SUMMER 2018
ST ANDREW’S NEWS
Welcome to Dr Smith and Dr Liew Bringing the latest minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery to St Andrew’s.
350 South Terrace Adelaide South Australia 5000 Telephone 08 8408 2111 Facsimile 08 8232 0328
SP ED E IT CIA IO L N
SEE PAGE 11.
ISSUE
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FROM THE CEO Welcome to this special edition of the St Andrew’s Newsletter where we feature the opening of the new Eastern Clinical Development on one side of the newsletter and bring you up to date with the other exciting activities of St Andrew’s on the other side. We are all very proud of how far we have come and the first article on page 2 is a fabulous overview of our cardiac journey. It highlights the importance of the entire cardiac team and the wonderful work we are doing here. This is now all enhanced by our brand new cardiac unit and angiography suites that provides state of the art equipment and outstanding patient accommodation. The combination of our highly skilled cardiac team, excellent facilities and equipment has seen this service grow in both activity and complexity. On page 4 we have included a media article that highlights our daVinci robot and the acquisition of a second
console that allows more complex procedures to be performed and of course the improved ability to teach new robotic surgeons. Once again this highly sophisticated equipment was generously supported by our wonderful friend Mr Gordon Pickard. It is entirely appropriate to acknowledge Gordon’s continued philanthropy and contribution to the South Australian community. Earlier this year we held a graduation ceremony for the 12 participants in our 2017 Graduate Nurse Program (page 9), this was a lovely evening where our graduates attended in ‘formal’ attire with members of their family to celebrate their work and learning over the past 12 months. Similarly we acknowledged the contribution of those staff who had recently achieved a milestone years of service (page 6). As you can see we have a significant number of long serving and dedicated staff and we are proud that they have chosen to remain at St Andrew’s.
It is a pleasure to feature Dr Mike Smith and Dr Chien-Wen Lew from Orthopaedics 360 (page 11) and the work that they are doing at St Andrew’s. In particular it is our pleasure to welcome back Mike who worked at St Andrew’s as a clinical orderly whilst studying his medical degree at Adelaide University. As usual there are many other articles on the activities of our Foundation and staff. I hope you enjoy reading our special edition and until next time stay happy and healthy.
Stephen Walker Chief Executive Officer
CARDIAC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE St Andrew’s has a long and successful history of providing cardiac services to South Australians. Our association with Adelaide Cardiology and its leading cardiologists has also led to us carrying out some Australianfirst trials and procedures. Building on our well-regarded reputation, we introduced cardiac surgery in 2013, which resulted in the establishment of our Cardiac Centre of Excellence. In 2018, and elevated by the recent opening of the new cardiac unit in the Eastern Clinical Development, we are well and truly at the forefront of cardiac services.
Leading cardiologist Dr Peter Sage has been associated with St Andrew’s for many years. “Adelaide Cardiology is very proud to be part of providing cardiac services at St Andrew’s,” says Dr Sage. “We’re extremely pleased with the excellent results that have been achieved for our patients”. From a cardiology perspective, procedures include coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, device implantation, arrhythmia ablation, and electrophysiological studies and
investigation. Additionally, we work with Adelaide Cardiology to facilitate world-class international cardiac research in the areas of transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and percutaneous mitral valve repair, further reaffirming our position as leaders in South Australia. We are one of only two private hospitals in South Australia accredited to perform this procedure. As mentioned, the Eastern Clinical Development has expanded our cardiac facilities. It houses two new state-of-the-art angiography suites
Cardiac surgery is an extremely specialised field, requiring specifically trained nursing staff. Our experienced staff are central to the success of the cardiac unit, and their highly regarded skills are often acknowledged by our medical officers. “St Andrew’s provides a complete cardiothoracic service for South Australia in line with its established ethos of excellence,” says cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Rob Stuklis. “It’s performed by a team of expert, ethical and caring surgeons who are all uniquely able to perform both contemporary cardiac and thoracic surgery. They’re supported by a highly cohesive and skilled team of expert anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, perfusionists and nursing staff, with collective experience of hundreds of years. The surgeries are performed in technical operating suites incorporating the most advanced equipment. We are committed to providing cardiothoracic excellence.” St Andrew’s is able to support its surgeons and doctors, and ensure patient safety, through the provision of our critical care and cardiac units. Our specialised doctors and highly trained nurses in the critical care unit provide excellent care. “Closely associated with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, our intensivists lead a team of nurses and registrars with extensive experience in the postoperative management of cardiac patients,” says Dr Jon Fraser, Head of Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Services at St Andrew’s and the Royal Adelaide Hospital. “This has ensured excellent outcomes over the last five years.”
