MURDOCH Monthly
CAREGIVER NEWS FROM ST JOHN OF GOD MURDOCH HOSPITAL
Heart of Murdoch: the NEW Team Excellence Award
page 11
MURDOCH BALL RAFFLE PROUDLY SUPPORTING CHARITY OF THE YEAR page 8
JENNI'S VISIT TO THE DJAALINJ WAAKINJ CLINIC page 9
WHO SAID, WHAT? @ MURDOCH UNPLUGGED page 10
A message from the CEO, Ben Irish
Welcome to the September Murdoch Monthly.
I want to start by thanking everyone who attended Murdoch Unplugged last week. It was wonderful to speak to you faceto-face and answer any and all questions you have regarding what’s to come at Murdoch (more on what was discussed on page 10).
Gold and Glamour Murdoch Ball raffle tickets are on sale now: Tickets are now selling for the Murdoch Ball raffle on Tuesday and Thursday, from 12pm-1pm in the Caregiver Dining Room, with all proceeds supporting our Charity of the Year. Check out page 8 for more information of some great prizes you can win. Remember, you don’t need to be attending the Ball to be in it to win it!
UKG: The UKG support team have done a great job in providing Town Hall sessions and enrolling caregivers to start punching in and out at the beginning and end of shifts. The ‘go-live’ date is Monday 23 September, so make sure you have downloaded the UKG Pro app and enrolled at a wall device ready for roll out.
CARE: Here at Murdoch, YOUR voice, MY voice and OUR
COLLEAGUES’ voices are equal. Coming up at the end of the month, you will begin to receive training in your area for the practical tools we are introducing to help us ALL ‘speak up in the moment for patient safety’ and be heard.
Thank you to everyone for all that you do for our patients and each other every day. Remember, RU OK? Day is coming up, so if you feel up to it, make sure you check in with those around you.
In case you missed it, you can watch my latest ‘Ben 10’ update with Sarah-Jayne here: https:// bit.ly/CEO-Update-August-2024
Have a great month ahead, and for those coming to the Murdoch Ball, I look forward to seeing you there.
Ben
Reflection - Hope
As many of you would be aware, this financial year we are focusing in the concept of hope as our formation activity. Our mandatory online module captures some beautiful reflections of hope, and invites us to consider what hope means for each of us. Please find a few moments in your day to complete this module as soon as you are able so you can benefit from the content.
From a Christian perspective, hope serves as a vital anchor that keeps us focused and oriented towards a brighter future. Rooted in faith, hope is not merely a passive expectation that all will be well,
but an active belief that calls us to trust in God’s providence and work diligently towards our goals. It is one of the three theological virtues alongside faith and love that inspires us to believe in the possibility of success, growth, and positive transformation, even in the face of adversity.
It is central to the care we provide here at Murdoch, and an imperative if we are to live our vision with integrity. Providing healing, hope and a greater sense of dignity to all, is not just a noble aspiration but an opportunity to enrich the lives of both those who give care and those who receive it.
Not only are we invited to offer hope to our patients and their families, but to each other as colleagues and work friends. Incorporating hope into our work means fostering a culture of optimism and resilience. Encouraging open communication, celebrating successes, and addressing challenges constructively, fosters an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration.
Making decisions that align with our values of hospitality, compassion, respect, excellence, and justice builds trust and creates a positive impact on those around us.
I am reminded of the quote by Sara Maitland, “Hope is the basis for taking responsibility; for claiming our capacity to create, to make a genuinely new thing. It is also the springboard for trying to act justly; and for accepting absolutely our incorporation into each other. It is not simply that we share with each other a common humanity, but that individually we have no humanity without each other.”
By embracing hope, we can navigate the challenges of this complex world we live in with kindness, confidence and possibility. We can live our vision and care for others and ourselves with gentle compassion, sensitivity, and courage.
I hope you enjoy this opportunity to journey with hope this year.
