It’s just over one week to go until our annual TPCH Charlies Week celebrations, to run from 23 to 27 October. This is an opportunity for us to come together as we head towards the end of another busy year, and acknowledge and celebrate the great work we do here.  It’s also a chance for the Executive team to say thank you to all the staff at TPCH for continuing to do your very best caring for our patients each day.

For those staff who are not familiar, TPCH Week offers a broad range of educational, recognition and fun events for staff to get involved in and enjoy. It’s a fantastic week with something for everyone, so please join in where you can. There’s still time to register for activities!

View TPCH Week Program

A reminder that our annual TPCH Staff Excellence Awards event is on Thursday 26 October at 2pm in the Dr Mark O’Brien Auditorium. I invite you to come and help recognise the many great achievements of your fellow colleagues.

Accreditation

As of the first of July, all healthcare facilities in Australia transitioned to Mandatory Short Notice Assessments to be accredited against the NSQHS Standards. This means that TPCH will undergo an assessment before the end of November 2023. With short notice assessment imminent, a reminder of some key points to consider:

• Be aware of general tidiness
• Ensure that your PDP is up to date
• Mandatory training
• Keep a clean, tidy and efficient work environment
• Make sure you involve patients in decisions and planning of their care including handover “#don’t talk about me without me.”

Executive update

Research excellence awards

This week, finalists for the Metro North Research Excellence Awards were announced and I was pleased and proud to see TPCH researchers so well represented across the majority of categories. Congratulations to the following finalists:

• Co-designing an exercise intervention to prevent paraatomal hernias – Consumer Research Award
• Direct to Psychology Insomnia and Stepped Care Models: Sleep Disorders Service
  Innovations – Consumer Research Award
• Dr Eamonn Eeles – Researcher of the Year
• Hollie Bendotti – Rising Star Award
• ICU of the Future – Discovery and Innovation Research & Consumer Research Award
• Prof John Fraser – Researcher of the Year
• The Living Heart Project – Clinical Research Award
• Lung cancer screening – Australia’s 4th national screening program – Research Implementation Award
• Dr Mahesh Ramanan – Research Support Award
• Novel Radiation Shielding to Reduce Radiation Exposure – Discovery and Innovation Research.

Recognising our Operational Services staff

This month we recognise the contributions of our dedicated Operational Services staff. I made a special visit to Food Services where I chatted with staff and learned more about their processes, challenges and improvements which support the ongoing delivery of high quality food and nutrition to our patients. A special mention goes to Cook and Relief Supervisor, Precy Tuazon who baked some tasty banana muffins for our visit – our patients are certainly in good hands! And thanks to Site Coordinator Food Services Rahul Raj for his good selfie work!

A special BBQ was also held for our Protective Services staff who play a vital role in keeping our hospital campus safe for patients, staff and visitors. A big shout out to this team!

Shatter the Stigma campaign launch

This week Metro North launched the Shatter the Stigma campaign as part of Mental Health Week.
Shatter the Stigma raises awareness of the negative impact that stigma relating to mental illness and problematic alcohol and drug use has on individuals, their families, and their recovery.

TPCH staff were involved in raising awareness of the campaign at a display at The Common Good Café with members of our Executive team visiting the display to show their support and write a pledge. Thank you to everyone involved in launching this important campaign. For more information see the Shatter the Stigma QHEPS page.

Allied Health Professionals Day

Tomorrow is Allied Health Professionals Day, a social movement that allows Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) to promote their professions and celebrate their skills and achievements. Here at TPCH, we have approximately 420 full time equivalent allied health professionals who work across the full range of specialties, applying their unique skills and knowledge to deliver improved patient outcomes.  In recognition of these professionals, a special BBQ lunch was held yesterday to say thank you to all of our dedicated Allied Health staff.

FAST FACTS

Because we’re recognising our Operational Services staff, this week we’ll profile Patient Support Services.

Did you know?

• Patient Support Services is a team of approximately 200 cleaning and porterage staff who provide a 24-hour supportive cleaning and porterage service.
• The team cleans around 48,000 clinically-related square metres within TPCH to maintain environmental cleaning in line with infection control guidelines.
• They respond to approximately 1,500 requests for patient transfer services each day, using the Nervecentre task management system.
• The team has 20 dedicated specialised theatre trained staff who assist with patient care, cleaning and patient movements within the operating theatre environment.
• The cleaning team conducts monthly cleaning audits using Queensland Health guidelines.

Staff profile

Today we’ll profile Allied Health Professional, Mitchell Hollamby, a Clinical Measurement Scientist in our Sleep Disorders Centre.

As a senior sleep scientist, Mitchell’s role involves analysing and reporting of Polysomnography (overnight sleep studies), as well as assessing, educating and managing patients on CPAP or NIV therapy at TPCH and at the Centre’s satellite service at the Caboolture Satellite Hospital.

Mitchell enjoys working independently and having direct interaction with patients, valuing the ability to personalise their care as well as opportunities to broaden his own professional expertise.

Outside of work, Mitchell enjoys spending time with his growing family, gardening and playing and listening to music.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to Yolande Holst, Business Support Officer who recently resigned after many years of dedicated service to TPCH.

Yolande, known as Yo to her colleagues, was known for her grounded commitment to her role and robust work ethic. She had an abundant knowledge of policies and procedures which she would generously share with colleagues and staff to assist in their day-to-day work.

Her kindness, sharp wit and sense of humour made her a much-loved member of her team who greatly valued her warm and open nature. Yo was also well known for her frequent chats about her outside interests including dogs, craft, coffee and fast cars. We wish you all the best Yo. You will be missed.

Today’s quote

“Life itself is a privilege, but to live life to the fullest – well…that is a choice.” – Andy Andrews

Tami.