Murdoch Monthly March 2023

MURDOCH Monthly

March 2023

2022 Caregiver of the Year!

WANMEA AWARD PRESENTED TO KATE BRERETON

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CAREGIVER OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO KYM OAKES!!

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ST JOHN OF GOD DAY 2023

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CAREGIVER NEWS FROM ST JOHN OF GOD MURDOCH HOSPITAL

Our twelve caregivers of the months as well as two sneaky stand ins!

Reflection

– will experience difficulties or challenges that evoke a sense of doom or darkness. This Easter poem reminds us that as painful as some times are, they too shall pass and a new dawn will eventually arise.

Let us not be afraid of the darkness;

For darkness embraced can lead to life.

The Christian celebration of Easter reminds us of the importance of hope in the midst of adversity and invites us to reflect on the deeper spiritual dimension of our lives. All of us at some time – if we haven’t already

There was darkness over the earth before creation; There is darkness in the womb before birth;

The seed grows in darkness before it meets the light; There is darkness in the tomb before the resurrection.

This Easter as you break open your hot cross buns, bite into your chocolate bunnies or quietly reflect in your place of worship, may you be reminded of the invitation this celebration offers. May you draw strength from others if darkness is your companion and may you know the reality of hope that each new dawn offers.

Thank you for all that you continue to do as you live the values of hospitality, respect, compassion, justice and excellence in your work and interactions with others.

Jenni Ashton

Kate Brereton wins 2022 WANMEA award

We are very excited to announce that St John of God Murdoch Hospital Specialist Nurse Kate Brereton, took out the Consumer Appreciation Award at the 2022 WA Nursing & Midwifery Excellence Awards earlier this month!

The Consumer Appreciation Award is the opportunity for a patient, client or support person to recognise the nurse or midwife who cared for them and made a difference in their care. We are not at all surprised that Kate was nominated for this award and beyond proud that she won in her category.

Director of Nursing SarahJayne Powell said, "To say I am proud of Kate and the care she provides to our patients every single day does not even begin to touch on how awesome she is. Stomal Therapy services at Murdoch flourish due to Kate's dedication and passion."

A big congratulations to all the nominees and winners in 2022! More here: https://bit.ly/ WANMEA-2023-SJGHC

eDirector of Nursing & Patient Experience Sarah-Jayne Powell, Kate Brereton and Deputy Director of Nursing (Clinical Safety & Quality) Kimberley Montgomery.

Caregiver of the year awarded to Kym

Kym Oakes’ kindness, compassion and care for patients, visitors and caregivers alike has earned her St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s 2022 Caregiver of the Year award.

During the Hospital’s annual St John of God Day celebrations, caregiver Kym Oakes was announced as our 2022 Caregiver of the Year in front of peers and hospital executives.

Kym started on Thomas Furlong as the ward clerk in 2021 and in just two years has had a significant impact on the ward.

Nurse Manager Karan Lane said Kym is an integral part of the Thomas Furlong team, who has a gift in making people’s experience on the ward positive, whether they are a patient, visitor or caregiver.

“Kym goes above and beyond to ensure our patient’s experience starts positively the minute they arrive. She will ensure the

patient is led safely to their room, where their comfort and warmth is addressed and a hot cup of tea is made. She will promptly inform the allocated nurse and ensure all patients’ loved ones are completely taken care of,” she said.

“Kym has an amazing memory, remembers every patient’s name and is able to look at a family member and direct them to the appropriate room without asking who they have come to visit. She makes the patient and family feel so important. It doesn’t matter how busy she is at the time, she will stop what she is doing and take the time to listen. Kym will always act on any concerns and do everything in her power to ensure any worries are resolved. She is instinctively considerate of sensitive, difficult and emotional situations.

“Her care further extends to all the caregivers on the Thomas Furlong ward. Kym is always willing to help and does whatever she can to ensure the safety and

wellbeing of her team.”

St John of God Murdoch Hospital acting Chief Executive Officer Michael Salter said Kym is a deserving recipient of the St John of God Murdoch Hospital Caregiver of the Year award.

“Kym’s care for patients and their families is exceptional and embodies our core values and mission. She is a worthy recipient of this award [Caregiver of the Year], which is bestowed upon her with much pride and gratitude,” he said.

“The hospitality Kym shows to others enables them to feel safe and secure during what is often a very stressful and difficult time. Kym is respectful and kind, and her warm and friendly demeanour helps not only orientate visitors to the ward, but contributes to their overall sense of personal wellbeing.”

