www.sjog.org.au

Pomegranate JUL | AUG 09

St John of God Social Outreach and Advocacy Service (SOA) has developed new support tools for health professionals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people during the perinatal period.

Calling on its specialist expertise in perinatal and infant mental health, developed over 10 years running Raphael Centres, and a solid reputation for working effectively with Aboriginal communities, SOA has introduced its training packages.

It has conducted six successful training workshops for health professionals across regional WA, Victoria and NSW and additional funding has been secured from the WA Mental Health Commission and the Australian Research Council to provide training in five locations across the south of Western Australia.

SOA will fund an additional workshop in Broome as part of an ongoing commitment to Aboriginal health in the Kimberley.

Feedback from the initial workshops, which trained 113 health professionals from 69 separate organisations, was very positive leading to interest from nearly every state in Australia.

“It was really great to have people provide training that promotes a sense of walking side by side and shows a mutual respect and opportunity for two–way learning,” said a workshop participant.

Hospitality I Compassion I Respect I Justice I Excellence

New directions for Aboriginal mental health

winter 2013

Pictured: Sharing perinatal and infant mental health expertise with health professionals to improve indigenous health outcomes.

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“This training is relevant for any service working with Aboriginal families,” another commented.

Meanwhile, the Social Outreach and Advocacy early years team has coordinated the production of a new beyondblue resource document titled, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perinatal mental health – a guide for primary health professionals.

The guide was presented at the recent State-wide Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health Conference in Perth and is available for download from www.beyondblue.org.au.

Group Manager for Early Years Anna Roberts said, “the new training packages and the work done in producing this publication is a good example of capacity building.”

Further SJGHC indigenous health initiatives, including the launch of the Reconciliation Action Plan, are featured on page eight and nine of this issue of Pomegranate.

CANCER CENTRE ATTRACTS SPECIALISTSComprehensive Cancer Centre opens in Bunbury to service South West region.

3 NEW BREAST SURGERY TECHNIQUESubiaco Plastic Surgeon pioneers new minimally invasive technique.

5 CLOSING THE GAP A plan of action is launched to address the divide between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

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Access to specialist cancer services in regional western Australia has been given a boost with the opening of St John of God Health Care’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Bunbury.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek officially launched the $25 million cancer hub in May saying it would go a long way to attracting new specialists to the South West.

St John of God Bunbury Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mark Grime confirmed that cancer specialists had moved to the region to support the new service and included a medical oncologist, palliative care physician, oncoplastic surgeon and radiotherapist.

He said the hospital had also increased its workforce of oncology and palliative care nurses and other cancer related health professionals.

“The cancer centre will ease the burden on patients and their families as having care available closer to home will alleviate the need to travel to Perth for cancer treatment,” Mark said.

“It will help to improve health outcomes for patients facing an already difficult health care journey.”

To further address rural accessibility the Centre includes 15 bed accommodation and a regional bus service for families not residing in Bunbury.

New technology incorporated into the Centre includes a PET-CT scanner, one of only five in the State, a breast MRI along with BreastScreen services, an intervention angiography suite, on site chemotherapy preparation and 3D ultrasound.

Mark said the patient-centred development had incorporated wellness and quiet rooms and more cancer clinical trials would run from the Bunbury hospital.

“We place great emphasis on developing patient-centred care. We have worked with other cancer specialists to co-ordinate appointments for regional patients including the Genesiscare-operated Radiotherapy service, the chemotherapy service and specialist doctors.

“With population growth in the South West almost double that of the nation, chemotherapy treatments are expected to increase by 2,000 each year over the next five years and BreastScreen expects to screen 5,000 women each year.”

St John of God Health Care acknowledges the in-part funding provided by the Commonwealth Government’s Health and Hospitals Fund to develop the Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Pictured (left): Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek opens new Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Bunbury.

Pictured (right): New treatment facilities and equipment in Bunbury’s new Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Cancer centre attracts specialists to South West

when i started my St John of God Health Care career in 2002 i was delighted to find that the organisation already took very seriously its responsibilities to its patients, treating doctors and caregivers with regard to evaluating their levels of satisfaction.

As an organisation we first started undertaking independent surveys in 2000 and since that time we have evolved and refined our approach to how we undertake the surveys and what we do with the critically important information they impart.

This year we conducted all four surveys; inpatient, day patient, doctors and caregivers, at the same time so that we could have a snapshot of our aggregated performance at a given point in time. Nowadays we also evaluate the same work areas in all surveys so we can evaluate performance at a local level as well as Divisional and Group level.

I am delighted to advise that in three of the four surveys we achieved our goal of best practice, which we define as being in the top quartile, or top 25 per cent, of those being surveyed.

Our inpatients evaluated us as being the best of the 10 private systems surveyed, which in a statistical measure places us on the 99th percentile.

Our doctors evaluated us as being the best, again on the 99th percentile, of the eight systems surveyed. We have been judged as the best by our doctors every survey since we started in 2003.

Our day patients evaluated us on the 88th percentile of the nine systems surveyed, meaning we were second best.

The only survey in which we did not do as well as we had hoped was in the caregiver survey. This is particularly relevant to the organisation given the criticality of recruitment and retention over the next two and half years as new developments come online.

Almost 6000 caregivers, or 66 per cent of those who we offered the chance to respond to the survey, did complete it. Participation was made easier by the use of an online version and the enthusiastic encouragement of senior management in Divisions and Group Services.

