Chief Executive COVID-19 Update: 20 July

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 15 July 2021

As of today, we have:

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

In this update we cover:

• Keeping yourself and the health service safe
• COVID-19 Risk Context Guide
• Implementing the Victorian Government’s QR code service for our shared spaces
• Monash Health features in documentary about COVID-19
• Updating our email system
• COVID-19 Emergency Workforce
• Don’t forget to register for the Monash Health Walking Challenge by this Friday
• Vaccination ‘vox pops’ are here!
• Windows 7 devices will be deactivated starting from 19 July
• Get your flu vaccination or declare today
• Re-invigorating Smoke-free at Monash Health
• New rapid HbA1c testing available for paediatric and young adult clinics
• Clarification on using long service leave at half pay
• Provisional payments for Mental Health claims
• EMR: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prophylaxis Order Update
• Volunteer Services continue through restrictions

Today we heard from the Premier and Chief Health Officer that the current lockdown has been extended for seven days until midnight on Tuesday 27 July. There are now over 16,000 primary close contacts isolating, more than 330 exposure sites, and close to 100 positive cases, including one of our own, who is at home and doing well.

The latest outbreak is a rapidly moving situation. Our own South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) leads contact tracing and vaccination work for our region and is doing an incredible job. The critical role of SEPHU, along with their ongoing role in vaccination, screening, infection prevention, contact tracing, and outbreak management, was highlighted in today’s Employee Forum. If you didn’t get to see it, please watch the recording and hear about the team’s work.

I want to extend my thanks to the vaccination project team for their incredible contribution over the last five months as this work now transitions into business as usual with SEPHU.

Keeping yourself and the health service safe
Lockdowns can be challenging to live and work through, so continue to look out for one another, take your time, and ensure you are working safely – stop and think if you have any doubts.

Stay across the list of exposure sites, which you need to review before completing your attestation each day before coming on site, and make sure you understand our latest PPE Compulsory Standards.

To make it easier to understand what to do in different situations, we have developed a new risk context guide to help you with practical advice about which PPE to wear and what steps to follow in different scenarios.

COVID-19 Risk Context Guide
This new guide covers a range of situations that visitors, patients, and healthcare workers may encounter and outlines the appropriate action to take to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

This document supports the PPE Compulsory Standards advice and should be used alongside our advice for screening teams.

Implementing the Victorian Government’s QR code service for our shared spaces
We have started implementing the Victorian Government’s QR code service for check-ins to our shared spaces. You will see new QR code posters appearing over the coming days.  Please use your phone and the Services Victoria app to check-in, as you would when visiting any public location.

I want to stress that QR codes in shared spaces do not replace the attestation, which must be completed by all employees every time you come on site.

Monash Health features in documentary about COVID-19
If you watched the ‘Cracking COVID’ documentary on ABC-TV last week, you would have seen Monash Infectious Diseases physician, Dr Rupa Kanapathipillai, and one of our first coronavirus patients, Michael Rojales, help tell the story about the first year of the pandemic.

Film maker Sonja Pemberton’s documentary tracks the real-time story of Australia’s scientific response to the pandemic.

Today in our Employee Forum, we had the privilege to hear directly from Michael about his journey as a patient with COVID-19, and from Rupa about her role in his treatment. It was a rare insight into the beginnings of this pandemic. Despite some ongoing fatigue and mobility issues, Michael says he is so thankful for everyone who has really cared for him and his family at Monash Health.

Rupa’s message was such a strong one; “Get yourself vaccinated as soon as possible”. As she said, vaccination gives us a glimpse at the exit strategy.

Vaccination the key
Two new COVID-19 vaccine ads have been released, to help encourage vaccination.

• Performance of a Lifetime
  Produced by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), this video was produced in collaboration with the Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne Theatre Company and The Australian Ballet.
• Back to the Good Things
  The Victorian Council of Social Services ad features medical professionals and ordinary Victorians.

Thank you for all that you are doing to provide care for those who need it and keep our community safe. Please don’t forget to look after yourself as well. If you, a colleague or a family member are struggling, we have support available, including the Employee Assistance Program on 1300 687 327.

Martin Keogh
Acting Chief Executive

Key messages

Shared spaces: check-in everywhere, every time
In line with Department of Health requirements, Monash Health will adopt the Victorian Government’s QR code service to help employees check-in to our shared spaces.

This will be familiar to everyone, as it is the same quick and easy process you see and use at cafés, shops and grocery stores across Victoria.  Please ensure you check-in everywhere, every time, when using shared spaces at Monash Health. These spaces include break rooms, on-site cafés, offices, meeting rooms, and shared desk spaces.  Each room/space will be given a unique QR code and unique location code. Paper-based forms will also be in place (as a back-up) for all rooms for employees unable to check-in using their phone.

