Clinical Leaders Forum Thank you to our deadly healthcare workers

Thank you

to our deadly healthcare workers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, QAIHC has routinely engaged with our Clinical Leaders Forum (CLF) to inform our clinical advocacy and understand our Sector’s adaptability and innovation in service delivery. We recognise that behind every individual member of the CLF is an entire team of valued, flexible, knowledgeable and capable health workers, and we want to take the time to say thank you to all our healthcare workers who have gone above and beyond to help to keep mob safe.

COVID-19 has dramatically shifted the world that we live in—suddenly we all know about hand hygiene, sanitiser and social distancing, how to ‘check in’ to restaurants and keep our gatherings small. We know that we need to get tested if we have symptoms and we can probably even list most of the symptoms because we’ve seen so many promotional flyers and advertisements! What can easily go un-seen is the work of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisations (ATSICCHOs); the constant shifting of plans and strategies in light of new medical or legal guidance and the establishment of new services to help us to better understand life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our ATSICCHOs have ensured their health service can continue to support their community, while making sure that their staff remain safe during this period. The CLF have demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout the year. On 5 March 2020, before the epidemic was announced by the World Health Organisation, the CLF met Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeanette Young and Queensland’s Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer, Ms Haylene Grogan. This forum was an opportunity for the Sector to provide early input on Queensland Health’s response for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Recognising the threat that COVID-19 presented based on past experience (many will remember the Severe Acute Respiratory System (SARS) outbreak in 2003 and the swine flu outbreak in 2009), our Clinical Leaders moved swiftly to share information and support QAIHC in its advocacy to Queensland Health and the Commonwealth Government. Initially meeting virtually every week, the CLF provided opportunity for our Clinical Leaders to network, share learnings and implement evidence based best practice in their local ATSICCHO. QAIHC supported ATSICCHOs to lead continuous quality improvement in health care, ensuring staff safety while maintaining health service delivery—for example, through discussing access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), use of PPE, training needs and safe working policies and procedures. This safeguarded the standards of care within the ATSICCHO Sector.

The Clinical Leaders also discussed and influenced:

Queensland Health’s testing strategy, data capture, isolation and quarantine accommodation processes and biosecurity zones.

The existance and location of point of care testing machines in the state.

The establishment of fever clinics (COVID-19 testing centres run by ATSICCHOs).

Topics to communicate to community. Best practice for staff isolation and health care provision in biosecurity zones.

The transition to telehealth and best practice. The Clinical Leaders identified solutions and opportunities, such as ways to work better with hospitals to reduce travel requirements, how to communicate health promotion information to community and how to overcome the hidden long-term health impact of COVID-19 as a result of people not seeing their health clinic team during the lockdown. Thank you to our health workforce for your determination and dedication throughout 2020. The Sector has once again demonstrated its expertise, value, adaptability and strength.

About the Clinical Leaders forum: Membership of the CLF is open to QAIHC Full Members and Regional Members’ clinical leaders (Medical Practitioner, Practice Manager, Practice Nurse, ATSIHW/P) with their CEO’s endorsement. Usually the CLF meet face to face for two days twice yearly, however meetings have been more regular and conducted virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If your ATSICCHO is not represented and you would like to nominate a representative, please email policyteam@qaihc.com.au