Keeping In Touch 4 February 2022
Welcome to another edition of Keeping in Touch. It’s hard to believe we have already moved into February! As the pandemic continues to plague us all at home and at work, I provide the following information as reminders as to how we are continuing to respond to the pandemic here to keep our caregivers and patients safe. Healthcare workers eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine by 12 January 2022 are required to receive the third dose vaccine by 12 February 2022. Healthcare workers not yet eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine by 12 January 2022 are required to receive their COVID-19 third dose vaccine by 29 March 2022. We do need to keep a record of our caregivers vaccination status, in line with the Pandemic order issued. Please, once you have had your third dose, update your certificate on the portal which can be accessed here. Our Respiratory Protection Program is ongoing and available to all our caregivers. Next week we will have a fit tester on site allowing caregivers to book a time of their preference. Please click here to book your appointment or contact your manager who will be able to assist you. It is important for caregivers to attend their booked appointments as it is difficult to secure the testers in the current environment and male caregivers MUST be clean shaven for their appointment. We continue to have a no visitor policy in place as per the DHHS directive with certain exemptions allowed. Visitors with an exemption must have received two doses of the vaccine and show their proof at our health screening desk, or must return a negative RAT result before entering the hospital. Adult visitors who have not received two doses of vaccine must wear an N95 mask during their visit. We thank each and every caregiver for the care you provide to our patients and to each other every day you come to work. Have a lovely weekend!
Upcoming Events: Mask Fit Testing
Mon 7 - Friday 11 Feb
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
DSO’s fancy new workstation on wheels Day Stay Oncology caregivers sure are happy to have their brand new work mate - a spiffy computer on wheels to help with their daily tasks.
This computer has a battery that can last 16 hours and has easy mobility enabling nurses and doctors to quickly access critical and important information about their patients on the go.
Farewell Brad!
Bradley Pidgeon has been a long serving caregiver in our hospital and his bright cheerful smile has been the first thing patients and visitors see when they visit our hospital. He has been a wonderful colleague; always offering a friendly hand to caregivers, patients and their families no matter what the weather, rain, hail or shine! We wish him good health and the very best for his future endeavours.
Farewell Mel!
We wish another dear colleague a heartfelt farewell! Melissa Mazzarino has led our Women’s Health Unit as Nurse Unit Manager with dedication. enthusiasm and passion over the past two years, and her presence will surely be missed! We wish her all the best as she travels overseas to Canada!
New Domestic Hot Water System
What are the symptoms of Omicron?
The new DHW setup has now been installed in our hospital after several disruptions to various wards and departments. This new system should be more fit for purpose and supply our hospital with consistent and reliable hot water.
Omicron appears to be continuing the trend set by Delta. It’s causing symptoms which are much more like a common cold, particularly in people who’ve been vaccinated, and fewer general systemic symptoms, such as nausea, muscle pains, diarrhoea and skin rashes.
Thank you to our hardworking Engineering team!
Click here to read the top five reported symptoms of Omicron.
Swapportunity knocks!
Swapportunities is an initiative which encourages patients, visitors and caregivers to identify moments where they can choose to make a swap, for example: • Swap driving for walking, riding or wheeling • Swap single-use plastic drink bottles for a reusable one • Swap landfill for recycling by sorting waste correctly
Keep an eye out for the Swapportunities campaign to be launched soon and let’s encourage each other to make a swap towards a healthier environment!
Policy, Procedure and other documents
A lot has changed in the space of Policy and Procedure over the last couple of months. On December 1st 2021, SJGHC moved to the implementation of a brand new policy and procedure library, inclusive of care guidelines and medication guidelines. It’s called MyPolicy Library. This is accessed via CORA using the familiar Policies and Procedures tab along the black banner on the home page or from the My Policy icon located on the ZENworks window.
Not all documents have been moved into the MyPolicy library. The following information will assist you in locating documents but please know that Emma Hay (Policy Coordinator) is always willing to help you should you need it, to locate a document. 1. Local St John of God Geelong Hospital specific, non-policy documents (that cannot be located in the Policy and Procedure library), are located on the Geelong Cora site. Click on the Geelong Policies and Procedures tab in the left hand menu, or follow this link. 2. Patient Care Resources such as Patient Discharge Information and Patient Information Resources can be located via the Geelong Cora site and by clicking on the Patient Care tab in the left hand menu, or follow this link. 3. Patient Care Guidelines and Medication Guidelines have now been relocated back into the Policy and Procedure Library (MyPolicy Library) and Care Guidelines will have the prefix ‘GE’. Some Medication Guidelines will require following the Group Directive where there is one, but where there is a Geelong Medication Guideline directive to follow, ‘Geelong’ will be in the title of the document. 4. The following icons can be found here or via the Geelong Cora site and by clicking on the Geelong Policies and Procedures tab in the left hand menu. Each icon will take you directly to where those documents are housed.
5. The Policy Coordinator continues to meet fortnightly with the Group Policy Consolidation team to communicate any concerns regarding the implementation of the MyPolicy Library. Please communicate your queries to Emma via email: Emma.Hay@sjog.org.au in order for the feedback to reach the Policy Consolidation Team in an efficient and timely manner.
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.
Back pats
Michaela said: 5 stars
I am beyond grateful for the kind and caring team of midwives, nurses, paediatrician and surgical staff at SJOG that took care of us when we were in hospital. You were so supportive and nothing was too much effort. We look forward to growing our family with you all again in the future.
What our patients had to say about us this week... ED
Patient feedback
Just great service & empathy for a sick guy by all involved.
CCU
Patient feedback
Feeling safe and comfortable whilst being in the the staffs care and facilities/accommodation. I felt quite relaxed and comfortable with my entry into SJGGH. All the staff were very careing and helpful. My thanks to all.
NPS 2 East
Patient feedback
The nursing staff that attended me was very helpful and nothing was any trouble for them.
2 South
Patient feedback
Have been here before and good repoire with patient and staff. Overall a very good experience.