Message from the Chief Executive
As of today, we have:
- One COVID-19 positive inpatient
- No employees with COVID-19
- No employees in precautionary quarantine
Obstetrics honours
I am pleased to advise that the Women’s and Newborn Program that operates between Monash Health and Monash University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has been successful in submitting some of the most well-received research to the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2021.
This is the largest international scientific pregnancy and obstetric meeting in the world, where the latest and biggest trials are first presented. It will be held in the USA and, out of 1,800 abstracts, the team achieved four in the top 15, representing an outstanding result for Monash Health and Monash University. Read more here.
STAR Awards
On a local level, at yesterday’s employee forum we announced the latest round of STAR Award winners.
In the ‘Excellence in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing’ category, we recognised the Aviary Ward at Monash Children’s Hospital. A 20-bed unit which specialises in adolescent medicine, paediatric neurology and paediatric rehabilitation, the ward has a culture of transparency and openness, and the team’s can-do attitude and commitment are reflected in the excellent care they provide to their patients.
Nurse Unit Manager Jamie St Mart received the ‘Excellent Experiences’ award for the kindness and compassion he showed to a patient who had become palliative and her family. Not long after she passed away, her husband was admitted to the same ward. Due to his condition and his admission, he was unable to attend his wife’s funeral. Jamie arranged live streaming of the funeral and for the patient’s adult children to visit, in line with restrictions, so they could grieve together and provide support to their father.
Our winner in the ‘Improving Care and Access’ category, Julie White, has saved lives, prevented harm and improved infection prevention at Residential Aged Care Facilities and Supported Residential Services in the Monash Health catchment. Julie has progressed a COVID-19 Community Assessment and Response Team model of care which delivers a support response for people at risk of hospitalisation, while also progressing a substantial work plan, including the Redesigning Community Access initiative.
Alexandra Malanina is a volunteer at Chestnut Gardens, one of Monash Health’s aged care facilities. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Alexandra was unable to attend the facility in person. However, she volunteered virtually, co-ordinating video conferencing, playing her piano for care recipients, and even mailing out painting activities to them. Fittingly, Alexandra won an award in the ‘In Pursuit of Excellence’ category.
Read more about the winners here.
Length of Service Awards
We will continue to celebrate at this year’s Length of Service Awards. Running as a series of virtual events, the Length of Service Awards recognise and celebrate the dedicated service and contribution of our people.
Employees and volunteers 10+ years, and 5+ year volunteers
5.30pm to 6.45pm, Tuesday 24 November
Employees and volunteers 15+ years
5.30pm to 6.45pm, Wednesday 25 November
Employees and volunteers 20+, 25+ years
5.30pm to 6.45pm, Tuesday 1 December
Employees and volunteers 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+ years
5.30pm to 6.45pm, Wednesday 2 December
We’re using live streaming and our Length of Service Awards Facebook group to enable friends, family, and colleagues to join the celebrations. For more information, you can visit the Monash Health website.
End-of-year team functions
Most teams will be planning end-of-year functions to celebrate the festive season. There are a number of things to be mindful of as you plan and attend these events. These include ensuring we respect each other and stay safe, with a particular focus on infection prevention in the context of COVID-19.
- Stay respectful – our performance and behaviour procedure applies to all work-related social functions.
- Events need to be in accordance with the public health directions at the time, e.g. gathering limits, physical distancing. You can find the latest advice here.
- Ensure that there is no sharing of food, as it presents an infection risk.
- Maintain physical distancing and wear masks when you are required to do so.
- If your event is being held indoors:
- Please keep your event under two hours long to reduce infection risk.
- Consider Splitting your group up to reduce the risk of having an entire team needing to go into quarantine at the same time and compromising our ability to provide care. Chief Executive
- Andrew Stripp
- My thanks to all of you for your hard work, care and commitment.
- Learn more here.
Key Messages
The Dandelion Wishes Gala – Saturday 21 November, 7.15pm
Since the first Dandelion Wishes Gala in 2016, the events have raised more than $2 million for Monash Children’s Hospital. Hosted by Alicia Loxley from Nine News, the Dandelion Wishes Celebration at Home will raise money towards equipment for the new Children’s Emergency Department at Clayton.
Tickets are free for employees. Simply book using your Monash Health email address and enter the promotional code ‘MHEMP’ to receive your household’s free ticket.
www.dandelionwishesfoundation.eventbrite.com.au
Beyond the Mask Episode 9 – Shafni Rahman
Graduate Registered Nurse, Shafni Rahman could never have imagined his new role at Monash Health would involve working within the restrictions and protocols of a global pandemic. As a new graduate, Shafni brings poignant insight into his first months, offering care and compassion to cardiac and palliative patients. His kindness to those in his care and gratitude to fellow teammates and his managers is a sign of his commitment during tough times and what a valuable contributor to excellence he will be into the future. Go Beyond the Mask and listen to Shafni’s story here.
