THE NEWSLETTER OF ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL MELBOURNE ISSUE 23 The Font

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Nobel Laureate Nursing star Pedal power speaks on realising eyes new horizons proves effective the dream 2

Message from the CEO Contents

Welcome to the April edition of The ten Aikenhead Centre partners 3 RESEARCH The Font, the first edition of the and the Victorian Government have Nobel Laureate speaks St Vincent’s magazine to merge the pledged $120 million to the project, on realising the dream Font with our Foundation newsletter. and at the time of writing, we are seeking Federal Government support Six times a year, The Font will 4 OUR PEOPLE for the final $60 million so we can get bring you all the latest news from Nursing star started on the project, and have the St Vincent’s, keeping you in touch eyes new horizons Aikenhead Centre open by 2018. with what’s happening across our campuses and introducing you Public support has always been 5 OUR PEOPLE to more of our people, patients at the heart of St Vincent’s success, Rehab in a local and supporters than ever before. from the early days when people donated blankets and canned community setting In this issue, we report on Nobel goods for our patients. These days, Prize winner Sir ’s visit our two most significant community 6 FOUNDATION to St Vincent’s. Sir Paul is one of events, Opera in the Market and Pedal power proves effective the most successful and forward- the Scrubs Run and Walk are thinking medical researchers St Vincent’s Scrubs Run held in the first half of each year. in the world, and this year he will This year’s Scrubs Run is coming take the helm at what could be his up on Sunday 24 May. I took part 7 FOUNDATION crowning achievement, the new for the first time last year, just a few Bravi! Queen Institute in London. weeks after joining St Vincent’s, and goes upmarket There was a lot to talk about, it was a fantastic introduction to this because Sir Paul’s vision has vibrant community. Go to page 6 to 8 INSIDE STORY much in common with our ambition find out how you can be part of the fun. Kitchen staff now talking for the Aikenhead Centre for Medical I hope you’ll mark the date in your diary, the same language Discovery. The Aikenhead Centre and join the St Vincent’s community will be Australia’s first hospital-based for a great day out in Melbourne. biomedical engineering hub. It will 9 INNOVATION connect medical practitioners, Rotary helping scientists, and engineers to fast patients find their voice track life-saving and life-changing treatments for patients. Ben Fielding 10 INSIDE STORY Chief Executive Officer A powerful union; St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne supporting asylum seekers

‘Public support has 11 INNOVATION always been at the heart Oh what a feeling; of St Vincent’s success, expert guidance in continuous improvement from the early days when people donated From the archive... blankets and canned 12 FOUNDATION goods for our patients.’  Autumn Appeal update A library with a difference Dine out and save

Cover: Hearing impaired kitchen hand Frank Tracomala and Kitchen Services Manager Stephen Tippett are now talking the same language. Turn to page 8 to read the full story. RESEARCH 3

Nobel Laureate speaks on realising the dream

One of the world’s leading medical be at the forefront of their disciplines, The ACMD is a research collaboration researchers visited St Vincent’s and their ground-breaking results would between St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, in March, to share his insights on lead to innovative medical treatments. St Vincent’s Institute, the University establishing a new research facility. of Melbourne, University of Wollongong, The Francis Crick Institute will open It was a coup for St Vincent’s to the Bionics Institute, the O’Brien Institute, this year, with Sir Paul Nurse as the have Nobel Laureate, Sir Paul Nurse Swinburne University, RMIT University, Director. It’s an amalgamation of six for an intimate breakfast meeting. Australian Catholic University, and the of the most successful UK research Centre for Eye Research. Sir Paul is the President of the Royal institutes including the Medical Society, the longest surviving scientific Research Council, Cancer Research While the ACMD partners are already body in the world. Founded in 1660, UK, Wellcome Trust, UCL, Imperial collaborating on research projects, the the Royal Society boasts an impressive and Kings Colleges London. aim is to have a purpose-built research list of previous past Presidents, including facility on St Vincent’s Fitzroy site. The ‘There will be 1400 researchers Sir , Sir , ACMD will be a research and industry in the building,’ Sir Paul says and Sir Howard Florey. hub, bringing together leading medical matter-of-factly. ‘There’ll be 10 practitioners, engineers, researchers and Sir Paul described the strategies laboratories, and they’ll be set up industry experts in a hospital setting, to he employed to convince existing in a ‘village’, with a mix of disciplines.’ re-model the treatment and management institutes to merge into his new of disease; generating new jobs and facility. It took about eight years to enterprises in a growing global market. bring his dream to reality. There are clear similarities between this, and The ACMD will be a The Francis Crick Institute is funded by the aims of the Aikenhead Centre research and industry hub, the participating organisations, and the for Medical Discovery (ACMD), and UK government. The ACMD will need the partners from the ACMD were bringing together leading $180m to become a reality. Currently, keen to hear how he did it. medical practitioners, it has $120 million pledged funding from its participating organisations and the Sir Paul’s dream was to create engineers, researchers Victorian government, and is seeking a medical research facility which and industry experts $60 million from the federal government would harness the strength of existing to turn the concept into reality. and often competing research institutes, in a hospital setting. into one location where young scientists would be nurtured as they built a career, Above: (From left) Prof Stephen Smith, Dean of where experienced researchers would at , Dr Megan Robertson, Director of Research, Sir Paul Nurse and Ben Fielding, Chief Executive Officer. 4 OUR PEOPLE

