MURDOCH Monthly
November2023
CAREGIVER NEWS FROM ST JOHN OF GOD MURDOCH HOSPITAL
e t a r b e l e c S CD y a d h t r i b their 5th CANCER AWARENESS WEEK
page 12
MURDOCH WINS A TONY HOWARTH AWARD!
page 13
SPIRIT OF SAFETY AND QUALITY AWARD WINNERS
page 14
2
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
A message from the CEO, Ben Irish The Hospice has seen many changes over the years and we should be immensely proud of this service which makes a true difference to people in our community. I want to thank those of you at the Hospice who continue to deliver compassionate end-oflife care and support patients, carers, and families through their unique challenges.
Christmas celebrations Welcome to the November Murdoch Monthly.
Hospice 25 Year celebration Our Murdoch Community Hospice celebrated 25 years of serving the community on 20 November. The occasion was marked with a celebration attended by members of the executive and leadership group, community members and special guests including, St John of God Health Care Board Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO, Palliative Care WA CEO Lenka Psar-McCabe, Madam Mayor Katy Mair, and representatives from South Metropolitan Health Service.
Murdoch has a number of Christmas festivities coming up, beginning with our inaugural event, Light up the Lake with Love. Light up the Lake with Love will be a special evening of remembrance to celebrate the memories our departed loved ones. The evening will include a service, live music by Aquila, and symbolic lighting of the lake and trees. I invite anyone who would like to attend to RSVP at the link: bit.ly/lightupthelake-2023. Also coming up in December is our Length of Service Award Ceremony, Practice Staff Breakfast, Volunteer Celebration, our Caregiver “Murchella” Christmas party, our Doctors’
Christmas Event, and Night Staff Breakfast. For more information on Murdoch’s Christmas celebrations, turn to page 23.
LARU The hospital underwent a licensing inspection by the Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit (LARU) in October 2023. We were assessed against 16 licensing standards for private hospitals. The inspection was a success and the Consultants were very complimentary of your engagement, hospitality, clear focus on patient safety and how we have maintained our high standards as an organisation despite the changes/growth over the years. You should all be proud of your hard work in preparing for the inspection and the standard of care your provide, while also continuing to maintain a safe work environment for your patients and colleagues. Thank you to all caregivers for your continual commitment this month and always to the care of our patients.
Ben Irish
OSH Update - Getting Prepped for the Silly Season While getting into the Holiday Spirit please be mindful of a few safety tips to ensure we all make it through the silly season safe and sound.
•
Avoid Slips, Trips & Falls – Make sure any decorations below knee height are easily identifiable and cables are out of the way. A trip to the floor is not the kind trip you had in mind for a holiday.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
•
Reaching high points – when decorating ,always have a ‘spotter’ and be sure to use the right equipment such as a safety step. If you are still unable to reach, be sure to request assistance from engineering.
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
3
Our twelve caregivers of the months as well as two sneaky stand ins!
Reflection
flashing, colourful, and kitsch displays that light up our streets. They make me smile, not just in my face but in my heart.
So time for a confession…. I love love love Christmas lights. There would be nothing more perfect for me than to have the resources and creativity to decorate my house and garden with the biggest and brightest lights ever. Despite my children being grown and independent, I can still be found wandering the suburbs of an evening marvelling at the twinkling,
•
Electric Equipment –All decorations and electrical equipment needs to be tested and tagged prior to use, and continue to check for any wear n tear.
•
Fire Doors & Emergency Exits – Have these areas as no go zones for decorations, they must not block access to these areas in the event of an emergency.
•
Clutter – keep work areas free of clutter and make sure decorations do not obstruct walkways so that beds and other equipment can move through departments without trouble. Sometimes less is more ;)
Christmas is rich with the symbolism of light – the star of Bethlehem guiding the wise ones to the stable, the advent candles that adorn our churches, the battery operated candle lights we hold at carol services, and the twinkling fairy lights that appear on our trees, all capture a sentiment that both nourishes and guides. As I have been preparing material for our Light up the Lake with Love community event, I have been exploring the various ways in which light impacts us. Light is seen as a universal symbol of hope that is woven into the fabric of our existence. It is both a force of nature and a force of the human spirit. Light infuses us with warmth and wellbeing, and helps us navigate our way
•
Distractions – please be aware when moving through the hospital, there has been a noticeable increase in caregivers walking the corridors with their heads down while texting or scrolling on their mobile phones.