Jenni
Patient Experience Matters
Murdoch patients are saying:
Comment 1: Catherine Ward
Excellent care provided in a clean and comfortable environment. All personnel were extremely professional but also kind, compassionate, and reliable. I was extremely appreciative regarding the whole experience. The people, doctors and nurses, the standard of care, and the environment made my procedure and recovery without anxiety, secure, efficient, and comfortable. Many thanks.
Comment 2: St Emilie ward
The medical care from doctors and nurses was excellent. Staff looking after Catering were extremely friendly and helpful. Parking services could not do enough to ensure my 100% satisfaction. Thank you all.
Comment 3: Surgicentre
Small and homely, with no compromise on quality and efficient care, by very capable staff in a high pressure/high turnover environment.
NPS Rewards
Endoscopy celebrated their >80 NPS score for June and July with double the dining room vouchers for the team. One patient commented, “I once again experienced the highest standards of efficient, friendly, ever professional service that I have come to expect from St John of God Murdoch Hospital - from the initial admission through to the discharge.”
Outstanding, Endoscopy!
Surgicentre chose to celebrate their >80 NPS score for June by paying it forward to the Emergency Department. For July, they chose to celebrate with coffee and cookies. “The nurses were outstanding, so friendly and caring and truly looked after me. They were all brilliant,” a patient said.
Excellent job, Surgicentre!
Waffle the Wellbeing Wombat
Wellness is a huge focus for the CSSD team – meet Waffle their Wellbeing Wombat!
DPU selected dining room vouchers for the team to celebrate their >80 NPS score for July. “Just a fantastic experience I walked in so stressed and walked out calm due to the professional staff,” one patient commented.
Fantastic work, DPU!
St Francis ward celebrated their >80 NPS score for June and July with dining room vouchers, and coffee and cookies for the team! One patient said, “Very professional and friendly staff who couldn't do enough for me in every respect.”
Congratulations, St Francis ward!
Caregiver of the Month
Winnie Zheng: May 2024
Nominated by a patient
“Winnie is one of the many nurses who made my stay in hospital much better. She was very enthusiastic and bought such a positive light. What was memorable about her was her warmth and energy. She was very helpful when assigned to be my nurse and even days later when she wasn't my nurse, she made the effort to ask me how I was going with my recovery. She always had the biggest smile on her face and looked very happy to be there. The world needs more people like her.”
Bec Vinken: June 2024
Nominated by a caregiver and the Director of Nursing (DON)
“Bec in ICU/CCU is exceeding her normal duties and surpassing standards (it’s not unusual for her). During handover last night, she told me she was taking home a patient’s washing so they could be discharged in clean clothes as their family was unable to do this at present. What a gem. Big shout out to Bec who is a wonderful person.” Our DON added to this nomination –“Bec is amazing - always smiling, and genuinely wanting the best for her patients, their families, as well as her colleagues.”
Clover Chen: July 2024
Nominated by a patient’s family
“Clover looked after my mother four years ago in this hospital. Mum was admitted last week and Clover immediately remembered her. She went out of her way to speak to mum and to make her feel comfortable and at peace. Mum was in a bed that was difficult for the nurses to move her in. Clover went out of her away to find another bed for mum and this made things much better for her. Even when she wasn’t allocated to care for her, Clover frequently visited mum and always treated her with great kindness and respect. My mother looked forward to seeing her. My mother has a great dislike of hospitals because of how much time she has spent here and to look forward to seeing a nurse is a huge
Values awards
Alyssa Broadman for a Compassion Award
Nominated by a patient’s family
“Alyssa was absolutely amazing! My daughter gave her a score of 100/10! Nothing was too much trouble for her. She tried everything to help me get her to take her medicine, and just made her feel so comfortable. Very much appreciated!”
“Alyssa was absolutely fantastic with my 2 year old daughter. These moments are never easy and knowing your child is in pain and you can’t do anything to take it away is just awful. Alyssa supported myself and my daughter through this. Whilst keeping up with everyone on the ward, she observed my daughter and knew she was in pain… A simple suggestion of an alternative pain relief saved the day – She was our hero. Within 10 minutes my daughter was back in top form with just this small tweak. Compassionate and evidently a fantastic nurse!