‘I’m really happy to be leaving now. I still love my job today, and that’s a good time to leave.’

Nursing star eyes new horizons

It’s 4:15pm on her final day at work, changed over the years, what Later, Maryanne worked in Human and Maryanne Welch still has more hasn’t changed is that it always Resources, running organisational things to do before she can head was, and still is, very patient focused.’ change management training. This off for the last time. was at the same time as studying ‘As a trainee, it was drilled into you for her Arts degree. But happy as Maryanne is to be what to do, and to do it perfectly. leaving after 34 years at St Vincent’s In those days, patients were in the St Vincent’s is justifiably proud (‘this time around!’) it’s fair to say that hospital for a long time.’ of its STAR program, a staff-run her colleagues don’t share her joy. support system to help staff cope ‘The Sisters were very adept with a critical incident. The system Maryanne finished her time at at running the hospital. There was has been modelled by other health St Vincent’s in the role of General very little discussion about the values services, and has a reputation as Manager of St Vincent’s Mental then, because they were modelled Australia’s leading peer support Health & Aged Care services, in by the nuns.’ program in the health industry. addition to her role as the Director STAR is another of Maryanne’s of Nursing at St George’s in Kew. legacies at St Vincent’s. It was a demanding role for this capable, caring woman, with a ‘There’s great heart ‘The strength of St Vincent’s deceptively no-nonsense approach; here: great nursing care, has always been that nurses have and a long way from her trainee been prominent in the running of the nursing days. great medical care. They hospital. The culture has always been focused on the patient. The doctors ‘I’ve been thinking about leaving for always go the extra mile are fantastic, and they’re respected a while,’ she says with a smile. ‘I have at St Vincent’s.’ for their treatment and research which such a busy time in my job that I don’t is wonderful. Allied health and other have time to decide what I want to Maryanne’s years at St Vincent’s staff are crucial, but I’m especially do next. I’m stopping now so that encompassed an array of roles she proud of nursing at St Vincent’s.’ I can find out.’ never dreamt possible when she ‘There’s great heart here: great nursing Maryanne started her nursing career first donned her nurse’s uniform. care, great medical care. They always at St Vincent’s, training on the job, ‘I even lived in Druids wing (nurses’ go the extra mile at St Vincent’s.’ and living in the Nurses’ Home. home) under Sister Agnes for a while. After I came back from working in ‘In those days of course the Sisters bush nursing, I worked in medical of Charity still ran St Vincent’s. wards and theatre; but my specialty It was strict, hierarchical and very was coronary care, I loved it!’ serious. While some of that has OUR PEOPLE 5

