Kerry, who has worked at Murdoch since 1995, received the award at the Catholic Health Australia National Conference in August and was nominated by Midwifery Programs Coordinator and Area Manager at Murdoch’s Maternity Ward, Sue Bradshaw.

At her own initiative and in her own time, Kerry assembles ‘memory boxes’ in which parents can keep their baby’s mementos, such as cards for foot and handprints, a

OCT | NOV 11ST JOhN Of gOd healTh Care

hOSpiTaliTy COmpaSSiON reSpeCT JuSTiCe exCelleNCe

www.sjog.org.au

The care and compassion that Kerry Brenzi crafts into the memory boxes she makes for grieving parents of stillborn babies has been recognised in a national nursing award.

A midwife from St John of God Hospital Murdoch, Kerry has been named by Catholic Health Australia as its 2011 Nurse of the Year.

$35.9m BuNBury expaNSiONHealth care closer to home in the south west

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eNVirONmeNTal STraTegyStengthened commitment to environmental sustainability

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uNifOrmS giVeN a New leaSe ON life Old uniforms donated to developing countries

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aNalySiNg healTh iN eaST TimOrBoost for East Timor pathology program

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paTieNTS raTe Our hOSpiTalS highlyBerwick equal second in Victorian satisfaction survey

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ThiNkiNg iNSide The BOx wiNS NaTiONal award

aBOVe CHA Nurse of the Year, Kerry Brenzi, with some of the memory boxes she has created to help support grieving parents.

sachet for a lock of hair, an outfit to dress the baby, a quilt, and a cot card with the baby’s weight and length. There is also a prayer card, grief booklet, information about support services, and comforting words and verses.

St John of God Hospital Murdoch Director of Nursing, Adam Coleman, said Kerry was an exceptionally compassionate nurse, with a special interest and skill in helping families in times of grief.

“The death of a baby is a difficult time for parents and many feel lonely and frightened,” Adam said.

“Kerry is able to find the right words to say to the family, including siblings of the baby, while being aware that everyone grieves differently. She also educates and supports fellow caregivers.”

One of Kerry’s patients, who lost her newborn son to stillbirth, said receiving the memory box had been a thoughtful gesture.

“The box of precious memories has provided us with something to remember our beautiful Isaac. Thank you for your wonderful support. It takes a very special person to be a midwife especially in difficult circumstances, and we are just so grateful you all do it so well.”

Kerry said she was surprised to win the award. “I feel humbled and honoured to receive this award. Knowing I can provide a memorable keepsake for a grieving family in times of such sad loss is a reward in itself,” Kerry said.

2 pomegranate OCT | NOV 112

group update

Our 2010/11 Annual Report is now publicly available in electronic version via our website and Compass, our intranet, and in hard copy from each division’s marketing department.

The theme of this year’s report – ‘A reason to hope’ – reflects our healing Mission as a Ministry of the Catholic Church. It illustrates how we aim to go beyond safety and quality to provide an experience for people that honours their dignity, is compassionate and affirming and leaves them with a reason to hope.

The report is filled with examples of the way we strive to deliver holistic care and support to the people and communities we serve, and is testament to the dedication of our caregivers and their faithfulness to our healing Mission.

It also provides a useful snapshot of how we are progressing as an organisation; how we are growing, the challenges we face, and the successes we enjoy.

Our strong governance has once again enabled us to provide more services, to more people, in more places – ensuring that our distinctive healing Mission is experienced to the greatest possible degree throughout the communities we serve. Through the combined activities of our hospitals, home nursing, pathology, and Social Outreach and Advocacy services, we have more than two million patient and client contacts per annum.

Largely as a result of increased activity, our revenue grew 5.3% in 2010/11 although our net result declined from $39.8 million to $26.9 million, due to our

increasing financial commitment to social justice, an increase in expenditure on Mission and Pastoral Services, and the removal of the one-off, prior year impact of the $12 million discount on acquisition of the St John of God Foundation. Our hospitals and Health Choices division improved operating margins.

