{"id":11965,"date":"2022-12-09T10:21:53","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T00:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/?p=11965"},"modified":"2022-12-09T14:07:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T04:07:16","slug":"ed-tpch-20221209","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/facility-messages\/ed-tpch-20221209","title":{"rendered":"Message from TPCH Executive Director"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tami

Tami Photinos, Executive Director, The Prince Charles Hospital<\/p><\/div>\n

This week I would like to highlight the importance of celebrating cultural diversity in our workplace and community. This is particularly relevant as we approach the holiday season where we see people and families from many different backgrounds and cultures coming together to celebrate in their own special ways.<\/h4>\n

My focus on this topic follows on from my attendance with some of the other Executive team members earlier this week at a special TPCH Multicultural Listen Forum, collaboratively organised by Metro North Multicultural Health and Metro North Consumer and Community Engagement. The aim of the forum, which I co-hosted with Metro North\u2019s Chief Allied Health Practitioner, Mark Butterworth, was to begin discussions around how we can start creating a more culturally sensitive and appropriate health care environment for our patients. During the forum, we heard from people from various cultural backgrounds and learned about their experiences and challenges in accessing health services in Australia. The session was quite an eye opener.<\/p>\n

Some of the stories we heard were quite confronting including one from Sudanese refugee, Ayik (Daniel) Chut Deng who migrated to Australia with the help of his sister, after spending many years as a boy soldier. Ayik, who is now the father of two children spoke about the trauma caused by his experiences in his homeland and how he was managed through a traditional health care model, which didn\u2019t consider or cater for his cultural background. What Ayik brought home to us was the important role that understanding a patient\u2019s individual cultural needs and background plays in delivering high quality care.<\/p>\n

Coming from a migrant family myself, I appreciate cultural difference and the need to really understand and embrace it. What I know is that one size doesn\u2019t fit all! It\u2019s about caring for the individual. For us here at TPCH, this means starting to look at how we can create more culturally flexible, responsive and knowledgeable health services that accommodate and respect the unique cultural and social needs of each person we care for.<\/p>\n

To begin this process, we will start looking at the Metro North Multicultural Action Plan 2021-2023<\/a> to determine key priority action areas moving forward. I will keep you updated as this important body of work progresses. Some photos from the forum:<\/p>\n

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Executive Update<\/h2>\n

Executive Update<\/p>\n

This week, TPCH had its monthly performance meeting which was attended by members of TPCH and Metro North Executive Leadership teams. During this meeting we discussed our current performances, and received some positive feedback on how TPCH has been able to increase our activity and see more patients who have been waiting for treatment, following the significant reduction of activity during COVID-19. This outcome is the result of everyone working together to ensure our patients can continue to receive safe and timely care. Well done!<\/p>\n

This week, TPCH was also represented at Metro North\u2019s inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander showcase, hosted by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team. These showcases will be held every six months, as part of the Metro North Health Equity Strategy, highlighting different activities that meet the health equity KPAs. During the showcase, Prof Peter Hopkins, Executive Director Heart and Lung Clinical Stream for Metro North, spoke about partnerships with Urban Respiratory Outreach Care (UROC) and the Institute of Urban of Indigenous Health (IUIH). We look forward to the opportunity for TPCH to present more initiatives in the new year.<\/p>\n

\"\"This week, we welcomed Bretine Curtis to the Director Corporate Services role. This permanent appointment follows on from the recent reclassification of the role and the completion of an appropriate recruitment and suitability assessment process. Bretine, who has approximately 30 years\u2019 experience in Queensland Government, has worked across a number of agencies including Queensland Health, in corporate roles and clinically as a Social Worker. She has held various senior leadership roles in Queensland Health, Department of Communities, and Housing and Digital Economy. Bretine is experienced in delivering high-quality outcomes in the areas of data collection, information management, performance reporting, administrative services, nursing education, evaluation and research, consumers and carer engagement, state-wide benchmarking and Mental Health Act administration and delegation. Her previous role was as the Director of Service Development and Performance at West Moreton Health.<\/p>\n

We would like to acknowledge and thank Karen Leighton for her dedication, and invaluable contributions to TPCH while in the Director Corporate Services role. Karen will continue as the Director of Operations \u2013 Heart and Lung for the next 10 months. Welcome Bretine.<\/p>\n

Voluntary Assisted Dying in QLD<\/h2>\n

With Voluntary Assisted Dying in Queensland (QVAD) commencing on 1 January 2023, all staff need to be prepared if and when a patient or family member requests information about QVAD\u00a0 For our non-clinical workforce, it is a real possibility they could be asked questions at any time. For example, questions could be asked when patients or family are interacting with our Switchboard team, when they talk with our Ward Receptionists, or even when being transported between departments by our Operational staff. It\u2019s important to know how to respond to our patients and their family members when it comes to QVAD.<\/p>\n

Possible questions could be:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m dying and I want to know about voluntary assisted dying.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cI wish they\u2019d just let me have voluntary assisted dying.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\n\u201cDo you know how I can get information about voluntary assisted dying?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

If a patient was to ask about QVAD it is important to notify the team leader of the area.\u00a0 An appropriate response to the patient could be:<\/strong>
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry you\u2019re suffering. It sounds like it\u2019s a really hard time for you.\u00a0 Would you like me to ask one of your care team to come and speak with you?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

If a family was to ask about QVAD it is important to notify the team leader of the area and an appropriate response to the family member could be:<\/strong>
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry, VAD can only be requested by the person. More general information about VAD is available on the Queensland Health website.\u00a0 Your loved one (patient) could ask their treating team for further information.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

If a query was to occur via phone or email, an appropriate response could be:<\/strong>
\nYou are welcome to contact the Metro North VAD Support Service directly so they can provide you with information and appropriately direct you along the pathways.<\/em>\u00a0Their contact details are\u00a0<\/em>MetroNorth_VAD@health.qld.gov.au<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We all have a responsibility when it comes to supporting our patients to understand QVAD.\u00a0 Staff are encouraged to access the Voluntary Assisted Dying Education Module on iLearn and should also keep an eye out for more information over the coming weeks about what QVAD means for you\u00a0Homepage – Voluntary Assisted Dying Education Module for Healthcare Workers<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast facts<\/h2>\n
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Cardiothoracic Pharmacy team \u2013 Georgie Dowling, Steven Belz and Rebecca Lee<\/p><\/div>\n

This week, we will profile the Cardiothoracic Pharmacy Service team who were recognised for clinical excellence at our recent TPCH Staff Excellence Awards.<\/p>\n

Did you know?:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n