ANNUAL REPORT - Northern Health

Our Achievements cont’d...
Strategic Goal 6
A healthier northern community through
growing and translating education &
research
The translation and learnings from education and research
into direct clinical practice leads to optimal health outcomes
for consumers. With funding to build the Academic and
Research Precinct, Northern Health now has an increased
capacity in education and research, which ensures we are
able to attract and retain staff who can deliver quality health
services.
Planning and development of the Academic and Research
Precinct continues with the appointment of a project
management team and plans for the facility drawn. Funding
of $11m needs to be secured and the Northern Health
Foundation is working towards a fundraising goal of $5m.
In a day to day sense, a variety of evidence based guidelines
are being incorporated into everyday practice. Northern
Health aims to incorporate research into everyday practice.
Northern Health staff continue to collaborate with other
health professionals and utilise opportunities to bring
knowledge and experience back to Northern Health.
Neonatal care is improved by strengthening the clinical
relationship with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the
Mercy Hospital for Women through Dr Wei Qi Fan regularly
attending rounds at the Mercy Hospital for Women.
Dr Simon Hauser has been appointed a Director of Paediatric
Physician Training within the Royal Australasian College of
Physicians (RACP). Overseas elective medical students have
been hosted in the paediatric department for the first time
this year, from the UK, Ireland and Indonesia. Dr Simon
Hauser is a supervisor for a number of Universitas Indonesia
students who undertake an Advanced Medical Science year
at the University of Melbourne. Dr Shane O’Dea received a
grant from the RACP to develop multi-site teleconferencing
for paediatric education for post-graduate education.
Northern Health is also participating in research programs
with the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at
Austin Health, focusing on early signs and symptoms of post
natal depression.
Northern Cardiology is committed to research and improving
patient outcomes and choice. An international multicentre
research site, Northern Cardiology is a leader in Australia for
recruitment in trials of new therapies for patients with heart
attack. Local investigator initiated research in association
with the University of Melbourne also includes projects
utilising transthoracic echocardiography (cardiac ultrasound),
optical coherence tomography and development of a novel
research project on patient choice of treatment options for
those requiring cardiac surgery.
Northern Cardiology has made significant commitments to
teaching in past three years. Our advanced cardiology trainee
program has seen an increase in the number of positions
available, and the department actively teaches both medical
and nursing students. In 2010, the department ran a course
electronically for the first time, streaming live PCI cases to the
lecture theatre for the nurse’s cardiology study day.
Treating an increasing number of patients within our own
primary catchment area has meant improved access to acute
and ambulatory cardiac services for patients in Melbourne’s
northern suburbs. The developments, including recruitment
of Cardiologists at the forefront of their subspecialty, has
lead to Cardiology patients in the northern suburbs having
access to the very latest in technology, and in the case of the
OCT, the first of its kind in Australia.
Attestation on Compliance with Australian/New Zealand Risk Management Standard
I, Greg Pullen certify that Northern Health has risk management processes in place consistent with the Australian/New
Zealand Risk Management Standard and an internal control system is in place that enables the executives to understand,
manage and satisfactorily control risk exposures. The audit committee verifies this assurance and that the risk profile of
Northern Health has been critically reviewed within the last 12 months.
Mr Greg Pullen
Accountable Officer
Northern Health
27 August 2010
32 09/10 Northern Health Annual Report