Hospital revenue increased 6.7% to $943 million, underscored by a 3.5% increase in inpatient separations and 8.1% increase in day patient separations. Our hospital separations have increased 43% over the past five years, reflecting significant growth through redevelopments, expansions and acquisitions. Our surgical procedures during the year increased 1.3%, with inpatient procedure growth at 3.7% but a fall in day surgical procedures of 0.6%.

We experienced a 4.6% reduction in births at our hospitals, due to a combination of obstetric workforce shortages, particularly in regional areas, and an increasing number of patients opting to use the public sector due to the current economic climate.

2010/11 also saw us achieve our best ever aggregate results in the Press Ganey satisfaction surveys, with top quartile results in all four measures: Doctor Satisfaction (99th centile), Day Surgery Patient Satisfaction (90th centile), Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction (88th centile) and Inpatient Satisfaction (77th centile).

In the year ahead, we will continue to plan and invest for a healthier future. The 2011/12 year will see much building activity as our hospitals at Murdoch, Bunbury, Geelong and Burwood undergo major redevelopments at a total cost of over $341 million.

We are also hoping for success in responding to the WA Government’s Request for Proposal, which we lodged on 13 October, to design, build and operate the new Midland Health Campus in Perth.

I am well aware of the tremendous energy, expertise and resourcefulness that caregivers expended on special projects in 2010/11 – developing group-wide strategies for Occupational Health and

Safety and the Environment, the Midland bid, and plans for redevelopments to name but a few. All this on top of delivering another year of high quality, distinctive care to the patients, clients and communities we serve.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank caregivers personally, and on behalf of the Trustees and Board, for the hard work and dedication that I believe has been captured so well in the text and images of our latest Annual Report.

Dr Michael Stanford Group Chief Executive Officer

Providing a caregiver’s point of view on health and safety has earned Rona Murray an iPad 2 after she won St John of God Health Care’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Perception Survey prize draw.

The Allied Health Clinician – who works at the St John of God Raphael Centre in Blacktown – said the prize was in fact an OHS solution as it would negate the need for her to carry around a heavy laptop she had been using.

The survey attracted opinions from 2,500 caregivers (just over a quarter of all caregivers) across the organisation, with the views they provided enabling more targeted OHS awareness campaigns and activities.

rONa a wiNNer ON SafeTy

$35.9m BuNBury expaNSiON

3pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

Health care will soon be closer to home for public and private patients in the south west of Western Australia, with work beginning on a $35.9 million expansion at St John of God Hospital Bunbury.

The redevelopment will include a cancer centre, coronary care unit and angiography suite, an expanded renal dialysis unit, and off-campus accommodation for radiotherapy patients.

The development – which is co-funded by Commonwealth and State Governments, and St John of God Health Care – is due for completion by October 2012.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said the expansion was a prime example of the public and private sector working in partnership to ensure the best possible health outcomes for the community.

“Patients in the south west will benefit from access to high quality health services that would not otherwise be available. Both the cancer centre and coronary care unit are the only such specialist centres in regional Western Australia.”

Bunbury’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Grime, said that in addition to caring for more patients each year, the hospital would be able to treat more seriously ill

patients, saving them and their families the stress of long and often repeat journeys to Perth.

“In particular, our cancer centre will complement Bunbury Regional Hospital’s recently opened South West Radiation Oncology Centre. We are working together to meet a growing community need, with cancer cases predicted to increase in line with the region’s rapidly growing and ageing population,” Mark said.

The increased capacity, technology and facilities are expected to attract new and resident medical specialists to the region, as well as creating local health and construction jobs.

Volunteers at St John of God Hospital Geelong have won two of the three categories of The Rotary Club of Highton Kardinia Volunteer of the Year Awards, recognising their generous efforts helping the hospital and local community.

