have asked me why I have come to TPCH to be the Executive Director when I already hold a relatively senior role in Metro North.  The answer is fairly simple.  Sometimes walking in someone else’s shoes gives you a very different perspective and actually assists you to do your role better.  As many of you know, I have worked in Metro North for a very long time with the largest proportion of that time at the RBWH. While my role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer brings me to TPCH often, I have never actually worked here. Therefore, this is a wonderful opportunity to understand the mechanicians of this amazing facility and get to know you all a bit better.  If you see me around, please stop and stay hello. I am greatly looking forward to the next few weeks.

Alanna Geary
Acting Executive Director