When measured against other groups and facilities with which we compare ourselves, which is 94 facilities in all, we were judged to be average, or on the 47th percentile.

This result means we have work to do across the Group to achieve our objective of being an attractive and principled employer.

In this edition of Pomegranate we outline a summary of the different survey results focusing on those who had achieved their best ever mean scores and who were able to attain top quartile results.

GROUP UPDATEI am pleased to say nearly every division achieved at least one top quartile result.

I would like to record my congratulations to Geelong, Ballarat and Pinelodge Clinic who achieved top quartile results in all of the surveys which were conducted in their Divisions. These are truly fabulous achievements.

In all Divisions, including those who have done very well, I have asked Chief Executive Officers to review closely the survey results and the comments and engage with caregivers in a way that continues to try to improve and better fulfil our Mission and live our Values.

Dr Michael Stanford Group Chief Executive Officer

St John of God Raphael Centre recently held a Healthy Men Healthy Minds photo competition that invited entrants to reflect on the special relationship between children and the significant males in their lives.

The winning entry by Zoe Clissold (pictured here) is titled Daddy watching over me, and captures Zoe’s husband Shaun and newborn son Tate.

Tate has a rare heart condition called Ebstein’s Anomaly. The disorder means that the right ventricle of Tate’s heart is smaller than usual.

“We hadn’t taken photos of Tate for the first three days after he was born because he had been in a humidity cot. This was the first day out and that one really seemed to capture the moment,” Zoe said.

PHOtO COmPetitiOn winner

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Building on its reputation for compassionate care and to meet the demands for increased health services in a region where the population is growing, St John of God Berwick Hospital has established a new palliative care service.

Caregivers will provide additional support and attention to patients and their families as life-limiting illnesses progress, in conjunction with their medical treatment.

Pastoral Services Coordinator Matthew Bullen explained that the palliative approach was about meeting the comfort and health needs of the patient and their family and ensuring that they felt fully supported during their hospital stay.

“It is very much about life and supporting the best quality of life whilst living with illness,” Matthew said.

“Difficult symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, nausea and vomiting can be managed well with our medical and nursing expertise, whilst the comprehensive pastoral services can really assist with the emotional and spiritual issues that may arise for patients and their families.”

The new service will include two dedicated palliative care beds within an existing medical unit, specialist palliative care consultation, complex pain management physician and allied health.

Comprehensive pastoral services will incorporate emotional and spiritual care, bereavement support and follow up for families and loved ones.

There will be an emphasis on symptom management, short term respite care and end-of-life care.

Medical Unit Manager Lisa Marchetti said the enhanced service would deliver optimal and timely care to the individual patients and their families.

We will continue to increase our palliative care service as part of the hospital’s broader redevelopment plans.”

Pictured: A patient discusses care options with palliative care coordinators, Lisa Marchetti and Matthew Bullen.

New palliative care approach at Berwick

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new minimALLy invASive BreASt SUrGeryPerth Plastic Surgeon Mr Mark Lee hopes to make the decision to have a preventative double mastectomy less confronting for women with a new minimally-invasive breast reconstruction technique being pioneered at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Mr Lee presented his findings from the first 25 surgical cases just weeks before a flurry of world media headlines when celebrity Angelina Jolie made the announcement that she had undergone a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction.

His presentation at the 17th World Congress of the International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery in Chile last month achieved the recognition of plastic surgeons world-wide.

“The scarless latissimus dorsi breast reconstructive procedure is a bilateral procedure and a modification of an existing breast reconstructive surgical technique,” Mr Lee explained.

“It allows the patient’s back muscle flap to effectively be harvested without scars on the patient’s back. In existing surgical techniques, multiple incisions are often made via the breast and back to access muscle tissue from the patient’s latissimus dorsi muscle.”

Mr Lee harvests the muscle tissue without dividing the blood supply, through the same surgical incision made via the breast, thereby limiting surgical scarring.

As a minimally invasive procedure, this new technique has a number of benefits to patients including reduced operating time, and patients generally have less scarring, quicker recovery, fewer complications and an overall reduced hospital length of stay.

Mr Lee said the procedure was ideal for young women who are genetically predisposed to developing breast cancer and considering bilateral preventative surgery.

“Young women who choose to have preventative mastectomies now have a surgical option that is less invasive and potentially less emotionally confronting for them,” he said.

“Preventative mastectomy in high risk patients reconstructed with this technique can have aesthetically better results by reducing post-operative scarring, but also significantly reduces their risk of developing breast cancer throughout life.”

Pictured: Subiaco Plastic Surgeon Mr Mark Lee pioneering minimally-invasive breast reconstruction technique.

Burwood allied health worker mary morgan will share her experience of delivering the unique Circle of Security parenting program in italy later this year when she presents at the international Attachment Conference.

St John of God Burwood Hospital offers the program to parents in St Ben’s Mother and Baby Unit and also welcomes participants from the wider-community.

Mary said she was thrilled to be sharing the impressions of the many parents of infants and young children who had carefully considered the support the nine week program had offered them as they strive to be “good enough” parents in supporting their children to be emotionally secure.

She said research suggests that children who are secure do better in life socially, emotionally and cognitively.

“The primary caregivers who participate in the Circle of Security program gain value from support and encouragement to explore internal obstacles that may be holding them back from sensitive caregiving,” Mary explained.