•
Manage Fatigue – it’s easy to get caught up in social events and parties, and before you know it, you are exhausted. Be mindful of getting some rest and slowing down when you need to.
through darkness. People who care for us can be as lights who convey a sense of safety and security. They can draw us out of sadness and despair, and remind us we are not alone. They can nurture us with the sunshine of their personalities and convey compassion and respect in their smiles. All of you as caregivers are light bearers to our patients and their families. Through your kindness and empathy, you bring hope, healing, and deep comfort. As the Christmas lights around our community begin to increase and sparkle, may you be reminded of the way in which you make a difference to the lives of others. And may you know how much you are appreciated for being light bearers that transform the lives of others with your care.
Jenni Ashton
Most important of all is to enjoy time with those you care about and keep safe.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
4
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Light up the Lake with
St John of God Murdoch acknowledges that the festive season can be difficult for those who have lost loved ones, and so in the spirit of unity and compassion, Light up the Lake with Love offers a safe and inclusive space to reflect, share cherished memories, and find solace during this time.
Join us for a truly special evening in the St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s gardens on Sunday 3 December, as we come together to remember and celebrate the lives of our departed love ones. Date: Time: Location:
Sunday 3 December 6:30pm to 8:00pm St John of God Murdoch Hospital Marquee by the Lake
Scan the QR code to RSVP by Friday 24 November bit.ly/lightupthelake-2023
Our remembrance service by the lake includes live music by string quartet Aquila, and the symbolic lighting of the lake and trees — a beautiful tribute and display of love and remembrance that will shine throughout the Christmas season.
Commemorating the Evening Commemorate the evening with an optional purchase of a special Christmas keepsake—a glowing bauble that beautifully symbolises the cherished memory of your loved one that we celebrate at our event.
Each purchase will bring love and light to others in their time of need, with a portion of the proceeds going towards supporting families in end of life care at our hospital and hospice.. The keepsake bauble can be purchased via the event page online.
You will be able to collect your keepsake bauble at the event, and take it home with you to remember the love and light shared during our heartfelt gathering.
We look forward to sharing the evening with you. Any queries? Contact Holly Edwards on 9438 9972
Thank you to the City of Melville for making Light up the Lake with Love possible. Your support has helped us create a memorable and meaningful experience for all.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
5
You are invited to the
Caregiver Christmas Celebration
Wednesday 6 December Marquee by the Lake 2.30pm - 7.00pm Make sure you pop on down to enjoy the festivities!
SILENT DISCO • GLITTER ARTISTS FOOD TRUCKS • ROVING PERFORMANCES DJ WILDFLOWER GROOVE NIGHT AVENUE BAND
RSVP essential by scanning QR code by Wednesday 22 November.
Caregiver only event, no families or children.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
6
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Cover caregiver story – Spotlight on our Clinical Documentation Specialists! This November, our incredible Clinical Documentation team are celebrating their fifth birthday as a department. The CDS programme began here at Murdoch in November 2018 following an audit by a Melbourne based company that found the documentation was not accurately capturing the complexities of our patient cohort. The Murdoch clinical documentation improvement program was championed by Dilwyn Griffiths and Ben Edwards, and established by a team of two. Five years later, they are now an incredible team of three. The aims of the program are simple but vital: 1. Patient safety 2. Accurate and fair reimbursement for care provided When our patients are discharged, there are a team of caregivers called ‘clinical coders’ who read every word written and transcribe it into alphanumeric codes using a sophisticated computer program. This data can be used for a whole host of reasons such as service planning for the Hospital, data collection for chronic diseases, policy development, research and funding from the health funds for the amazing care our clinical caregivers provide. This is where CDS come in! They review files in real time and ensure the documentation
is accurate and reflects the patient’s journey using clear and non-ambiguous language that can easily be interpreted by all caregivers and the coders on discharge.
Let’s get to know our amazing Clinical Documentation Specialist team!
The team are very passionate about documentation, but appreciate it can be a little dry. Their aim is to make it fun and memorable for those involved in the documentation process to ensure they understand the importance of excellent clinical documentation.
16 years at SJOG Murdoch
Our CDS caregivers love spending time with our junior doctors and watching them grow in confidence. “If you see us on the wards say ‘Hi’ as we are always happy to chat about documentation!” they said. “You all do an incredible job and documentation is an essential part of your shift.”
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
Tracey Gracewood – Clinical Documentation Specialist Tracey started as a Registered Nurse on Bridget Clancy Ward, then spent ten years as a Case Management Coordinator before making the move to Clinical Documentation. Fun Fact: I own five Miniature sausage dogs – Minnie, Paris, Patti, Olive, and Phoebe.
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
the team that set up Murdoch's COVID vaccination clinic, and has worked in CDS since the role was introduced at Murdoch.