Read more about the changes here and visit our shared spaces page for more information and FAQs.

Updating our email system
We are planning changes to our email system to improve performance, immediately and in the long-term, including:

1. Possibility of adding technology infrastructure resources and capacity to the current email Exchange server environment; and
2. Imminently (this week) commencing the migration of high-volume mailboxes from the current email system to M365.

There will be no change for most employees as IT begin to move over mailboxes. However, we will notice our email service become more stable, faster, and with fewer general outages over the coming weeks as these solutions are further progressed.

COVID-19 Emergency Workforce
Recent changes to the Australian COVID-19 vaccination program rollout have led to a slowing of COVID-19 vaccination demand, but rest assured, we continue to work through your emergency immuniser workforce and administration support applications. In the meantime, there are opportunities still available for employees looking for additional casual shifts. Find out more about how you can put your essential skills to good use in roles currently available at Monash Health here.

Don’t forget to register for the Monash Health Walking Challenge by this Friday
Registration for the 2021 Monash Health Walking Challenge is open! Register your team by Friday 23 July. This year, the Walking Challenge will kick off on Sunday 1 August and run for four weeks. Teams of four will complete a walk around different parts of Australia through the Health@Work platform.

The Walking Challenge is a great opportunity to get your colleagues, friends, or family together and get active. Learn more about the Challenge and how to register here.

We have some fantastic prizes on offer, including vouchers, hampers and even an air fryer! Read more about what you can win for you and your team here.

Vaccination ‘vox pops’ are here!
We’ve filmed a series of videos to share our community’s insights throughout the COVID-19 vaccination process. In episode one, we wanted to find out what their plans are following vaccination. Watch the video to learn about their hopes for the future here.

Windows 7 devices will be deactivated starting from 19 July
Microsoft’s support for Windows 7 has finished. This means that if you are still using Windows 7, your PC/laptop may become more vulnerable to security risks and could expose Monash Health to the risk of a total system outage.

Starting in mid-July, all remaining Windows 7 devices will be “locked”, removing access to email, USB devices and the internet (web browsers) until they have been upgraded to Windows 10.  By the end of September, all Windows 7 devices will cease to operate on our network. Read more here.

Get your flu vaccination or declare today
Monash Health’s free flu vaccination program is still running, and we encourage you to participate. You only need to leave seven days on either side of your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

If you have received your flu vaccination elsewhere or are not participating, you must complete the Flu Vaccination Declaration. More information and details of where you can get your flu vaccination can be found here.

Re-invigorating Smoke-free at Monash Health
Join the Employee Wellbeing Forum this Thursday to hear about Monash Health’s initiatives to better support our employees and patients to be smoke-free.

Evidence shows that eight in ten smokers in Victoria say they want to quit smoking, and a comprehensive approach to quitting is the most effective way to quit for good. Learn more about Smoke-free at Monash Health here.

New rapid HbA1c testing available for paediatric and young adult clinics
Monash Health Pathology has introduced new Point-of-Care analysers in the paediatric and young adult diabetes clinics at Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital, as well as at Berwick Healthcare and Leongatha Hospital.

The implementation of this rapid testing will reduce patient revisits, reduce anxiety felt by patients and families, and support improved health outcomes for patients with diabetes. Read more here.

Clarification on using long service leave at half pay

There has been some clarification on the circumstances under which managers can support or recommend long service leave (LSL) at half pay for their employees. All LSL at half pay must have the approval of the Chief Executive. Before taking the step to apply or speak with your Manager, please familiarise yourself with the circumstances in which this leave can be recommended.

Provisional payments for Mental Health claims

WorkSafe has introduced new legislation to help Victorian employees access early treatment and support for work-related mental injury workers compensation claims. Learn about WorkSafe Provisional Payments here.

EMR: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prophylaxis Order Update

The VTE risk assessment pop-up alert in EMR has been modified to check for the presence of relevant active VTE Prophylaxis orders. These include:

• anticoagulant / chemoprophylaxis
• mechanical prophylaxis

• VTE prophylaxis not required or contraindicated

The method of placing VTE prophylaxis medications and orders can now be achieved by any of the following methods:

• adding a single order
• completing the VTE Care Pathway assessment and orders

• using the new VTE Prophylaxis order set – the order set is accessible through a direct link on the alert pop up.

Please note that the VTE alert will continue to appear until one of these methods for placing a VTE prophylaxis order has been completed.

The VTE Care Pathway has also been updated to reflect recommendations in the latest PROMPT guideline. For more information, please refer to:

• Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment and Prevention PROMPT clinical guideline

• VTE Prophylaxis Ordering QRG

Volunteer Services continue through restrictions
Our volunteers are approved to continue working with us through the lockdown. Please continue to make them welcome.