“The key learning is that their job is to create a safe base from which the child can go out into the world and explore, secure in the knowledge that they have a safe haven to which they can return.”

The program also asks caregivers to reflect on their own experience as a child.

“Where your parent struggled is where you are likely to repeat the struggle without support,” Mary said.

“We don’t lay blame but recognise that we can learn new ways.”

In the three years since the program commenced, qualitative data has been gathered from focus groups.

“We have received extremely positive feedback. When they come back they haven’t forgotten the model – they don’t forget that as a caregiver the goal is to remain bigger, stronger, wiser and kind and that their children require emotional connection, often previously interpreted as wanting attention,” Mary said.

The next step is to undertake quantitative research at Burwood to provide further proof of the parenting program’s value to parents and ultimately the impact it has on child development.

The Circle of Security program is also offered at some St John of God hospitals and Raphael Centres.

Pictured: Primary caregivers participate in the Circle of Security program at Burwood.

Circle of Security

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St John of God Health Care has received a grant from Health workforce Australia (HwA) to create simulated learning environments to enhance the experience for students on clinical placements in a mental health context in new South wales.

Nursing and medical students at Richmond and Burwood hospitals spend three hours each week at a simulation workshop, during which they observe a 45 minute encounter between an actor, playing the part of a mental health patient, and a caregiver from Pinelodge.

Clinical facilitators Maria Field from Richmond Hospital and Julie Fauquenot from Burwood Hospital then promote discussion and activities based on the simulation.

Simulated Learning Environments Project Manager Tanya Edlington said it can be challenging in a mental health hospital to provide the range of clinical exposure and access that students may receive in other settings due to the nature of patients’ illnesses.

“It may not be possible for students to observe a consultation with a patient suffering from an anxiety disorder,” she explained.

“Using simulation there are no limits to the kind of patients and situations we can create.

“Simulated learning environments can be used to set up situations and patient encounters that proceed ‘as if’ real,” Tanya said.

Feedback from students found that the simulations were very realistic and that they learnt more than in a “whole semester of lectures”. Staff reported that the simulated patients were incredibly realistic, “just like someone on the ward”.

Behind the scenes 14 different patient roles have been developed by caregivers from Richmond and Burwood.

Burwood’s Sean Fitzgerald created one patient role with bipolar disorder and one suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.

Sean said that writing the scenarios was an interesting and satisfying experience, particularly when stepping outside his usual diagnostic area.

“I can understand the buzz screenwriters get.”

Sean highlighted the value of simulation as a learning tool for future health professionals.

“It gives the opportunity to test assessment and evaluation tools in an environment that is close to realistic and is safe for the patient. It allows mistakes to be made and for people to learn from their mistakes,” he said.

Actor Luke D’Emanuele played the role of a man suffering from bipolar disorder and in depression as he comes to terms with the consequences of a recent manic episode. Luke said he thinks it’s really important for students and professionals to practise their skills and reflect.

“In real life there is no rewind button. Simulation gives us a rewind button,” Luke said.

Simulations occur at the Australian Centre for Health Innovation (ACHI) in Melbourne and are transmitted live over the internet to the education centres at Richmond and Burwood. They are filmed and will be available as a lasting educational resource.

Pictured: Clinical Facilitators of the simulated learning experience Maria Field and Julie Fauquenot and Coordinator Sian James.

Teaching through simulation

An external national audit of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) has shown significant improvements across the group since the first audit was conducted in 2009.

Australian Risk Services Lead Auditor Paul Camilleri said the Group Safety Management System had reached a 100 per cent score and achieved a much stronger conformance with National and State OH&S Acts and Regulations than in previous audits.

Three divisions, Geelong Hospital, Health Choices, Social Outreach and Advocacy, achieved 100 per cent OH&S conformance while the average across the group was 90 per cent. In 2009 the national average was at 50 per cent.

Facts based data analysis arising from the audit has enabled Divisional Management Committees to prioritise and target further risk reduction and injury prevention actions with local OH&S committees.

Group Manager OHS and Wellness, Stephen Dowling, said the rate of improvement reflected the many caregivers who had participated in and embraced the rapid changes necessary to ensure the embedding of new safety strategies, systems, processes and work practices for every task, every day.

Stephen said that while the improvements were commendable and resulted in a reduction in numbers injured and severity of injuries, we continuously strive to deliver zero harm.

Pictured: Australian Risk Services Senior OH&S Lead Auditor Paul Camilleri (middle) and Marius van der Plas Senior Consultant (right) with Stephen Dowling, Group Manager OHS & Wellness.

Compassion rewardednominee for the HeStA Outstanding Graduate nurse award, registered nurse melissa Coventry, has been praised by her colleagues for her compassionate care and commitment to her profession.

Fellow nurses and managers at St John of God Murdoch Hospital acknowledged Melissa’s professionalism and skill following her nomination for the national award.

Nurse Manager Tony Patton said Melissa truly demonstrated the hospital’s core values by the high level of nursing care she delivered and her positive attitude, even in difficult situations, was an inspiration to all.

He said a student Enrolled Nurse described her as; “The kind of nurse I want to be, with a beautiful heart”.

“To have a staff member who has such a positive and affirming impact on a student just shows the calibre of graduates we have at Murdoch,” Tony said.

