DPV Health Pulse Spring Edition

Men’s Health

What is coronary heart disease?

disease?

6 tips to help your kids brush

Pregnancy Care

What is gestational diabetes?

Skin Health

Early detection of skin cancer

Meet Dr Kevin Sandhu

WHAT IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

PREGNANCY CARE + MEN’S HEALTH + HEALTHY CANTEENS

3 CEO’S MESSAGE

A brief message from DPV Health’s CEO giving an overview of the main topics covered in this Pulse Winter 2022 edition.

4 PREGNANCY CARE

What is gestational diabetes, its symptoms and how do I manage it?

5 HEART DISEASE IN MEN

DPV Health wants to help our clients and others to enjoy precious moments with loved ones by raising awareness on heart disease in men, signs of stroke and how to assess the risk of a stroke

DENTAL HEALTH

It is important to look after your child’s baby teeth because they help children eat, speak and guide the permanent teeth into position. It’s also necessary to educate children at the early

7 SKIN HEALTH

Early detection of skin cancer can save lives. The purpose of a skin check is to detect skin cancers in an early stage, when they can be successfully treated.

HEALTHY CANTEENS

Did you know that Victorian schools don't have mandated healthy canteens?

9 MENTAL HEALTH

HEALTHY SCHOOL CANTEENS!

Foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt make up nearly 40% of energy intake for Victorian kids. We must act now!

AM I AT RISK OF HEART ATTACK?

Did you know that men develop heart disease 10 years earlier than women? Take this 5 minute health quiz to assess your risk for heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

Learn about the importance of mental health and meet Dr Rohan Mendonsa

DPV Health are delighted to present the Strategic Plan 2022–2027. It is founded on our vision of a healthier and connected community, with excellent care for all.

2 Graystone Ct, Epping VIC 3076 P 1300 234 263 marketing@dpvhealth.org.au www.dpvhealth.org.au

ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

DPV Health is a not-for-profit organisation that offers exceptional health care services to people of all ages. We are the largest community health provider in Melbourne’s North, operating across five Local Government areas (LGAs): Whittlesea, Hume, Mitchell, Melton, and Banyule.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to support the health and wellbeing of our community.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL CUSTODIAN AND COUNTRY

DPV Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our services and sites are located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and extend our deepest regards to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

WELCOME

Welcome to the Spring 2022 Edition of “PULSE”.

As we move through Spring towards Summer, it's important to take time to reflect on your health and wellbeing.

Exploring this edition of the Pulse newsletter, you’ll find information on children's dental care, and preventative care for important health conditions including diabetes, skin cancer and heart disease.

We are also thrilled to introduce you to DPV Health’s Healthy Canteen advocacy campaign, which is aimed at supporting healthy eating for school children and their families.

Last but not least, DPV Health is delighted to present its Strategic Plan 2022–2027. Our plan is founded on our Vision of: “A healthier and connected community, with excellent care for all”, and presents an exciting way forward, that will consolidate DPV Health’s position as an industry leader in the provision of impactful, innovative, person-centred health and community services across Melbourne’s North.

The DPV Health team would love to receive your feedback on PULSE Spring edition by sending an email to marketing@dpvhealth.org.au.

Wishing you good health over summer and the festive season

The DPV Health team would love to receive your feedback on PULSE Spring edition by sending an email to marketing@dpvhealth.org.au

Don Tidbury CEO DPV Health

Things you need to know about gestational diabetes

What is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes is the fastest growing type of diabetes in Australia2. This is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. In most cases, the condition disappearsafter the baby is born.3

What causes gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes develops as your body can’t make enough insulin during your pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that helps keep the sugar in your blood at the right level. During pregnancy, your body has to produce much more insulin to encounter the effect of hormones by the placenta that helps your baby grow and develop. Such hormones could trigger the imbalance of insulin within your body.

How to manage gestational diabetes?It’s recommended that you take a pregnancy oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks into the pregnancy. Following diagnosis, you

may feel a range of emotions so give yourself some time to digest information. Management of gestational diabetes includes monitoring blood glucose levels, eating healthy, regular exercise and insulin injections 4

Am I at risk of diabetes?

If you develop gestational diabetes, you have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Find out your risk by completing the risk calculator.

If you’re worried about gestational diabetes, speak to your doctor and get referred to a specialist as required.

2 Diabetes Australia, https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/about-diabetes/gestational-diabetes/

3 Better Health Channel, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/diabetes-gestational

4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/gestational.html

Heart Disease in Men

What is your stroke risk?

Take this 5 minute health quiz to assess your risk for heart disease, diabetes and kidney CHECK MY RISK

Did you know that men develop heart disease 10 years earlier than women?1

DPV Health aims to raise awareness on common heart diseases and signs of stroke.