Cathie Mahar was named Healthcare Volunteer of the Year for her voluntary efforts since 2001 fundraising for St John of God Horizon House, which provides accommodation, care and

aBOVe Artist’s impression of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at St John of God Hospital Bunbury

rOTary reCOgNiSeS hard wOrkiNg geelONg VOluNTeerS

aBOVe Rotary volunteer award winners Jan Kinloch, left, and Cathie Mahar.

intensive support to young people aged 16 to 22, who need a safe and stable place to call home. Cathie is also involved in visits to an East Timorese community as part of the hospital’s Friends of Viqueque Health initiative.

Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Jan Kinloch, who holds the voluntary position of St John of God Hospital Auxiliary President; just one of many hats she wears in support of Geelong’s community.

The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Roberts, said the awards were

well-deserved as both Cathie and Jan had made an enormous community contribution.

“We are extremely fortunate to benefit from their tireless efforts,” he said.

4

a BleSSiNg fOr ChOiCeSOur home nursing division’s new office in Melbourne was officially opened in August with a blessing conducted by the Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Peter Elliott. The ceremony for the Health Choices’ office was attended by Sisters of St John of God, Sister Rosarii and Sister Josephine; Don Good from our Board of Trustees; Group Chief Executive

Officer, Dr Michael Stanford; members of the Group Management Committee; and caregivers. The office is adjacent to our Melbourne Group Services’ office.

mOre help fOr hOmeleSSSt John of God Hospital Murdoch and its caregivers have donated $23,000 to the hospital’s Charity of the Year, St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in Fremantle. Murdoch’s Director of Mission, Colin Keogh, said the centre - which provides accommodation and support to homeless men - was a focus of the hospital’s Social Outreach and Advocacy activities. The hospital donated $5,000 and caregivers raised the remainder of the funds through a silent auction at their annual ball, raffles, gold coin donation meals and a book stall.

NaTiONal reCOgNiTiONSt John of God Pinelodge Clinic’s Director of Allied Health, Dr Neelofar Rehman, has presented the results of a piloted day therapy program at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2011 Congress held in Darwin. The paper, entitled Sensorimeter Psychotherapy with Patients with Dual Diagnosis, was presented as part of the Congress’ addictions session. The findings highlighted the significance of using research on the neurobiological basis of trauma in planning and implementing treatment.

imprOViNg CONSulTaTiONSt John of God Hospital Berwick has remodelled and expanded its consulting suite area to encompass a purpose built space for obstetrics, orthopaedics and urology. The new suite was created in response to significant growth in the number of doctors who consult onsite at the hospital’s own consulting suites – from 19 to 43 – over the last five years. The expansion means even more visiting specialists will consult from and operate at the hospital.

news in brief

pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

The trial, by our home nursing division Health Choices, is also boosting clinical skills amongst caregivers.

The new model – the Complex Wound Management Service – involves a funding partnership between medical supplies provider, KCI Medical Australia, and health insurance group, BUPA Australia. Patient wound care is managed by Health Choices and several other home nursing providers using Vacuum Assisted Closure® therapy wound dressings, which provide targeted negative pressure across a wound surface, removing inhibitors to wound healing and stimulating healing tissue.

Health Choices’ Melbourne Nurse Manager, Heather Constable, said early indications were good for patients with chronic hard-to-heal wounds and two or more co-morbidities.

“We have seen positive clinical outcomes, including reduced hospitalisation, amongst the 24 Health Choices’ patients involved in the trial, and we envisage our participation in this important trial will have a positive impact for many more patients in the future,” Heather said.

“This has also been a terrific opportunity for our caregivers to develop new skills in wound management, and has added diversity to their roles. The opportunity to have access to KCI clinicians with expert skills in this area has been an effective support that has benefited caregivers and patients.”

Heather said Health Choices hoped to adopt the new model on a permanent basis throughout all its sites at the conclusion of the trial.

aBOVe Patient Nicholas Lipson participated in the wound trial, pictured here with Health Choices Registered Nurse, Wendy Warren.

wOuNd Trial helpS keep paTieNTS OuT Of hOSpiTalA trial for a new wound management model for patients with hard to heal wounds is helping to keep patients out of hospital and prevent wound complications.