Nita Higgins – Clinical Documentation Specialist 7 years at SJOG Murdoch Nita has been fortunate to have the opportunity to hold several roles at Murdoch. She has worked as an ICU/CCU CN, Acting NUM ICU/CCU, part of
Fun Fact: I am the only one to catch a large Salmon amongst some very experienced fisherpeople. My brother argues that it must have been already dead and floating past!
7
in ICU/CCU for about 5 and half years after her Grad program. She then started in the CDS role covering leave in 2021 and ended up staying on full time. Fun Fact: I’m a qualified cosmetic nurse, but never went down that career path.
Hannah Lansdell - Clinical Documentation Specialist 9 years at SJOG Murdoch (10 next Feb!) Hannah started at Murdoch as a Grad nurse in 2014 and worked
Arts and Health Month November was Arts and Health month, and St John of God Health Care celebrated by highlighting the wonderful work done by our creative allied health caregivers in hospitals and social outreach services. Incorporating arts in the services we offer helps fulfil our mission to promote life to the full by encouraging personal growth, fostering artistic interests, and abilities and supporting healing. St John of God Health Care Acting Group Coordinator, Arts and Health, Paul Davis said that the arts and creative therapies are integral to providing holistic care to our patients. “The creative arts therapies, music therapy, and the exhibition of art works play an important role in the provision of holistic care, supporting a patient in the physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of their wellness," he said.
Murdoch is fortunate to have our very own resident Music Therapist Giuseppe Reina, who started at Murdoch 18 months ago. Giuseppe understands that music therapy has the capacity to address both medical needs and holistic needs, which recognises the intrinsic worth of the individual. “Creative expression within a safe setting in the presence of a qualified therapist, adds additional value to existing medical care,” he said. “By facilitating a space for personal connection, creative expression, and reminiscence, the patient is given the opportunity to re-experience themselves beyond the confines of their illness, to reclaim a sense of agency and meaning, and have opportunities to reflect on the totality of their existence in a safe and supported environment.” “Especially in the palliative care setting, playing familiar songs can help a patient connect to their identity and life story.”
Music Therapy may also include song creation; improvisation using musical instruments to facilitate creative and autonomous engagement; and/ or musical entertainment, which can help regulate vital functions such as heart rate or breathing. These techniques can also help diminish pain, enhance mood and/or increase alertness and reality orientation. Music Therapy is a shining example of the Values of St John of God Health Care in action. It recognises a person-centred approach to patient care through recognition of the worth and value of each individual and the importance of their inclusion in the patient care process, as well as consideration of a person’s holistic needs. Thank you, Giuseppe for giving the gift of music to our patients in their time of need!
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
8
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Patient Experience Matters Murdoch NPS for OCTOBER Hospital Score
77.7
Ward
Murdoch patients are saying:
Thomas Furlong Ward
95.0
Cancer Centre
91.0
Surgicentre
89.6
St Rose Ward
89.0
St Michael Ward
88.0
Day Procedure Unit
80.7
Intensive Care Unit
77.8
St Francis Ward
77.5
St Joseph Ward
76.9
ST FRANCIS WARD
Endoscopy
76.6
St Mary Ward
70.6
St Catherine Ward
69.5
St Francis had a fantastic team. They were extremely professional, very friendly and attentive to my needs.
North Wing 2nd Floor
68.5
St Emilie Ward
68.2
Emergency Department
57.8
St Luke Ward
57.6
Cardio Cath Lab
NA
ED - Observation
NA
St Gabriel Ward
NA
Comment 1: CANCER CENTRE Thank you to the wonderfully professional and efficient staff in the Cancer Centre. They are so appreciated.
Comment 2:
Comment 3: ST MICHAEL WARD The nurses and staff did an excellent job of looking after me. They deserve the 10 out of 10!
heros
Compassion Award Kate Riley Nominated by a patient’s family member “We attended hospital for induction, which is when we first met Kate. Kate supported us throughout the day as we tried for a natural birth. There were complications with the epidural and post-surgery my wife was in significant amounts of pain. By the time we left the recovery ward to be transferred to the maternity ward, it was 7pm. Kate stayed with us the whole time, from when we checked in, to the
surgery, in recovery and then in the maternity ward. It was very reassuring to have someone consistent through every step of the process, and a familiar face. Kate only ceased her shift when my wife’s pain was getting under control and left us in the capable hands of her colleagues. “Kate continued to help and support us for the next 4 days on her shifts which made a huge difference having a familiar face regularly checking in who had been there from the start. She was very compassionate and
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
always happy to sit and reassure new parents who felt a bit out of their depth. She was never pushy, and always supported the choices we made and listened intently to any struggles or concerns we may have. “We feel the service Kate provided to us was exemplary and feel very lucky to have had her assigned to us on that first day in the birthing suite. She was knowledgeable, friendly, compassionate, and we could tell she always had our family’s best interests at heart.”