Melissa’s caring nature is a family trait. Her mother is a volunteer at St John’s Ambulance and her grandmother was a theatre nurse and midwife who delivered her own grandchildren – including Melissa.

“Just like Mum and Grandy, I always felt that I wanted to take care of others; nursing was the obvious choice for me,” Melissa said.

After completing her studies at Curtin University in 2011, Melissa chose St John of God Murdoch Hospital to start her nursing career. She completed the graduate program and was delighted to be made a permanent member of staff.

“What I really enjoy about working here is the holistic approach to care.”

Melissa is completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care at Edith Cowan University to help fill the gaps in her knowledge of patient care.

After only two years as a Registered Nurse, Melissa is already acting in the position of Case Management Coordinator.

Murdoch Director of Nursing Adam Coleman said acting in an integral position had allowed Melissa to contribute to services that assist patients in being discharged home.

Pictured: Murdoch Registered Nurse Melissa Coventry is an inspiration to all.

PAtient CAre viA SmArtPHOne While the intrusion of mobile technology on work/life balance is not always welcome, for those on the road providing home nursing care for Health Choices the convenience of new remote technology is making the job easier and improving service delivery.

After two years of planning, development, testing and implementation Health Choices has gone live with a patient management system known as ComCare that gives caregivers visiting patients at home the latest information at their fingertips via a Smartphone.

Health Choices Chief Executive Officer, Steve Hall, said the introduction of ComCare across the division would benefit caregivers, patients and referrers by ensuring that the latest patient information was immediately available.

“Our caregivers will now be able to receive their rosters, visit schedule, patient details, occupational health and safety alerts and other vital information, no matter where they are, at any time of the day,” Steve said.

“The information is stored securely on the mobile device and can be remotely wiped if the device is lost or stolen.”

Steve said the new system took Health Choices from operating three patient management systems across eight sites to using a single, uniform platform.

ComCare is also used by Silver Chain Nursing Association in Western Australia and Royal District Nursing Service in South Australia, amongst other community care providers along the east coast, and has been specifically designed for use in the community setting.

St John of God Health Choices partnered with EOS technologies, a division of Silver Chain Nursing Association, to implement the ComCare project.

SAfety imPrOvementS

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Helping to close the gapSt John of God Health Care has launched a reconciliation Action Plan (rAP) and a commitment to helping to close the gap in employment outcomes, infant mortality and life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, within the decade.

As Australia’s largest Catholic, not-for profit private hospital operator we have joined 300 organisations across the country to submit a detailed plan of action on how we will actively address the divide.

Reconciliation Australia, the national body promoting reconciliation, has endorsed St John of God Health Care’s approach saying it was a “great plan” and published the document on its website.

A 12 person working group, that included three indigenous Australians, was responsible for the plan and each member consulted with an Aboriginal representative within their field of expertise.

From within its hospital, pathology, home nursing and social outreach operations, St John of God Health Care will build new relationships with Aboriginal people.

Caregivers in leadership positions across the national group will identify and engage with local Aboriginal elders to help the organisation discern appropriate ways to work with Aboriginal Australians, particularly in the delivery of health care that will improve the life expectancy of their people.

Reconciliation Australia reports that indigenous males die on average at the age of 59 which is 18 years earlier than non-indigenous males. And indigenous females live to 65 on average, compared to 82 for non-indigenous females.

The mortality rate of indigenous Australian babies is declining yet remains at more than 12 for every 1000 live births—a rate nearly three times that of non-indigenous infants.

Respect is a core value at St John of God Health Care and all actions taken under the RAP will pay due respect to Aboriginal people and their culture.

St John of God Health Care caregivers will be provided with cross-cultural awareness education opportunities and it will be mandatory for all managers of indigenous staff.

One measure of the RAP’s success will be the employment opportunities it creates for indigenous Australians within the organisation.

Official employment figures show the unemployment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is 14 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent for other Australians.

A new cookbook sharing healthy recipes and indigenous art was launched in Western Australia during Reconciliation Week in May as part of a preventative strategy to combat chronic disease in indigenous communities.

The cookbook was the result of a partnership between St John of God Murdoch Community Mental Health, members of the local indigenous community at the South Lake Ottey Family and Neighbourhood Centre and the City of Cockburn.

The focus on the sharing of healthy food and the benefits on wellbeing and communities started in April when members of the neighbourhood centre joined St John of God Murdoch Hospital Dietician, Nicole Sander, to learn about eating well and to express their impressions of good health through art.

The artworks and the recipes were collated to publish the Eating Together

Learning Cookbook with funding from the Commonwealth Co-Health initiative.

Co-Health supports programs that promote the prevention of chronic disease for people not in full time work, at risk of weight related disease, single

parents and members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.

Pictured: Members of the South Lake Ottey Family and Neighbourhood Centre express good health through art.

COOkBOOk PrOmOteS tHe SHArinG Of fOOd & StOrieS

CeLeBrAtinG wA Of tHe yeArIn June Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, was honoured to present respiratory physician Prof Bruce Robinson with the Business & Professions Award at the Celebrate WA Awards.

Prof Robinson went on that evening to also deservedly receive the coveted Western Australian of the Year Award.

St John of God Health Care is a major sponsor of the Business and Professions Award category of the Western Australian of the Year because it reflects the value of delivering Excellence in Care.

“For us Excellence in Care is made possible when you combine research, education and clinical practice,” Michael said.