The strategy is the result of much hard work and collaboration by the environmental team, and identifies four core strategies:

foster an environmentally aware workplace culture;

strengthen management in environmental target areas, such as utilities, waste and fleet management;

ensure appropriate resourcing; and

improve measuring, monitoring and evaluation of environmental performance.

St John of God Health Care is strengthening its commitment to the environmental sustainability of its operations with its Group Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2011 – 2015.

The first year of implementation will focus on establishing strong foundations upon which future initiatives can be built and includes detailed timelines, responsibilities and resource requirements. The Group Environmental Unit have already completed Level 2 Energy and Water audits across all sites and this year will be undertaking activities such as reviewing recycling programs and recycling policies, conducting a feasibility study of all possible renewable energy opportunities, and developing of a targeted caregiver environmental awareness program.

Under the strategy, $1.2 million per year for the next five years has been committed to the Group Environmental Fund, which enables applications for environmental

initiatives in addition to those that meet regular funding requirements.

The decision-making process for allocating the funds will be informed by reviews of lighting and motor systems throughout divisions; target areas with the potential to significantly reduce electricity consumption.

Group Environmental Engineer Dean Farnsworth said he hoped to see a significant decline in energy and water consumption as initiatives were implemented.

“The strategy is prefaced simply upon good environmental stewardship; ultimately by reducing energy and water consumption, we will reduce our organisation’s impact on the environment.”

55pomegranate OCT | NOV 11 5

eNVirONmeNTal STraTegy TO lOOk afTer fuTure

Caregivers from across St John of God Health Care have provided a valuable contribution to health workers in developing countries by donating their old uniforms.

With new uniforms provided across the organisation in early 2011, caregivers were encouraged to return their old uniforms to collection points, which resulted in 251 large boxes of uniforms collected across Australia and New Zealand.

Boxes have already been distributed by Rotary International to hospitals and healthcare organisations in East Timor, Tanzania, Kenya and Fiji, while remaining boxes will be dispatched to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and countries in Africa.

Victorian Rotarian Laurie Fisher said it was pleasing that the uniforms were in such good condition.

aBOVe Pathology Victoria caregiver, Marina Levar, with just some of the 251 boxes of donated uniforms.

uNifOrmS giVeN a New leaSe ON life

“St John of God Health Care made it very easy for us to forward the clothing on to the health organisations in need of support,” Laurie said.

“Nurses and other health workers in these countries usually have very little so it is a big gesture for them to be provided with a smart, clean uniform. We have ongoing relationships with the projects where we distribute these uniforms, so we know they are being used by organisations that have a genuine, ongoing need for them.”

Donation of the uniforms had not only helped meet the needs of health professionals in the developing world, but had also had an environmental benefit in helping to reduce landfill.

St John of God Health Care’s Group Environmental Engineer, Dean Farnsworth, said the response from caregivers had been overwhelming.

“Changing uniforms for over 9,000 caregivers across many different sites was a major logistical operation, but we wanted to ensure the old uniforms could be put to good use,” Dean said.

“It is a fantastic effort to collect 251 boxes and very reassuring to know they will be put to good use where there is need.”

environment

pomegranate OCT | NOV 116

January 2011. Helen has been with the hospital since 1987, most recently as Nurse Unit Manager, Admission and Day Surgery – a role she held for 11 years. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing (post-registration) and a Graduate Diploma of Management.

gleNN huTTON

Glenn Hutton has been promoted to the role of Finance and Administrative Services Manager at St John of God Hospital

Geraldton. Glenn began working at the hospital in January 2011 as a Finance Assistant. He previously worked for 13 years as Finance Officer for a local land development company.

liONel rudd

Lionel Rudd has been appointed to the role of Country Manager in East Timor, after acting in the role for six months.

He manages day-to-day operations for our Social Outreach and Advocacy nursing, pathology and community health programs in Dili. Lionel has worked for

Group Services in Information Systems for more than 10 years.