Our PROMPT upgrade is just around the corner
A reminder that the PROMPT systems upgrade for Monash Health and Jessie McPherson Private Hospital is just around the corner. From Wednesday 25 November, we’re introducing a range of improvements and enhancements as part of a planned upgrade to both Monash Health and Jessie McPherson Private Hospital PROMPT systems. Learn more here.
Just one week until the 2020 NAMAS
Next Friday (27 November), all employees are invited to celebrate and formally acknowledge the achievements of our nurses and midwives at the 15th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships (NAMAS). Congratulations to all of our 2020 nominees across the six award categories. Click here to view the nominees, download an event poster or get the Webex event details.
Raising awareness of Primary Aldosteronism
Dr Jun Yang, Monash Health Endocrinologist and Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at the Monash Health School of Clinical Sciences raises awareness about a medical condition called Primary Aldosteronism and how a single blood test could change the course of people’s lives, and even lead to a cure.
Jun’s video was selected as a top 5 submission for the Promoting Alumni Research: 3-minute presentations competition which will be shown at a Webinar on Tuesday, 24 November at 12pm. View video. You can read more on the Monash University website.
Complete your Deteriorating Patient (BLS/ALS) online training today
Are you a patient-facing clinician? Did you know that until the end of the year, you only need to complete the online component of your Deteriorating Patient training? Log in to Latte and complete your online Deteriorating Patient training today. Read more here.
Mental Health Week Art Competition – our 2020 Winners
This year’s art competition was very different due to COVID-19, but we had a great response nonetheless – thank you to everybody who was involved and contributed. Click here to check out the 2020 winners and their entries.
Location is key in naming employee meals marquees
Four new meals marquees, recently installed across Monash Health facilities, have been named the Clayton Corner, Casey Cantina, Dandi Deli and Monash MASH. An organisation-wide competition has decided upon the names of the venues located at the Casey, Clayton and Dandenong hospitals. Read more here.
Clayton gym to re-open to employees with reduced membership fees
The workplace health and fitness facility at Clayton is re-opening for Monash Health employees from this Monday (23 November). It’s convenient, COVID-safe and more affordable than ever. Read more here.
Free, dedicated breast screening for employees and volunteers
If you are over 50 and never had a breast screen before, or are due for your two-yearly screen, the Monash BreastScreen team is making it easy for you to book an appointment. Throughout November, the team has opened up free sessions specifically for Monash Health employees and volunteers. Call Moorabbin Hospital on 9928 8760 or Casey Hospital on 9928 8761 to book. Should you wish to get a screen closer to home, we encourage you to book online here: https://bookings.breastscreen.org.au/ . Read more here.
Clean Up Day becomes Clean Up Weeks
As requests are still coming in from across our facilities, the Clean Up Monash Health Day initiative, originally organised for earlier this year, has been extended. Read more here.
Continue to take advantage of wellbeing resources
Take advantage of the health and wellbeing resources we have available for you, including the Call a Psychologist service and the employee assistance program. Don’t forget the basics of your physical health and remember we have links to resources online for you and your teams, including a helpful guide to stretching at your desk, wherever that desk might be.
Ensure you are working to the most up-to-date advice
The information about COVID-19 is changing rapidly. Ensure you are working to the most up-to-date advice by referring to the Monash Health Employee Coronavirus website. To make accessing the site quicker, you can create a shortcut on your smartphone by following these instructions.
Upcoming events
Stay up to date with events on our COVID-19 website for Monash Health employees.
The Dandelion Wishes Gala – 7.15pm Saturday 21 November
Hosted by Alicia Loxley from Nine News, the Dandelion Wishes Celebration at Home will raise money towards equipment for the new Children’s Emergency Department at Clayton.
Tickets are free for employees. Simply book using your Monash Health email address and enter the promotional code ‘MHEMP’ to receive your household’s free ticket.
www.dandelionwishesfoundation.eventbrite.com.au
Employee Forum, 2pm Tuesday 24 November
Length of Service Awards: 5 year volunteers, 10 years, 5.30pm Tuesday 24 November
Stop Pressure Injury Webinar, 2.30pm Wednesday 25 November
Length of Service Awards: 15 years, 5.30pm Wednesday 25 November
Employee Forum – STAR Awards, 2pm Thursday 26 November
15th Annual Nursing & Midwifery Awards & Scholarships (NAMAS), 1.30pm Friday 27 November
- Watch previous recordings of Employee Forums and Manager Briefings
- See all upcoming events
As advice and information evolve, please consult the latest updates and visit the Department of Health and Human Services and Monash Health COVID-19 website for employees regularly for the latest.