“Prof Robinson exemplifies Excellence in Care and is world-renowned for his medical research in asbestos diseases and cancer and was a co-founder of the Fathering Project.

“He possesses exceptional medical and research skills and knowledge but also the tenacity to make change and seek out solutions where he sees humanity suffering.”

As the Scientific Director of the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases Prof Robinson published the world’s first blood test for the diagnosis, monitoring and early detection of mesothelioma.

Prof Robinson set up the Fathering Project in response to statistics that showed the most powerful, but missing factor in reducing youth substance abuse and crime was a strong father or father figure.

The Fathering Project now helps fathers to realise just how important they are in a child’s life.

Pictured: GCEO Dr Michael Stanford presents the Business and Professions Award to Prof Bruce Robinson.

Consultation in MidlandAs part of its commitment to reconciliation and improving Aboriginal health outcomes, St John of God midland Public and Private Hospitals have engaged Aboriginal consultants, kambarang, to review the hospitals’ design and service delivery.

The aim is for Aboriginal patients, their families and visitors to easily access services in the physical sense but also create an environment that is welcoming, safe and accommodating.

The focus is on access for indigenous people as a significant percentage of the local population identifies as Aboriginal, one of the highest proportions in Western Australia.

The hospitals’ landscaping and public art strategy will also reflect Aboriginal culture, stories and aspirations.

A series of visionary public art pieces will be commissioned from local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists, portraying themes such as reconciliation and hospitality, particularly as Midland is a traditional gathering point for Aboriginal people from many language groups.

The next stage of consultation will be a review of service delivery to ensure the provision of services does not compromise the legitimate cultural rights, views and values of Aboriginal people.

The hospitals’ catchment area is also home to a significant multicultural population, including new migrants.

A multicultural health plan has been developed to ensure that patients, families and visitors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds feel they can easily access services, receive care that is appropriate to their specific needs and be treated in a respectful manner by a well-equipped workforce.

Pictured: St John of God Midland is working closely with Aboriginal groups, including Kambarang, to ensure indigenous people access its services.

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nZ CHAir JOinS COmmOnweALtH LeAderSSt John of God Hauora Trust Chairperson in New Zealand, Bevan Killick, joined 100 fellow leaders considered exceptional in their organisational and government fields at a Commonwealth conference in the United Kingdom in March.

The CSC Leaders Conference, run by the Common Purpose Charitable Trust and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences (UK Fund), addressed challenges facing society today by building global relationships to help leaders of the future.

Bevan and representatives from 28 countries spent a week focused on a set challenge; “How do people from communities which have spread across the world become the bridge-makers in the global networks of the future?”

Bevan said that the experience had been invaluable as it gave him insight into the complex leadership challenges faced by societies and the need for creative and innovative thinking to bring about practical solutions.

“The interaction with leaders from countries all over the world has now connected me with a wider network of people and resources.”

HOriZOn HOUSe AwArdedSt John of God Horizon House Dianella has been recognised with a national award for innovation in social services.

Highlighting outstanding achievement in homelessness services, the Norma Parker Award was presented at the Catholic Social Services Awards (CSSA) ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra on June 24.

Horizon House Dianella supports homeless young women through pregnancy and their journey into motherhood until they can secure safe, independent accommodation. Part of SJGHC’s commitment to Social Outreach and Advocacy, the service welcomed its first resident in May 2012 and since then ten babies have been born into a safe and secure environment.

Reaching out to CambodiaOn a holiday to Cambodia last year caregiver Sally Poole was so moved by the primitive conditions she witnessed at the Provincial Hospital she visited in Siem reap that she returned to her workplace determined to do what she could to help.

Sally is a Registered Nurse at St John of God Frankston Rehabilitation Hospital and said the Cambodian hospital didn’t even have basic supplies on hand that nurses in Australia would take for granted.

“Their needs were so simple, like dressings, tourniquets, cannulas and bandages,” Sally explained.

Sally enlisted the support of hospital Chief Executive Officer Sally Faulkner to gather donations of medical supplies and equipment from the hospital that will be delivered to Cambodia in July this year.

Sally Poole’s visit to the Cambodian hospital was facilitated by her sister-in-law, Trudy Poole, who took part in Rotary International’s World of Difference project.

Trudy wrote to the Frankston Hospital expressing her gratitude for the support and donations of supplies.

“The hospital is very run down and has very basic supplies and Sally was quite shocked when I took her there and showed her the conditions that these nurses work under and the limited supplies they have,” Trudy said.

“Through Rotary we have been able to send across some containers with beds and supplies to help. I will be going again in the middle of July so will take across these supplies to the hospital then.”

Pictured: Patient waiting area at the Siem Reap Provincial Hospital, Cambodia

Geelong transformation on-filmwhat was once an ugly duckling pub is being transformed into a new six storey medical centre as the St John of God Geelong Hospital precinct takes shape.

The redevelopment project is progressing according to the schedule of works and the action has been captured day and night to create a time-lapse snapshot.

The first instalment of the progress ‘movie’ has been released to coincide with the ‘topping out’ of the medical centre. The roof that was added recently completed the skeleton and attracted plenty of local attention due to the modern architecture and angled facade.

The $65 million major redevelopment that will deliver new services and facilities to the community is eagerly awaited with the first private emergency department for Geelong due to be operational in May 2014.