Thank you, Alyssa!”
Kylie Elliot for a Hospitality Award
Nominated by several patients
“Kylie is so nice and friendly, and checked on us all the time. Thank you.”
“Kylie was the night nurse on my first night out of surgery. She was so helpful and nice. I even still have her voice in my head saying wiggle your bum – wiggle, wiggle! She is such an asset to the ward and the hospital.”
“Kylie’s post op care very, very good. She obviously knows her stuff. It was great the way she told me what was coming up ahead of time.”
“My thanks to the staff in St Michael ward, but particularly Kylie who looked after me from morning shift through to discharge. Excellent and caring, Nurse Kylie was a wonderful person.”
Kirsten Sorgiovanni for an Excellence Award
Nominated by patient’s family
“My mother was moved to St Luke’s soon after her admission and was not at all well. Kirsten met mum and saw that she was in pain. Kirsten went out of her way every day to give mum the most amazing care. Nothing was too much trouble for her. She patiently listened to my mum, and then talked her through everything. Mum has been very unwell and has been quite worried, but Kirsten was always kind, understanding, cheerful, and supportive of my mum. Mum’s morning was made better when Kirsten came through the door, smiled at her, and told her she would be looking after her that day. It takes a special person to listen to an elderly lady who is in pain and repeating herself. Kirsten is that person. Your hospital is very lucky to have her.”
Jenni’s visit to the Djaalinj Waakinj clinic
I was recently invited to attend one of the Djaalinj Waakinj ENT clinics at Cockburn Integrated Health to see how the clinic runs and chat informally with some of the families impacted.
It was wonderful to hear them talk about their appreciation for the Hospital – from the moment they were greeted in Admissions, to the time they were discharged.
They talked about how grateful they were that their children could be cared for by us, and how the relationship with the clinic made the process easier.
I got to hear some interesting
stories, including how one young child had managed to get a small plastic basketball lodged in his ear canal (for a very long time), and met again one of the young mums who had spoken at our Caregiver Appreciation Event earlier in the year.
I was able to talk to the Aboriginal Liaison Workers who accompany families to Murdoch about what is working well, and what we can consider improving. Again, it was lovely to hear their appreciation of the care provided and the opportunity for their children to received timely support.
I took every opportunity to share with them the way in which our caregivers fundraising efforts
help make this work happen and felt immense pride that we as a community of caregivers can make such a tangible and life changing contribution to the welfare of vulnerable Aboriginal children.
Because of your fundraising generosity, we can provide support to 50 children and their families this current financial year.
You asked, we listened!
There has been some interest in donating children's clothes to a charity, and while Red Cross Soup kitchen don't require them, check out: www.remoteopshopproject.org/
Small donation, big difference
Here is how your donations to our Charity of the Year have helped change lives:
Who said, what? @ Murdoch Unplugged
Our planned new carpark, ward closures, and how Orthonova and our existing hospital will work together were the hot topics discussed direct with CEO, Ben Irish at Murdoch Unplugged this month.
The topics raised by caregivers at both the morning and afternoon sessions were very similar, and all were captured, live, by graphic recorder, Debbie Wood.
Watch the illustration come to life in this time-lapse video: bit.ly/Murdoch-Unplugged
“It’s clear there’s a lot of interest in the new carpark, the ‘why’ behind ward closures and how they impact our people, and what Orthonova will mean for our existing hospital’s surgical
activity, patient flow and crosssite employment opportunities. Hopefully the discussion at Murdoch Unplugged provided valuable answers and updates. You’ll also see and hear much more from me and others on those topics in the weeks, months and year ahead,” Ben said.
“As always, you needn’t wait for the next Murdoch Unplugged to raise any questions or topics of interest with me. You can catch me on my weekly rounds in wards and departments, or email me any time.”
