SEM Covid-19 News

2022 COVID-19 Update St John of God SEM Hospitals (Berwick, Frankston, Pinelodge)

VICTORIAN SNAPSHOT

(as at Thurs 20th Jan)

Cases 21,966 Hospitalised 1,206 (33 new) ICU 122 (-3 new) Deaths 1,751 (15 new) 2nd dose vaccinated (16+) 92.7% 3rd dose vaccinated (16+) 26.3% Source: covidlive.com.au

SEPHU (South East Public Health Unit) SNAPSHOT (as at Tuesday 18th Jan)

SEPHU all new cases 6,016 SEPHU new PCR test cases 2,547 SEPHU new RA test cases 3,469

SEPHU total cases since 4/8/21 191,955 SEPHU deaths since 4/8/21 229

Thursday 20th January, 2022

Prioritizing Patients Everyday By wearing your PPE correctly, you are prioritizing your patients, and each other, every single day! If you need a refresher, a reminder or some new PPE please see your manager who will be happy to help.

If you’re spotted doing the right thing by a member of the Covid Response Team, you may just find yourself with a little prize too!

SEPHU New cases by LGA (top 5)

Casey 1,422 23.6%

Greater Dandenong 641 10.7% Monash 518 8.6% Kingston 510 8.5% Glen Eira 499 8.3% Source: Monash SEPHU daily report

Get your 3rd dose now!

3rd dose booster vaccinations are now mandatory for all healthcare workers, 3 months from your second dose.

The Berwick vaccine clinic is available for all SEM caregivers and VMOs (Berwick, Pinelodge and Frankston) Caregiver walk-ins welcome. Healthcare workers are given priority.

Alternatively, make a booking by calling the Department of Health hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit www. coronavirus.vic.gov.au Located on ground floor, SJG Berwick Hospital, 75 Kangan Drive, Berwick.

Tues-Sat 8:30am – 4pm

Code brown: A note from Group CEO, Dr Shane Kelly 18 January 2022 Dear caregivers, As many of you would be aware a state wide code brown has today been called in the Victorian hospital system as COVID 19 admissions and significant furloughing of staff continues to impact.

It is important to note that this code brown does not presently apply to private hospitals.

Code Brown is a measure typically reserved for short term emergencies and this code is aimed at relieving pressure in the metropolitan and regional public health networks.

Code Brown allows a range of measures to be implemented including the deferral of services, redeployment of staff and cancellation of leave.

The measure will commence at midday on Wednesday 19th January and may last for four to six weeks. The code is also aimed sending a message to community to avoid hospital if people can manage at home.

Private hospitals have the option of calling a Code Brown however at this stage St John of God Health Care will not be activating this measure in any of its Victorian hospitals. We will monitor this situation closely to ascertain if we need to review our position and of course we will continue to play a very active role supporting our public health service partners as we respond to the current challenges in Victoria.

As always thank you to all our caregivers for the wonderful responses being offered in the many communities we serve.

Regards, Shane

Managing our response to COVID-19 at our SEM hospitals It may interest you to know that a South East Melbourne (SEM) Covid-19 Reponse Team was formed back in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic and is still meeting regularly. The team is made up of our HMC and other leaders from our SEM region. The objective of this team is to pro-actively plan and respond to the many challenges and changes occurring as a result of the pandemic.

At each meeting, a thorough agenda is covered including (but not limited to!) PPE, testing and vaccinations, workforce, supply, communications, caregiver wellbeing, visitor rules and the latest updates and rules from the Department of Health.

If you have questions or ideas to share with the team, email: SEM-CovidResponseTeam@sjog.org.au The Covid-19 Repsonse Team: Lisa Norman -SEM CEO Linda Allen- CEO, Pinelodge Clinic and Langmore Centre Allison Merrigan- DON Berwick John Monagle- DMS Shelley Cooper-DCS Pinelodge Clinic Karen Ward- Acting DCS Frankston Catherine Campbell- OH&S Manager Priscilla Singh- Clinical Nurse: Infection control and prevention Suzie Marquez- Infection Control Co-Ord Sharne Tilling- Infection Control Nurse Leonie Wills- Deputy DON Berwick Lisa Carman- Marketing and Comms Manager Helen McCulloch- Executive Assistant Danny Antonopoulous- Director of Finance Sara Crees- Director Corporate Services Eveline Soon- Clinical Governance Manager Rhonda O’Connor- Director of Mission Integration Suzanne Hallifax -Business Development Manager

Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic at Berwick Vaccination Clinic Bookings Bookings can be made to our clinic via the state booking system www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment or Caregivers including VMO’s can send an email to sem.caregivers@sjog.org.au to request “walk in” attendance. We will ensure that numbers are limited to ensure we have enough vaccines and to minimise wait times.

Vaccination Clinic Requirements • Bring your Medicare Care • If recovering from COVID-19 and seeking a vaccination you need to have fulfilled your 7 day Isolation

requirement and fully recovered from your infection with no symptoms.

