Every day across our health service we see examples of our employees and teams encapsulating our intent to be relentless in the pursuit of excellence. This week, we heard one such story from family members of a non-verbal patient with a severe intellectual disability regarding the care she received at Moorabbin Hospital.
Nurse Manager Melissa De Luca joined Chief Executive Professor Andrew Stripp in conversation at Tuesday’s employee forum to share the story with us all. Melissa shared the importance of working collaboratively and tailoring communication to ensure the best results for our patients.
“The patient came in for a total left hip replacement,” says Melissa. “Afterwards she required 24-hour supervision.”
The family praised treating surgeon Dr Rabi Solaiman and the surgical team, nurses and allied health employees caring for the patient.
Melissa De Luca and her team were praised for ensuring there was always someone available to assist the family and patients and that nurses were briefed at handover.
“We were very fortunate that the family were advocates for the patient,” Melissa says. “They were very involved in her care.”
“Every nurse on the Ward was caring and responsive,” said the compliment from the family.
Melissa also organised a critical meeting between Monash Health and the patient’s disability support provider to plan for the patient’s discharge.
“As my brother and I also tag-teamed to provide support, we were fully included in decisions about her care and perspective on our sister’s needs were considered respectfully . . . The discharge occurred seamlessly. What was a challenging hospitalisation proceeded more smoothly than we could ever have anticipated.”
Monash Health’s Disability Liaison Officer Darrelle Van Haaster was also commended for providing an “invaluable service” by assisting the patient and her family from preadmission to discharge.
“We got the patient home safely,” says Melissa. “And she didn’t require rehab, which was a great outcome for her.”
You can watch the full conversation between Melissa De Luca and Andrew Stripp here.
Approved by Anjali Dhulia and David Bloxham