Follow the progress of the project at www.sjog.org.au/geelongredevelopment

Pictured: The roof ‘tops off’ the Geelong medical centre.

PAtHCAre reBrAnded AS St JOHn Of GOd PAtHOLOGy PathCare Consulting in Geelong has changed its name to St John of God Pathology so it can be clearly recognised as part of the group of pathology services available across Victoria.

For nine years St John of God Pathology has operated as PathCare in the Geelong region following St John of God Health Care’s acquisition of PathCare Consulting in 2004.

As of July 1, 2013 PathCare will be known as St John of God Pathology.

The retention of this brand over that period enabled St John of God Pathology to extract the maximum amount of goodwill from the well-respected PathCare name and its high profile in the region.

Over recent years the St John of God Pathology brand has become firmly established in Geelong and throughout Victoria, and the environment is now right to retire PathCare and move to a consistent uniform brand across the state.

The dual branding of PathCare and St John of God Pathology in Geelong has caused confusion at times for the public, doctors and caregivers. There are also extra costs involved with operating dual brands with items such as signage, name badges, and forms.

A working party facilitated the phase out of PathCare to ensure a smooth transition for patients, doctors and caregivers. The working party had representation from a range of Pathology departments in Geelong including accounts, data entry, IS, marketing, core laboratory, collectors and couriers.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of Pathology, Michael Hogan, said he wanted the service to be clearly identified as part of St John of God Health Care whilst continuing to offer excellent pathology services in Geelong and its surrounding community.

“We are offering the same service, by the same caregivers but presented under one brand - St John of God Pathology.”

St John of God Health Care caregivers will soon have access to an innovative new web-based learning and development system called myLearning.

MyLearning will allow caregivers in all divisions to apply for courses and programs, complete learning modules and assessments and retain a record of learning and development activities for professional registration purposes.

Managers will be able to report on all learning and development activities within their department and mandatory competency compliance.

Caregivers will be able to log on to MyLearning from work or remotely, using the same details they use for MyPay.

Group Manager Learning and Development, Deborah Pearson, said MyLearning would provide greater flexibility for learning, a streamlined process for scheduling and booking courses, a record of mandatory and essential competency assessments (both online and face-to-face components) and increase compliance for accreditation and legislative purposes.

Feedback from caregivers involved in the pilot in August 2012 confirmed that MyLearning was very easy to use.

“Even caregivers who were not familiar with using computers noted that they only needed a little extra guidance,” Deborah said.

Resources have been developed to support caregivers and managers, including a quick reference guide on a small card and opportunities are available for caregivers to attend briefing sessions.

“It is important that our caregivers have access to the learning resources they need to develop their skills and capabilities, and in more flexible ways,” Deborah said.

“The implementation of MyLearning is another way St John of God Health Care fulfils its Mission of being a learning organisation.”

MyLearning at St John of God Health Care

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PrOmOtinG OUr PeOPLe Tyson Fowler

Senior Analyst Group Finance Shared Services

Tyson joins the team based in Coventry Street, Melbourne responsible for supporting Group Finance, particularly shared services plans across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Accounting.

Most recently Tyson worked with Healthscope on consolidating a group of analysts into a centralised team. He developed an EBIT by episode tool for the hospital group and undertook a project on theatre utilisation.

Tyson migrated to Australia from Canada in 2003, is married to Penny and has three daughters. He is completing a Masters in Business Administration at Monash University.

Dr Lachlan Henderson Executive Director Perth Northern Hospitals

Following a national and international search to recruit for the senior operational role of Executive Director of Perth Northern hospitals, that includes St John of God Subiaco Hospital, Dr Lachlan Henderson was a welcome internal appointment to the position.

Most recently Lachlan was the CEO of Pathology and prior to that was a member of the successful Midland bid team. He was Group Director of Medical Services for three years and had senior roles at Murdoch Hospital.

He holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from UWA, a Master of Health Services Management from Monash University and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture from ACU. He has also completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Lachlan’s extra-curricular activities include being a Board member of the Swan Care Group (a not for profit aged care group), a member of the Notre Dame University Medical School Advisory Board and a member of the President’s Medical Liaison Council of MDA National.

Levitt retireSMichael Levitt has retired from his post of Director of Medical Services at St John of God Subiaco Hospital after seven years having established a reputation as an engaging and committed leader during his tenure.

The renowned colorectal surgeon said one of his most satisfying initiatives was establishing clinical craft groups and the opportunity this provided to display the astute leadership of his medical colleagues.

He was a key proponent of the hospital’s post graduate medical education and training program and remains a strong advocate, as he continues his private practice at the Subiaco hospital.

Mr Levitt said the gratifying aspect was the opportunity to truly understand what an amazing hospital St John of God Subiaco Hospital is and what makes it so.

SUStAinABiLity CertifiCAteThe sustainable use of resources at St John of God Health Care will receive the welcome scrutiny of Group Environmental Engineer Dean Farnsworth following his completion of a graduate certificate in sustainability from the respected National Centre for Sustainability at Victoria’s Swinburne University.

Dean said the course gave him a solid grounding in the field and his learning would be of use to the organisation in the continued roll out of its environmental sustainability strategy.

Topics covered, as part of his graduate certificate, included the cultivation of business and community relationships for sustainable development, a principle shared by St John of God Health Care at all of its operational sites.

