Vitality Autumn 2010 - Austin Health

A U T U M N 2 0 1 0W o r l d l e a d i n g c a r e at y o u r d o o r s t e pWorking better, smarter, faster,harder for you...Austin Hospital’s Emergency DepartmentWhen you meet Janice Brown, Nurse Unit Manager at Austin Health’s Emergency Department, youknow you’re dealing with a highly-energetic, no-fuss, can-do kind of person. Janice oversees 150nurses, plus 60 other staff including doctors, clerks, and physiotherapists. As a Nurse Unit ManagerJanice ensures every patient is given the best care possible.In 2009, the Emergency Department treated more than 61,000 Victorians – making it the busiestyear ever “There’s never a dull moment. With almost 200 Victorians seeking help every singleday, the Emergency team are always on the go”, says Janice.According to Janice, the Emergency Department team is a special breed,” I am privileged to work withan incredible team of passionate professionals who are all committed to working together to providethe best medical care to everyone who walks through our doors”.Over the past three years, the Emergency Department’s patient load has increased by 40%.“There are many reasons why we see this increase – our population is getting older, medicineis helping people live longer." "We've also seen a signficant growth in the number of childrencoming to the Emergency Department. Children as young as 14 days. Last year, one out ofevery five patients who came to us was a child!" says Janice.But with the increase in patients comes an increased demand for more equipment.“Our philosophy is to ensure every patient is given the best medical treatment using the bestmedical technology”, explains Janice. “The two go hand-in-hand – we have a great reputationfor our expertise and skills, match that with technology and people who come to us have thevery best of care right at their doorstep!”You can help Austin Health’s Emergency Department by making a donation to their currentAppeal. The Emergency Department requires three new items of equipment, including:• A Ventilator – to help critically ill patients who cannot breathe on their own• A Neonatal Infant Warmer - with the increase in the number of infants being treated,this item provides babies with oxygen and warmth• A Transport Defibrillator - to monitor a patient's heart rate, oxygen and bloodpressure levels during transportation to other areas of the hospitalIf you would like to support this Appeal, complete the coupon attached and together with yourdonation send it to Austin Health, Locked Bag 25, Heidelberg VIC 3084. All donations are welcome.

A messagefrom the CEOAustin Health is one of thebusiest hospitals in Victoria. Asa supporter, you are a valuedpartner in our achievements, aswe continue to provide worldclasstreatment and research forthousands of patients each year.In this edition of Vitality, youcan read about our latesttreatments, diagnostic techniques and programs thatare greatly helping the lives of so many.I am delighted to share with you that Professor BobJones, Director of our Liver Transplant Unit and AustinHealth Board Member Professor David Scott wereboth awarded AM’s in the Australia Day honours fortheir contributions to medicine.Professor Jones performed Victoria’s first livertransplant in 1988, and today continues hisremarkable transplant work. He is deeply admiredby all who are privileged to meet and work with him.Professor Scott was recognised for his services totransplantation and other leadership positions inhealth.On behalf of our patients and staff, thank you formaking such a difference to the lives of so many, bysupporting Austin Health.Your feedback and views, on how we can improveour newsletters and communications with you, areimportant to us. I encourage you to complete ourSupporter Survey which will only take a few minutes,however your feedback will be invaluable. Thank youfor your wonderful support.Dr Brendan MurphyChief Executive OfficerNew equipment helps more patientsMore patients with vascular diseases can now be treated at theAustin Hospital, thanks to a new state-of-the-art angiography suiteand the latest equipment.The new equipment which includes x-ray units, gives doctors athree-dimensional view of a patient’s vascular system. Accordingto Austin Director of Interventional Radiology, Dr Mark Brooks, itprovides vastly superior images compared to the old machine andimproves diagnostic accuracy and safety.Dr Brooks said that the equipment also allows doctors to treat morecomplex patients.“The new angiography equipment has the capability of examininga vessel closely,” said Dr Brooks. “A procedure that involvesplacement of a stent to re-expand a collapsed blood vessel, oftenpreventing major surgery, can be done as a result of this advancedtechnology.”The equipment is also used for creating images of the bile ducts inthe liver, for inserting infusaports for chemotherapy treatment, andtreating fistulas for renal dialysis patients.The State Government gave $700,000 alongside the hospital’s $1.5million to redevelop the old angiography suite at Austin Hospital’sRadiology Department. The suite is fitted-out with the latestequipment and replaces an obsolete system dating back to 1997.Busier than ever!Austin Health is one of the busiest hospitals in Victoria. TheAustin treated the largest number of patients in its 127-yearhistory, in the 2008-09 financial year…• a total of 89,668 in-patients, which representsthe eighth consecutive year of growth.The Austin is also on track to become Victoria’s busiesthospital for emergency attendances.• More than 60,000 people came to ourEmergency Department for treatment duringthe last financial year. That’s an increase of 47percent since the Austin Hospital Tower openedin 2005!Austin Health performed 30 percent more surgery than inthe previous financial year.Dr Mark Brooks explains equipment used in angiographyprocedures to the Hon Daniel Andrews, Minister forHealth and Ms Danielle Green, Member for Yan Yean.More in-patients were treated (3.7 percent increase),primarily due to the number of surgical proceduresundertaken at The Surgery Centre.• And staff treated a record 155,538 out-patients.• Last year was also the busiest for our IntensiveCare Unit, which cared for over 2,000 criticallyill patients.Some of our other achievements during that period include:• 21,000 surgical procedures• in excess of $7 million awarded for researchprograms at Austin from the National Healthand Medical Research Council.