Clinic times are as follows (children clinics highlighed in yellow):Children’s Clinics on the 4th and 5th February will not be advertised on the state system and will be exclusively offered to our caregivers including our VMO’s Date Adult Children Lunchtime Closure Thursday 20th January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Friday 21st January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd Clinic Closed Monday 24th January Clinic Closed Tuesday 25th January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Wednesday 26th January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Thursday 27th January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Friday 28th January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th Clinic Closed Monday 31st January 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Tuesday 1st February 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Wednesday 2nd February 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Thursday 3rd February 8:30am – 4pm 12 midday – 1pm Friday 4th February 4pm – 8pm Saturday 5th Februrary 10am – 6pm 12 midday – 1pm Sunday 6th February Clinic Closed From Monday 7th February the Clinic will run at the following times:Monday to Thursday Friday Saturday

Adult Clinic – 8:30am – 4pm (Closed 12-1 for lunch) Children’s Clinic 4pm – 8pm Children’s Clinic – 10am – 6pm (Closed 12-1 for lunch)

COVID-19 testing clinic update Location Ground Floor – Opposite Front Reception. St John of God Berwick Hospital, 75 Kangan Drive, Berwick

Types and Hours of Service ACL Pre-Admission Patient PCR Service • For patients who have been booked for admission and require a PCR swab prior to admission.

• 9am-1pm • Monday to Friday.

St John of God caregiver/VMO service • For caregivers/VMO’s required to test • For patients required to undertake RAT or Rapid PCR on admission • 7am-3pm • Monday to Friday • RAT, Rapid PCR and PCR. • The team can be contacted:- Amy - Monday to Thursday- ext. no 45511

Tori - Friday- ext. no 45490 Out of hours After Hours Co-ordinators will have a list of caregivers who can assist if urgent test required.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Fit Testing of N95 Masks for all caregivers (Clinical and Non Clinical) and VMO’s.

Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) Fit Tester (0.4 FTE)

Fit testing appointemnts are now available for all caregivers.

This includes new caregivers, caregivers who have not yet been tested, those who previously have had testing but have two or less masks on their list of mask choices, and those due for their annual test.

We have an opportunity for caregivers to apply for a RPP Fit Tester position to coordinate and support the Respiratory Protection Program at our South East Melbourne Hospitals.

When is the testing available?

• Berwick 17/1/22 – 18/2/22 • Frankston 21/2/22 – 4/3/22 • Pinelodge 7/3/22 – 18/3/22

The purpose of the role is to perform fit testing with SJGHC caregivers in accordance with state government testing guidelines and requirements, taking into account state OHS legislative requirements to keep our caregivers, patients and clients safe.

Who can be tested?

All Caregivers (clinical and non-clinical) and VMO’s can make an appointment for Fit Testing.

The position is permanent part-time at 0.4 FTE. The successful candidate may be offered additional hours in the short-term. Secondment from a current role is possible. The position reports to the Lead OHS Consultant and will liaise with the Group RPP Coordinator.

I am a manager, how do I find out who in my team needs to be tested?

If you would like to view Fit Test reports for your department and understand who is due for renewal please follow the instructions in the attached document to access the Analytics Portal. Caregivers that are due to expire between now and the 30th June 2022 are welcome to book in to renew their test.

The successful candidate will have: • A willingness and capacity to embrace the

Mission and Values of St John of God

Health Care.

• A relevant qualification to perform fit

testing assessments, or willingness and

capacity to complete relevant training.

Completion of Respiratory Fit Testing

Training to RespFit© standard (provided by

SJGHC if required).

• Knowledge of and experience in the use of

Personal Protective Equipment and

Respiratory Protection Equipment.

• An understanding of the various types of

respiratory equipment and the relevant

OHS and Infection Protection and Control standards.

• Effective written and verbal communication

skills, including computer literacy.

• Sound skills in problem solving,

organisation, planning and time management.

• Ability to educate and support staff on all

elements of the fit testing process.

• Ability to work effectively both

independently and within a team.

If you are interested in this positions please discuss with your manager and submit an “Expression of Interest” including a current CV and cover letter to: Leonie.wills@sjog.org.au Applications Close: COB 31st January 2022

How often do I need to be tested?

Caregivers and VMO’s should be tested annually.

I don’t usually wear an N95, do I need to be tested?

The use of N95 Masks is as per the SEM PPE Guide. An updated guide will be circulated shortly to all caregivers & VMO’s which will include the latest changes of coming back to work after a contact. However there may be times you may need to wear an N95 Mask i.e. if you are returning to work after being a close contact, if we need to care for scovid/covid patients etc.

We encourage all caregivers and VMO’s to take the opportunity to get Fit Tested, just in case there is a need to wear an N95 Mask.

Do I have to wait until the testing dates at my hospital before I can be fit tested?

As the dates for the Pinelodge and Frankston Testing are not for a number of weeks, caregivers from these sites are welcome to book for tests at Berwick.Alternatively Berwick caregivers are welcome to book for testing at Frankston or Pinelodge when dates are available.

What is the difference between Fit Checking and Fit Testing?

Fit Checking is part of the process you should follow when putting on an N95 mask each time you wear it. Fit Testing is a series of tests to determine which masks are the best fit for you.

How do I book in for Fit Testing?

Please contact Samara Naylor samara.naylor@sjog.org.au to book. Details of booking process for Pinelodge and Frankston will be circulated nearer to the testing dates.

if there is something more you’d like to see, please contact Lisa Carman, Marketing Manager on lisa.carman@sjog.org.au or 0407 682 501