Tim VaNderwal

Tim Vanderwal has been appointed Nursing Development Program Manager in East Timor. Tim holds a PhD in Cultural

Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Development. Tim was initially deployed to Dili in the role of Intensive Care Nurse Specialist before progressing to his current management position, leading a team of nine Nursing Development Program nurses.

promoting our peopleriTa mCilduff

Rita McIlduff has been appointed Quality Manager at St John of God Hospital Murdoch. Rita has been acting in the role

since February 2011, playing a significant role in guiding preparation of the hospital’s recent Australian Council on Healthcare Standards Organisation-wide Accreditation Survey and Department of Health Licensing reviews. Rita has extensive experience in nursing and management, having previously worked as a Nurse Manager at Murdoch and as Clinical Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Nurse Educator at Mercy Hospital, Mount Lawley.

heleN ruNdell

Helen Rundell has been appointed Clinical Risk and Quality Manager at St John of God Hospital Ballarat after acting in the role since

Subiaco streets were closed when a 12 tonne, 10 person hyperbaric chamber, hoisted by cranes and installed by a team of engineers, made its mark on Perth.

St John of God Hospital Subiaco faced the mammoth task of installing Western Australia’s biggest hyperbaric chamber, available to the general public, into its Subiaco Clinic.

Hyperbaric medicine is best known for treating divers suffering from decompression sickness, and is most commonly used to help patients with non-healing ulcers on their legs and feet, often suffered by diabetics or people with poor circulation to their limbs.

The chamber provides Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which helps the body grow new small blood vessels in tissues that have poor circulation, allowing the

body to heal ulcers and wounds.

The hospital’s Director of Nursing, Chris Hanna, said the planning process for installing the chamber took months of preparation.

“The installation was quite the spectacle. It’s not every day you see a massive

hyperbaric chamber taking over the streets,” Chris said.

The new service will be operated by Australian owned Hyperbaric Health, which operates 46 hyperbaric systems in 20 countries.

perTh STreeTS lOCked dOwN fOr hyperBariC Therapy

aBOVe It was a tight fit manoeuvring the hyperbaric chamber through the window in the Subiaco Clinic.

pomegranate OCT | NOV 11 7

Of the 47 assessment criteria, Bendigo achieved 26 rankings of Excellent Achievement (the second highest ranking) and 21 Moderate Achievement rankings.

The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Hogan, said the surveyors had made particular note of the service ethos evident in every department.

“The surveyors remarked on the genuine commitment of caregivers, not only to quality improvement but also to serving patients and supporting one another,” Michael said.

Bendigo was the first St John of God Health Care hospital to be assessed under the new ACHS standard EQuIP 5,

which was implemented on 1 July 2011. EQuIP 5 introduces new elements to accreditation standards, with a particular focus on safety and quality of care, and increases the number of criteria from 45 to 47.

The hospital’s results are a significant improvement since their most recent accreditation under EQuIP 4, when it scored 12 rankings of Excellent Achievement.

“Success in any survey is the result of contributions by many people over a long period of time, and is also reflection of a positive culture and great teamwork across the hospital,” Michael said. “This is a tribute to everyone.”St John of God Hospital

Geraldton is now equipped to provide even better care for local mums and babies after the hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary donated a state-of-the-art $66,000 portable ultrasound machine.

The Auxiliary raised the funds over several years by hosting cocktail and pearl evenings, morning teas and women’s luncheons.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Sara Armitage, said the ultrasound would be used to provide immediate diagnosis for obstetric patients and allow for assessment of the presentation of the foetus (the way the baby is facing).

It will also be used for gynaecological procedures.

reSulTS a CrediT TO BeNdigO’S exCelleNCe iN Care

aBOVe Surveyors Dr Jean Evans, left, and Mrs Shirley Batho; Director of Medical Services, Dr Gary Russell; Bendigo’s Quality and Risk Manager, Jayne Boyle; Chief Executive Officer, Michael Hogan; Director of Nursing, Karen Laing; and Surveyor, Mr Jack Hung.

