ANNUAL REPORT - Northern Health

Strategic Goal 2
A healthier northern community through
building corporate capability (Finances,
Infrastructure, Reputation)
Corporate capability supports effective and efficient service
provision. Building corporate capability in terms of finances,
infrastructure and reputation is a strategic priority for
Northern Health and the maintaining a strong corporate
base provides the foundation required to deliver quality
health services.
Northern Health became one of the first public health
services in Victoria to receive Australian Council on
Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Corporate Accreditation
in 2009.
At organisational wide survey the Northern Health’s
campuses achieved 17 Extensive Achievements. The criteria
relating to ‘care of dying’ was found to be an example of
very good practice, and Northern Health also achieved an
Outstanding Achievement rating for work undertaken in the
area of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) needs. The
surveyor felt the work was exceptional and recognised that
Northern Health considered the CALD community served by
the organisation as an important part of core business.
Review of Governance Structure
Governance arrangements within Northern Health are
overseen by the Northern Health Board and CEO, who
work closely with six Executive Directors. The Northern
Health Strategic Plan and annual Budget Plan guide decisionmaking
and actions as we strive to achieve our strategic and
operational goals and fulfill our obligations for funding and
service to our community. The recently appointed CEO and
Executive Directors, in close partnership with Operational
and Clinical Service Directors, work with a clear focus on
both financial governance and clinical service provision
obligations.
At Northern Health, our Quality and Clinical Governance
Framework ensures that the care we provide to our patients
is monitored, that risks are minimised and that the quality
and safety of services is continuously improved.
Northern Health is keen to publish results, share with other
organisations and benchmark performance. Northern
Health has been acknowledged for its leadership in the
implementation of the national best practice guidelines
for VTE.
Northern Health was awarded the National Institute of
Clinical Studies ‘Action In Research’ Award in November
2007 and in February 2010 members of the UK National
Health Service Medical Directors Venous Thromboembolism
Prevention Team visited to discuss the program and how the
VTE prevention results had been sustained.
Northern Health actively reviews quality and patient safety
indicators. All patient safety indicators are monitored using
Six Sigma Control Charts and current data exceeds the
benchmark or falls within the confidence limits.
Financial Performance
Northern Health had the largest financial turnaround of the
22 monitored health services in Victoria during 2009/10,
improving from an operating deficit of $9.85m in 2008/09
to only $1.14m in the 2009/10 financial year.
This has been in conjunction with the achievement of the
majority of clinical service targets. A significant highlight
is the improvement in the final quarter performance
monitoring score from 51 out of 100 for the last quarter of
2008/09 to 83 in the last quarter of 2009/10.
Underpinning this financial recovery is the three year
Northern Health Financial Recovery Plan (2009-2012).
This plan details strategies to return Northern Health to a
financially viable Health Service and is linked to the Strategic
Plan. Monthly executive performance meetings ensure
ongoing accountability and monitoring against targets.
In collaboration with the senior medical staff, Northern
Health has increased its private practice revenue by $1m in
2009-10 compared to the 2008-09 financial year. Proceeds
from private practice revenue now exceed $2.56m and
examples of reinvestment of those funds include:
• Broadmeadows Health Service endoscopy service
purchasing a double-balloon enteroscopy and capsule
endoscopy equipment; and
• Dermatology outpatient service having access to vital UV
therapy equipment.
09/10 Northern Health Annual Report 23