Pictured: Dean receives his graduate certificate.

International nursing showcaseStakeholder satisfaction

St John of God Health Care took the opportunity to showcase its nursing initiatives to a world-wide audience at the international Council of nurses (iCn) Congress held in melbourne in may, and hosted a symposium on nursing excellence and leadership.

The symposium focussed on the transition underway across the organisation to deliver a sustainable model of nursing and midwifery care in light of demands on the profession and the changing face of nursing.

Two projects were profiled; the Enhancing Patient Centred Model of Care and the Nursing and Midwifery Standards of Excellence.

Group Manager of Clinical Projects, Suzie Hooper’s presentation on developing leadership skills in nurses acknowledged the lack of leadership training afforded nurses as part of their general education.

She spoke of the concept of everyday leadership and how in one way, or another, all nurses have leadership roles, and the initiatives St John of God Health Care had taken to address the predicted skill shortage.

Group Director of Nursing Kate Birrell shared the need for a sustainable workforce into the future and Subiaco Hospital’s Director of Nursing and Midwifery Chris Hanna spoke of the process to establish the organisation’s distinctively own Nursing and Midwifery Standards of Excellence.

Chris stressed that the standards were to guide the professional practice of nurses rather than an accreditation tool.

A comment from the feedback summed up the demand for the subject delivered by St John of God Health Care team; “Nursing leadership is a very important international priority and the need to recognise that all nurses are leaders regardless of their role i.e. Manager, Clinical Nurse, Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse.”

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurse associations that represents millions of nurses around the world.

Pictured: Lisa Norman, CEO/DON Berwick; Kate Birrell, Group DON; Chris Hanna, DON Subiaco; Suzie Hooper, Group Manager Clinical Projects

St John of God Health Care has conducted independent satisfaction surveys of its key stakeholders simultaneously for a snapshot of how the organisation and its individual hospitals and pathology services are perceived.

Group Chief Executive Officer Michael Stanford said the surveys revealed outstanding results in most areas with some scope for improvement.

Patients ranked SJGHC as the best private hospital operator when measured against ten other health care groups, and doctors ranked it number one for the 10th year in succession.

“It is a gratifying result to know that the doctors who choose to work with us and the patients who choose our hospitals, are extremely happy with the service we provide,” Michael said.

“Our caregivers should take immense pride in the part they have all played in this achievement.”

“For a stand out individual performance, the management and caregivers of Geelong Hospital deserve special mention for achieving top quartile results in all four surveys and their best mean score result ever in three.

“This fantastic achievement has occurred despite construction works that have been underway at the hospital over the last year,” Michael said.

“Congratulations also to Ballarat who had top quartile results in all four surveys, Warrnambool and Berwick who achieved top quartile results in three surveys, and Pinelodge who achieved top quartile in the two surveys they participated in.”

Michael said the organisation as a whole group should strive for better results in caregiver satisfaction.

“Collectively our caregivers rated their satisfaction levels as average, which falls short of our goal to be regarded by our workforce as an attractive and principled employer.”

“Results did vary considerably across the divisions with Geelong, Warrnambool and Accord achieving their best ever mean score result for caregiver satisfaction.

“However much more needs to be done to ensure our caregivers are content and fulfilled in their workplace, across the board,” Michael said.

All divisions are now actively reviewing the results of their individual site surveys in all four key stakeholder areas and making changes where improvements need to be made.

The General Management Committee has established a focus group to consider the caregiver survey findings, led by Group Director Workforce, Rita Maguire and Group Director Mission Jennifer Strattan.

Rita said the survey presented a great opportunity for the organisation to hear the views, feelings, observations and comments from its caregivers.

“It is important to reflect on our caregivers viewpoints as we grow and evolve so that they can be considered and included in our plans for the future.”

SJGHC has conducted satisfaction surveys with caregivers since 2000, for inpatients and day patients since 2001 and with its visiting doctors since 2003.

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INvESTING IN THE fUTURE

St John of God Berwick caregiver Casey Poulton, was inspired to pursue a career in nursing when she joined the hospital’s catering department in 2002 at the age of 16.

Encouraged by the hospital’s nurses and other caregivers, Casey investigated career options and went on to complete a sterilising course, funded by the hospital. She worked in the central sterilising department in the peri-operative unit while studying and completed her course in 2007.

Casey was then accepted into Care Training Australia to study Division Two Enrolled Nursing and continued to balance her employment with studying.

She completed her training this year and is now a qualified Enrolled Nurse and remains working at the Berwick hospital.

Casey proudly confesses to being the second generation of her family to be born at the hospital where she now works.

“I didn’t think I would also have a fulfilling career here too. I am extremely proud of what I have achieved with the support of St John of God Berwick which has helped me develop my career over the past 11 years.”

Pictured: Casey Poulton celebrates the start of her nursing career with the presentation of a vintage nurse hat and cape.

Clinical Information Systems learnings from the USASt John of God Health Care Group director of nursing kate Birrell was the lone Australian representative at the American Organisation of nurse executives Symposium in denver, Colorado in the United States of America (USA) in march.

Kate took the opportunity to learn first hand from nurse leaders in the USA and was intent on finding solutions from the bigger marketplace to the utilisation and implementation of clinical information systems (CIS).

She discovered that most USA health facilities have a CIS in place with the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) Electronic Medical Record

Adoption Model being considered the gold standard.