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
9
Hospitality Award Kym Rogers Nominated by a patient “Kym was my night nurse during my last two stays and she is just amazing! Nights are tricky for patients and nurses, when it’s dark and the pain seems worse
and nursing ratios are lower, so they are busier than usual. I had a challenging day and wasn’t in a great mood by the evening as the pain was creeping up. Kym fixed the issues, and she also took the time to chat to me, make me a milo, and helped me with
handover to the morning team to set me up for a better next day. It made a huge difference to my night and to my stay. She was as good during my last stay. Calm, friendly, and clinically efficient just a massive thank you!”
Caregiver of the Month Erin Nazar: September 2023 Nominated by a patient “I recently spent a week on St Mary ward after the birth of my second child. Erin (RN/Midwife) provided such warm and attentive care when things went downhill. I felt so supported and in such good hands, despite being very uncomfortable and unwell. I had also met Erin on a previous visit to St Mary ward for monitoring, where she had also been so friendly and reassuring. Erin is a warm, personable, and professional caregiver, and her presence made a significant difference to my stay at Murdoch. Thanks, Erin. You’re absolutely meant for this work and I’m so grateful for your wonderful care! I’ll never forget my excellent experience at Murdoch that set me and my new baby up for success at home.”
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
10
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
NPS Team Rewards Endoscopy chose to celebrate their >80 NPS for September with a Team Raffle of 4x$75 vouchers! A patient commented, “I received excellent treatment from caring individuals.”
Outstanding, Endoscopy! St Mary Ward celebrated their >80 NPS score for September by donating $400 to our Charity of the Year! “All the medical staff at St Mary's Ward were very caring and supportive. I felt I received special care beyond my expectations,” a patient said.
Wonderful work, St Mary Ward! St Catherine Ward paid their reward forward for their September >80 NPS to Health Information Services to thank
them for everything they do! Health Information Services selected a Lucky Dip for the team!
and staff were not only efficient but also compassionate, making my time there as stress-free as possible,” a patient said.
Congratulations, Health Information Services!
Excellent work, Surgicentre!
St Rose Ward chose to celebrate their >80 NPS score with Dining Room Vouchers for the whole team. One patient said, “The nursing staff took excellent care of me and did a commendable job.”
Marvellous, St Rose! Surgicentre celebrated their >80 NPS score for September with a raffle of 4 x $75 vouchers! “I can't speak highly enough about the quality of care I received at Surgicentre Murdoch. The nurses
Endoscopy
St Mary Ward
Health Information Services
St Rose Ward
Surgicentre
St Joseph Ward
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
St Joseph Ward chose to celebrate their amazing >80 NPS score with Pizza and Doughnuts! A patient commented, “The nurses were incredibly caring and looked after me exceptionally well.”
Incredible job, St Joseph Ward! ICU/CCU chose to pay their reward forward to Catering for their >80 NPS for September. Catering chose to celebrate it with Pizza and Doughnuts! Congratulations, Catering!
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
11
Thomas Furlong Ward
Thomas Furlong Ward, Clinical Service, and Social Workers celebrated their Feast Day on 12 November. He was Wexford’s Bishop who sponsored sisters, was a great educator, and pastoral leaders.
ICU/CCU celebrated St Giuseppe Moscati on 16 November. St Giuseppe Moscati was a doctor, professor of medicine, and a researcher.
Bridget Clancy Ward celebrated Sister Bridget Clancy’s Feast Day on 20 November. She was the first leader of the Sisters of St John and lived with compassion and outreach to the sick and dying.
On 20 November, St Elizabeth Ward and St Gabriel Ward celebrated their Feast Day for St Elizabeth of Hungary who is the patron said to the sick and poor.
ICU/CCU St Michael
Bridget Clancy Ward
Security
St Elizabeth Ward
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
12
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Cancer Awareness Week •
Second Floor North Wing had a big chocolate raffle filled to raise awareness for Bowel Cancer.
During the week, Caregivers decorated their wards and departments in the vibrant colours representing the specific cancer that affects their area and made an educational poster or display to raise awareness. Caregivers were also invited to dress in the colour associated with the cancer they specialise in or have a personal connection to for the entire week.