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease is also called ischemic heart diseasethe common cause of death in Australia2. It develops as plaque from cholesterol accumulating on the wall of arteries blocking the blood flow through your arteries. This eventually leads to heart attack, stroke and other vascular conditions.3

What causes heart disease?

There is no one cause of coronary heart disease4. However, knowing your risk factors and changes in your lifestyle can help prevent it from occuring. Some of the risk factors include:

•whether you’re a smoker

•level of your physical exercise

•social isolation

•your weight and

•age

Knowing the signs of heart attack and stroke could save you and your loved one’s.

Signs of heart attack5

It’s important to know the warning signs so you can get the proper treatment right away:

•Chest pain or discomfort

• Light-headed or faint

•Shortness of breath

•Unexplained tiredness

•Nausea or vomiting

•Pain in jaw, neck or back

•Unusual anxiety, weakness or fatigue

Signs of stroke

Stroke happens when blood vessels burst and cause bleeding in your brain or when there is a lack of oxygen in your blood delivered to your brain.

•Numbness in your face, arm or leg

•Loss of vision or dimming vision

• Trouble speaking

• Shortness of breath

• Confusion or trouble understanding

• Difficulty in walking or loss of balance

1Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/special-heart-risks-for-men

How is heart disease treated?

There is no cure for heart disease. However, there are things you can do to live longer:

•Healthy eating

•Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol

•Join a support program

Whom can I see if I’m concerned about heart disease?

If you’re aged 45 and over, speak to your doctor or visit DPV Health Medical Centres in Mill Park and Broadmeadows for a full medical examination.

To book an appointment call 1300 234 263 (select option 1 for medical) or visit https://dpvhealth.org.au to book online.

2Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/heart-stroke-and-vascular-disease-and-subtypes/what-iscoronary-heart-disease

3Healthdirect, https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronary-heart-disease-and-atherosclerosis

4Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Social Security Cardiovascular Disability Criteria. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2010.

5 Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, Beaton AZ, Bittencourt MS, Boehme AK, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022;145(8):e153–e639.

6 tips to help your kids brush their teeth

Dental Health

It is important to look after your child’s baby teeth because they help children eat, speak and guide the permanent teeth into position.

Toothbrushing everyday helps to remove bacteria that causes tooth decay. Toothbrushing should be done in the morning and before bed at night. Young children will need assistance to brush their teeth until they are about 8 years old.

Make it fun! You may like to sing a song or make silly noises to make your child laugh

There are also many dental books for children. You could read them a book about the importance of brushing their teeth before they brush theirs.

4

Try using two toothbrushes: Let them hold one and one for you to brush their teeth properly. Have a go at ‘your turn, my turn’. This allows children to have some independency.

5

If your child doesn’t like the taste of toothpaste, start brushing their teeth without it. Then gradually introduce them to low fluoride toothpaste. There are also lots of flavours of toothpaste that your child might enjoy

Get the rest of the family involved: many children will copy their older brothers or sisters if they are brushing their own teeth. This also shows them how to brush their teeth

Fun way to encourage your kids to brush their teeth using the brushing chart DOWNLOAD

Try another location in your house! Your child might prefer to brush their teeth in another part of the house. It is recommended to brush their teeth near a mirror so they can see what you are doing.

The DPV Health Dental Clinic o ers a general dental practice and emergency service program within public sector guidelines. Call 1300 234 263 for more info

Early detection of skin cancer can save lives

The purpose of a skin check is to detect skin cancers at an early stage, when they can be successfully treated. Book for an appointment today!

If the doctor notes that a lesion is suspicious, they may recommend that it be biopsied (tested) or removed. The biopsy sample or the entire lesion will be sent to a laboratory for pathology analysis. This will determine if the lesion is malignant (cancerous) and if any further treatment is required.

If left untreated, skin cancers

can cause disfigurement or even death. However, when detected early, most skin cancers can be treated successfully.

Who is it suitable for?

Depending on your skin type and other factors, your doctor may recommend a yearly, or more frequent, skin check.

Skin cancer can a ect anyone, with any skin colour. Most skin cancers can be successfully

Meet Dr. Kevin Sandhu

Leading DPV Health’s Skin Clinic in Broadmeadows, Kevin has post-graduate qualifications in skin cancer medicine and is a qualified GP. He specialises in mole scanning and medical and surgical cancer treatment.

To book an appointment with Kevin, call 1300 234 263 (choose option 1 for medical) or visit https://dpvhealth.org.au to book online.

treated if detected early:

•A new mole or skin change

•A mole or freckle that changes shape, colour or size

•A mole or freckle that is asymmetrical, has irregular (rough) edges, or contains many colours

•A mole, freckle, spot, or area of skin that continually bleeds or ulcerates

•Any other skin changes that you are worried about.

