Tami Photinos, Executive Director

As we work through this busy period, I would like to reflect on the position we hold as health care workers. In health, we are all care takers – whether we are responsible for providing clinical care to patients directly, or supporting the delivery of a positive health care experience to patients and their loved ones. Whatever our role, there is an expectation that health care workers will stand up and consistently provide the best possible care to our patients, no matter what the circumstance or pressures at the time. We do this very well at TPCH, however it is important to understand that working in health care comes with great responsibi10lity, as we influence the outcomes of people’s lives.

Just as we celebrate achieving good outcomes for patients, we also have to endure loss. Our staff face challenging situations each day that require immense levels of skill, dedication and teamwork.  For our people to continue performing at these levels and doing their jobs well, they need to feel properly supported and valued. In considering this, I ask that we all be aware of our fellow colleagues’ pressures in the workplace, and support and care for each other with kindness, generosity and respect, especially when times get tough.

Executive Update

Tami, Gladys Akhurst, Melanie Dubbelde, Julie Mee

Dr Homayoun Jalali and Tami Photinos

Melanie Dubbelde, Dr Diana Tam, Tami Photinos

This week, Director of Operations, Melanie Dubbelde and I had the opportunity to visit the Operating Theatres. We arrived at a busy time of day when surgeries were well underway, so could only chat briefly with a few staff about the team’s great work including the significant reduction in long waits across the surgical service prior to the end of financial year. Well done team! Fantastic work!

Tami, Perry Judd and Tania Wood

Dr Andrew Spiller (Director of Emergency) and Dave Harper (Premis Site Manager), Short Stay Unit

I also stopped by the Emergency Department to check on the progress of our current Short Stay Unit expansion project which will see the addition of six new treatment spaces following the project’s completion next month. A great patient care improvement initiative.

Director of Allied Health, Perry Judd and I also met with new Director Physiotherapy, Tania Wood who is settling in well to the role. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Tania. Good to have you on board.

Thank you morning tea for Zach Sheldrick

We extend a sincere thanks to Zachary Sheldrick for his great work and leadership in the Safety and Quality Unit for the last two years. From Monday, Zach will move out of the Acting Nursing Director role upon the return of Maryanne Humphries, but continue his work in Safety and Quality with a focus on accreditation.

From Monday 17 July, I will be undertaking the role of acting Chief Operating Officer, Metro North for a four-week period, followed by one week of annual leave. During this time, Karlene Willcocks will be the Acting Executive Director TPCH, with her substantive position as Director of Operations EPIC being backfilled by Bretine Curtis. Bretine’s role as Facility Services Director will be backfilled by Bianca Neaves.

Enterprise Scheduling Management (ESM) training update

With the ESM go-live only a few weeks away, I would like to congratulate everyone who has completed their mandatory ESM training, as well as ieMR view only training.

Out of 321 TPCH staff identified as requiring ESM scheduling training, 100 staff have completed all required training, and another 124 have confirmed their attendance at an upcoming classroom training session. If you have been identified for ESM training and have not yet been booked in for a classroom training session, please speak to your line manager as soon as possible. All training must be completed before TPCH goes live with ESM on Monday 7 August 2023.

For those who have completed ieMR view only training, you will be provisioned with access once we go live with ESM.

FAST FACTS

Members of IHLO team

This week, we will profile TPCH’s Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officers (IHLOs).

Did you know?:

• IHLOs provide culturally appropriate support, advocacy and advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, their families and carers during their health journey through the hospital setting, and coordinate care from hospital to home and with community support services.
• The team consists of three IHLOs who work Monday to Friday; one after hours IHLO who works in the Emergency Department; and one Team Leader.
• IHLOs provide daily bedside visits to explain the hospital system and act as a liaison between patients, their families and hospital staff regarding treatment.
• An average of 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander present to TPCH emergency department each day with IHLOs receiving notifications about these patients via text messages.
• IHLOs support TPCH’s Cultural Capability Officer to provide education sessions to TPCH Staff to create culturally safe environments that respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island patients and staff.
• IHLOs walk approximately 10,000 to 15,000 steps each day.

Staff profile

Alicia Watson

This week, we will profile A/Project Officer, Corporate Services, Alicia Watson.

Alicia is responsible for providing advice around and reviewing accommodation and storage needs across TPCH to help achieve the best use of space to support the future needs of the hospital. She works collaboratively with various departments including Building Engineering and Maintenance Services, Corporate Services, Patient Support Services and TPCH Waste Coordinator to support minor infrastructure projects; oversee disposal, storage and movement of assets and equipment; assist with contingency planning; and update outdated facility signage.

Having worked in various administration roles for almost a decade, Alicia is passionate about making a difference to the experience of patients, staff and visitors. She enjoys improving internal processes and procedures to help support the delivery of efficient and effective services, and values the people and learning opportunities her role lends.

Outside of work, Alicia enjoy spending time with friends and family, and her dogs Sasha and Harley. She also enjoys travelling and discovering new places, going to the gym, and spending time at the beach albeit admitting it’s too cold at the moment to even consider going for a swim.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to TPCH’s Hip Fracture Unit which has been announced as a finalist in the Australia and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry’s 2023 Golden Hip Awards for the category of top performing hospital. These awards recognise the top performing and most improved Australian hospitals across the indicators in the Hip Fracture Care Clinical Care Standard. Well done team, we look forward to hearing the final outcome in September.

Today’s quote

“Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Tami.