We valueyourfeedback!Austin Health’s Fundraising Department iscommitted to keeping supporters up to datewith latest news and events around the healthservice and encouraging support for thevarious fundraising appeals conducted duringthe year.So we can continue to bring you, and allour valued supporters, relevant informationin the most concise way, please take a fewmoments to complete the Supporter Survey.It is your opportunity to tell us what areas ofhealth are most important to you, why yousupport our fundraising endeavours and howbest we can communicate with you.Completing the Survey is easy and will onlytake a few moments, but your feedback willbe invaluable.If you would like a copy of the 2010Austin Health Supporter Survey simply callFundraising on 03 9496 5753.How your donations are making a differenceReport Back on the Stroke Care Unit AppealThank you to all our supporterswho donated to Austin Health’sStroke Appeal last September.Because of your wonderfulsupport, two state-of-the-artCardiac Patient Monitors can nowbe purchased for the unit. Thisspecialist equipment allows staffto monitor vital signs and cardiacrhythms, which is extremelyimportant in managing stroke careand treatment.Professor Helen Dewey, Headof Stroke Care Unit said, “I’mabsolutely overwhelmed by thelevel of support we have receivedfrom our donors.”“The new Cardiac Patient Monitorswill allow us to better monitorThank you!We would like to thank a few of the generousmembers from our local community who kindlydonated money and items to help our patients.Thank you! Recent donations included:Austin Health patient, Angela Chu donated a newtelevision for the pathology department’s patientwaiting area. Director of Pathology, Nick Crinis saidthe staff were touched by Mrs Chu’s generosity andkindness. “It was really very thoughtful and a greatgift for so many of our patients to enjoy.”Grade 5 and 6 students from Olympic Primary Schoolin Heidelberg West received a grant to help thelocal community. The students decided that healthand maintaining independence were important, andso granted $1,000 towards a new wheelchair forthe Aged Care Department at Austin’s HeidelbergRepatriation Hospital.patients and detect irregular heartrhythms,” Professor Dewey said.“It’s just fantastic”.The unit’s nurse manager, KarynOwen said all the staff were excitedby the news. “We will now havethe best technology to match thequality of our team,” claimed MsOwen. “If you have a stroke, this isthe unit you would want to be in.”The monitors were on theunit’s wish list for quite a while,according to Ms Owen. “We wouldnot have been able to purchasethem now without the support ofpeople donating to our appeal.”The monitors will replace the unit’solder, less sophisticated, monitors.The new user-friendly high-techmonitors will enable nurses to spendmore time observing and caring fortheir patients. Ms Owen said, “Thenew monitors will really make agreat difference to patient care andoutcomes. Thank you so much to allwho have supported us.”Pictured right: A huge thank youfrom the Stroke Care Unit teamThe Austin Hospital's Emergency Department Paediatricarea received an Xbox console and games from thelocal Bellfield Primary School grade 6 classes, to helpdistract sick children during medical procedures; suchas re-setting a broken arm or getting stitches. Thestudents donated the item from a $1,000 BanyuleCouncil grant awarded to local schools, who nominatean area of their local community to donate helpful items.If you would like to help raise money for AustinHealth or have an idea for a fundraising event,please contact Austin Health’s CommunityFundraising Projects Officer on 03 9496 5753or email fundraising@austin.org.auAustin Health Veteran Liaison Officer,Rob Winther attended OlympicPrimary School to thank students fornominating Heidelberg RepatriationHospital.Grade 6 Bellfield Primary Schoolstudents, 13 year old Kayla and 12 yearold Hamish presented the donatedXbox items to ED’s Nurse Unit ManagerJanice Brown.Locked Bag 25, Heidelberg VIC 3084Ph: (03) 9496 5753 Email: fundraising@austin.org.au