7 Skin Health

“A passion for helping others led me down the path of Medicine into a career that allows me to provide my patients with high-quality healthcare. As a professional Skin Cancer Doctor, I bring a holistic approach to medicine in order to find comfortable and e ective solutions for everyone”, Kevin Sandhu.

Let'stalkabout healthyschool canteens

Yourchild'slearningand educationisimportant, sosignthestatement today!

www.dpvhealth.org.au/healthycanteen

What our children eat and drink at school impacts their health and wellbeing.

Consuming healthy food and drink options is shown to help improve children’s mental health1 , concentration and memory2 , 3 and overall academic performance4 .

Foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt make up nearly 40% of energy intake for Victorian kids5. We must act now!

The Department of Education and Training (DET) has the power to change this. Sign the statement to show your support for healthier food and drink options in Victorian school canteens.

This change will ensure Victorian Government school canteens and their suppliers offer more healthy food and drink options for our children.

1.Jacka FN, et al. Associations between diet quality and depressed mood in adolescents: results from the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010 May;44(5):435-42. https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

2.Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: The effects of nutrients on brain function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(7), 568-578. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

3.Bellisle, F. (2004). Effects of diet on behaviour and cognition in children. British Journal of Nutrition, 92(2), S227–S232

4.Burrows, T., Goldman, S., Pursey, K., Lim, R. (2017) Is there an association between dietary intake and academic achievement: a systematic review.

5.Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019) Poor diet., AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 11th May 2022

How to improve your mental health and wellbeing

What is mental illness?

Mental Health conditions can vary in severity, each condition requires a di erent level of care and treatment. Some of the most common mental illnesses are depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, persistent depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, ob sessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What a ects our Mental Health?

Mental health can a ect daily living, relationships and physical health. Your Mental wellbeing can be influenced by several factors, including:

• Genetics

• Environment

• Daily habits

• Biology

• Traumatic events

Su ering from poor mental health can be a lonely and isolating experience, please know you are not alone. It’s normal to feel sad, anxious or depressed sometimes but when it a ects your ability to get through day-today life, it’s important to get help early.

To get Help

Anxiety and depression can be distressing, and it can stop you achieving your full potential However, it can be treated. Our Mental Health professionals at DPV Health’s private psychiatry clinic can help you get back to feeling like yourself again. Our highly qualified caring team are dedicated to make you feel comfortable and at ease in our medical centres with psychiatric assessment and management plan tailored to your mental conditions.

Meeting Dr Rohan Mendonsa MBBS FRANZCP

Dr Mendonsa is leading DPV Health’s private psychiatric clinic. He has been working in the public mental health system since early 2018 with over ten years of experience as a consultant psychiatrist. He was conferred as a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry. Rohan is particularly interested in mood disorders, mental health literacy and consultation liaison psychiatry To book an appointment with Dr Mendonsa, call 1300 234 263 (select option 4) or speak to your GP for referral.

To book an appointment, call 1300 234 263 (select option 4)

Speak to your GP to send referral to Lisa Marie lisa.marie@dpvhealth.org.au

It’s normal to feel negative sometimes but when it becomes a problem and starts to a ect your everyday life it’s important to get help sooner than later.

AROUND THE BUSINESS

Strategic Plan 2022-27

DPV Health are delighted to present the Strategic Plan 2022–2027. It is founded on Our Vision of a healthier and connected community, with excellent care for all.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Strategic Focus

DPV Health’s Strategic Plan is set against 4 strategic pillars and confirms the strategic focus for each Pillar. Pillar 1

Pillar 2 Pillar 3 Pillar 4

Clients, Families & Community People, Capability & Culture Excellence, Systems & Infrastructure Growth, Sustainability & Partnerships

Our goal is to provide excellent health and community care responding to community needs, and prioritising those in highest need.

DPV Health will improve health and social equality standards for the diverse communities, families, and individuals within Melbourne’s North.

Our goal is to grow a highly engaged and thriving workplace culture, shared by a capable and e ective workforce. DPV Health will be a sector employer of choice known for excellent care by a skilled and highly engaged team.

Our goal is to provide a seamless healthcare environment through innovation and investment in operational design, capability, and performance.

DPV Health will achieve excellent organisational performance quality and accountability, enhancing client and employee experience.

Our goal is to ensure organisational sustainability through a focus on collaborative partnerships and considered growth.

DPV Health, as a leader in health and wellbeing services, will significantly address the growing needs of our community through prudent service growth enhanced by productive partnerships and collaborations.

Strategic Objective

DPV Health’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan sets the 5-year strategic objective for:

DPV Health to be an industry leader in the planning and delivery of innovative, person-centred health care across the diverse communities of Melbourne’s North, recognised for achieving a significant positive impact on community health and wellbeing.