Although our medical officers and nurses are familiar with our biomedical engineers and the important role they play, often, little is known about their profession. We employ three biomedical engineers who provide assistance with all cardiac bypass surgery equipment and assist with theatre setup. The heart lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass) is operated by a highly skilled perfusionist. Peter Frantzis is part of the team providing a perfusion service at St Andrew’s. While the patient is on bypass, Peter is responsible for their circulatory functions, allowing the surgeon to focus on the actual surgery and less on the patient’s immediate needs. “The moment you step through the doors into St Andrew’s Hospital, a unique culture exists with respect to the professionalism and high standard of care provided to patients,” says Peter. “It’s been a great pleasure to provide a perfusion service over the many years as part of the hospital’s outstanding cardiac service.” Cardiac anaesthetists use a specialised ultrasound probe to view the heart. Transoesophageal
echocardiography (TOE) has become an essential part of cardiac surgery. TOE involves passing a small echocardiography probe into the oesophagus to view the heart. The probe can remain in place as long as required. It’s a very safe procedure and gives cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists and intensivists vital information about the function of the heart, including how well the heart valves are working both before and after surgery. Of course, operating on the heart affects the entire function of the body, including the body’s most complex organ, the brain. St Andrew’s recently purchased a cerebral oximeter, which measures oxygen levels in the brain and alerts specialists to a range of incidents during surgery, allowing timely intervention.
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and a purpose-built 28-bed cardiac unit, as well as a redesign of the existing cardiac theatre. The new cardiac unit will contain the latest in patient monitoring, featuring a system that enables patients to be fully monitored from various locations around the unit (rather than just the nurses’ station), as well as a room design that ensures nurses can visually check patients from outside it, without having to disturb them by entering the area. Clinical Manager Lisa Walter reflects: “Our cardiac unit nursing team is very much looking forward to continuing to provide the most upto-date care and expanding clinical skills, with the introduction of new interventions and procedures in an environment that enhances patient comfort and recovery.”
As is evident from this article, our Cardiac Centre of Excellence involves a multidisciplinary approach. Together with Adelaide Cardiology, we’re proud to be leaders in this important specialty.
A typical patient room in the new Cardiac Unit
Cardiologists at St Andrew’s can be contacted through Adelaide Cardiology at the St Andrew’s Medical Centre on South Terrace. Cardiac surgeons operating at St Andrew’s are Dr Rob Stuklis, Mr Fabiano Viana, Mr Michael Worthington and Mr James Edwards.
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ANOTHER SA FIRST AT StA’s!
In an extraordinary display of generosity, Mr Gordon Pickard AM has once again donated to the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation to make possible the acquisition of an additional training console for the da Vinci Surgical Robot, also funded by Mr Pickard. We are delighted to have performed this operation for the first time in South Australia and thank Mr Pickard, Dr Sutherland and the surgical team for making it a reality for our patient and paving the way for others in the future.
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In 2017, St Andrew’s underwent the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation process and was assessed against 10 National Safety and Quality in Health Care Standards. As reported in previous issues of this newsletter, we passed with flying colours. However, we’re always looking for ways to further improve our service delivery for the benefit of patients’; and our nursing team recently launched a fantastic new initiative to do just that. With one of the ACHS standards including “Preventing delirium and managing cognitive impairment”, the nursing team has begun a pilot program to identify ways we can improve our care delivery to this group of patients. The aim of the standard is to ensure patients experiencing delirium receive optimal treatment to reduce the condition’s duration and severity. It also aims to ensure patients at risk of delirium during a hospital admission are identified promptly and receive preventive strategies.
The St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation volunteers have made a significant contribution to achieving the above, by making therapeutic blankets and sleeves to cover medical devices. The aim of these is to provide purposeful and meaningful activities for the patient to engage with. Through discussion and a range of ideas presented, the volunteers have created a visually bright
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RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO NEED BOX ADDITIONAL CARE blanket that provides a range of activities for a patient to do, either in bed or sitting out. These include a range of tactile experiences designed to stimulate, sooth and/or distract the patient. We will be introducing the use of a Dementia Resource Box, which will include the therapeutic blankets and sleeves, early in 2018.
Volunteer Bev Woods, who made the activity blanket
The pilot program will focus on: •p roviding meaningful engagement with patients who are cognitively impaired •u sing “activities” to facilitate effective interaction and open communication avenues with people with dementia, or who are otherwise cognitively impaired •p erson-centered care, through engaging with family, etc. to understand patients’ likes/dislikes and what activities they’re familiar with (information that can be difficult to obtain directly from the patient, especially when they’re unwell).
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SERVICE RECOGNITION PRESENTATIONS ST ANDREW’S DAY 2017 As part of St Andrew’s Day celebrations on Thursday 30 November, the hospital was delighted to acknowledge and recognise the contribution of 138 staff who achieved a milestone year of service in 2017. Jacquie Wiley, Director Nursing and Clinical Services, presented servicerecognition certificates and badges at three presentations held across the day for our clinical and nonclinical staff. We were delighted that 58 staff attended one of the three presentations, where Jacquie shared reflections about each staff member and their contribution to the hospital. This year four staff achieved the amazing milestone of 35 years of service. Congratulations to Rina Levicki (Medical Records), Virginia Meredith (RN CCU), Christine Oakes (EN Theatre) and Gizella Toth (Physio 4th Floor).