Cover story – Heart of Murdoch Team Excellence Award
Every day, we see teams around Murdoch doing incredible things.
The team in Admin 3 (Finance, Recruitment, Performance Improvement, Marketing, Business & Service Development, OSH, and HR) have created a peer recognition award that enables one team to acknowledge another for their remarkable contributions to the Hospital.
The award may be presented to a team for anything Excellence related, including:
• Exemplary teamwork
• Outstanding care
• Innovative solutions
• Any other act that has significantly contributed to or reinforced Murdoch’s Excellence culture
The award will be “paid forward” and presented by the previous
team to the new team at the monthly Leadership Group meeting.
The winning team will get to keep the award in their department for the month, and have a photo taken for the Murdoch Monthly.
Admin 3 presented the Heart of Murdoch Team Excellence Award to Hospice for always going above and beyond to ensure their patients are well cared for and looked after.
Congratulations to the Hospice team!
Family portrait
St Michael ward Nurse Manager Elouise O’Donnell had a surprise visit from her detective brother on Friday 30 August when he was in the area!
The Cancer Centre celebrates Cancer Nurses Day and their 10th anniversary!
On 15 August, the Cancer Centre held a double celebration to mark Cancer Nurses Day and the 10th anniversary of the South Wing opening.
Tanya and the team decorated the ward in colours of the
rainbow to represent the different colours of the types of cancer they treat.
There was an appreciation wall filled with certificates for the team, and they also had custom T-shirts expressing the powerful message: “Inthisfamily,noone fightsalone!”
To all the beautiful caregivers in our Cancer Centre, we thank you for the compassion, expertise, and dedication you have for our patients, their families, and each other.
To the entire South Wing – happy 10th anniversary!
Sunny celebrates her second workiversary at Murdoch!
On Thursday 29 August, we said happy 2nd anniversary to our favourite furry friend Sunny!
As our beloved furgiver at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, Sunny has brought so much joy and comfort to our caregivers.
Thank you for being such a wonderful companion, Sunny! We are grateful for you!
The Mandorla Art Award Exhibition arrives at Murdoch
You may have noticed a recent update to the artwork in our linking corridor.
The Mandorla Art Award Exhibition will grace our walls up until the middle of November.
“The Mandorla Art Award is a fantastic exhibition this year, and I am pleased that due to the large size of the Murdoch linking corridor, we are able to exhibit almost all of the artwork,” Art Curator Carina McPherson said.
“Following this, we have two new exhibitions to premiere at Murdoch before touring to other sites in the St John of God Health Care network.”
Make sure you have a wander through the linking corridor to check out the Mandorla Art Award – and stay tuned for some more exciting artwork to come.
CDS Corner
This month our Clinical Documentation Specialists (CDS) did a focus on urinary tract infections and gave out bottles of yellow Powerade (with the label reading ‘U-rine good hands)!
“We are always so grateful to have our doctors on board, and one such doctor is Mr Shane La Bianca,” Tracey Gracewood said.
“Shane has always been engaged with the CDS team and kindly agreed to be our documentation superstar this month.
“Cam went and gave Shane him a Powerade in the theatre tea room – we hope this powered him through his list!
“Thanks so much to Shane for being a good sport.”
The garden at Main Hospital entrance gets a makeover
You may have noticed the Main Hospital entrance has had a makeover! Some of the new plants include Dianella (Australian native), Limelight (Australian native), Nandina, Viburnum, Callery pear (ornamental pear tree), Ponciana, Magnolia, and a Cherry Blossom tree.
Thanks to our Engineering department for keeping our grounds so beautiful!
*CDS extend a special thank you to the South Wing nurses who have been so engaged in helping them get wound ooze documented in the patient notes.
You don’t seem yourself lately – want to talk about
OHS Update - Have you completed your Fit Test?
A fit test is a validated method to determine whether the respirator being worn provides an adequate seal with a person’s face. The test is done while a person is wearing a respirator attached to a testing unit and carrying out a number of physical movements.