Congratulations to Kym on this achievement and to all Caregivers of the Month from 2022.

Murdoch patients are saying:

Comment 1:

Prompt, caring attention, could not complain at all. That goes for each and everyone on the wards the day I was there.

Comment 2:

The midwives and all staff on St Mary’s ward have been nothing but absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for all your hard work.

Comment 3: ST JOSEPH WARD

I was well cared for. Excellent staff everywhere.

Patient Experience Matters heros

Red Cross Soup Patrol

Hannah, Dilwyn and SJ picked up the soup van and got on the road to help give back to the people in our community who are in need.

Caregiver of the Month

January - Hayley Wales

PCA on Bridget Clancy ward

Nomination:

Hayley is such a great helper and asset to our team. She is always eager to assist others in supporting patient care. One particular shift Hayley assisted in 2 showers on her afternoon shift which made such a difference to my load for the shift. Furthermore she had an extremely busy shift in multiple discharges, transfers to SKG and covering carer’s breaks. She did this with willingness and no complaints. Keep shining you’re going to make a great nurse.

Sweet volunteering moments

How sweet is this photo sent in by caregiver Ash, whose daughter Cove recently had surgery on our St Michael's paediatric ward.

Nurse Manager Comments: Hayley is a quiet presence on the ward. She is always approachable and always willing to help the team. She displays the value of excellence by going above and beyond for patient requests.

Pictured here is Volunteer Kath giving baby Cove a little sticker while she waits to go up onto the ward for surgery

All of our patients and visitors are met at the Hospital entrance by the friendly faces of our volunteers who help with directions, general enquiries and help ease nerves before a procedure.

OHS update

The office chairs we have around the hospital are ergonomic chairs and require a few small adjustments to make a large difference to the feel of the chair. Taking a minute at the start of your shift to adjust your workstation can make a large impact on how it feels throughout the course of the day.

• Raise the height of the back rest so that the bump in the back rest rests in the middle of the small of your back.

•Adjust the angle of the back rest so that when you are being supported, the back rest is approximately 15 degrees tilted.

•Ensure that the seat base allows you to rest comfortably into the back rest and avoid putting excess pressure on the back of the hamstrings. Have the seat base angle at 90 degrees or ‘flat’ and adjust accordingly.

• Raise the chair height to the highest point and slowly lower it until your elbow is in line with the top of the desk when at rest. If your feet are unable to rest

comfortably on the floor, make sure to use a footrest.

• Make sure the top third of the screen is in line with your eyes when looking straight forwards.

• Make sure that there is an arms-length of distance between you and the screen.

These quick adjustments will allow you to be able to adjust any workstation is suited to your individual needs. If you would like any further information, please contact the OHS team.

Angel eyes on our babies

Last week, it was announced that a Channel 7 Telethon Trust grant will directly help families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery at both St John of God Murdoch and St John of God Subiaco Hospitals

Funds from the grant will be used for ‘Angel Eyes’ camera systems, which provide live video streaming from NICU and Special Care Nursery cots, allowing parents and other family members to watch their vulnerable infants in real time, no matter where they are located.

We are thrilled to be included in the organisations that will

benefit from funding in 2023, and are so grateful to The Channel 7 Telethon Trust for their support. This will make a big difference to our families on St Mary’s maternity ward who cannot be with their baby.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/ SJF-FoundationTelethon-Grant

St John of God Foundation Philanthropy Manager Hannah Weir, at the 2023 Telethon Giving Ceremony last week.

World social work day 2023

The social work team at SJG Murdoch have new staff members that have joined their team. Claire Campbell and Emily Rodriguez who are job sharing and are currently on Thomas Furlong.

The SW team are proud to celebrate World Social Work Day which is held on the third Tuesday of March each year, this year falling on Tuesday 21 March 2023. The theme for this year is 'Respecting diversity through joint social action’. By embracing diversity in the workplace, a team can feel more motivated to achieve a shared goal.

What is Social Work?

Social work is a profession that helps people to overcome complex life challenges and circumstances. The work includes empowering and enabling individuals, families, groups, communities, organisations and society to enhance their quality of life. Social work aims to maximise the development of human potential and the fulfilment of human needs.

Hospital social workers work collaboratively to provide psychosocial support and counselling to patients and families to adjust to their situations, supporting their ability to cope with the practical, psychosocial, and economic issues connected to an illness.

Hot Cross Buns(free)

in the Dining Room!