Carolyn-Anne Nieckarz – 2nd Floor Patricia Paterson – Coding Jo Pegler – Emergency Department Susan Saies – 2nd Floor Adrian Saunders – Nursing Administration Anne Sherlock – Nursing Administration Jennifer Slade – Anaesthetics and Recovery Marc Vale – Anaesthetics and Recovery
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20 years’ service: Lisa Arnott – CCU Leanne Batten – Theatre Angela Bayldon – Claims Assessment Lisa Bilsborow – 3A Steven Bishop – Emergency Department Yvonne Cowling – CCU Jacquie Furmage – CCU Geoff Geeson – Emergency Department Viv Gill – Bookings Carmel Goodwin – Finance Birgit Graham – Patient Services Lindy Irwin – 3A Linda Jarratt – Infection Control Libby Jones – Discharge Coordinator Janine Kelly – Coding Dianne Kelsey – Emergency Department Kellie Lindner – Patient Services Karen Lownds – Day Patient Suite Julie Molnar – CCU Ann-Marie Nordin – Day Patient Suite Tracey Randall – Finance Janet Roberts – Dietary Services Alison Sarles – Human Resources Heidi Schulze – Anaesthetics and Recovery Eileen Slater – Theatre Merryn Smith – Day Patient Suite Michelle Steer – 4th Floor Trudy Unger – CCU Deirdre Victorsen – Dietary Services Jacquie Wiley – Executive Beth Wilson – Bookings
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The following staff were also recognised for outstanding service to St Andrew’s:
30 years’ service: Steven Kotlowy – Emergency Department Janet Mitchell – Anaesthetics and Recovery Karin Pfeiffer – 2nd Floor Renate Pumpa – 2nd Floor Gillian Skinner – CCU Toni Thomas – Patient Services Vicki Venning – Theatre 25 years’ service: Jillian Borthwick – Breast Clinic Angela Britton – 2nd Floor Jocelyn Brockhoff – Day Patient Suite Rosalie Collins – 3A Jane Heywood – Emergency Department Kerry Holm – Human Resources Margaret Ireland – CCU Judy Knapp – 4th Floor Susan Mariner – Day Patient Suite Yvette McRae – Emergency Department Lisa Mucklow – SACS
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15 years’ service: Jane Bonner – SACS Sandra Brown – 4th Floor Joanne Castree – Coding Peter Cooper – Engineering and Support Services Gloria Davies – Day Patient Suite Karen Dean – Patient Services Sean Dennis – CCU Irena Frishling – 2nd Floor Heather Grady – 2nd Floor Joseph Habib – Emergency Department Belinda Heading – Dietary Services Jane Knight – 4th Floor Karen Kowalick – Theatre Greg Laing – Information Technology Anna Lindblom – CSSD Georgia Lucas – 2nd Floor Suzanne Mabikafola – 4th Floor Lee McGovern – Patient Services
Kathryn McKenzie – Information Technology Lani Miller – CCU Kathy Mitchell – 3A Christopher Mushan – Emergency Department Sarah Neumann – 4th Floor Heather Nicolson – Emergency Department Stace Nuttall – 2nd Floor Wendy Pember – 3A David Phillips – Executive Lyndee Powell – SACS Anne-Louise Pudney – Theatre Constance Reardon – 3A Kath Reval – Theatre Fiorella Romano – 2nd Floor Frankie Stacey-Bateman – Emergency Department Natalie Sweeney – 4th Floor Emma Tiller – CCU Celia Turner – Dietary Services Stephen Walker – Executive Bun Yiv – Emergency Department
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10 years’ service: Prue Anning – 4th Floor Rob Arbon – Dietary Services Phil Baker – Theatre Samantha Barton – 3A Michelle Benton – Patient Services Dianne Bitter – Dietary Services Michelle Boast – 4th Floor Kerry Brooksby – CCU Kristen Buranyi-Trevarton – 2nd Floor Roslyn Daly – Coding Heather Davis – 2nd Floor Natalie Edgecomb – Theatre John Foster-Borg – Supply David Glenn – Dietary Services Jodie Goodchild – Finance Annette Goudy – 3A Tanya Harrison – Theatre Kate Holly – 4th Floor Michele McGuire – 2nd Floor Gayle Michael – 3A Kelly-Marie Norman – Pre-Admission Clinic Mariangela Pileggi – 3A Meaghan Pilkington – CCU Cara Roesler – Cardiac Unit Nasreen Routh – Anaesthetics and Recovery Garry Schaefer – Maintenance Hema Shankar – CCU Mignon Simon – Emergency Department Lynne Stuart – 4th Floor David Stuart – 4th Floor Andrew Sykes – Emergency Department Rebecca Tanner – CCU Simone Tolladay – 4th Floor/Pre Admission Clinic Rhian Ward – CCU Katherine White – Theatre Sally White – 2nd Floor Alyce White – Dietary Services Glenda Worthington – CCU Kathryn Wright – 3A
KINDNESS COMES FROM EVEN THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE ST ANDREW’S FAMILY Wil is a genuinely talented, eloquent, thoughtful and brave 10-year-old. When his family were faced with Wil’s beloved grandmother being ill last year, it was Wil’s artwork that brought her joy. In a wonderful gesture of kindness way beyond his years, Wil has designed and printed a series of cards to give away to visitors and patients at St Andrew’s to brighten their day.