St John of God Hospital Bendigo has passed its four-yearly Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) accreditation survey with flying colours, affirming the hospital’s reputation as a leading provider of quality care.

aBOVe Dr Sara Armitage and Val Breen with Geraldton’s new portable ultrasound machine. Photo courtesy of Geraldton Newspapers

a SOuNd iNVeSTmeNT iN BaBy Care

8 pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

diagNOSiNg a SpeCial NeedSt John of God Pathology is making a difference to the lives of special needs children, presenting a defibrillator to St Kieran Catholic Primary School in Tuart Hill, Perth.

St Kieran has over 60 special needs children as well as a dedicated early intervention program comprising 25 children aged between three and six.

The school’s Early Intervention Coordinator, Russell Pratten, said 10 children had been hospitalised in the past year, with several of the cases being emergencies which could have been fatal had the ambulance not arrived quickly.

“It is great to have the peace of mind from knowing that you have the equipment which could save a life in an emergency,” Russell said.

All teachers and assistants at the school have been trained to use the defibrillator.

lefT Group Manager Youth, Mike Board, with representatives from the Hills Community Support Group

SuppOrTiNg VulNeraBle yOuNg wOmeN St John of God Health Care is providing $300,000 over three years to Kira House in Perth’s north-east to help support young women, aged 14 to 18, who have experienced serious domestic violence.

The partnership will assist Kira House, which is operated by the Hills Community Support Group, fund a full-time case worker, provide residential support for young women unable to access stable accommodation, and provide continued support for young women and their children once they have moved into transitional housing.

The partnership extends St John of God Health Care’s commitment to the accommodation and support of young people through its Horizon House service and youth mental health initiatives.

Group Manager Youth Mike Board said the Hills Community Support Group had a proven track record in an area of great need.

“Kira House is a vital service for vulnerable young women who need accommodation and support, and has a similar ethos to our own Horizon House service. We believe that the case worker position funded through this partnership will have a positive impact in empowering young people to have a safer, more independent future.”

The Hills Community Support Group Manager Youth Services, Megan Richards, said the partnership would help support more than 120 young women.

“Sadly, many young people are affected by domestic violence and therefore suffer through very unstable living arrangements,” she said.

9pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

In a major health boost for our Social Outreach and Advocacy East Timor pathology program, St John of God Health Care has joined forces with Johnson & Johnson to deliver six new biochemistry analysers worth over $500,000.

The new Vitros 350 Analysers have been deployed in laboratories and hospitals across East Timor, providing routine testing in multiple locations to enable high quality, reliable testing for disease factors for at least the next decade.

Victorian pathology caregivers Emma Morrison and Megan Burns were seconded to East Timor prior to the analysers being delivered and have been overseeing their installation as well as building capacity among the Timorese who are responsible for training laboratory staff.

Johnson & Johnson also deployed engineers and a laboratory specialist to train local staff in instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, and oversee installation.

St John of God Health Care’s Group Manager International Health, Anthea Ramos, said unerring dedication from pathology caregivers had been essential to delivering better health outcomes across the country.

The first phase of the Pathology Development Program, which is part of our Social Outreach and Advocacy services, began in 2005. Its aim was to help improve the diagnosis of malaria, the procurement and management of reagents and record keeping and reduce high rejection rates of pathology samples.

Operated in partnership with the Timorese Ministry of Health, the program has made significant progress including: increasing the number of tests available from 22 to 50; increasing patient test numbers from 10-15 per day to 120-180 per day; drastically

reducing the number of false positives for malarial infection; reducing the rejection rate of specimens from 20% to less than 1%; and implementing computer-based information systems.

St John of God Health Care also operates a National Nursing Development Program in Timor in addition to its Pathology services. With the addition of several new staff members to the team over the coming months, the team in Dili will comprise of 10 expat caregivers and five Timorese caregivers by the end of the year.

“Our pathology and nursing programs deliver genuine, sustainable capacity building for health in East Timor. Both our Timorese and Australian caregivers are driving the programs forward and reaping very positive changes on the ground,” Anthea said.