Chief Nurses are taking up the challenge to be active participants in the implementation of technology and quality systems.

Kate said Chief Nurses were adapting their structures, roles and responsibilities to ensure they are participants in the change with new roles like Chief Nursing Information Officer and Nurse Informatacist being created.

She said technology was facilitating the redesign of care processes and changing roles and structures were reflective of a changing health care landscape.

“It seems that technology is being used to facilitate and transform care delivery with the aim to improve patient safety and quality outcomes,” Kate said.

“Standardisation and integration of processes and policies and involvement of all disciplines underpins the development and implementation of a successful CIS.”

Kate found that clinical devices were becoming more sophisticated, more mobile and more connected.

Catholic Health Initiatives presented on the pitfalls, hidden costs and challenges for CIS and the need for a solid overall health information strategy.

The key message was “do not let perfect get in the way of good otherwise you will be left behind.”

Kate said some of the challenges for nurses specifically included greater reporting requirements and managing patient expectations about the use of technology.

Midland 25 per cent completePassers-by at St John of God midland Hospitals can not miss the impressive structure now on the Clayton Street site, with the southern clinical block having reached the fourth of five storeys and all five lift cores in place.

The clinical block will house departments such as emergency, radiology, outpatients, allied health, operating theatres and mental

health. The fifth and final storey is due to be completed by the end of June.

Chief Executive Officer Ian Anderson said the great progress was all down to team work and the combined efforts of St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals, managing contractor Brookfield Multiplex and architects Hassell.

Work on the northern ward block had also made significant headway. This building will include services such as reception, admissions, public and private inpatient

wards, medical clinics and community services.

The 367-bed hospitals are due for completion by late 2015.

Pictured:St John of God Midland Public & Private Hospitals CEO, Ian Anderson and Brookfield Multiplex Project Manager, Marc Van Heemst celebrate the construction milestone. Clinical block is pictured on the left with the ward block to the right.

Blessing of new Raphael Centrethe Bishop of Sandhurst Les tomlinson officially opened and blessed Bendigo’s new raphael Centre in April.

The centre offers mental health support to families from the conception of a child through to four years of age, and has been welcomed by general practitioners and other services in the region.

In keeping with the focus on parent and child, a choir from local primary school St Monica’s of Kangaroo Flat performed two songs, while a pomegranate tree was planted by the Bishop.

The hospital’s Director of Mission Denis Byrne said the Raphael Centre in Bendigo had opened for clients in November 2012 and referrals were growing steadily.

The centre is based in the community, on a site shared with Bendigo Community Health Services, and to ensure services are accessible to all they are provided free of charge. People can be referred to the service by a general practitioner, or on self-referral.

Pictured: Planting a commemorative pomegranate tree are (L-R) Mission Director Denis Byrne, CEO Darren Rogers, Executive Director Eastern Hospitals Tracey Burton, Fr Peter-John Neivandt, Bishop Les Tomlinson and Centre Manager Tina Winzar.

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St John of God Health Care Inc ABN 21 930 207 958 ARBN 051 960 911 (Limited Liability) Incorporated in WA.

St John of God Health Care is a leading Catholic health care provider in Australia and New Zealand, operating 13 hospitals, home nursing, pathology and disability services, as well as Social Outreach and Advocacy services reaching out to people experiencing disadvantage. Editorial submissions or mailing list changes for Pomegranate to michelle.courtney@sjog.org.au

www.sjog.org.au

The sound of music

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St John of God Health Care has helped to take world-class classical music to regional Australia as a partner of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and sponsor of its 2013 victorian regional tour.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s regional touring group, known as ACO2, is an 11-piece ensemble of young Australian musicians with a fresh, energetic performance style. World-renowned accordion player James Crabb starred on the tour as international guest artist.

The ACO2’S 2013 Victorian Regional Tour travelled to three regions where St John of God Health Care provides services; Bendigo, where it operates hospital, pathology and home nursing services, and Mildura and Horsham where it runs pathology services.

St John of God Health Care’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s

commitment to regularly touring outside metropolitan areas was synonymous with St John of God Health Care’s enduring presence in regional communities.

“The Australian Chamber Orchestra makes internationally acclaimed music accessible to all Australians, not only those in capital cities. This is close to our organisation’s heart, as we deliver the best possible health care close to home for those living outside metropolitan areas,” Michael said.

He said that as a large organisation and a major employer, St John of God Health Care had a responsibility to promote activities that served to strengthen community life, including the arts.

“The healing power of music is embraced within our hospitals as a significant element of our holistic model of care, which focuses on enhancing the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual dimensions for all people.”

Senior Pathologist at the Ballarat pathology laboratory, Dr Sharon Wallace, attended the ACO2’s Mildura performance and was so

impressed that she drove to Horsham the next night to see the performance again.

“The large audience ranged from primary school children – who sat transfixed – to octogenarians. The delight evident in both audience and performers was obvious both nights,” Sharon said.

She said St John of God’s sponsorship of performing arts tours in regional, rural and remote areas was a very real expression of Social Outreach.

“There is a significant body of literature supporting the social and wellbeing values of fostering the arts, in its various incarnations within regional, rural and remote communities. This is an opportunity for people to see an international standard musical performance that they may not, for many reasons, have been able to access before now.”

Pictured: ACO2, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s regional touring group now has the support of St John of God Health Care. Photo by Ben Marden.