•
Hospice raised funds for The Hospice raised funds for Ambulance Wish WA with a sausage sizzle, plant stall, lucky dips and huge raffles! They raised an impressive $2763.15.
Noteworthy areas were…
•
Quality and Risk raised an incredible $560 for Rare Cancers Australia by heading to the Melville Swap Meet!
This year, Murdoch celebrated Cancer Awareness Week from 23-29 October, which was a week to raise awareness and support for all types of cancer.
•
The team at DPU who donned moustaches for a donation to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia!
• •
St Emilie Ward supported the Lung Foundation by selling soaps, lip balms, and bath salts made by one of their caregivers!
St Rose Ward decorated their ward with colourful cranes and balloons for brain cancer. Caregivers also joined the Walk4BrainCancer event on Sunday 19 November.
•
St Francis Ward socked it to sarcoma by selling and wearing odd socks! •
St Michael Ward raised funds for Redkite with a jellybean guessing game and crazy hair!
•
HMC ran a fun quiz during the week of two lies and a truth! The winners with the most correct answers were Admin 3 and St Michael Ward, who split the prize and both received donations to their chosen charities, Breast Care WA and Redkite.
To wrap up the important week, there was an awareness trade display on Friday 27 October in the function rooms.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
13
Murdoch wins Tony Howarth Category 4! Murdoch has won the Tony Howarth Awards for Leadership in Health & Safety in Category 4: Leadership excellence award. The recognition is for our nominations for the programs Ready to Thrive and Leading an Empowered Organisation, and our Thrive Council Initiatives such as the introduction of our furgiver, Sunny.
This category acknowledges an individual or team that has achieved or influenced improvement to Occupational Safety and Health within their workplace. Congratulations to Kirstie Bennett who accepted this award of excellence!
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
14
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Spirit of Safety and Quality Award Winners! The Spirit of Quality and Safety Award recognises the importance of continuous quality improvement and aims to acknowledge achievements in excellence and innovation in clinical care, organisation-wide practice, and service delivery. The award provides teams with an opportunity to share patient-centred innovations and communicate their quality improvement achievements with other departments. All areas of the hospital were invited to share team based improvements that demonstrated an increased awareness and application of principles producing better standards. Entries were assessed against the following criteria: • •
•
• •
•
Evidence of culture of effective leadership Demonstrated evidence of improvement or innovation in team culture Demonstrated continuous improvement and evidence of outcomes Demonstrated use of best practice Demonstrated improvement in safety and/or quality of care Improvement and innovation
Allied Health
that significantly improved patient experience A total of 9 entries were received from clinical and non-clinical areas, and these submissions were assessed by a panel consisting of Rochelle Ruse (Acting DDON IS and Learning and Development Coordinator), Steve Edmondston (Research Operations Manager), and Ireen Villarias (Acting Manager Quality & Risk). The calibre of the submissions made judging these initiatives particularly challenging, however after much deliberation a decision was reached by the judging panel. Two initiatives were particularly exceptional, and so on this occasion we have two departments who will each receive a team prize of $500 The first department is Allied Health for their quality improvement initiative of “Gestational Diabetes Education Service Improvement” – As a response to concerns in relation to wait times for diabetes education and management for pregnant women, this initiative involved the development of a new referral form and pathway, renewed focus on education sessions, improved process for tracking referrals and “closing the loop” of communication with Obstetricians. This has resulted in a significant reduction in time from referral to review, increased
Allied Health
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
access to online education, increase in timely management of gestational diabetes, increase in referral rates from VMOs, improved patient experience and continuity of care. The second department to be recognised is St Francis for their quality improvement initiative “Five for Thrive” – the team on St Francis started with a goal to get every nurse to take their breaks and get home on time. They established a process that provided a transparent and fair workload to improve nurse satisfaction and well-being. Their main aim was to build a safer work culture and mindfully connect with their patients. Their submission demonstrated clear evidence of consumer focus and team work. This initiative resulted in an improvement in patient experience as evidence by their NPS and AHPEQS trends. Caregivers also commented on how the initiative improved communication amongst the team and overall improvement in their working environment. Thank you to all departments who took the time to share their quality improvements. There is such fantastic work being done by our caregivers to improve patient safety and quality of care. All teams should be really proud of their work and the improvements they have made!
