2022 has thrown its fair share of challenges at us so far: COVID-19, an accreditation survey, opening new wards, floods and more. Despite all of this, we have lived our values and demonstrated resilience, perseverance and compassion for one another. I am so proud of not just what we have achieved together this year but how we have achieved it together.
The last few months have been a whirlwind of COVID-19 and floods, as well as Christmas, school holidays and further expansions at STARS. The medical teams have responded well and been working tirelessly throughout this period to continue to provide elective surgery. Our rehabilitation and geriatric wards are constantly full and provided support to other Metro North units while the COVID surge was managed – well done to all!
Welcome to 2022. This year we have already been tested with some trying times with COVID and more recently the floods, but, as always, you have all worked diligently over the past few months to support not only our patients and their families but also your many colleagues. For that I extend a heartfelt thank you.
STARS has been opened for just over a year. In that short period of time STARS Allied Health has achieved so much. I have provided a snapshot below of just a few of our achievements (there are many, many more).
STARS rehabilitation medicine staff specialist Dr Sarah Anderson believes in making sure her patients leave hospital feeling happy and healthy, even if their body doesn’t work the way it once did. When Sarah started her medical training, she was exposed to many different specialities, but it was the holistic approach to rehabilitation medicine that interested her most.
The many digital systems within a digital hospital enable a team of dietetic assistants to fully realise their roles.
Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability, which affects not only the person recovering from stroke but also their family and loved ones. As a specialised and multidisciplinary rehabilitation service, STARS offers patient and carer stroke education sessions. STARS physiotherapist Jemima Readford delivers sessions to STARS patients and their families to help them prepare for rehabilitation and transition to life outside the hospital.
With COVID-19 case numbers rising in the community after the Queensland borders opened, STARS had to rapidly stand up a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) clinic to ensure the safety of patients coming into the hospital for procedures. STARS Allied Health Project Officers Jasmine Kellaway and Kym Murphy and a team of dedicated staff worked around the clock to stand up the RAT clinic on just a few days’ notice.
National Close the Gap Day, observed each year on 17 March, brings people together to take meaningful action in support of achieving health equality for First Nations Peoples. STARS Cultural Capability Officer Tracy Grant explained that the day seeks to close the gap with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, educational and employment outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.
Meet Allira and Lillian – the newest members of the STARS Indigenous Health Service team.
Peer Responder programs across Metro North promote staff wellbeing by utilising the skills and experiences of our staff to create an approachable, accessible and friendly pathway to support for staff members in times of distress.
More news from the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service.
With Debbie McNamara’s departure, I have been appointed as Acting Executive Director for STARS. I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity and am really looking forward to working with you all for the next few months. I would like to acknowledge Debbie’s great work (with you all) to bring STARS to where it is already and for setting us up for a great next 12 months.
STARS’s new Accelerated Arthroplasty Service is delivering fast results and shorter hospital stays for joint replacement patients.
STARS is helping ease bed pressures across Metro North Health with the opening of the new Level 5 Maintenance Care Service, adding an additional 40 beds to our network.
STARS Recreation Officer Ana Monisse is an unsung hero of our Rehab Unit, working hard to improve patients’ experiences that ultimately contribute to a better time in hospital.
Comprehensive High-Dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) is a new clinical service and research program delivered at STARS in collaboration with the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC).
The STARS Dietetics and Food Services team served up a win in all categories at the recent Queensland Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare (IHHC) awards night!
Everyone has heard of an optometrist, and you might have heard of an ophthalmologist, but have you ever heard of an orthoptist?
After having a procedure at STARS, Taylah Hughes shared her experience of what it was like to be one of our patients.
For the first time ever, we are excited to announce the winners of the STARS Monthly Awards.
Joy Dunbar, STARS Risk Coordinator
More news from the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service.
Welcome to the first STARS Gazer newsletter. I am very proud to share with you some of the wonderful highlights and outcomes of the past few months in what has been an incredible and busy first half of 2021.
As the Director of the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Education and Research Alliance (SERA), I am a conjoint (or joint appointment) between Metro North Health and The University of Queensland. The STARS Education and Research Alliance’s goals are to lead innovation in care, training and research in specialist surgical and rehabilitation services.
The results are in: patients positively rate their experience at STARS. By using real-time collection and reporting system implemented by Queensland Health, STARS is able to capture Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs). This system supports clinicians in partnering with patients to achieve safe and high-quality care.
John Corowa is the latest addition to the STARS Indigenous workforce as the STARS Indigenous Health Liaison Officer. John joins the STARS team to help Close the Gap and provide safe and culturally appropriate healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As Patient Experience Officer I am responsible for ensuring our staff are able to give the best possible experience to our patients at STARS. Sometimes this is about accepting compliments, or responding to complaints, but it is also about helping people find their way in STARS, ensuring patients are able to talk to someone, and generally being kind to people.
More news from the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service.