Hot Cross Buns have traditionally been a way to commemorate Good Friday, with the cross being a visual representation of Jesus’ crucifixion and the spices a reminder of the fragrances used for Jesus burial. As a Catholic hospital it is important for us to remember our Christian heritage and celebrate the hope that Easter offers.

Holy Thursday 6 April 9am - 11am

Murdoch Safety & Quality awards 2023

The Murdoch Safety & Quality awards are returning for the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and we can’t wait to start reading some incredible nominations.

Look out for more information coming soon on how you can submit your ward or departments Quality Improvement Project!

We are currently seeking new members for our Consumer Advisory Group from current or former patients, family members or friends or anyone who wants to contribute to improving the experience of our patients and their loved ones.

We are currently seeking new consumers who can help us help our patients as part of our Consumer Advisory Group!

If you know someone who is a current or former patient, family members or friends, or anyone who wants to contribute to improving the experience of our patients and their loved ones, please send them info on how they can apply for this paid role.

St John of God Foundation

Brogden Bursary helps to provide invaluable hands-on training for Murdoch caregivers

In 2021, a bursary was established for St John of God Murdoch Hospital caregivers, to enable them to further develop their professional skills and enhance the exceptional level of care that is provided to the local community.

The bursary, which was kindly funded by the Brogden family, has since helped five clinical nursing caregivers from the St John of God Murdoch Hospital Cancer Centre to gain invaluable hands-on training.

Bursary recipients Tayla Parsons and Jennifer Mager have had the opportunity to work with specialist cancer nursing teams across St John of God Subiaco and Murdoch hospitals, as well as with teams from external organisations including Breast Care WA and the Cancer Council.

“I am in the process of completing a Master of Clinical Nursing, specialising in advanced practice relative to cancer services,” said Tayla.

“I am using funds from the bursary to aid my professional development through the observation of clinical nurse specialists in a variety of cancer services to gain insight into their role, the care and support they provide to their patients throughout their cancer journey, and to identify key areas for improvement to ensure all aspects of patient health and wellbeing are addressed.”

Tayla also said she hoped the experience she gained through the hands on training would allow her to observe and learn from specialists in the field, and apply their learnings to her own practice and hopefully

improve the quality of patient care being delivered.

“I would like to thank the Brogden family for their generous donation,” Tayla said.

Frances Brogden, who sadly passed away in early 2022, was previously treated at St John of God Murdoch Hospital and greatly appreciated the care she received from the Cancer Centre team – perhaps even more so as she was herself a professional working in the Pathology sector.

“My experience of being treated at the St John of God Murdoch Hospital Cancer Centre has been truly amazing and humbling. The team at the Cancer Centre is one of the best I have experienced,” Frances said.

“The team is compassionate, shows empathy and total professionalism to patients and to each other. Everyone from the oncologists to the nurses to the volunteers do not let egos get in the way of them working effectively together.

“They constantly communicate and help each other out for the benefit of the patients and make the Cancer Centre a

happy and caring place. There is always a laugh to be heard.”

Frances also said she hoped that the bursary would support caregivers to increase their knowledge and keep up the high standard of care.

“She was a lovely lady,” said recipient Jennifer Mager, who had the pleasure of meeting Frances during her time at the hospital.

The bursary enabled Jennifer to continue her training in a Breast Care Nurse role, and expand her knowledge and experience through practical learning.

“I'm honoured to able to have the chance to increase my knowledge because of Frances and her family.”

Amazing individuals like Frances and the Brogden family are making a difference each and every day. Find out more at www.sjogfoundation.org.au/

What is a bursary?

A bursary is a monetary award (often made by a donor) provided to an individual to enable them to undertake further study

Barry and Frances Brogden with Cancer Centre caregivers at the launch of the bursary

Record number of grad nurses in 2022-2023

In very exciting news, we have had nearly 200 graduate nurses and midwives start with St John of God Health Care last month, following a record number of 273 grads who joined us in 2022.

These nurses are across four streams around Australia, including nursing, mental health nursing, perioperative nursing and midwifery.

Read more about this here: https://bit.ly/grad-nurses-sjghc

Six months of Sunny

It has officially been six 'paw-some' months since our 'su-paw-star' Wellbeing Dog Sunny joined us at Murdoch!

Sunny continues to make such a positive difference everyday around the Hospital. She continues to be a (not so little) ray of sunshine for us here at Murdoch and we feel so lucky that she is part of the team.

If you have any cute photos of Sunny, feel free send them to us via her Instagram page or at murdoch.marketing@sjog.org.au

Justice of the Peace

Have you ever seen our lovely volunteers Kathleen and Harry around the hospital together?