St Francis Ward
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
15
Hospice celebrates 25 Years On 20 November, St John of God Murdoch Community Hospice proudly commemorated 25 years of commitment to providing compassionate end-of-life care. After opening in 1998, the Hospice was integrated into the St John of God Health Care community in 2006. A celebration ceremony marked the 25 Year Anniversary,
attended by St John of God Murdoch Hospital CEO Ben Irish, community members and special guests including, St John of God Health Care Board Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO, Palliative Care WA CEO Lenka Psar-McCabe, Madam Mayor Katy Mair, and representatives from South Metropolitan Health Service.
to providing compassionate, end-of-life care and supporting patients, carers, and families through their unique challenges. Happy 25 Years, Hospice!
As the Murdoch Community Hospice reflects on its 25-year journey, it remains committed
4 Years of da Vinci also marks 350 cases for Arvind and Ding! On 10 November, Theatre staff had two milestones to celebrate with Dr Arvind Vasudevan and Dr Ding Guo reaching a combined 350 da Vinci procedures, and the da Vinci robot celebrated four years at St John of God Murdoch. It was only in May this year that Dr Arvind Vasudevan and Dr Ding Guo reached their combined 300 procedures milestone, and both surgeons are looking forward to performing many more to improve the health and lifestyle of their patients with minimally invasive robotic-assisted technology.
including urology, gynaecology, colorectal, and bariatric. Congratulations to everyone on the massive accomplishments over the last four years!
St John of God Murdoch is extremely proud to offer such a multidisciplinary robotic service that is currently unrivalled in Western Australia. The da Vinci robot arrived at Murdoch in November 2019 and is used for a range of different surgeries
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
16
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Bee with U – Stitching Comfort into Cancer Treatment In the heart of St John of God Murdoch’s Cancer Centre, an uplifting initiative has taken flight, one stitch at a time. The buzzing sound of knitting needles and crochet hooks fills the air as the compassionate community comes together to create a symphony of hope for those undergoing cancer treatment. The ‘Bee with U’ project that was inspired by a deeply personal journey has become a beacon of comfort for patients facing the challenges of chemotherapy and radiation. The project was created by the American family of Paul Marshall, whose own battle with Glioblastoma sparked the idea. It seeks to remind patients of their connection to the greater human community and the soothing embrace of nature. The mission is simple yet profound: to craft small, stuffed bees as tools of comfort for cancer patients. Over 200 of these handmade companions, woven from the threads of empathy and care, have been
carefully created within the Cancer Centre community. These bees are more than just adorable creations – they symbolise strength, resilience, and unity. For Paul Marshall, a small crochet bee became a loyal companion as he progressed his challenging journey of chemotherapy and radiation. It was a physical reminder of the interconnectedness between nature, community, and personal strength. Ainslie Mackay who is an Assistant in Nursing in the Cancer Centre brought the project to Murdoch as she knows how difficult and lonely cancer treatment can be. “The nights are long and lonely, but the bee reminds you that there’s always someone thinking of you,” she said. The Cancer Centre’s decision to embrace the ‘Bee with U’ project reflects a commitment to holistic care, recognising the importance
Epic’s spooky Halloween decorations! Before Halloween, Epic had some epically spooky decorations up in their Lower Ground Floor office!
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
of addressing not just the physical aspects of cancer treatment but also the emotional and psychological toll it takes. The initiative aims to normalise the use of coping tools, offering all patients a source of comfort during their treatments. By bringing the ‘Bee with U’ project to life, the Cancer Centre is weaving a tapestry of support, compassion, and unity for its patients. In each stitched bee lies the collective warmth of a community determined to uplift and accompany those navigating cancer treatment. As the bees find their way into the hands of patients, they carry with them a message: you are not alone, and the community is here, buzzing with love and support.
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
17
Surfacing Innovation: St John of God Murdoch Hospital surgeon leads the way with ceramic hip resurfacing St John of God Murdoch Hospital Head of Orthopaedics, Professor Piers Yates, is at the forefront of an innovative clinical trial aimed at giving patients longer-lasting relief from chronic hip pain. The trial introduces a new ceramic hip resurfacing implant. Hip resurfacing is a procedure that involves capping the femoral head rather than removing it. It preserves the neck and most of the head of the thigh bone while replacing the worn cartilage with a ceramic cap on the top of the thighbone and a ceramic shell in the pelvic socket. Already gaining global recognition, the trial has attracted patients worldwide, including a patient who travelled from Romania to undergo the procedure at St John of God Murdoch Hospital this month. “The technology is only available in the UK, South Africa, and Australia, and the patient flew here,” Professor Yates said.
