{"id":20372,"date":"2024-04-19T11:54:27","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T01:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/?p=20372"},"modified":"2024-04-22T12:25:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T02:25:51","slug":"ed-tpch-20240419","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/facility-messages\/ed-tpch-20240419","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Executive Director"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tami

Tami Photinos, Executive Director<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tami

Tami participated in the Tour De Brisbane cycle along with Director of Allied Health, Perry Judd<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

This week I\u2019d like to talk about the importance of coming together to achieve positive outcomes.<\/h4>\n

I was reminded about this last weekend when I participated in the Tour De Brisbane cycle along with Director of Allied Health, Perry Judd. Close to 6,000 people from across Australia and beyond came together to ride their bikes in support of lifesaving research at TPCH. Whether they rode with the intent to ride the furthest, the hardest, or just to enjoy a leisurely Sunday cycle, we all joined together for the common good of research and raised just over $68,000! A great effort! And hopefully they had fun doing it!<\/p>\n

Working in health care is no different. We come together every day with the shared purpose of providing excellent patient care. We each have different skills and qualities that support the successful running of our hospital. In the undertaking of our technical tasks, we also develop personal connections with colleagues that can help make the challenges of our work more manageable.<\/p>\n

Just think, many of us spend as much or more time with our colleagues, than we do with our loved ones! That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to create a positive, compassionate and respectful environment where we work together for our patients and support each other in the process. I talk about this because when we are busy and feeling pressure like we are right now, we can overlook these personal connections because they take time and energy. Making a small effort to connect and care can make a big difference to how we perform at work, which translates
\ninto better patient care and a more uplifting environment for everyone.<\/p>\n

Executive update<\/h2>\n

Executive walkarounds<\/h3>\n

Last Friday, Sue Bullock, Cherie Franks and I visited the QuEST (Quality Effectiveness Support Team) service to speak with staff about their current activities and challenges. QuEST is responsible for managing and providing equipment to clinical areas at TPCH, and supports 135 different types of equipment. Thanks to the QuEST team for taking the time to speak to us and for coordinating the annual April No Falls month ward decoration competition. \u00a0Members of our Executive team were pleased to join QuEST on the judging panel and view the creative work of our wards in promoting falls prevention.\u00a0Congratulations<\/span>\u00a0to the CAM Unit who won the competition and thanks to all wards that participated.<\/p>\n

Director of Operations Surgery and Critical Care, Melanie Dubbelde and I took our newest Executive member, Director of Operations Heart and Lung, Drew Kear on a tour of the ICU as part his general introduction to TPCH. We were grateful to Dr Jayshree Lavana, Dr Dinesh Palmar and Vanessa Rainbow for taking the time to show us around, especially during this peak period.<\/p>\n

TPCH\u2019s Emergency Codes and Preparedness Expo held last Friday was a chance for staff to learn about emergency codes, readiness and the roles that support emergency responses across TPCH. It was great to see so many staff in attendance, and I even took the opportunity to revise my first response evacuation instructions with the assistance of TPCH\u2019s Fire Advisor, Danny MacGregor. I big thanks to Tenille King, Manager of Emergency Preparedness for her efforts in coordinating this important event.<\/p>\n

The Expo was a good reminder for staff to keep up to date with their mandatory training. Did you know that you can complete your mandatory training on your personal device by downloading the Cornerstone SBX app? Accessing TMS via this app allows greater flexibility in completing mandatories as you don\u2019t need to be at a computer. Instructions on how to download the SBX app are\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"QuEST

QuEST visit<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"CAM

CAM Unit – April No Falls<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"ICU

ICU visit<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Emergency

Emergency Codes and Preparedness Expo<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Health Equity<\/h3>\n

In July 2022, Metro North Health reaffirmed its commitment towards achieving health parity by 2033 and committed to prioritising actions to achieving equity in healthcare and service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.<\/p>\n

Our Journey Towards Health Equity, Metro North Health Equity Strategy 2022-2025<\/i>\u00a0provides the pathway for cultural change and consists of five priority areas for inclusion in our local\u00a0strategy:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Actively eliminate racial discrimination and institutional racism within the service.
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Increasing access to healthcare services.
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Delivering sustainable, culturally safe and responsive healthcare services.
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Influencing the social, cultural and economic determinants of health.
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Working with First Nations peoples, communities and organisations to design, deliver, monitor and review health services.<\/p>\n

\"Journey

Journey to Equity Community Event<\/p><\/div>\n

This week, Kieran Costigan, Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services TPCH, some of his key staff and I attended Metro North Health\u2019s Journey to Equity Community Event. This event provided the opportunity to continue to learn about how we can create real changes in our health services to make them more culturally safe and responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. It was also a chance for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members to meet the new members of the Metro North Board and the Metro North Executive team. The session highlighted that while there is much work to be done in our health equity journey, we are making positive progress through having open and transparent discussions.<\/p>\n

Further to this, the Chief Executive has committed an annual allocation of funding to strengthen our efforts towards Our Journey Towards Health Equity.\u00a0<\/i>All services are encouraged to put forward a funding application that align to priority principles of eliminate institutional barriers, re-shape the system, transform care and strengthen the workforce.<\/p>\n

You can find information on how to apply and the criteria\u00a0online<\/a>\u00a0or contact the\u00a0Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team.<\/a><\/p>\n

Hospital Expansion Executive Group (HEEG)<\/h3>\n

The first meeting of the Hospital Expansion Executive Group (HEEG) was held earlier this week. The HEEG includes representatives from TPCH Executive and is a regular governance meeting with TPCH Expansion Project team about upcoming milestones and project activities. A key focus of the HEEG is to provide clinical and non-clinical advice and guidance to the project team across a range of topics and process steps, throughout the life of TPCH Expansion project. The HEEG will support the project team to manage risks and realise opportunities associated with the new design phase, early works and construction works, as well as change requests and activities to progress Service Readiness and Operational Commissioning. I have been nominated as Chair of the HEEG and am confident this group will ensure the expansion project meets the needs of our patients, visitors and staff.<\/p>\n

Senior Nurses Planning Day<\/h3>\n

Also this week, I attended TPCH\u2019s Senior Nurses Planning Day. The day was an excellent opportunity for nurse leaders to come together and learn about the achievements, initiatives and challenges of nursing services across TPCH, as well as discuss key issues including workforce planning, clinical supervision and leadership communication. A very interesting and constructive session.<\/p>\n

A reminder that nominations for TPCH\u2019s annual nursing excellence awards are currently open and close on Friday 26 April. Nominate\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TPCH Administrative Professionals Excellence Awards<\/h3>\n

Nominations are now open for TPCH\u2019s annual Administrative Professionals Excellence Awards 2024. These awards recognise those administrative staff who make a significant contribution to TPCH and who demonstrate a strong commitment to our organisational values.<\/p>\n

Award categories are:<\/p>\n