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CARD FULL OF KINDNESS As part of Wil’s Year 6 school project, he came up with his idea as he reflected upon how happy his grandmother was to see his creations. The back of Wil’s cards all contain this message: Hello my name is Wil. I am a Year 6 primary school student. My class project involved being a community superhero. This year my grandma Joy was very sick and was in St Andrew’s Hospital. When I visited, my cards and art always made her feel better. For my project, I chose to design cards to make other people feel better too and make their days in hospital brighter. Get well soon! From Wil. We kept a “thank you” book for Wil for people to write a message of thanks as they took a card to pass on to someone special. The messages are genuinely heartwarming, and show that Wil and his family have indeed made a big difference for people in their community. Thank you Wil! You are a star and have made many, many people happy. Thanks also to Mont Marte, who generously gave Wil a lovely collection of art supplies to inspire his work.
L-R Coffee Shop Manager John Coates, Wil and CEO Stephen Walker
FOUNDATION PROVIDES ANOTHER COLD CAP FOR OUR CHEMOTHERAPY PATIENTS In 2015, the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation was able to support the hospital’s chemotherapy patients by donating funds to purchase a stateof-the-art cold cap. With continued support from our donors, we’re now able to purchase a second cap to make this technology available to even more patients.
Increasingly, patients are requesting to use the cold-cap system, which reduces the likelihood of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy drugs. “A cancer diagnosis, followed by having chemotherapy is a highly stressful time for our patients,” says Acting Clinical Manager Lyndee Powell. “That, combined with the prospect of hair loss, is very confronting. The cold caps can ease hair loss and make a difficult time slightly more bearable.”
Thank you to the foundation, which continues to support St Andrew’s patients, and to the generous donors whose gifts have made this acquisition possible.
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COMMUNITY & EVENTS
celebrating five, 10 and 15 years’ service. We value the contribution of our volunteers very much, and look forward to this opportunity to show our appreciation every year.
LET THEM EAT! ST ANDREW’S IN THE MEDIA
FOUNDATION SUPPORTS STAFF THROUGH EXPANDED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM The St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation has long supported hospital staff’s professional development, and this year we’ve increased our support to fund three programs covering the full breadth of medical specialties offered at the hospital. Along with three scholarships for the UniSA Leadership Development Program announced and awarded earlier this year, the foundation recently offered two further scholarship programs: the Clinical Scholarship Program, and the Oncology Scholarship Program. All scholarships are fully funded and present a wonderful opportunity for our staff to continue their professional development outside their day-to-day work. Congratulations to the following staff, who will commence study in 2018. Clinical Scholarship Program • Eloise Tilley, Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science, Intensive Care Nursing, University of Adelaide • Boying Li, Cardiac Diploma, University of Adelaide Oncology Scholarship Program • Sarah Hillier, Graduate Certificate in Nursing, Breast Care, La Trobe University • Rachael Maher, Graduate Certificate in Nursing, Stomal Therapy, Australian College of Nursing
MILLY MONARCH Waverley House Community Garden Coordinator Sia Booth wrote and illustrated a beautiful book, Milly Monarch Lays Her First Egg, in celebration of her love for gardening and the Monarch Butterfly. We are supporting Sia and her wonderful book by selling it in the hospital’s coffee shop. Ten per cent of all sales will be donated back to the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation.
VOLUNTEERS CHRISTMAS PARTY Our annual volunteers Christmas party was held in Waverley House just prior to the group taking a much-deserved break over the festive season. We were delighted to present certificates of appreciation and small gifts to all our volunteers, and made a special presentation of a lapel pin and certificate to those
At St Andrew’s we prepare all meals in our on-site kitchen. Our dietitian makes sure they’re healthy and appropriate for each patient, and our chefs and the dietary services team make them tasty. On 17th January, 2018 a patient who was impressed with our culinary efforts took the time to write this lovely message, under the heading “First class”, in The Advertiser: “Having spent last January and February and last week in St Andrew’s Hospital, I can fully testify that the standard of food was world-class. All the food is prepared on-site and several choices each serving are available. The kitchen staff were most accommodating and friendly”. We thank our patients very much for taking the time to show their appreciation so publicly.
BREAST CARE LUNCHEON This year’s Breast Care Luncheon was magical—and not in the way you might think! Guest speakers included host Graham Goodings, Mark Tozer (Dive for Cancer SA) and Matt Tarrant. Matt, a mentalist, is a former contestant of Australian Survivor and took us on a memorable journey of laughs, tears and magic. Mark shared some amazing stories about scuba diving shipwreck sites all over the world—one of his great passions— to raise money for cancer.
• Nicole Jones, Graduate Certificate in Nursing, Stomal Therapy, Australian College of Nursing
GOLF DAY The St Andrew’s Classic is a muchanticipated event in the calendar, and on a lovely, sunny day on 24 November, 2017 players again enjoyed the Royal Adelaide Golf Club’s hospitality. Congratulations to the winning team of Chris Wright, Bun Yiv, Simon Ridley and Lydia Dennet.
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SAH Breast Care Team pictured with Director Nursing and Clinical Services Jacquie Wiley.
The event is an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the journey of past and present patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer at St Andrew’s. Approximately 250 people attended the lunch at the Prince Alfred College Piper Pavillion. Thank you to our team of dedicated breast care nurses for all their hard work planning the day, and the amazing and supportive team at Prince Alfred College.
GRADUATE NURSES!
