As we enter the long Easter weekend, I am reminded about new beginnings and rejuvenation. This is particularly significant for us in health care when we are constantly faced with the challenges of caring for patients in a very busy and often unrelenting environment. When confronted with these pressures, it is essential we find ways to create balance in our lives so we can stay in a good place when we come to work each day and when we return home to our loved ones. This Easter, I hope that each of you gets the opportunity to find some balance in whatever you are doing, whether that be spending some time with those closest to you, enjoying your favourite past-time or hobby, or continuing to care for our patients. Each is important in helping give a sense of purpose and fulfilment to our lives. And of course, chocolate helps too!

My most important message to everyone this long weekend is to stay safe. Easter is always very busy on the roads and with this week’s wet weather, please take extra care when travelling. My sincere thanks to those staff who are working during the Easter period – your continued care and commitment are greatly appreciated.

Today’s events

Executive update

Highlighting our achievements

I would like to share our recently published 2023 TPCH Year in Review report which gives a snapshot of our organisation’s achievements from the previous calendar year. The publication highlights significant accomplishments across clinical service delivery, safety and quality, infrastructure, and staff health and well-being. The report was developed with input from each of hospital’s key program areas, the Safety and Quality Unit and TPCH Executive Leadership Team. Enjoy the read!

Read TPCH Year in Review

TPCH SET Forum

Next Thursday 4 April, the Metro North Senior Executive Team (SET) will hold an all staff forum from 11.30am – 12.30pm in Room 4, Education Centre. This is an opportunity for staff to come and talk to SET, hear updates, ask questions and provide feedback.

Corporate Service Business Awards

Congratulations to Finance Manager, Darren Ransom who was recognised at last Friday’s annual Corporate Business Services Awards ceremony. These awards acknowledge the significant contribution Corporate Business Services staff make to the Metro North.

Darren was awarded the winner of the People Focus category and runner-up of the Leadership category. Well done Darren, some well-deserved recognition. Glad we could be there to show our support!

Executive walkarounds

This week, I visited with members of the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG) in acknowledgement of their 20-year anniversary. Accompanied by CCRG Director, Professor John Fraser, Acting Director Medical Services, Dr Mark Matussi and I had the opportunity to visit the CCRG’s Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Lab (ICETLab) which plays an important role in shepherding the development of new cardiac support devices from idea to clinical implementation. In the lab we listened to PhD candidates Taylor Sing and Dhayananth Kanagarajan speak about their respective research projects relating to an Intra-Ventricular Balloon Pump and pulsatile ECMO.  We also had the chance to view the lab’s world-renowned mock loop which mimics the heart’s circulatory system, and acts as a testing platform for new cardiac support devices.

The ICETLab is just one of the many ground-breaking initiatives driven by the CCRG which have revolutionised the care of the critically patients over the last two decades. Other prominent research projects include the ICU of the Future, Living Heart Project, COVID-19 Critical Consortium, the prevention of cannulae infections with ‘super glue.’

I would like to congratulate Professor John Fraser and the entire CCRG team for their extraordinary work and commitment which has resulted in significant gains to the care of critically ill patients here at TPCH, and around the world. Well done on reaching this important milestone!

Health Minister visit

This week, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman visited TPCH to promote a $1.67 million funding investment into new Farapulse Consoles for all Queensland Health Electrophysiology locations. The new Farapulse technology is used to treat Queenslanders with irregular heart beats and deliver improved clinical safety, reduced wait times and overnight hospital stays, and improved outcomes for patients. As the State’s leading cardiac centre, TPCH has performed 175 procedures using the new technology since it was introduced here 18 months ago. I had the opportunity to meet patient Gary who underwent the procedure at TPCH in October last year. Gary said he has experienced significant improvements in his health since having the procedure, and he even went home on the same day. We’re pleased you’re doing so well Gary.

Graduate Certificate in Health Services Innovation

Metro North Health is again offering 30 clinical and non-clinical staff an opportunity to contribute to improvements in our health service through a Graduate Certificate in Health Services Innovation.
The program delivered by Griffith University for Metro North Health aims to equip our staff with knowledge and skills of health systems, leading innovation, health economics/cost effectiveness, and implementation science.

I’m committed to seeing TPCH continue to lead innovation and look at how we do things differently.

For more information visit the website and then reach out to Metro North Research’s Learning Coordinator to book in a one on one teams meeting if you have questions.

FAST FACTS

Today we will profile the General Medicine Rapid Access Clinic (RAC) Service.

Did you know?

• 

  RAC service team – Dr Kirsty Rogan and Dr Jeff Rowland

  RAC provides an alternative pathway for direct access to specialist input into both new and known patients care.

• RAC receives referrals from emergency department, virtual emergency department, inpatient teams, specialist outpatient clinics and community general practices.
• RAC service consists of a dedicated registrar, general medical consultant and an administration officer.
• RAC service is delivered within the RED infrastructure with support from the RED nursing staff.
• RAC has received 1,025 referrals between November 2022 and February 2024.
• 379 Patients referred from ED have avoided an admission.
• 186 patient referrals have come from external sources and have avoided emergency presentations.
• 305 patients received from inpatient general medical teams have facilitated earlier discharges successfully reducing length of stay.
• Admission rates following RAC review remain very low at 3%.

Staff profile

This week, we’ll profile Biomedical Technician Senior, Ben Potts.

Having spent the last eight years working within Biomedical Technical Services, Ben is responsible for managing the entire life cycle of medical equipment,
starting from acceptance testing all the way through to retirement. This includes conducting regular servicing as well as handling repairs.

Possessing an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Ben enjoys the satisfaction of solving problems related to complex medical equipment and finds great reward in seeing patients receive treatment on equipment he has serviced. He values integrity and honesty, and is deeply passionate about
delivering the highest level of care to patients and serving the Queensland community.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his two daughters, taking them to new places and exploring. When the opportunity presents, he also indulges in a round of golf.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to members of the Heart Lung Outpatients Department team for their tremendous coordination, collaboration and assistance in supporting an unexpected appointment for a VIP patient last Friday afternoon with Director of Cardiology, Prof Darren Walters.. Special thanks goes to Kate Bartholomew, Helen Nahuysen, Jason Brightwell and Nick Bucky for their excellent efforts. Well done team!

Closing thought

This week I’d like to talk about authenticity following a conversation I had with a senior staff member. The staff member, who I spoke with for quite awhile, was surprised by my candid, straight forward approach to our discussion, indicating that he would not have expected that style from an executive director.

It made me think about that more often than not, we have pre-formulated expectations of people’s behaviours based on their titles and positions. We all have hidden biases, ideals and judgements that we apply to others, whether we intend to or not.

The greatest asset we can bring to the workplace, irrespective of our position, is our genuine character. When we are natural and being ourselves, people will know it. When we are trying to be something or someone we’re not, we will falter. So best to stay with what you know – yourself!
The following quote is reflective of this.

“Authenticity is everything! You have to wake up every day and look in the mirror, and you want to be proud of the person who’s looking back at you. And you can only do that if you’re being honest with yourself and being a person of high character. You have an opportunity every single day to write that story of your life.” – Aaron Rodgers

Tami.