Chief Executive Update: 1 March 2022

Chief Executive Update – 1 March 2022

As of today, we have: 

• 51 COVID-19 positive inpatients
• 78 employees with COVID-19 
• 52 employees in precautionary quarantine
• 44 employees who are primary close contacts and working under public health exemption

In this update, we cover:

• Changes to our attestation, screening and entry process for employees
• Masks are only required in public and patient facing areas
• A steady start to elective surgery
• Challenges beyond the pandemic
• Working remotely and returning to the office
• COVID-19 testing for employees and patients: PCR and RAT Explainer
• Isolation requirements for employees and patients
• Comprehensive Care Plan extended
• Nominations are now open for the 2022 NAMAS
• Final week to register for Walking Challenge 2022
• Digital Wellbeing Series: Practicing empathy
• Reminder: our internal emergency number is now 22 22

Changes to our attestation, screening and entry process for employees

I am pleased to advise that, from today, you no longer need to complete an attestation before starting work on-site, and you will again be able to enter and leave through employee entrances that have swipe card access.

Removing these restrictions will make accessing sites for our employees that little bit easier, but we must remain vigilant against the risk of infection in our health service.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, get tested immediately and do not attend work.

Access through an employee entrance requires the use of your Monash Health issued swipe card.  If the entrance does not have swipe capability it will remain locked.  Please ensure that it is only you using the entrance.

Our data shows that visitors and contractors entering our facilities pose the single biggest risk to new infections.  Accordingly, access for visitors and contractors will not change and they are to be directed to our front doors for check-in and screening.  They are not to be provided access via alternate entrances.

Masks are only required in public and patient facing areas

In line with the latest government advice, masks are only required when you are in a public area or in patient facing work.

In practical terms, that means:

• If you are in an office area, with only Monash Health employees, you do not need to wear a mask.
• If you leave the office area and go into a public area (to get a coffee or go to a ward, for example) you need to wear a surgical mask.
• There is no change to patient facing work where an N95 and eye protection is required.

A steady start to elective surgery

This week we will increase surgery capacity at Clayton, Dandenong, and Casey as part of our steady return of service. This will be done in line with the availability of our clinicians, as we continue to balance our service priorities to ensure we have the right people in the right numbers available.

We remain grateful for the ongoing support of our private partners in this space, and we understand that pausing some services has been difficult on those waiting for care. We are continuing to communicate with our patients, letting them know that while we are working hard to provide care in a timely way, ensuring we do so safely must be front and centre.

Challenges beyond the pandemic

As we watch the conflict unfold in Ukraine and the devastating floods in NSW and Queensland, we know that these events will impact our colleagues, patients, and community here at Monash Health.

As an organisation and as individuals, it is essential that we provide support to those who might be feeling the toll of these situations. Please check in on your colleagues and remain sensitive to those who may be feeling heightened anxiety at this time.

If you would like direct support for yourself, we have services available at Monash Health. You can call our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is available 24/7 on – 1300 687 327. The EAP is confidential and provided at no cost to employees. For more information, click here. If multiple members of your team are affected, managers can use the services of the Be Well Program.

Thank you and take care.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive

Key Messages

Returning to the office and working remotely

Monash Health has developed a clear policy in relation to working remotely. It is expected that working remotely will continue to be an option, noting that this will be alongside regular attendance on-site for team and individual meetings, among other requirements.

The decision and profile of work are at the discretion of your manager and require a Working Remotely Agreement to be in place. Refer to our Working Remotely Procedure in PROMPT for details.

COVID-19 testing for employees and patients: PCR and RAT Explainer

We’ve moved to clarify the most appropriate COVID-19 testing method and frequency for different patient and employee groups, to help ensure accurate and timely results.  Please see the table published here.

Rapid Antigen Tests are best used and most likely to be accurate when people are symptomatic. Otherwise, a PCR should be used for greater accuracy.

It’s important to note that a PCR should not be used for 30 days after someone is released from isolation, as viral shedding may continue to show a positive result even when someone is not infectious.

Isolation requirements for employees and patients

The principles and isolation requirements for our employees and patients can be viewed here.

Community cases are released automatically on D7 – D0 being the day of the positive test result.  Inpatients are assessed based on symptoms at presentation, reason for admission, disease severity and presence of immunosuppression – all of which may prolong shedding.

Comprehensive Care Plan comes to EMR

The Comprehensive Care Plan was designed to cover the key risk areas of Falls, Pressure injury, Nutrition and Cognition care during COVID Code Brown.

This care plan will now be suggested on all admitted adult and paediatric inpatients and must be initiated and individualised to meet patients’ needs. Read more here.

Nominations are now open for the 2022 NAMAS

The annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards and Scholarships are an excellent chance to highlight some of the many achievements of our nurses and midwives.   Head to the STAR Portal to nominate a deserving nurse or midwife by Sunday 13 March 2022.

Final week to register for Walking Challenge 2022

Registrations for the 2022 Walking Challenge are now open and close on Saturday 5 March 2022. This year, the Challenge is FREE for all employees, their families, and friends to join.

The Challenge starts on Sunday 6 March and runs for four weeks, until Saturday 2 April 2022. The Challenge is a great opportunity to connect with your colleagues and loved ones, clear your head after a busy day, and enjoy time outdoors, all while staying active. Read more

Practicing empathy – Digital Wellbeing Series

Available for all our employees, the Digital Wellbeing Series by the Resilience Project includes ten three-minute videos covering topics such as gratitude, emotional literacy, sleep and exercise.

This month the focus is on empathy. To practice empathy is to feel what someone else feels and to put yourself in their shoes.   To access the Digital Wellbeing Series and to watch the video on ‘Empathy’, log in to LATTE and search ‘The Resilience Project’ under the ‘Find Learning’ tab. Read more

Reminder: In an emergency, dial 22 22

A reminder that our new internal number for emergencies, 22 22, is now live across all Monash Health sites.

This change has been made as directed by the Department of Health to standardise internal emergency numbers across Victoria. Having one internal emergency number improves healthcare worker awareness, particularly for those who work across multiple health services and hospitals and reduces the risk of a delayed emergency response.

Visit our website for more information on the change including FAQs.