All caregivers providing direct patient care or contact are required to complete a baseline fit test upon commencing. Caregivers working in an identified high-risk area are then
also required to complete an annual re-test.
High-risk areas for annual fit testing:
• Angiography
• Emergency Department
• Endoscopy
• ICU / CCU
• St Emilie ward
• St Mary ward
• Surgicentre
• Theatre Any other caregivers can also opt-in to undergo a fit test at their own accord.
Caregivers need to book in their own fit test, which can be done by going to murdochfittesting.10to8.com or by scanning the QR code below.
For any queries, please contact Tarinka at the Fit Testing Clinic (located in the MURTEC simulation room).
Tarinka: 0418 147 623 MU.FitTesting@sjog.org.au
Internal Communications Caregiver Survey
Welcome to our recent Graduate Nurses!
St Michael ward celebrates Luka’s birthday
At the end of July, one of our littlest patients Luka celebrated his birthday with us on St Michael ward!
To celebrate the occasion, our Catering department, together with the ward, arranged a cake and a gift for him!
We hope you enjoyed your birthday and your stay with us, Luka!
L-R: Heidi, Jesse, and Taya.
Foundation Update - How Eleanor rallied her community for a cause
When Eleanor Roderick commenced treatment for Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia at St John of God Murdoch Hospital Cancer Centre in July 2022, she was terrified of what lay ahead. During her treatment, a journey that continued until the end of August 2023, Eleanor was uplifted by the compassion, respect and support of Cancer Centre caregivers – so much so, she now calls them her ‘angels who illuminated the light of hope’.
“The support provided to me by the St John of God Murdoch Hospital Cancer Centre staff, who bring their hearts and souls to work each day, resonates deep in my heart. They unconditionally accompanied me on my journey, creating a safe space for me to find inner strength, hope, and courage,” said Eleanor.
Upon completing treatment, Eleanor decided she wanted to show her gratitude. So she reached out to her community – friends, family and colleagues, locally in Perth and overseas –and asked them to donate in
honour of the caregivers she had come to know so well.
Eleanor’s efforts, and the kindness of her community, raised over $2,587 in total, which will go towards supporting caregivers to continue to make a difference to the lives of people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. On behalf of Murdoch patients and caregivers - thank you so much, Eleanor!
To find out more about the power of giving, please contact the Foundation team on 1800 281 288 or Foundation@sjog.org.au.
Upgrade update
You may notice a few upgrades happening around the Hospital to enhance the experience of our patients and caregivers.
Here is an overview of what we have already improved and the improvements to come.
COMPLETED WORKS
• Angiography suite upgrade (completed February 2024)
• Endoscopy upgrade (completed March 2024)
ALMOST DONE
• Emergency redesign (due for completion September 2024)
JUST COMMENCED
• Theatre fit out (due for completion late 2024/ early 2025)
• New shared DPU, Angiography and CSSD support spaces, including a new staff room, lockers and dedicated staff toilets, a meeting room room (due for completion in December 2024)
• Angiography equipment store and Angiography sterile store room (due for completion in December 2024)
UPCOMING WORKS
• An additional 10 patient bays in DPU which will be used for admission and recovery of Angiography patients
(due to commence midDecember, until late April 2025)
• CSSD upgrade (due to commence early 2025)
• New multi-deck carpark (due to commence early 2025)
• Orthonova (due to commence early 2025)
We acknowledge that works may cause some disruption to our already busy campus and will do our best to ensure patient safety and caregiver wellbeing is kept at the forefront.
We thank you in advance for your support as we continue to expand our services, and please be assured we will keep you updated on any direct impacts caused along the way.
Shared staff room for DPU, Angiography, and CSSD
DPU Recovery
Multi-deck carpark
Multi-deck carpark
Orthonova
Colin’s double rainbow
This magical double rainbow moment was captured by Colin, a visitor to Murdoch. It is the perfect reminder that even in the midst of care and healing, there is always hope and beauty to be found.
