We are now officially in Autumn, which represents being one step closer to the winter flu season. In the coming weeks, we can expect to see an increase in the number of patients presenting and admitted with influenza and other respiratory-related conditions to our hospital.

In the interest of staff health and safety, I encourage everyone to prepare themselves by accessing our Staff Influenza Vaccination program which has now commenced.

Staff can obtain their free vaccination by visiting the Infection Control Unit Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm on Level 3, Clinical Sciences Building.  The flu trolley will officially start on Monday 15 April however areas can contact the Infection Control now to make a booking.  To book the trolley, phone 3139 4894 or email: TPCHInfectionManagementService@health.qld.gov.au. Separate vaccinations are available for over 65s and under 65s.

Executive update

Executive appointments

I am pleased to announce that Geoffrey Grima and Drew Kear are the successful applicants for the Director of Operations roles for EPIC and Heart and Lung following an extensive recruitment process.

Director of Operations EPIC – Geoffrey Grima is an Advanced Practice Pharmacist and healthcare leader with extensive experience in strategic and operational leadership, and a track record of developing and implementing efficient models of care.

Geoff has been acting in the Director of Operations – EPIC role since December 2023 and we are excited he is continuing as a member of TPCH Executive Leadership Team.

Director of Operations Heart Lung – Drew Kear is an experienced executive leader with a robust background in senior leadership spanning public, not for profit, and private sectors for the past 17 years.

Drew brings a wealth of knowledge in acute, subacute, ambulatory, community, virtual and aged care settings, with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of operating small, medium, and large hospitals while driving cultural, clinical, and corporate change. Drew will commence in the role on Monday 15 April 2024.

I wish to commend Cherie Franks who has done a tremendous job in leading the Heart Lung program over the past few months. Cherie will be returning to her role as Director of Nursing TPCH.

Executive walkarounds

This week, Director Allied Health Perry Judd and I visited the Podiatry team. It was a good opportunity to gain a better understanding of the team’s work and challenges, and discuss opportunities for improved collaboration in caring for patients with foot health issues. I particularly enjoyed hearing from the newer members of the team who had joined TPCH from the private sector, and were keen to share their thoughts around the value of conducting high-risk foot services in a public hospital setting. During our visit, we also met Stacie Gillies who capably supports the administrative needs of the service.  Thanks to Sarah Jensen and the team for accommodating us. You can read more about the Podiatry team in our fast facts below.

This week I also stopped into our Respiratory Investigations Unit (RIU) to meet and chat with staff. This busy unit which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, performs over 16,000 tests every year, servicing patients from all over Queensland, northern New South Wales as well as the Northern Territory. Thanks to Director Annette Dent for taking the time to speak with me. While in the RIU lab area, I also visited the Neurophysiology Department where I briefly chatted with Marianne Green, Administration Officer. Good to meet you Marianne!

SET Forum

Yesterday, members of the Metro North Senior Executive Team (SET) held a staff forum at TPCH. The forum was well attended by staff from across the hospital and provided the opportunity for staff to be formally introduced to SET members and learn about their respective priorities and areas of focus. Staff were invited to ask questions about various issues and challenges facing their local work areas, and receive feedback about how Metro North is responding to these. We thank SET members for taking the time to come and speak with the team at TPCH.

Have Your Say action plan – Get involved

Last week the Metro North Health Employee Engagement Action Plan 2023-25 was launched, which is in direct response to the most recent Have Your Say survey results and aims to significantly increase employee satisfaction over the next 12 months.

Read the launch message from Jackie Hanson and Raelene Burke.

Four key focus areas have been identified in the action plan with 21 initiatives sitting underneath. People and Culture have put an EOI call out for employees across Metro North to be involved in one of 10 action groups which will co-design some these important projects.

I encourage you to read more about all the action groups and take this opportunity to be part of a diverse team who aim to effect real culture change for all Metro North employees.

The first action groups commencing soon are:

• PDPs: How can we do these better?
• Leading by example
• Supporting people through unplanned leave
• Creating better career pathways for our admin and ops staff.

Find out more on QHEPS.

