ANNUAL REPORT - Northern Health

Northern Health was first to fully implement a shared
scanned semi-electronic medical record known as the Clinical
Patient Folder (CPF). The medical record can be accessed
via any PC within the network and allows staff to enter
progress notes electronically. This function is mainly used for
outpatient attendances. Uptake has increased from 92,565
electronic progress notes entered in 2008/09 to 224,539
in 2009/10. Electronic progress notes improve legibility of
clinical entries and are available
in real time for all clinical staff.
Workforce planning is critical to achieve the Northern Health
objectives. To support health professional students and our
future workforce the innovative Interprofessional Clinical
Education (IPCE) program was developed. This program
facilitates health professionals to work effectively together,
and is available to penultimate and final year students in
allied health, medicine and nursing, including community
health, mental health, private hospitals and practices, aged
care and rehabilitation facilities.
Our commitment to Nursing Education continues to grow
with the expansion and development of the Graduate Nurse
Program and continued commitment to the development of
the Nurse Practitioner role across all campuses.
Melbourne’s first aged care nurse practitioner was endorsed
in 2010 and is providing vital care to older patients at
Broadmeadows Health Service. Northern Health has four
endorsed nurse practitioners practicing in Emergency
Medicine, Minor Injury and Illness and Aged Care
Northern Health serves a vibrant and diverse community and
to meet the needs of our clients and their families, a Cultural
Responsiveness Framework and Plan has been developed.
The Framework and Plan aims to increase Northern Health’s
capacity to effectively respond to the needs of patients
whose first language is not English. Northern Health has
also restructured its Transcultural & Language Services
Department to better respond to an increasing demand
for languages services. The objective was to centralise and
standardise language services across our five campuses and
provide higher quality interpreters and transcultural training.
Northern Health implemented the Smoke Free policy on
January 1st, 2010 with all campuses becoming smoke free
areas. This applies to all patients, staff, visitors, contractors
and volunteers. The Smoke Free policy is part of Northern
Health’s commitment to improving the health of people in
Melbourne’s northern suburbs as well as providing a safe,
healthy environment for everyone who uses or provides
our services.
Protecting the environment is of paramount importance
to Northern Health and this continues to be a strategic
priority for the organisation. Through planning and
practice, including the development of the Northern Health
Environmental Management Strategy, we are committed
to ensuring the protection of the environment by keeping
environmental impacts to a minimum in a sustainable,
financially rewarding and technically feasible manner.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr Sandra
Hacker, AO for her exceptional leadership and dedication to
Northern Health during her time as Chair of the Northern
Health Board.
Since her appointment as Chair of the Northern Health Board
in 2005, Dr Hacker has demonstrated great dedication,
commitment and enthusiasm in leading our organisation.
Dr Hacker was instrumental in providing strategic guidance
and in shaping our organisation for the future, as well as
supporting organisational change and development.
As Chair of the Northern Health Board, Dr Hacker was
responsible for a number of significant developments
at Northern Health.
I would like to thank the Executive Management team
who have demonstrated great leadership during some
extremely challenging times. However, an organisation is
only as strong as its people and without such a strong and
committed workforce, we would not have been able to
achieve so many significant outcomes and I would like
to express my sincere thanks to the fantastic Northern
Health team.
Responsible Bodies Declaration
I accordance with the Financial Management Act, 1994,
I am pleased to present the Report of Operations for
Northern Health for the year ending 30 June, 2010.
Greg Pullen
CEO
09/10 Northern Health Annual Report 5