St John of God Health Care’s commitment to Indigenous health has been boosted by a $60,000 grant from the Federal Government’s Rural Health Continuing Education fund to train Aboriginal health workers.

The organisation’s Social Outreach and Advocacy services will develop and deliver six workshops for Aboriginal nurses and health workers working with Indigenous families in rural Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. The training will combine physical health, mental health, parent-infant attachment and early parenting skills, including a father’s transition to parenthood.

The aim is to equip the health workers with increased skills to: promote health awareness for pregnant women and families with young children; recognise the signs and symptoms of perinatal mental

illness and attachment disorders; work with families to develop care plans and access appropriate treatment; and provide parents with strategies to support healthy bonding.

Group Manager Early Years, Anna Roberts, said early detection and treatment of mental health problems was imperative.

“There are disproportionately high rates of Aboriginal maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, as well as a high number of babies taken into care in the first year of life, which demonstrates a need for urgent action in this area,” Anna said.

“Improving the capacity of Aboriginal health workers to identify and support women and families with health concerns early in the perinatal period will have long-lasting benefits for Aboriginal families.”

The new program will work in conjunction with our existing Raphael Centre perinatal support services and Strong Family, Strong Culture Indigenous family support service.

aNalySiNg healTh iN eaST TimOr

TraiNiNg mOre aBOrigiNal healTh wOrkerS

aBOVe Unconventional loading of a biochemistry analyser onto a truck in Dili

aBOVe St John of God Health Care is committed to enhancing indigenous perinatal health.

pomegranate OCT | NOV 1110

St John of God Pathology is helping to ensure future generations of doctors are more aware of pathology processes and how to collect blood.

In a partnership with the University of Notre Dame, St John of God Pathology recently held a series of information evenings for medical students.

Scientist in Charge of Cytology, David Knowles, led the first group of 30 students on a tour of the state-of-the-art laboratory at St John of God Hospital Subiaco’s Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre, giving the students an insight into how pathology specimens are processed from collection through to processing and issuing of a pathology report.

aBOVe Notre Dame medical students practicing their venepuncture skills with Phlebotomist and trainer Victoria Kirby.

Senior Phlebotomists Victoria Kirby and Daryl Daams educated the students on the correct procedures for drawing blood from patients.

David said the students were eager to practice their newly acquired skills and some had expressed interest in employment as phlebotomists (people who draw blood from patients) with St John of God Pathology while they

iT’S iN The BlOOd fOr mediCal STudeNTS

continued their medical studies.

“Well-trained pathologists are a necessity for the industry to function but are a scarce resource,” David said.

“We have a lot to do with educating registrars and our involvement with medical students for the phlebotomy training is an extension of our commitment to future workforce sustainability.”

SeNiOr leaderS giVe The ThumBS upGiven the opportunity to nominate caregivers for a Thumbs Up Award, St John of God Health Care’s senior leaders recently bestowed 38 nominations on individuals and groups of caregivers.

The opportunity came at this year’s Senior Leadership Group meeting, which for the first time was held in Melbourne rather than Perth.

The Senior Leadership Group meeting is a forum for information sharing and discussion and this year attracted 55 senior leaders from across Australia and New Zealand. The two-day meeting enables a better shared understanding of major strategic and operational issues affecting St John of God Health Care and enhances collaboration between individuals and divisions.

Prior to the meeting, participants were invited to nominate caregivers for the Thumbs Up Award, with nominations displayed throughout the meeting.

“Reading the nominations was a real

celebration of what was just a small example of the wonderful contribution our caregivers are making to this organisation each day,” Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said.

“It was inspiring to read the nominations and be reminded that it is often the more ordinary ‘run of the mill’ things we do – rather than the big, more public achievements – as well as how we treat others that can be the most valued by colleagues.”

Each of the awards was sent to the caregiver or groups of caregivers nominated, and are also available on Compass, our Intranet, throughout October and November for all caregivers to read.

pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

11pomegranate OCT | NOV 11

e-e-eaSy TO SeNd greeTiNgSThe popularity of St John of God Health Care’s ‘electronic card’ facility on its website reached new proportions recently when a patient received over 50 cards from friends around Australia and the world during an extended hospital stay.

