ANNUAL REPORT - Northern Health

of health status in older patients as it can reveal unknown
issues and help determine exercise regimes.
Dr de Morton’s DEMMI instrument is straightforward,
enabling clinicians to quickly diagnosis mobility status using
15 simple physical tests from the patient’s bedside.
As a Churchill Fellow, Dr de Morton will complete a six
week visit to the USA and Canada to continue her work
on physical ageing, mobility and exercise for older people.
The trip will include attending a two week internationally
recognised course in public health in the USA followed by
conducting research with two world leading research teams.
Northern Health promotes and observes progressive
strategies for healthy and attractive work environments
which support creativity, innovation and a culture of
teamwork, to make Northern Health an employer of choice
for professionals
The 2010-11 Redesigning Care program plan includes
the delivery of an education program promoting process
improvement methods across the health service. These
methods have proved highly successful for industries as
diverse as manufacturing, banking and the military, and in
recent times have been successful in reducing wait times
and improving quality in health services. The education will
support staff to improve our current work practices.
Ensuring our staff are working in a safe environment
is of paramount importance and the development of a
new OH&S Strategy is underway. The strategy focuses on
availability of training tools for staff and volunteers, health
and well being initiatives such as assistance quitting smoking
and providing a staff lifestyle checks program.
Northern Health implemented the Sick Leave Donation
Registry in response to a number of long-term employees
resigning as a result of catastrophic illness or injury.
Employees can donate an amount of their personal sick
leave accrual to a central registry. Other employees who are
experiencing hardship due to a catastrophic illness or injury
suffered by themselves or a member of their immediate
family are able to access the pooled hours. In the last 4 years
7,395 hours of sick leave has been made available to 35 staff
via this donation model.
09/10 Northern Health Annual Report 31