Tami Photinos, Executive Director
With the increased demands on our services and constant surges in patient activity, I have received feedback from staff about TPCH’s ability to sustain its response to these surges as well the impact on staff.
In particular, staff have raised concerns around a range of issues including persistent demands of patient acuity, increasing patient numbers, practice environments, staffing levels and the impact this is having on workplace culture and morale.
I acknowledge that all services and staff are working at full capacity and pace and the ongoing surges in demand are placing significant pressure on everyone. When these surges occur, the hospital needs to make critical decisions and implement a range of strategies that ensure our patients can receive the care they need. These include opening additional bed spaces, increasing staff support, aligning placement of patients based on clinical condition, prioritisation of patients and increased monitoring of activity. I recognise that some of these strategies are not ideal but are necessary in allowing us to provide care for all patients who come through our doors in a timely way.
Like all hospitals, TPCH is in a position where we are resourced to a particular level to meet our duty of care to the community. We do this to the best of our ability and we know that staff are doing the same in their respective areas.
We are committed to providing staff with a functional and safe work environment where they feel valued and supported, especially during these periods of pressure. I welcome feedback from all staff in relation to their issues and concerns, and invite suggestions on how we can continue to make TPCH a great place to care for patients and work at. Thank you for ongoing care and commitment.
Executive update
Best hospital award
I received notification this week that TPCH has been awarded one of the best hospitals in the Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024. This award takes into consideration: Hospital recommendations from peers, Hospital quality metrics, Patient experience and PROMS implementation survey. A well-deserved accolade which represents the excellent work all of our teams do at TPCH. Well done everyone!
Executive walkarounds
This week is National Volunteer Week so Director Corporate Services Bretine Curtis and I dropped into to see some of our hardworking Charlies Angels volunteers to say hello and thank them for the valuable work they do for us here. At TPCH, Currently, we have 115 Charlie’s Angels volunteers on TPCH campus. These individuals play a crucial role in our hospital community, from welcoming visitors to supporting patients to providing administrative assistance to staff. Those Charlie’s Angels dedicate about 620 hours to helping our staff, patients and visitors each week. We also have other volunteers who provide generous support to our patients including those from HeartSupp and our Pastoral Care service.
Maree Adams (left) with Bretine Curtis and Parker Michaels
We also extend our congratulations to The Common Good’s Volunteer Coordinator, Maree Adams who was one of three finalists in Volunteering Queensland’s ‘Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award’ presented this week. Maree is the volunteer coordinator for the Charlie’s Angels volunteers at TPCH and the Chermside BreastScreen Clinic, responsible for ensuring that volunteers meet necessary hospital training and onboarding standards while being matched to fulfilling and suitable roles. We thank Maree for her dedication and leadership in managing our volunteers at TPCH.
I also had the opportunity to visit the Palliative Care Unit team during National Pallative Care week. To mark the week, this team is hosting a special Time of Remembering service this afternoon to honour the memory of those who have died while staying in TPCH’s Palliative Care Unit. The event, which is organised by the Palliative Care Unit and Pastoral Care Service is an opportunity to share time with families and friends who are remembering loved ones. This event has been running for several years, and there has been much heartfelt gratitude expressed by many families for the genuine compassion and care provided by our Palliative Care team. Well done!
Staff wellness
This week was Emergency Medicine Wellness Week 2024 with Emergency Department (ED) marking the week with various activities for ED staff including a lunchtime BBQ. The BBQ was coordinated by ED staff along with TPCH Peer Responders Rose Seddon, Eleanor Hammond, Christine Collavitti and Sophie Jayamaha who promoted support available through the Peer Responder program and TPCH’s Culture and Wellbeing Coordinator, Tracey Lyon.
It was a welcome opportunity for staff to take some time out of their day, come together and relax away from the busy ED environment. (Not sure what happened to my invitation – must have gone missing in the mail! Joking!)
Mandatory Fire and Evacuation training – competition is on
A reminder that it is a legislative requirement for all Metro North Health staff and volunteers to complete Mandatory Fire and Evacuation training.
TPCH’s current compliance rates for training well below what they should be, so I am presenting staff with a challenge to improve our compliance. If the hospital can reach 90% for both components of this training, I will provide a free staff breakfast. To find out how to complete this training, speak to your line manager or contact Danny McGregor, Fire Safety Coordinator, TPCH.
TPCH Charlies Week 2024 – we need you!