Well, they play a very special role here at Murdoch.

They are ‘Justices of the Peace’ and play an essential part of the justice system and in the community in Western Australia. This role can only be undertaken in a volunteering capacity.

What do JPs do?

JPs are regularly called upon by the WA Police Force to issue search warrants.

Other tasks include witnessing affidavits, statutory declarations and certifying documents.

There is a need for JPs to assist at document witnessing centres and other places, including Hospitals.

JPs are expected to perform their

duties consistently and be available to the public whenever possible.

To become a JP, the nomination has to be submitted through a State member of parliament and be approved by the Governor. They must also undergo an intensive JP training course before being appointed.

At Murdoch, our JPs could be called in on any day, at any time to help authorise and witness statutory declarations or affidavits, and certify documents. Harry and Kathleen are always seen together as there must be two JPs witnessing the signing of a document at any time.

Justices of the Peace Harry and Kathleen assisting ICU patient Cathy in signing an important document. Cathy could not sign this document without assistance which is when Harry and Kathleen were called in.

They are an incredible asset to our team here at Murdoch and play a really important role in the lives of our patients, who are often in very vulnerable positions.

Farewelling George from Engineering

It was a bittersweet moment, farewelling long-term caregiver George Borak from the Engineering team. George was a caregiver at Murdoch for 30 years and after he retired, he continued as a volunteer on the Engineering team, giving up his time to assist with day-today tasks. You will be sorely missed at Murdoch George and we wish you all the best as you travel to Croatia to spend lots of quality time with your family!

heart heart to

For many years the Pastoral Services team have been giving soft felt hearts to those who are anxious, distressed or grieving.

But we have almost run out of our existing supply, so we need your help…

We are looking for willing caregivers to be heart makers, so that we can continue this important aspect of our pastoral care.

We believe that in the midst of pain, a simple soft heart can convey what words cannot.

Just think of the difference your loving heart could make to the experiences of those whose hearts feel broken.

Sewing packs can be collected from the Pastoral Services Department (on the LGF)

Monday – Friday 9.00am – 3.00pm.

National Be Kind Day

On March 2, we celebrated Australia’s National Be Kind Day.

This year is all about BEING THE CHANGE!

Kindness is a very active virtue in the culture here at Murdoch, between caregivers, patients and visitors alike.

Director of Nursing, Sarah-Jayne, went around and chatted to caregivers about the last time they were kind to themselves, kind to the planet, or did a random act of kindness for someone else.

Check out the video by clicking the image!

St Patty’s Day

Check out Amber from Catering with Michael and SJ, all decked out in her St Patricks Day gear!

If there’s one thing to know about Murdoch caregivers, it’s that we do love a good dress-up!

Helping our local community understand their treatment options

Did you know that our Marketing team hosts a calendar of free patient information seminars to help community members better understand their treatment options and procedures?

These sessions are presented by our specialists who are at the top of their field and are designed for community members to come along to our hospital and learn more about various procedures, services of interest, recovery and the

different options available.

Check out the sessions we will be running this year and feel free to send it along to friends and family members who might benefit from attending one of these sessions.

Genesis heart care rebrand

Same locations. Same care teams. New Name.

Our cardiology centres have recently changed their name from GenesisCare Cardiology to Advara HeartCare, following a change of ownership in late 2022. While things may start to look and sound a little different, our number one priority is continuity of care for your patients. Our cardiologists, teams and locations remain the same, and this will have no impact on patient care.

For more information: advaraheartcare.com/newname-hcp

Our sleep & respiratory centres have recently changed their name from GenesisCare Sleep to Advara Sleep & Respiratory Care, following a change of ownership in late 2022. Our sleep & respiratory physicians, teams and locations remain the same, and this will have no impact on patient care.

For more information: advarasleepcare.com

Our name has changed, but our high-quality patient-focused care remains the same.

St John of God Day 2023

On March 8, we celebrated St John of God Day.

Caregivers enjoyed juice and coffee in the morning, into a hearty lunch of paella and Portuguese tarts. St John of God

was a Portuguese soldier turned healthcare worker in Spain, hence the delicious lunch menu!

Caregivers also enjoyed a Mass and our Caregiver of the Year celebration which was awarded to Kym Oakes, who is the ward

clerk on our Thomas Furlong ward.

You can find out more about the day and St John of God's incredible story here: https://bit. ly/St-John-of-God-Day-2023