“This new implant has a low wear rate and preserves bone, so it should address some of the limitations of current metal on metal resurfacing designs, in particular allowing safer use of this type of implant in women due to the smaller sizes available, and avoids the concerns of metal on metal reactions.” This procedure can be beneficial for younger patients who may need future hip surgeries at a later age. “Hip resurfacing is indicated for high activity, younger patients requiring replacement for arthritis, and allows them to return to any activity, including impact sport and running,” Professor Yates said. Professor Yates and three other orthopaedic surgeons across Australia embarked on this pioneering trial four years ago, with Professor Yates the only Western Australian surgeon involved in the trial. The surgeons’ selection was based on their extensive experience with hip resurfacing and previous collaboration with the implant company.
“The trial includes over 800 patients so far with extremely good results (98 per cent success rate) at more than three years,” Professor Yates said. “The trial will provide data so that the implant can be registered with the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), allowing it to be available for more surgeons to use.” “Australia is becoming the place of innovation and research, especially in orthopaedics, with the future of health care research shifting towards the private sector due to the sheer volume of patients.” The trial will continue until TGA approval is secured, and given the promising outcomes achieved so far, approval is expected in the near future.
Happy Orthopaedic Nurses Week! 30 October to 2 November was Orthopaedic Nurses Week! On October 30, St Francis Ward celebrated International Orthopaedic Nurses Day with pops of yellow and black, 'Ortho Nurses Day' cookies, and a fun game of 'Guess How Many Bones in the Jar'.
We are so grateful for our amazing ortho nurses! Thank you for mending not just bones, but spirits, with your unwavering care! Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
18
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Pastoral Care Fundraiser – Earrings for Hearing success! On Wednesday 1 November, the Pastoral Services team made a splash with their Earrings for Hearing stall to
raise funds for our Charity of the Year! They raised an incredible
$1855 selling earrings, pins, lanyards, badge retractors, and more. Fantastic effort, Pastoral Services!
Pastoral Care Week wins! Congratulations to the winners of the Pastoral Services quiz and Word Search! Thomas Furlong and Shaan from St Joseph ward went home with the incredible hampers!
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
19
Foundation Update - “The simplest act can provide the greatest comfort…” Over the past financial year, generous donors have shown an outstanding level of support for patients in palliative care and their families. Caregivers who have been privileged to support patients and loved ones on their palliative care journey have also rallied behind fundraising efforts, putting forward a range of ideas to benefit both current and future patients. Specialised chairs to allow patients to spend the maximum amount of time out of bed with their families and friends, multifunction digital radios and speakers for patients and their loved ones to share in their favourite music together, and rolling out a ‘Dream a Little Dream’ program for granting final wishes are just some of the beautiful initiatives donors have helped to make possible - here at Murdoch and across Australia. Chairs have now arrived at the Community Hospice and are already making a difference for patients and their families. “One of our patients, who previously spent all day in bed, is now able to sit out on the special chair and enjoy spending time with her family and friends when they visit.” says Jessica Wirrell, Nurse Unit Manager for St John of God Murdoch Community Hospice. “The simplest act can provide the greatest comfort for patients and their families.”
Jessica says that the chairs have helped to bring ‘normalcy’ to people at an immensely difficult time. “It is so important for our patients to have some sense of ‘normalcy’ in their lives, and in this instance it is able to be achieved through the simple act of sitting out of bed in a special chair. Being amongst those you love, and the opportunity for family and friends to gather around and enjoy their quality time together, provides great comfort.” Once again this year, St John of God Foundation’s Christmas Wish Appeal will raise funds to bring joy and comfort to people in palliative care and their families. With continued support from donors, caregivers like Jessica will be able to provide the very best in holistic, compassionate palliative care. Care that looks after
the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of the person – and their loved ones too. To find out more about the power of giving, please contact: Hannah Weir, Philanthropy Manager
St John of God Foundation P: 0429 928 541 E: hannah.weir@sjog.org.au
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
20
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
Our Fitness Passport has been approved! Great news! Our Fitness Passport program is now approved! Congratulations to everyone who signed up to a membership! Soon you will have unlimited access to 80+ gyms & pools! We had overwhelming interest and registrations in our fitness passport program! Thank you! Without your support, it would not have been possible.
your card will have arrived by this date, or it may arrive sooner! Once you have your card/s, you can start accessing all of the facilities on your program. This is the day your fitness journey starts!
How to upload a photo for your membership card • •
Missed your chance and now regret it? Don’t sweat it! Now that the program is going live, you can sign up and still enjoy the discounted access to all the gyms & pools included in the program.