A reminder that expressions of interest are being sought for TPCH staff to help plan and coordinate TPCH Charlies Week 2024. TPCH Charlies Week is the birthday week of the hospital where we celebrate and appreciate the great work our staff do every day. It is a week-long event which includes a variety of education, research, staff recognition and fun activities with something for everyone!
We’re looking for staff who are keen to offer new ideas and support to make 2024 TPCH Charlies Week better than ever before. If you’re interested in joining TPCH Charlies Week Committee, please email: MetroNorth-TPCH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au.
Profile
This week we’ll profile Charlies Angels volunteer, Janette. Janette’s role involves helping patients check in for their appointments in the Specialist Outpatients Department, giving directions to other areas, and often walking with patients to where they need to go. She also assists the staff with whatever they need, offering a smile and a friendly face to everyone coming in the door.
Having worked at TPCH for 22 years before retiring, Janette enjoys giving back and interacting with people from all walks of life, helping to make their often stressful visits a little easier.
Since retiring, Janette has led a busy life with volunteering being a big part of that. She enjoys meeting all sorts of people, engaging and sharing time with them, and learning a lot about their lives and experiences. Janette values being able to make a difference to someone else with just a little effort. It’s a feel good experience!
Research spotlight
The research focus this month is on Allied Health with several achievements to recognise and applaud. Allied Health has an impact on all TPCH patients and staff, with its research improving the lives and care of our patients. If you see any of team in the wards and meetings give them a well-deserved congratulations and ask them about their current projects
Grant news
Peter Lazzarini, Allied Health Conjoint Research Fellow in the Allied Health Research Collaborative has been successful in obtaining a significant NHMRC new investigator grant. This prestigious grant is worth $1,603,775 over five years to further his globally recognised and impactful research into Diabetic Foot Disease, the outcomes of which influence practice and improve outcomes for our patients at TPCH. Congratulations Peter!
Speech pathology research
Congratulations to Speech Pathologist, Anne Finnimore who recently completed her study – PD Check-in – Supporting People with Parkinson’s Disease in self-managed maintenance of communication following intensive speech treatment. The study showed that adoption of self-management skills for speech and communication occurred with speech pathology support, on participant terms, overtime. The study yielded four peer-reviewed publications, one national and two state oral presentations and two international poster presentations. Well done Anne!
(l to r): Peter Lazzarini, Sara Winter, Perry Judd, Michelle Cottrell and Jack Bell. Absent: Norm Morris and Hannah Gullo
Research profile – Allied Health Research Collaborative
The Allied Health Research Collaborative (AHRC), led by Allied Health Research Fellows with joint TPCH/university appointments, focuses on enabling people to live healthy, happy and productive lives away from the hospital setting. By bringing together clinicians and from allied health, medicine, nursing as well as academic and industry partnerships, AHRC leads research and knowledge translation that enhance the experiences and outcomes for patients, health care providers, and the health care system more broadly.
In 2023, AHRC leads and allied health researchers at TPCH published over 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts and secured grants totalling more than $1.3 million. Their influential advocacy and leadership have positively impacted evidence-based recommendations, care standards, and policy worldwide. Excitingly, Dr Michelle Cottrell and Dr Sara Winter have been appointed as AHRC’s new Research Coordinators. Bringing a wealth of knowledge, they’ll further build and expand the AHRC team’s research capacity in the year ahead.
Closing thought
This week I was reminded about why I am so proud to be part of TPCH after seeing first-hand the wonderful care provided by our staff to someone close to me. My partner’s 88-year old father was unexpectedly brought to TPCH after experiencing some chest pain while staying with us for a few days. He was taken by ambulance to our emergency department and as expected, he was seen quickly and stabilised.
It turns out that Paul’s father had a STEMI with cardiac failure requiring a stent procedure which fortunately went well. He was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) where he is currently recovering comfortably. Paul’s family are very happy with the care they have received to date, telling me that the staff are excellent and the care has been seamless. So a big shout out to the CCU and emergency department teams!
While it is unfortunate that my partner’s father experienced a health scare, I feel fortunate it happened while he was with us. Having experienced people who care supporting us is important and can make a difference to our outcomes.
It was a good reminder about the difference health care professionals make to the lives of patients and their families. When you are on the other end and the recipient of care delivery, it changes your perspective on the value of our hospitals and what we offer as health care workers. Not only do we provide clinical care, we also deliver human care, and the impact of this can never be underestimated. As a family member, I am appreciative of the way Paul’s father is being cared for here at TPCH – it certainly makes the entire journey so much better for everyone. A big thanks to the teams!
Tami.