On Friday 18th January, 2018 we held a graduation ceremony for participants in our 2017 Graduate Nurse Program (GNP). Our CEO and Director, Nursing Clinical Services addressed the attendees during the formal proceedings and then enjoyed mingling with the graduates, guests and clinical team. Congratulations to: Bhoom Atkins Adele Collier Lucy Earl Elise Garlick Robyn Hutchins Sarah Morris Clinical Manager Sharon Blaney and graduate Bhoom Atkins
The 12 graduate nurses who completed the program were awarded with a commemorative badge and certificate to acknowledge their hard work and learning over the previous 12 months. 2017 was the first year we conducted a full perioperative GNP. Four graduates worked in either Recovery/Anaesthetics or Scrub/ Scout roles for the full 12 months. Two graduates joined the Scrub/
Scout team in July and are currently halfway through their program. Thank you to the clinical team who have supported and guided these novice registered nurses, all of whom are now independent and more confident in their roles. The ceremony was in the form of an “after five” evening. Graduates invited their families and friends to join in the celebration.
Philanthropy is the cornerstone of our success. Without the generosity of those before us and those who currently support St Andrew’s, we would not be where we are today.
St Andrew’s Founder Sister Janet Hay
Would you consider building St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation Inc into your Will? For more information, call Amy Bredon on 8408 2005 or email amy.bredon@stand.org.au.
Katherine Neef Alana Pitcher Chloe Pitcher Carly Ronan Sarah Watts Hannah Wiggins We would also like to acknowledge Shona Finnis and Emily Principe, who will complete their perioperative GNP in July this year. Keep up the great work!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
AFRICAN ELEPHANTS HELP US REFLECT AND REMEMBER Each year, on the first Sunday in November, St Andrew’s Hospital hosts a memorial service. This is an opportunity for people to gather as they remember and reflect on the lives of their loved ones who have died. The service includes music, readings and reflections on the journey of life and grief. This year we used elephants as a theme throughout the service. For me, elephants represent significant relationships and networks of family and friends. They are a species that appear to struggle when having to leave one of their own behind. In recent years I had the opportunity, while travelling in Africa, to see elephants that appeared to be mourning their loss. On one occasion, we witnessed three elephants swaying gently as they stood rump to rump in a circle. Through binoculars we
could see, at the base of their feet, the shape of a baby elephant that had died. These three elephants kept vigil, in this manner, for well over 24 hours. Research regarding elephant behaviour places them alongside dolphins and chimpanzees with the ability to express emotion and empathy. Their response to death, however, is still a mystery. George Wittemyer, a conservation botanist at Colorado State University, says: “Elephants have respect for their dead, but their interaction with their dead is not something we fully understand.” Other researchers argue elephants definitely grieve, although we don’t understand their particular thought process. Unlike elephants, we can express our grief in word and action. Memorial services form a part of recalling the
thoughts and words we have for our loved ones who have died. They are also a time that we gather with others and “stay a while”, to feel connected and supported. It’s always a privilege to host our service, as it expresses the care of the St Andrew’s Hospital team and affirms the way in which everyone participates in making our patients, their families and friends, feel a part of this community. The St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation is a vital sponsor of our memorial service, providing funding and practical support. Many thanks to the foundation’s manager, Amy Bredon, and volunteers, who are always willing to lend a helping hand. Rev Peter Morel Coordinating Chaplain
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ALL PATHOLOGY FORMS ACCEPTED
Dr Smith
Dr Liew
This edition of St Andrew’s News, like all before it, explores our excellent facilities, high-tech equipment, and the outstanding pre- and postoperative services supporting our patients and doctors. But, when we ask our surgeons what attracts them to the hospital, top of their list is often something else entirely—our widely regarded culture. Dr Mike Smith and Dr Chien-Wen Liew, from Orthopaedics 360, are no exception. They cite our positive work environment and the focused, patient-centred attitude of clinical and non-clinical staff as the qualities that set St Andrew’s apart. The philosophy of their practice is to be cuttingedge as well as ensuring the best possible patient outcomes. However, as Dr Liew reflects, this requires a holistic view: “It’s very important to us that our patients have the best experience possible—not only in relation to surgical outcomes, but their overall journey. St Andrew’s excels in terms of quality and professionalism.” Dr Smith only recently commenced operating at St Andrew’s. But in what’s becoming a familiar pattern of events among our surgeons, he’s back on home ground. Dr Smith first began his association with us as a clinical orderly during his medical school education. It’s with great pleasure that we now welcome him back to St Andrew’s, but this time as an orthopaedic surgeon. Dr Smith and his family have settled back in Adelaide following time abroad during his orthopaedic fellowship in Italy, Portugal, the United
Kingdom, France and America. After attending medical school at the University of Adelaide and completing his orthopaedic training, he has now returned to the hospital to commence operating. “I had always intended to operate at St Andrew’s,” he says, “and I’m very pleased to be doing so now. My experience of the hospital as an orderly was very positive. Its innovation and values, combined with other leading surgeons who operate here, make it an outstanding facility.” Dr Smith specialises in foot, ankle and knee surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive “keyhole” corrections for bunions and lesser toe deformities. He also has a special interest in sporting injuries of the foot and ankle, and ensures he sets aside time during his clinics to assess and manage these acute injuries as they occur. As Dr Smith explains: “Medical advancement led to the mainstream use of keyhole techniques for the knee and shoulder in the 1980s and 1990s. We’re currently in a very exciting phase for foot and ankle surgery, with recent innovations and techniques allowing us to perform a great number of cases through minimally invasive incisions. A great example is the recent introduction of the Keyhole Bunion Correction, which allows the surgeon to correct the bunion through tiny incisions, and often without the need for stitches.” Dr Liew has lived in Adelaide all his life, with the exception of during his fellowship year, when he trained abroad in France, Switzerland and the US following graduation from the University of Adelaide School of Medicine. Like Dr Smith, Dr Liew was trained in minimally invasive techniques which heavily influenced his direction as a surgeon. “Mike and I agree minimally invasive surgery provides the best outcomes for patients,” he says. “The techniques we utilise are aimed at optimising recovery following the procedure.”
