Chief Executive COVID-19 Update: 28 July

As of today, we have:

• No COVID-19 positive inpatients
• One employee with COVID-19
• 111 employees in precautionary quarantine

In this update we cover:

• Changes to visitation – effective 11.59pm tonight
• Over half a million swabs!
• Team members on furlough
• Jessie McPherson – on track for a successful accreditation assessment
• Our connection with the Olympics Opening Ceremony
• MMC a designated COVID-19 hospital for pregnant women in the community
• Pregnant women aged 16 years and above are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine
• Put your hand up to help with the Census
• Vaccination offers hope in fight against COVID-19
• Pfizer is now available by appointment at St John of God
• Meet David – our first STAR winner for Quarter 2 2021
• Join the MCH Winter Walk
• Changes to leave types and procedures
• Get your free flu vaccination or declare
• Disability Action Plan – Consultation Process
• Last chance to sign up for the Monash Health Walking Challenge
• Thanks for keeping us safe! International Security Officers’ Day – 24 July
• Recognising the importance of MRI safety
• QR code service for our shared spaces
• EMR update to the Clinical Leader Organiser (CLO)
• Workplace giving program encourages employees of other organisations to donate

I am sure there is a sense of relief as we take our first cautious steps out of lockdown, with new restrictions in place for a fortnight to allow the public health teams to continue to monitor cases and assess the impact these changes have.

Yesterday’s COVID-19 Alert explains how the changes apply to our settings.

Changes to visitation – effective 11.59pm tonight
It is important we remain vigilant as we move out of lockdown. In line with Department of Health advice, some minor changes to our visitation restrictions will be made from 11.59pm tonight.

These changes increase the number of visitors for children in our care, the number of support people during labour and birth, and allow a support person to attend outpatient appointments. There are also changes for caregivers.

Please refer to our updated Visitation Restrictions Poster for further details.

Over half a million swabs!
Yesterday we passed the 500,000 swab milestone for COVID-19 testing. This is a remarkable team effort from those at the clinics and in our pathology teams and those who provide the support that wraps around screening – including security, support services, HIS administration, logistics, communication, and clinical oversight. My congratulations to all involved.

Team members on furlough
We have 111 team members in precautionary furlough across our service. I would like to send our best wishes to all team members in isolation, and other people who have had to step up in their absence. You are all doing the hard yards. Thank you for doing what is needed to keep our community safe.

Jessie McPherson – on track for a successful accreditation assessment
Earlier this month, teams at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital had their accreditation assessment against National Standards. The final report is still a few weeks away. However, the feedback received from the assessors was highly favourable. We also gained several insights from their excellent work, which will help us come September.

I want to thank and congratulate our Jessie McPherson employees for their ongoing commitment to high-quality outcomes for our patients, families and carers. And, of course, to the teams behind the scenes ensuring we remain accreditation-ready at all times.

I was particularly pleased to see the team recognised for their COVID-19 response and adaptation of our people and Models of Care to meet patient needs. We can take great confidence from this early feedback.

With Monash Health’s accreditation assessment scheduled for 13 – 17 September 2021, it is important that we stay focused, take note of areas we can improve and continue to deliver high-quality care and experiences.

Proud connection with the Olympics Opening Ceremony
I know some people will have been keeping an eye on the Olympics. I hope you saw our small connection with the games on Friday night, with a beautiful moment in the opening ceremony.

Many of us were thrilled to learn that one of the six frontline healthcare workers selected to carry the Olympic flag into the stadium in Tokyo is a Monash Health team member. Australian Pistol athlete Elena Galiabovitch, who is also a urologist, has been working with us for the last 18 months doing night shifts and putting her hand up to get involved at our drive-through COVID-19 screening clinics.

Elena is representing Australia in the 10m Air Pistol and the 25m Pistol events, and we’ll all be right behind her. Go Elena!

Martin Keogh
Acting Chief Executive

Key messages

MMC a designated COVID-19 hospital for pregnant women in the community
Monash Medical Centre is a designated COVID-19 hospital for pregnant women in the community.  The Designated Hospital Model is designed to achieve the highest possible level of care, while keeping healthcare workers safe.

