In this edition, we will highlight some of the innovative work, initiatives and people who are helping support the delivery of great care to patients at TPCH.

From the Director Medical Services and Director Allied Health.

On International Nurses Day, May 12, TPCH held its annual nursing excellence awards to recognise nurses who excel in different areas of the profession.

TPCH has recently welcomed Dr Simon Perkins to the role of Director of Orthopaedic Surgery TPCH.

Last month, TPCH marked April No Falls with its annual April No Falls ward competition.

A new virtual multidisciplinary team within TPCH’s Core Thoracic Medicine Service is endeavouring to streamline the diagnosis and management pathway of patients with lung nodules.

TPCH’s Internal Medicine Service has recently welcomed a new nurse practitioner to support patients with delirium and dementia.

TPCH has performed impressively over the last few months, with no Severity Assessment Code 1 (SAC 1) events recorded by us despite the significant clinical and workforce challenges presented by COVID-19.

Dr Gus Galea was a pioneering cardiologist and has left a legacy that should be remembered and cherished.

TPCH’s annual Wheelchair and Maintenance program held in March was another success with over 100 wheelchairs audited in a single day.

The Common Good Research Fellow Dr Obonyo joined TPCH’s Critical Care Research Group in 2014 and was awarded a Research Fellowship and an Innovation Grant from The Foundation in 2021.

Staff in TPCH’s Children’s Emergency Department are using virtual reality technology to help reduce the anxiety levels of children when they visit hospital.

More news from The Prince Charles Hospital.

In this edition, we will highlight some of the great work and achievements of the staff and teams at TPCH. It is important we celebrate these achievements, especially with the ever changing environment and challenges we face with the pandemic.

From the Director of Nursing and Corporate Services Director.

TPCH has been ranked a top performer on the global healthcare scale, after earning a position on the World’s Best Hospital 2022 list announced in March.

TPCH has recently welcomed Kirsty Leo as Assistant Nursing Director – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service. As the newest member of TPCH’s Executive Leadership Team, Kirsty is responsible for providing high level leadership, guidance and advice to the organisation, working with staff from TPCH Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service and senior leaders to re-imagine and co-design how we work together with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health community, consumers and families we care for.

TPCH’s Critical Care Research Group has been thanked by the American doctors behind the historic Pig-Human heart xenotransplant.

An alternative therapy program is helping improve the experience of patients in the Cognitive Assessment and Management (CAM) unit.

TPCH’s Internal Medicine Unit has recently welcomed a new nurse navigator to support patients with cognitive impairment.

Our Building Engineering and Maintenance Services (BEMS) team has recently become greener with the acquisition of some new environmentally friendly utility vehicles.

Nineteen year old Zoe Gardiner was born with a complex congenital heart problem that affected three out of four of her heart valves, as well as having a number of holes in her heart.

Social Workers work across more than 32 wards and clinical areas at TPCH helping patients and their families resolve psychosocial issues impacting their healthcare. A hospital social worker’s role is to enhance social and emotional functioning through targeted interventions and the mobilisation of services and supports. They provide expert advice, support and intervention in challenging practice areas including child protection, domestic violence, elder abuse and advanced care planning.

More news from The Prince Charles Hospital.

As we inch closer towards the end of the year, it’s important we remember to stop and reflect on everything we’ve achieved over the last few months.

Welcome to the July edition of TPCH’s Staff Newsletter. Celebrating the achievements and work of our staff is an essential part of hospital life, particularly in the current environment, where we are constantly busy and responding to the changing demands on our services.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the 30 new nursing staff who commenced at TPCH in June. We look forward to supporting them as they embark on an exciting new career at TPCH and within Metro North.

Currently, we are working with the Building Engineering and Maintenance Services and staff across the facility to undertake a range of improvement initiatives and projects.

The Prince Charles Clinical Council members who come from across different hospital disciplines have been working with the hospital executive to deal with clinical service delivery issues especially during this current COVID-19 period.

TPCH’s Internal Medicine Service has recently welcomed a new nurse navigator for rheumatology, Cheree Kimmins.

TPCH’s new modular endoscopy unit, which opened earlier this year, was recently granted a special Indigenous name, highlighting its commitment to the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Thirty-two doctors and nurses from across Australia participated in the inaugural ECMO training course held 20 – 23 April 2021.

TPCH is excited to welcome Cultural Capability Officer John Corowa, who will be educating staff and contributing towards our culturally aware hospital environment.

TPCH geriatricians have partnered with four hard-working medical students to conduct research aimed at helping improve patient outcomes for people with dementia.

TPCH geriatricians have partnered with four hard-working medical students to conduct research aimed at helping improve patient outcomes for people with dementia.

TPCH Speech Pathologist Ann Finnimore helps patients with Parkinson’s disease to manage the speech, swallowing and communication difficulties that frequently develop as a result of this progressive neurological disorder.

TPCH’s Older Persons Mental Health Team (TPCH-OPMHT) has adopted a new direction for its consumer wellness group by looking at new ways to help address the feelings of loneliness and isolation commonly experienced by older members of the community.

Sisters Rita Cooper and Maureen Lowe share more than just their genetics – they now also share the same treating team, having undergone the same TAVI procedure by TPCH cardiologists just seven months apart.

Members of TPCH’s Internal Medicine Service (IMS) team went green last month, with a tree planting activity to help make the campus more environmentally friendly.

Staff from TPCH’s Endoscopy Service have gone above and beyond after recently hosting a Super Saturday to see more patients and improve endoscopy wait times.

The recent introduction of a cardiac genomics service at TPCH is providing patients with greater access to personalised medicine through the early detection of inherited cardiac diseases.

An innovative virtual exercise program introduced by TPCH’s Adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) physiotherapy team is having great success with patients.

Sam Tochterman-Talbott has a passion for helping people. A proud Gamilaraay/Gomeroi and Bigambul man, and the eldest of seven children, Sam is a natural caretaker of those closest to him, a quality that will serve him well in his new role as Indigenous Health Liaison Officer (IHLO).

TPCH’s Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM) Ward has commenced an innovative new trial to support patients to receive care in their own home and reduce hospital readmissions.

TPCH’s cardiac surgical team has marked an important milestone after performing its 50th PEARS procedure last month. The ground-breaking Personalised External Aortic Root Support (PEARS) procedure is designed prevent fatal aortic tears in patients with enlarged aortas including those with Marfan Syndrome.

TPCH has recently welcomed Rola Tawbe to the role of Nursing Director of Hospital Wide and Clinical Support Services (HWCSS).

Who thought gardeners could get any greener? Well TPCH gardeners are proving they can do just that with the recent conversion of their gardening equipment from petrol to rechargeable battery power.

Short stories from November

TPCH Surgical Services are set to benefit from a works project to improve the storage of stock in the operating theatre.

Thanks to the creative efforts of students at the McDowall State School, waiting after a COVID-19 vaccination has just become more interesting.