Keeping In Touch 14 January 2022

Keeping In Touch 14 January 2022

Welcome to 2022 everyone. Can I start by expressing our deep gratitude to all our caregivers who kept our hospital providing great care over the Christmas period. Well done to each and every one of you.

Well I’m sure its not the start to a new year that we were expecting and things have certainly moved more rapidly than anticipated. I’d love to be writing about something other than COVID but that’s our reality just for now.

Life at our hospital will remain different for the foreseeable future. As a result of the new wave and the consequential suspension of elective surgery and other non urgent services all our SJG Vic hospitals will remain in the Private Hospitals Funding Agreement at least until the end of February, which essentially means we will continue to support Barwon Health by making capacity available to the COVID response.

We should be very proud of the role we’ve played to date and the role we will continue to play as community transmission and COVID related hospitalisations climb. It’s reasonable to assume that in the weeks ahead most hospitals in Victoria will be treating patients with COVID. That said, we are very well prepared. Our decision to upgrade PPE by transitioning all caregivers to N95’s, significantly reduces exposure risk and our decision to increase testing for patient admission and caregivers returning from furlough is providing a further level of safety. We will be commencing a new Fit Testing program from next Monday 17th with testers on site for the next two months, a great chance for every caregiver to participate.

Vaccination remains a key and the Vic Govt has released a new pandemic order requiring all eligible health care workers to have received their third dose by 12th February and others not yet eligible (four months since 2nd dose) by 29th March 2022. The booster is absolutely critical.

SJGHC has also placed orders for a very significant supply of RAT kits and whilst current supply chains are stretched, we are confident our current stock levels will continue to allow us to support our current approach to testing and support keeping our caregivers safe in the workplace.

Thanks again to everyone for supporting each other and working together to do our best.

Upcoming Events: Mask Fit Testing

Monday 17 - Friday 21 January

Australia Day

Wednesday 26 January

Hospitality Workers in Health Care Day Sunday 6 March

St John of God Day Tuesday 8 March

Close the Gap Day Thursday 17 March

Keeping In Touch is a newsletter for you. We would like to invite all caregivers to submit ideas, stories, photos and feedback to share.

We know you’re all doing fabulous work - tell us about it!

It’s easy! Just drop an email to: Tanjeela.chowdhury@sjog.org. au or GLMarketing@sjog.org.au

SJGGH partners with The Gordon TAFE

A collaboration between our hospital and The Gordon will see Gordon students training on the ward with a focus on preventing falls as part of the companion program. This new stream of Health Services Assistance has been added to The Gordon’s suite of courses to meet the demand for assisting nurses in acute hospital settings. This program will prepare students in becoming nurse support workers, learning how to assist nurses in acute care settings and offers students supported practical placements in a hospital setting.

The 20-week course provides three days of placement per week alongside our clinical caregivers on the wards. This will be a great opportunity for students to gain real hands-on experience under the guidance of nursing staff. The students will learn valuable work skills, and our hospital will have additional hands and eyes to help deliver targeted care on our acute wards.

Booster doses for healthcare workers are now mandatory COVID-19 booster doses are now available at the Community Vaccination Hub in Norlane to anyone aged 18 and over who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than four months ago.

A COVID-19 booster dose helps prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19.

Eligible people will receive the Pfizer vaccine as their booster dose.

To make a booking at the Community Vaccination Hub phone 1800 675 398 or limited walkins are also available. The Community Vaccination Hub in Norlane is open 7 days 8.30am3.30pm.

On 10 January 2022, a new Pandemic Order was made requiring Victorian healthcare workers to receive a COVID-19 third dose.

Healthcare workers eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine required to receive a COVID-19 third dose vaccine by 12 February 2022.

Healthcare workers not yet eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine are required to receive their COVID-19 third dose vaccine by 29 March 2022.

We are required to keep a record of our caregivers vaccination status, in line with the Pandemic order issued. If you have had a booster vaccination please upload your updated certificate to the portal which can be accessed here.

Respiratory Protection Program

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for healthcare organisations to have a robust Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) in place to reduce the risk of hospitalacquired, infectious airborne diseases.

Our fit testing program is ongoing and to date we have had more than 600 caregivers in high-risk areas fit tested.

Next week we will once again have fit testers on site from Monday to Friday. It is likely we will have fit testing ongoing for the next two months, so plenty of opportunity for everyone to book an appointment and be tested for an appropriate fitting mask. It is important for caregivers to attend their booked appointments as it is difficult to secure the testers in the current environment.

Please ensure you are on time for your appointments and male caregivers MUST be clean shaven.

To register, please visit this link.

COVID Resources - Guidelines, posters and information for caregivers

COVID resources such as posters, guidelines and information can be found by going to the Clinical Resources app on Zen Works. This will take you to a series of folders and you will find the COVID 19 Resource Folder at the top.

If you feel there are guidance documents missing or have any questions please reach out to your manager.

Please share this information with your colleagues.

Safety alert: Injury management information

Should there be an occasion where a caregiver requires access to information regarding the management of an injury, the information can be found on ZENworks, via the ‘Geelong Injury Management’ icon.

The type of information that can be found includes: • Rapid Response for Injury Management • Early Intervention Guidelines • INJURYNET poster and fact sheet • Documentation required to be provided to medical practitioner If you require clarification on any of the points mentioned above, please contact: Jeff Beck, Injury Management Specialist, Ph: 0477 714 560 or jeff.beck@sjog.org.au Karen Shiels, OHS Manager, Ph: 03 5215 0963 or karen.shiels@sjog.org.au

P2/ N95 masks are to be worn at all times while on site as of 24/12/21

If you have not been fit tested then the orange duck bill mask is the preferred mask for you.

Fit checking of P2/ N95 masks must be performed every time a mask is worn.

N95 masks are to be changed after 4 hours or if visibly soiled of wet.

Happier January

Back pats

Charlotte said: 5 stars

I cannot speak more highly of my experience. Every single member of staff from the triage nurse to the surgeon were absolutely incredible. The kindness shown to me during a very stressful time was greatly appreciated. I felt very safe and the level of care was just extraordinary.

What our patients had to say about us this week...

Day Stay Oncology Patient feedback

NPS Surgery Centre Patient feedback

I was looked after with care. Nothing was too much trouble.

The service and treatment was prompt, professional and friendly at all times.

The care I received was incredible from the moment I walked in the door. Every person I dealt with went above and beyond for me and I’m so grateful for all their help.

2 South

3 East

Patient feedback Excellent staff.

Nothing was too much trouble. A BIG shout out to the nurses and staff on ward 2 South. In particular, Mary, Paula and Josh for their excellent care and professional approach to my well being.

Patient feedback Professional care from admission till discharge. The staff on level 2 East were kind, professional, empathetic and gentle at all times of my stay.

They kept me up to speed with what is normal for my recovery to give me confidence that I was doing well. I had a “blue” moment and the gentle nature of nurse Kellie brought me back to control my emotions and gave me understanding why I felt like that.

Thank you all.