We are well placed to provide this service for the State for COVID-19 positive pregnant women in the community, with our access to the ED and NICU and with a strong track record.

In 2020, Monash Health supported 12 COVID-19 positive women during their pregnancy, including three who were positive at the time of birthing. No employees were infected with COVID-19 during any of these encounters.

Broad consultation is underway about how the model will be implemented.

Pregnant women aged 16 years and above are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine
The Commonwealth Government have announced that pregnant women aged 16 years and over are now eligible for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 have an increased risk of severe illness and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including an increased risk of complications for the baby.

We encourage all pregnant employees to be vaccinated and discuss the most appropriate options with their healthcare provider. Find out more here.

Put your hand up to help with the Census
10 August 2021 is Census night, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics is seeking Establishment Officers from among Monash Health employees to join its team. Establishment Officers will deliver Census forms to our patients on Tuesday evening, 10 August, and collect the completed forms the following morning. They will work with patients, residents and local care teams to complete their forms.

If you’re keen to be involved, talk to your manager, then email your name, preferred email and contact telephone number to communication@monashhealth.org.

Vaccination offers hope in fight against COVID-19
While each lockdown can feel a bit harder than the last, read how being vaccinated against COVID-19 provides Dr Sumitha Bhaskaran a glimpse of a post-pandemic life for her and her loved ones.

Pfizer is now available by appointment at St John of God
Following recent Government updates, all Monash Health employees aged 16 years and over are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, irrespective of age. For our Casey employees or those who live nearby, Pfizer is now newly available, by appointment only, at St John of God, Berwick, next to Casey Hospital. Find out how to book here.

Meet David – our first STAR winner for Quarter 2 2021

The first STAR Award for Quarter 2 2021 was presented at yesterday’s employee forum. The winner for Excellence in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing is David Nguyen, Clinical Nurse Specialist. Read more about David and his work here.

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised, head to the STAR Portal to nominate them today. You can find more information about our STAR Program here.

Join the MCH Winter Walk
After years as an in-person event, the Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital will be a virtual event this August. The Winter Walk asks participants to walk 10,000 steps per day over 21-30 August, aiming for a target of 100,000 over the 10 days. Learn how you can get involved here.

Changes to leave types and entitlements procedure
Some significant changes have been made to the Leave Types and Entitlements Procedure. Read more about the changes here.

Get your free flu vaccination or declare
Monash Health’s free flu vaccination program continues, with over half of our workforce vaccinated against the flu. If you have had your flu shot elsewhere or are not participating, you must declare by completing the declaration form. For more information on flu vaccination, you can visit the Monash Health COVID-19 website.

Disability Action Plan – Consultation Process
To ensure Monash Health is best supporting those with a disability, we are currently undertaking a consultation process to inform and update the current Disability Action Plan. Learn more about how you can be part of the process.

Thanks for keeping us safe! International Security Officers’ Day
This week we celebrated International Security Officers’ Day, an opportunity to thank our Monash Health Security Team for keeping us safe, 24/7. The Security team are called to de-escalate incidents of clinical aggression across Monash Health sites on a regular basis. Read more about their work here.

Recognising the importance of MRI safety
The strong magnetic fields of MRIs can produce incredible, life-saving images, but International MRI Safety Week 2021 is a reminder of the importance of staying safe around these imaging devices. Read more on here.

QR code service for our shared spaces
We have implemented the Victorian Government’s QR code service for check-ins to our shared spaces. New QR code posters are now available across all our sites.  Please use your phone and the Services Victoria app to check in everywhere and every time, as you would when visiting any public location.

For more information, including FAQs, visit the shared spaces page on the COVID-19 employee website.

EMR update to the Clinical Leader Organiser (CLO)
Significant enhancement has occurred within the EMR Clinical Leader Organiser (CLO). Learn more here.

Workplace giving program encourages employees of other organisations to donate
The Monash Health Foundation has launched a new campaign to inspire employees of other organisations to give to Monash Health through pre-tax donations.   The new program links supporters with Monash Health to which they give fortnightly or monthly through payroll deductions. Learn more here.