Tami Photinos, Executive Director
Many staff would be aware that this week, the hospital made temporary changes to some of its clinical services in response to the significantly high demands we are currently experiencing. These changes have created extra inpatient capacity, increased flow and allowed us to continue providing safe, high-quality care to our patients. I acknowledge the efforts of staff in supporting these changes, and thank everyone for stepping up at short notice to ensure our patients are well cared for.
Executive update
Executive walkarounds
Finance Manager Darren Ransom and I visited Kallangur Satellite Hospital to touch base with staff and see how they are settling into the new facility. As part of the visit, we dropped into the busy Minor Injury and Illness Clinic which treats an average of 88 patients each day. I was able to chat with staff in between patients who told me they were very happy with their new home. We also visited the Kidney Health Service and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Hub which are part of the suite of services offered at the facility.
Heart Week is a health event close to my own heart. To mark the occasion, I visited the Cardiac Rehabilitation team who were hosting an information display in the main café. Having experienced a heart attack a couple of years ago and undertaken cardiac rehabilitation as part of my recovery, I appreciate the valuable support this service provides to many patients at TPCH. You can read more about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service in the Fast Facts below.
Yesterday, we welcomed Redcliffe Hospital’s new Executive Director Cang Dang, and new Director Medical Services, Dr Joshua Hatton to TPCH for a brief visit following some professional development. Cang and Joshua had the opportunity to briefly meet with some of our Internal Medicine team who took them on a brief tour of EMU, RAMS and DUIT. We appreciate Cang and Joshua’s interest in our services.
FAST FACTS
Because it’s Heart Week we will profile the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service.
Did you know?
- The Cardiac Rehabilitation team reviews up to 2,000 patients each year at TPCH.
- The team consists of three specialist cardiac rehabilitation nurses who see inpatients following their cardiac procedures including angioplasty, post coronary artery bypass grafts and valvular surgery.
- The service provides bedside education to patients and their family on lifestyle modifications, medication compliance, chest pain management and access to site care to help empower patients self-manage their cardiovascular disease after their heart event.
- The cardiac rehabilitation program is generally a six-week program which includes input from an exercise physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist, nurses and pharmacist to aid optimal recovery.
- The team generates the highest number of patient referrals for cardiac rehabilitation in Queensland.
Staff profile
Today we will profile, TPCH’s new Director of Operations Heart and Lung, Drew Kear.
Drew is an experienced health care leader, having previously held a number of executive roles within major health services including General Manager/Director Clinical Services, Mater Private Redland; General Manager/Director of Nursing, Calvary Healthcare Sydney; and Stream Manager Integrated Care, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney.
In his new role, Drew is responsible for ensuring the Heart Lung program delivers contemporary, safe, efficient and effective care to the communities its serves and ensuring staff are safe, engaged and supported.
He is looking forward to learning about TPCH, its history and how the hospital can work collectively to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities its serves. He knows the value of working with good teams, and is committed to actively living the values of the organisation.
In his spare time, Drew enjoys renovating. Prior to coming to Queensland, his weekends were spent in the Blue Mountains renovating his weekender. Welcome Drew!
Farewell
Yesterday TPCH farewelled long standing theatre nurse and much-loved colleague, Gladys Akhurst.
Gladys, age 73, began training as a nurse in 1968 at the age of 17 at Mt Isa Base Hospital, and is one of Queensland’s longest serving Indigenous registered nurses. Her 55-year nursing career has spanned many locations including Mt Isa, Brisbane, Darwin, Alice Springs, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, London and Singapore. Her longest employment at any one institution is at TPCH where she has dedicated 30 years of service.
Gladys has trained incoming graduate nurses for many years and her skill, knowledge and passion for the nursing discipline has been instilled in several generations of Queensland nurses.
The veteran nurse is well known for her kind, nurturing nature and she is considered a mother figure by many because of these endearing qualities. One of Gladys’s most memorable attributes is her care for her colleagues which she has famously shown over the years through keeping the food cupboard in the theatre tearoom stocked, so her team mates are well nourished during their busy shifts. We honour your service to TPCH Gladys and thank you for your care. You will be missed.
Shout out
This week’s shout out goes to longstanding TPCH thoracic consultant, Prof Scott Bell who will shortly take up the appointment as the new Chair of Research at Gold Coast Health. Prof Bell’s contributions to TPCH have been outstanding, He spearheaded the establishment of the lung transplant program, served as the Director of Thoracic Medicine, and secured state-wide centre status for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre. He has also held the role of Executive Director of Research at Metro North, as well as Heart Lung Stream lead in Metro North.
Prof Bell is widely recognised as a world leader in care for people living with cystic fibrosis, as a mentor and research supervisor of the highest standards, and as an accomplished leader in the fields of clinical excellence and research. He will be missed by the patients TPCH and the multidisciplinary team with whom he has closely worked and developed. We wish Prof Bell all the very best for his new role at Gold Coast Health.
The other shout out this week goes to the Critical Care Research Group’s ICU of the Future project for their winning poster at last week’s inaugural Queensland Health Research Excellence Showcase.
The ICU of the Future is a world first initiative resulting in the redesign of the physical ICU bed space to help improve patient outcomes and prevent long-term complications. Congratulations!
Today’s quote
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali
Tami.