•
Sign up to Fitness Passport here: https://portal.fitnesspassport. com.au/SJM
•
•
•
Go to www.fitnesspassport. com.au and click on login When you signed up, you will have received an email from noreply@ fitnesspassport.com.au with your username and password. Use that to log in. Click on the pencil icon to the right of your screen Click on upload photo on the right-hand side of your screen Click upload photo again and select your photo from your files by double clicking on the image you wish to use Adjust the image so that your face fits in the centre of the box. How it looks inside the box is how it will appear on your membership card Click submit then ok to complete!
80+ Fitness facilities included! View our program here
•
For Fitness Passport members
Common FAQs
Key dates
1. When will I get my card?
Friday, 10th November 2023: your first fortnightly payment was processed. This covers your administration fee. Your membership card is ordered on this date so make sure you upload your photo before then.
Your card (and those of applicable family members) will be available or posted to your nominated address that was entered into the system at the time of registration and should be with you by Friday, 24th November 2023.
Friday, 24th November 2023:
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
2. Which gyms & pools can I go to? This program allows you to go to any/all of the facilities included in the program, as often as you like. Visit your program page for more information on the facilities available. 3. What do I do when I arrive at the gym/pool? It depends on which facility you visit. At some facilities, you may be required to sign-in by signing a manual logbook, others you may have to scan the barcode of your card at one of the digital scanners. Just show the staff your fitness passport card and ask them how they would like you to proceed and they will be able to help. Enjoy a good workout! 4. I didn’t join by the registration deadline but now I want to join? You can still join, and the sooner you do, the sooner you get to share in the wonderful benefits of the program. 5. I have a current gym membership and I am outside the contract period, what do I do? If you are intending to sign up with Fitness Passport or have already registered, you will need to cancel your membership with your gym direct and adhere to the process of that facility. Make sure you time it so that your access to the facility is not broken and the transition is smooth!
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
21
Thrive Initiative Success at Murdoch! Since its establishment in 2021, St John of God Murdoch Hospital Thrive Councils have grown from three, to eight, to now 14 councils, and have seen 28 initiatives across Patient Experience, Safety and Quality, and Caregiver Engagement implemented to date. Murdoch’s Thrive Councils are elected groups of caregivers from patientfacing areas across the hospital, including nursing, patient care assistants, and administration, who are responsible for implementing initiatives to improve patient safety and quality from a patient and caregiver perspective.
Cherry said the project has been embraced by all caregivers on the ward with positive outcomes already beginning to emerge.
A recent initiative that has been rolled out by the St Rose Thrive Ward Council is ‘Answer the Call’. The goal of the project is to further reduce call bell wait times in the area, and in effect, improve patient satisfaction and support patient safety.
“Our Thrive Council’s ‘Answer the Call’ project has been embraced by our St Rose team, with caregivers answering bells for each other promptly, and there is more of an awareness about the length of time bells have been ringing,” she said.
As part of the initiative, all St John of God Hospital Murdoch caregivers who visit St Rose ward are empowered to, if able, answer call bells when passing a ward room. The caregiver will respond to the bell and help the patient if they are able to and if it is in their scope of practice (e.g. opening blinds), or find a St Rose caregiver to help the patient with their request.
“We have also noticed that Allied Health, Pastoral Care and Catering caregivers have been answering call bells for us also. We really appreciate the support in this project, and so far our call bell wait times have already reduced.”
Since it’s commencement in September, St Rose Thrive Council Chair Person Raechelle
In addition to the 28 initiatives that have been successfully implemented, the 14 Thrive Councils comprised of 78 members across Surgical and Medical wards, plus Day Procedure Unit, Surgicentre,
Cancer Centre, and Hospice, have a further 63 initiatives currently in development. Acting Director Organisation Development and Improvement Cate Thomas said the Thrive Councils are facilitating real, positive change in their departments. “The Thrive Councils empower caregivers to use their knowledge and experience to make decisions and implement changes which affect them and their patients experience positively, on a daily basis,” she said. The councils are provided rostered, paid time to meet as a group to focus on the areas of patient safety and quality, patient experience, and caregiver wellbeing. We look forward to continuing to improve the experience and safety for patients and caregivers alike in the years to come.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
22
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
New
1 2 3
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
CORA Go to
,
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
23
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence
24
Murdoch Monthly - November 2023
SCROLL UP SCROLL UP
Get your cinnamon and savoury scrolls! Tuesday the 28th of November. Caregiver Dining Room 10am until sold out.
Hosted by CDS and HIS All proceeds to Djaalinj Waakinj
Do you have a story for us? Share your stories! Do you have a story for us? Know someone who should be recognised for their efforts? Get in touch! Contact Murdoch.Marketing@sjog.org.au with your stories and photos or share on Pulse.
Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence