The Ramsay Way 2017 | 03 11
HOSPITAL NEWS
Joondalup Health Campus Theatres
celebrate patient safety successes
The operating theatres at Joondalup Health Campus hosted a special event on Thursday 3 August to
celebrate the team’s achievements in terms of its focus and commitment to patient safety.
Chief Executive Officer Kempton Cowan declared the
event open with a ribbon cutting, followed by an invitation
to all theatres staff to personally sign a giant poster with a
declaration of commitment to safety and excellence.
“You guys work under really difficult circumstances and do an
absolutely fantastic job,” he said. “Patient safety is absolutely
fundamental to what we do. I know the commitment that
everyone here has to it. I would like to thank everyone who
has come here tonight and taken time out to be part of this
important celebration.”
The event was well attended by a broad cross-section of staff
including surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, Cath Lab staff as
well as administration and support staff.
Event organiser and Clinical Nurse Specialist Tania Arnold
said she felt it was crucial to acknowledge and celebrate the
many successes of the team in keeping patients safe and
providing high quality care.
“It’s all too easy in this line of work to look critically at
ourselves and what needs to change, but actually we also
need to examine what is working, what we do well – and take
the time to recognise and celebrate that,” she said. “And this
is what tonight is all about.”
The hospital’s Community Board of Advice also attended and
spoke with staff after the official function, as part of a broader
tour of the hospital.
Pindara launches
Corporate
Wellness Centre
Providing comprehensive health checks
for both individuals and businesses, the
Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre offers a
convenient, cost and time effective option
enabling people to gain a thorough insight
into their current health situation.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate was the first individual to
take advantage of the health checks available at the
Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre when he visited on
Wednesday, 6th September.
“The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre is a wonderful
new addition to the hospital. It provides a great
opportunity for people to gain an insight into their
health and access assistance to help preserve it in to
the future,” Pindara CEO Trish Hogan said.
There are two types of checks available at the Centre–
the comprehensive and comprehensive plus; both of
which provide a clear insight into an individual’s health
by undertaking a range of simple health questions
and physical tests that assess heart function, lung
function, blood pressure, cholesterol, fitness, weight/
BMI amongst others. Having South Coast Radiology
adjoining the Centre and onsite pathology services
allows for quick and efficient testing in one place.
The results from these tests are compiled into a
comprehensive health report made available to the
patient, the results of which can then be discussed with
the reporting doctor or with their regular GP.
Dr Martin Clark, a doctor with over 30 years’
experience, who has assisted in the establishment
of the centre, said there were major benefits to
undertaking health checks for businesses and
individuals.
“After undertaking these checks, individuals are
more aware of their health and how to manage it and
businesses can see a snapshot of employee health and
take steps to address any issues specific to the work
place,” said Dr Clark.
The Pindara Corporate Wellness Centre has recently
completed health checks for the senior management
team at Village Roadshow Theme Parks with very
positive feedback about the experience being received
from all the employees involved.
Into the future the Centre will focus on encouraging
more local businesses to take up this opportunity for
their staff and building its reputation in the community
as the premiere preventative health centre on the Gold
Coast.
Chief Executive Officer Kempton Cowan (C) officially opened the
event with Deputy Director of Clinical Services Shane Tobin-Longly
(L) and Clinical Nurse Specialist Tania Arnold (R).
Ophthalmologist Dr Graham Furness was amongst many senior
clinicians to personally pledge a commitment to patient safety.
Intensive Caring: New diary initiative
helps patients put the pieces together
Nurse Nicole Hood (off-duty in pic) with ICU patient Marlon Jackson,
who is now recovering well after an extreme and unexpected
medical condition earlier this year. Marlon’s family found the patient
journals helpful during and after the week Marlon was on lifesupport.
For the 149,000 Australians who are treated in
the ICU every year, critical illness presents an
immediate threat to their survival, with many
patients experiencing memory loss and delirium.
One study from John Hopkins University has found that
longer stays in the ICU were also linked to depression and
anxiety symptoms for up to a year post discharge; while
patients who experience lengthy periods of delirium also at
greater risk of cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s.
To help combat post-discharge symptoms, Mildura Base
Hospital recently introduced a nurse-led innovation that has
been embraced by patients and hospital staff alike.
MBH’s s Nicole Hood, who commenced in the ICU in 2017,
presented the concept of patient diaries at a ward meeting,
subsequently provided education and has successfully
implemented the diaries throughout the hospital.
Several Norwegian and European studies have found
expressive writing is a route to healing – and that when we
translate an “experience” into language we are essentially
making the experience more graspable for the patient.
The diary is left at the patient’s bedside, with the journal
entries written “to” the patient, so when the
time comes they can reflect back on their ICU
experiences.
Staff members, friends and visitors are all invited
to contribute and the journal is given to the
primary patient contact person for safekeeping.
Congratulations Nicole on an initiative that truly is
the Ramsay Way!
Diary patient feedback
“It gave everyone the chance to express their
thoughts about mum’s progress every day. It will be
a good record to keep for the future and remind
her of what happened while she was sedated.
Excellent care/excellent staff.”
“Since leaving ICU I have continued writing in the
diary and our family has really enjoyed going
through the journal and reading the entries and
reflecting on that stressful time”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate receives his health check by
Dr Martin Clark at the newly opened Pindara Corporate
Wellness Centre.