Dr Liew has been operating at St Andrew’s since mid-2017, and— together with his wife, an anaesthetist at St Andrew’s—made a conscious choice to operate here. “We’ve worked in many hospitals in Adelaide and decided to keep operating at the ones with the best reputation. St Andrew’s delivers on that front. My wife and I always look at the nursing staff—are they happy? Is there a lot of turnover? Are improvements being made? Certainly, St Andrew’s is always trying to improve services, the staff are happy, and they strive to ensure the best for patients.”
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DR MIKE SMITH AND DR CHIEN-WEN LIEW COME TO ST ANDREW’S
Dr Mike Smith and Dr Chien-Wen Liew are founding partners of Orthopaedics 360. Please call their Norwood practice on 7099 0188 for an appointment, and visit www.orthopaedics360.com.au for more information about both doctors and their practice.
Dr Liew uses the direct anterior approach for hip replacements. A specific operating table is required that allows the surgeon to position the leg in such a way as to preserve muscle. Other methods require muscle to be cut to access the hip joint. There are short- and long-term benefits for patients. The table also allows the patient to be x-rayed to check the placement of their prosthesis in-situ, instead of in recovery, meaning adjustments can be made while the patient is under anaesthetic in the operating theatre. We are delighted that both Dr Smith and Dr Liew have joined St Andrew’s, and we look forward to continuing to assist them and their patients in the years ahead.
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S T A N D R E W ’ S H O S P I TA L
SPECIAL EDITION
Eastern Clinical Development
We have lift off!
As we now stand and take in the spectacle of the Eastern Clinical Development, it’s difficult to cast one’s mind back to the site that was once the hospital’s carpark. Sitting proud and “embraced” by our historic chapel and Waverley House, the building effortlessly fits into the existing and varied architecture. Covered in metal and terracotta cladding and vast panes of glass, the new building is “easy on the eye” and a sympathetically modern addition to the traditional buildings of the St Andrew’s precinct along South Terrace. Even more marvellous, however, is what’s inside. We’ve reported previously on the significant technology, medical equipment, design and innovative construction techniques that abound inside this new facility. Those who’ve seen it will surely agree, it’s quite incredible. I hope you enjoy reading the articles in this special edition of St Andrew’s News celebrating the opening of this wonderful building, and the services and specialties housed within its walls.
I would like to publicly thank and acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the St Andrew’s staff who’ve worked incredibly hard for many, many months to make this project a reality. Our directors, clinical managers, managers and many others have provided valuable insights which have guided the design, construction and transition into the Eastern Clinical Development. The St Andrew’s Hospital Board of Governors, Staff Executive Committee and many of our medical officers have also had significant involvement. I can’t individually name everyone here, but I would like to particularly acknowledge the efforts of: Director of Engineering and Building Services Peter Cooper and the Maintenance Team; Director of Nursing and Clinical Services Jacquie Wiley; Project Coordinator Anne Sherlock; and Biomedical Engineer Maged Shenouda. What a huge effort!
Finally, thank you to our builders Mossop Construction, architects Wiltshire and Swain, project managers RCP, engineering services consultants System Solutions Engineering and the rest of the project team. We are truly thankful for your energy, expertise and guidance. I know you will enjoy reading about our new building!