Evie Neilson had one of the cheeriest rooms in St John of God Hospital Bendigo after news of her visit spread quickly on an online blog to friends in far-flung destinations such as the United States and Canada.

Along with many thousands of people from over 100 countries around the world, Evie began following young sailor

aBOVe Bendigo patient Evie Neilson, with friends, who received over 50 get-well cards from around the world via our online e-card facility.

Jessica Watson’s blog in 2010, as she recorded details of her round-the-world, record-breaking voyage. She became good friends with others on the blog who were writing messages of support for Jessica. It was many of these online friends who then used our e-card facility to send Evie get-well cards.

Family and friends of patients at any of our hospitals can visit our website – www.sjog.org.au – and choose from a range of electronic cards, writing a personal message and, at a mouse click, sending the card on its way to caregivers who print the card and deliver it to the patient’s bedside.

mark my wOrdS

St John of God Hospital Murdoch has partnered with St Patrick’s Community Support Centre and Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts (DADAA) to encourage people who are homeless to develop their confidence and express themselves creatively – giving a voice to their unique, lived experience of homelessness.

Clients of St Patricks – which provides support services to people who are homeless, needy or disadvantaged – produced artwork for the Mark My Words exhibition at the Freight Gallery in Fremantle expressing difficult experiences they had lived through, with the aim to raise awareness in the community about their experiences.

Participant Phil, who produced a

sculpture entitled Skaters of Life, said taking part in the project had increased his confidence.

“I went from just taking snapshots to directing skaters according to what I wanted to achieve. I found working in a group with different participant’s projects was very stimulating. It was important for me to finish the project.”

St John of God Health Care is a leading Catholic health care provider in Australia and New Zealand, operating 13 hospitals, home nursing, pathology and disability services, as well as Social Outreach and Advocacy services reaching out to people experiencing disadvantage.Editoral submissions or mailing list changes for Pomegranate to michelle.vegter@sjog.org.auSt John of God Health Care Inc ABN 21 930 207 958 ARBN 051 960 911 (Limited Liability) Incorporated in WA.www.sjog.org.au

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puBliShed BySt John of God Health Care Ground Floor 12 Kings Park Road West Perth WA 6005Telephone 08 9213 3636 Facsimile 08 9213 3668

paTieNTS raTe Our hOSpiTalS highlySt John of God Hospital Berwick has taken out equal second place in Victoria in an annual satisfaction survey of members who attended private hospitals by Medibank Private.

Our hospitals in Ballarat and Geelong ranked equal third in Australia in the Regional and Rural category, while St John of God Hospital Bunbury received the Western Australian Bronze Award in recognition of Medibank members who were patients ranking it third highest in the State.

St John of God Health Care’s Executive Director, Eastern Hospitals, Mrs Tracey Burton, said the survey results once again demonstrated the organisation’s ongoing commitment to excellence and patient centred care across its 13 Australian hospitals.

aBOVe Berwick’s Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Norman, and caregivers with the hospital’s Medibank Private State Silver award.

“These results are a resounding endorsement of St John of God Health Care’s ability to provide first class care in a holistic, values-based environment. Our doctors and caregivers go beyond safety and quality and provide an experience for people that honours their dignity, and is compassionate and affirming,” Tracey said.

The national Medibank Private Patient Satisfaction Survey analysed 22,668 responses from its members who were patients across 140 private hospitals. Questions covered every stage of the hospital experience, from pre-admission to discharge and follow-up. Respondents

provided feedback on the standard of medical treatment provided, privacy levels, cleanliness and food quality.

As Australia’s third largest private hospital operator, St John of God Health Care’s dedication to the pursuit of excellence is also demonstrated by its groupwide results in the annual round of independent Press Ganey Satisfaction Surveys. In the 2011 surveys, inpatients, day patients and doctors ranked their satisfaction with the organisation in the top 25% of all participating hospitals, public and private, nationally.