Cleaning reminder

With the recent wet weather and high humidity, we are mindful that these conditions can readily lead to mould within our hospital buildings. In February this year, we undertook an environmental scan of our buildings and developed a mould remediation strategy which our Building Engineering and Maintenance Service (BEMS) team and Patient Support Services team are actioning. Just as the hospital has an obligation to maintain a clean and safe environment for patients, staff and visitors, staff equally have an obligation to keep their own local work areas and offices clean and uncluttered to prevent any issues of poor air flow or dust accumulation.  This means undertaking regular basic cleaning practices including wiping down personally used items like desks, phones, screens and keyboards with appropriate clinical or cleaning wipes; removing unnecessary clutter, maintaining basic hygiene practices; and reporting mould via work orders.

FAST FACTS

This week we will profile the Podiatry Service.

Did you know?

• TPCH Podiatry team consists of three full-time, and one part-time new graduate Podiatrists providing high-risk foot services across all inpatient wards, emergency department, as well as an outpatient foot ulcer clinic.
• The High-Risk Foot Service cares for people with an active foot ulcer or pressure injury – ankle and below, or those at risk of developing a foot ulcer. It also completes bedside vascular assessments for concerns regarding foot perfusion. Patients do not have to be diabetic to access the service.
• This year so far, the service has delivered over 2,000 moments of high-risk foot care in the pursuit of avoiding amputations and hospitalisations.
• Podiatry conducts weekly multi-disciplinary clinics with the Infectious Diseases team, and weekly clinics with Orthopaedics with visiting Orthotics and Prosthetics service monthly. These clinics provide fast-track access to specialists to prevent hospital admission, and emergent surgery due to a foot ulcer complications.
• The service aims to reduce patient hospitalisation and length of stay due to a foot ulcer admission by providing care with 24-48 hours of receiving a referral.
• TPCH provides a two-day per week Orthopaedic Triage Podiatrist providing conservative management options for patients on the Category 3 Orthopaedic waitlist.
• TPCH funds a conjoint Research Podiatry position with QUT which leads the #1 Diabetes Foot Disease Research Program in Australia that is producing significant new global knowledge on burdens of disease, risk factors and treatments for people with diabetes foot disease worldwide.
• The podiatrist responsible for all podiatry student placement activity across the entire Queensland Health network is based at TPCH, providing a unique insight into the best practice models in student placement across the state.

Staff profile

Today we will profile Nurse Manager Clinical Advisory Team, Procurement Services, Mini Kurian. Having worked in procurement at TPCH since 2017 following a decade as a theatre nurse, Mini is responsible for the management of clinical consumables at TPCH. This includes sourcing alternatives for backorders, coordinating the introduction of new consumables and managing product complaints.

Mini enjoys solving backorder issues and complex consumables, and is especially interested in reviewing standing offer arrangements to ensure the highest level of safety when choosing medical consumables in the delivery of patient care. She values integrity and accountability, and is passionate about working with stakeholders to support changes that improve patient care.

Outside of work, Mini enjoys spending time with family, trying new recipes and reading.

Shout out

This week’s shout out goes to TPCH Food Services Department which received some great feedback from patients after serving TPCH chef Peter Wright-Hoffmeister’s winning dish from the 2023 IHHC National Culinary competition on Good Friday. The winning dish was herb crust barramundi with spinach, mashed potato, radish, pea puree and citrus lemon butter source.

Patients gave the fabulous fish dish a 9.5/10 average rating with some impressive comments, some of which are outlined below:

“The Easter special lunch dish was outstanding! Thank you.”

“Fish was absolutely delicious.”

“Excellent meal. When I ordered fish this was far better than I expected.”

“This was the best fish dish I have ever had.”

“Very nice had for lunch and dinner. Beautifully cooked and presented.“

“Absolutely delicious. Presentation was beautiful. Certainly restaurant quality. Loved the variety of textures and flavours, and the citrus. Our ward was looking forward to this all day, and we weren’t disappointed.”

This feedback highlights the valuable contribution our food services team makes to creating a positive experience for our patients at TPCH. Well done team!!

Today’s quote

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” – Mark Twain

Tami.