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Stephen Walker Chief Executive Officer
Proud as Punch “The most impressive thing has been the commitment of all involved— builders, architects, engineers and St Andrew’s staff—to resolve issues in a cooperative, non-combative manner to deliver an outstanding end product of which we can all be proud.” – Dr Jim Sweeney, Colorectal Surgeon and Director, St Andrew’s Hospital Board of Governors
“In 1936, St Andrew’s Hospital first opened its doors. I imagine that first day was one of personal pride for Sister Janet Hay, the hospital’s founder. If she could be here today, I’m sure she would be thrilled to witness this next exciting stage of the hospital’s development.” – Angela Bayldon, Patient Services “Wiltshire and Swain Architects are proud to have been associated with the design of the largest private hospital development in SA, offering the best clinical facilities to the Adelaide community.” – Andrew Swain, Architect
I am very proud to be volunteering in a hospital, and specifically, St Andrew’s hospital. The changes to the ambience, decor, structure, etc are all very uplifting for staff and patients alike, and St Andrew’s can proudly declare to be amongst the most respected hospitals in the country. The volunteers certainly think so. Tom Duncan, Volunteer
“From a personal point of view, I’m actually looking forward to the car park! But for the hospital, I’m most proud of the fact that St Andrew’s continues to advance in a very competitive environment, with a new facility the whole state can be proud of.” – Paul Smith, Dietary Services Manager
“Excited, humbled and so very privileged to be part of this new development in the ECD. Having witnessed it evolve from ‘that big hole in the ground’ to what it is now—a state-of-the-art, incredible building where life will be taken care of… I’m so looking forward to greeting patients, and greeting my fellow colleagues as they walk past our new desk, knowing we’re all working together as a team to continue our mission in medical and surgical excellence. I love the feeling that I have a purpose to come to work, and that is to help people.” – Francine, Patient Services “Although the ECD is a wonderful new physical addition to the hospital and a nice environment in which patients will be looked after, what I’m most proud of is our staff who will work within this building, and their commitment to quality healthcare.” – Dr Daniel Cehic, Cardiologist and Director, St Andrew’s Hospital Board of Governors “I’m looking forward to seeing the final product, which should be a great outcome for patients, staff, doctors and the rest of the hospital.” – Stuart Campbell, Financial Accountant
“The overall facility, from a procedure perspective, is state-of-the-art. The total provision of the facility… the whole deal!” – Peter Cooper, Director, Engineering and Building Services
“Exciting times ahead!” – Choo Yap-Angus, “I’m proud to be part of Patient Services the ECD project, which “This has been an amazing project. will benefit so many I’m proud to have been involved South Australians.” – and to have had input from a clinical perspective. So often with large Maged Shenouda, projects, decisions are made by Biomedical Engineer people with no insight into the end “The design from architects Wiltshire and Swain is stunning. The enthusiasm of staff and visiting medical officers to have input into design, workflows and processes to ensure the area is the best it can be for patients is what defines St Andrew’s.” – Jacquie Wiley, Director Nursing and Clinical Services
users’ requirements and patients’ needs. It has been wonderful to be involved from concept to completion, from juggling lines on drawings to installing furniture and specialised equipment, and seeing the first patients arrive. We have a beautiful, functional building that we can all be proud of.” – Anne Sherlock, Clinical Project Coordinator
“The angio staff were the first to embrace the new Procedural Suite and settled very quickly into the new environment. Workflow is excellent and staff are excited to be part of a larger, cohesive team. Comments from patients include how bright it is, and how wonderful the technology is.” – Joyce Restell, Clinical Manager Angiography “I’ve greatly appreciated the support and patience of all involved in this significant project. We are all very proud of the finished building!” – John Ioannou, Supply Manager
ECD Patient Experience: Second to none
Building our new Eastern Clinical Development has allowed us the opportunity to rethink the way our patients experience healthcare. Acknowledging it can be a stressful time, we are truly committed to making a visit to St Andrew’s as pleasant as possible. We have written about the “wellness model” in previous newsletters, and now that we’ve completed our build, we “unpack” the patient experience in this special ECD edition. Extensive research by the project team, including consultation with the hospital’s consumer reference group and our experienced clinical teams, drove much of the building’s architectural design, layout and aesthetics. From the project’s beginning, we’ve been committed to designing a building that puts our patients’ comfort and recovery at the forefront of our decision-making. One of the biggest changes in the patient experience in our new building—with most ECD patients attending for day procedures in our angiography, endoscopy or operating theatres—will be the patient “flow”. This refers to where and how a patient moves through the hospital from admission, when they’re greeted by our concierge and volunteer guides, to discharge. Traditional models of care often result in a patient being changed into a white hospital gown, and pushed in a wheelchair or barouche prior to their surgery or procedure.
The wellness model, however, empowers patients and puts them at the centre of their care. So in the ECD, patients will be escorted to a private room to change into a contemporary gown, meet their anaesthetist and referring specialist (if required), and then walk down the light filled corridor for the procedure. Of course, there will be exceptions to this. For example, if a patient has a carer or disability, or is a child who needs to be accompanied by an adult. Our recovery suite and patient rooms are designed with patient comfort and safety in mind. The 32-bed staged recovery suite provides two areas for patients as they recover from anaesthesia. The first area provides a highly monitored space for patients on barouches. The second is fitted out with recliner chairs, providing a monitored, but more comfortable environment for patients (dependent on the procedure they’ve undergone). Patients will be offered a light refreshment while they relax, and— if they wish—watch TV. Maximising views of the parklands, foothills and cityscape was a major consideration when the architects designed the building. There is significant evidence to suggest patients benefit from having access to, and views of, outdoor spaces, and from walking, as soon as it’s safe to do so following a procedure. To this end, we’ve included a rooftop garden on Level 3 that embraces the benefits of fresh air and sunshine and encourages patients to move about.
All rooms in our 28-bed cardiac unit interface with the outside environment, and all give nursing staff exceptional lines of sight to the patient from outside the room. To enable patients to interact with the outside garden, those on telemetry (ambulatory) monitoring can go to the rooftop garden and continue to be monitored. Other facilities in our new development include: family breakout rooms with coffee machines; safes in all rooms for personal items; complimentary Wi-fi; and day beds to make visitors as comfortable as possible. We look forward to welcoming ECD patients into this wonderful space.
The provision of our Eastern Clinical Development has resulted in the acquisition of a large amount of new equipment. In fact, the quantity is rather staggering. The hospital already houses advanced medical equipment, so it was a deliberate decision to ensure the same, or similar, equipment was installed in the new areas to maintain a high level of operational competency. Where new equipment was ordered, an enormous amount of research, trial and staff education was undertaken.
New equipment to provide the best patient care In mid 2017, staff began using the new scope reprocessing system— well before the ECD was completed. This was to ensure staff were comfortable and trained in the new equipment. The “all in one” system allows for clean scopes to be dried in the hepa drying cabinets, and remain in this highly controlled environment for up to 72 hours. One of the main benefits of this system is that we can conduct a procedure with little or no notice, as all the equipment is ready to use. In another first for St Andrew’s, we are the first private hospital in South Australia to use this technology. Additionally, the “pass through” hatches mean there is no interface between clean and used equipment, enabling essential infection control. One of the two new angiography suites houses the new Siemens Artis Q System. The system allows the specialist to see real-time 3D imaging of blood and vessels, as
well as the heart’s architecture and all around it. This level of accuracy ensures the best possible patient outcomes. It will be used not only for cardiac procedures, but also specialties such as neurosurgery and vascular procedures. The operating theatres have Maquet pendants and lights. Theatres typically have one pendant per theatre, but we’ve installed two in each, enabling surgeons to set up the theatre exactly to their preference and specifically for their specialty. Additionally, there’s increased visibility of the patient and surgical site, and the equipment fits around the surgeon, surgical assistant and anaesthetist. In keeping with our approach of consistency in equipment across the hospital, our ECD anaesthetic diathermy machines are standard. This deliberate risk mitigation strategy results in uniformity for our staff and specialists.
Even though St Andrew’s believes in the best technology and equipment, we still acknowledge and value the human element of nursing care. Our new recovery unit is filled with natural light. This ambience is a pleasant space for staff and patients, but there is an additional, perhaps less obvious benefit. Naturally lit spaces make it much easier to assess a patient’s skin colour, an indicator of the patient’s postoperative recovery progress. The well-designed space means our nursing staff can see patients clearly from wherever they are in the unit. Thank you to our staff, specialists and medical representatives who were involved in the selection of equipment for the ECD. Equipment acquisition is a significant part of any hospital, and we appreciate the time and dedication of all involved.
A masterpiece of engineering
Admiring the Eastern Clinical Development from the surrounds of the Waverley House garden, it’s mind boggling to think of the degree of engineering required to make the building fit so seamlessly into the space. The significant amount of plant and engineering equipment inside is skilfully tucked away behind walls and ceilings, ensuring the patient experience—even in the procedure rooms and theatres—is surrounded by calm, and free of pipes, noisy equipment and other items typically seen in medical facilities. The maintenance team at St Andrew’s are second to none. If you’ve been a patient here you may have seen them busily fixing, mending and adjusting all manner of equipment, to keep our hospital in tip-top shape. With the opening of the ECD, the team will now maintain the new building in a similar way. To that end, the majority of services, plant and engineering equipment are located in the second-floor plant room. The services are easily accessed for maintenance and replacement purposes and tucked away from sight in the main floors. One of the noisiest pieces of equipment in a hospital is often the air conditioning. This plant equipment is located in the fifthfloor plant room in the main hospital, with the chilled air being exported to the ECD. There is no noise or vibration in the building whatsoever. The system is cutting-edge in terms of comfort, with zones automatically changing temperature based on the ambient temperature at different times of the day.
The air conditioning service also ensures the air is sterile in the theatres and procedural areas, with 26 changes of air per hour flushing out contaminated air. The air system above the theatre tables is forced down and away from the table and wound site. Humidity and temperature are also critically controlled in these areas, with high levels of temperature control for each area, which can vary from patient to patient. A recent significant acquisition for the hospital, as part of our 10-year Engineering Services Masterplan, has been the purchase of a Tri-Gen Plant. This high-tech gas-powered generator allows the hospital to, rather remarkably, produce its own baseload electrical power, covering our average daily requirements. The plant is backed up by two diesel generators, which will ensure supply should the main electricity grid fail (such as in the case of a statewide blackout). Additionally, the Tri-Gen Plant harnesses waste heat generated by the production of the electricity and redirects it to power the cooling plant and heat domestic hot water.
We’ve also recently taken delivery of a twin auger compactor, which facilitates very specific waste disposal and recycling. General waste, co-mingling recycling and linen are all sent via chutes to a main waste-collection area, thereby reducing the number of bins on the floor. Confidential, medical, clinical and cyto-toxic waste is all disposed of appropriately. Thank you to our project and maintenance teams who provided significant input into the design of this building, making it functional from an engineering perspective, aesthetically pleasing and extremely comfortable for the patients of St Andrew’s Hospital.
I would like to publicly th the tremendous efforts who’ve worked incredib months to make this pro
thank and acknowledge of the St Andrew’s staff bly hard for many, many oject a reality. Stephen Walker Chief Executive Officer