Rehab in a local community setting

Suffering from chronic heart failure, rehab programs, such as cost of gym In six months since Lauren stepped diabetes, and with an implantable membership, lack of appropriately in, Ricardo has improved a lot. cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device, trained gym staff in managing people ‘When I visited my cardiologist before Ricardo Hormazabal knows he with complex medical conditions.’ Christmas, he told me my heart function needs to exercise as part of good ‘We saw an opportunity to address was 25%,’ Ricardo says. ‘When I visited self-management of his conditions. these barriers and enable clients again recently, I was told my heart Despite this, in August last year, he to confidently and safely exercise function had increased to 45%.’ stopped the exercise rehabilitation independently in their local community.’ program he had been given. ‘This is going to change my life. Lauren meets with clients such as Going to my local gym is great. I get When St Vincent’s exercise Ricardo at a number of community to train in great facilities with someone physiologist Lauren Farrugia found gyms across Melbourne, training and who cares about my health and it is out, she thought Ricardo would be a educating them towards independent close to where I live,’ Ricardo says. perfect candidate for the ‘Lung at Heart’ self-management of their condition. Community Gym Integration Program. Lauren says that the key to maintaining results is instilling The program places an exercise behavioural change in clients. physiologist in a local gym setting to help patients with chronic ‘This is going to change ‘If clients can change their lifestyle and complex conditions to reach my life. Going to the gym to include regular exercise as part of sustainable level of physical activity. the routine, then the health outcomes Lauren’s role is also to train gym staff, is great. I get to train dramatically improve,’ Lauren says. liaise with the client’s specialists and in great facilities with The Community Gym Integration GPs, and assess client outcomes. someone who cares Program was funded by a Workforce ‘The benefits of exercise for people about my health and it Innovation Grant from the Department with chronic lung and heart conditions of Health. have been well documented,’ Lauren is close to where I live.’ says. ‘However, there are barriers for patients to continue physical activity Below: Exercise physiologist Lauren Farrugia once they have been discharged from with program participant Ricardo Hormazabal.

Patient Outcomes

10% INCREASE IN 6 MINUTE WALK TEST DISTANCE

14% INCREASE IN LEG PRESS ONE REP MAX

21% REDUCTION IN HOSPITAL READMISSION

4 AVERAGE GYM ATTENDANCE PER MONTH 6 FOUNDATION

Pedal power proves effective @StVincentsMelb

Congrats to team St Vincent’s A team of about 60 hardy pedal pushers It was still dark when they set off, on for finishing the gruelling 90km and their supporters recently spent a an undulating country course passing #MurraytoMoyne cycle relay weekend in country Victoria to raise through picturesque Penshurst, where from Hamilton to #PortFairy money for important research which many succumbed to the temptation could help thousands of Australians. to stop for a cuppa and some food. Lack of cartilage is an issue for people They rode from Hamilton to Port They were particularly blessed with who have hip or knee replacements. Fairy, a 90 kilometre challenge which fabulous conditions – a brisk start to There were 700,000 of them in Australia was part of the Murray to Moyne the day, a pink tinge to the paddocks last year but artificial cartilage breaks fundraising event. as dawn was ushered in, then clear down, causing pain and reducing mobility. blue skies and no wind to speak of! The dedicated bunch, who’d been training for months, gathered in the The St Vincent’s pedal pushers pre-dawn darkness at Hamilton raised more than $65,000 for a Below: Candice Quinlan, Amy Cooper Showgrounds, ready for the challenge. research project looking to grow and Sarah Dempster with St Vincent’s human cartilage using adult stem cells. CEO Ben Fielding.

Raise money for your preferred hospital department or research Date: Sunday 24 May 2015 project. The event is open to all staff, friends, and supporters of St Vincent’s. Time: from 9.30am Each participant who raises $200 or Venue: Princes Park, Carlton North more will be entered into a free draw Go the extra mile at with some fantastic prizes: What: 4km walk/run; 8km run; St Vincent’s Scrubs Run/ Run a Mile for St Vincent’s • Channel Nine experience for 4 Walk and Family Fun Day people (including a tour of the studios) Register at: www.scrubsrun.com.au and watch LIVE as Peter Hitchener Welcome to St Vincent’s family fun day delivers Melbourne’s News FIRST; and Scrubs Run or Walk. This is your • 6 tickets to the Thursday Footy opportunity to make every step count Show at Docklands Studios; as you raise funds for the St Vincent’s Hospital department of your choice. • Quest Deluxe accommodation package including one night’s A great chance to spend active time accommodation for two people with your family, to catch up with and welcome hamper; friends, or just to get fit. • $500 Taxi Kitchen voucher; From 9:30am-1pm you can cheer • $500 Simone Perele voucher; on participants, enjoy music, roaming • 12 month gym membership from entertainment, our yummy BBQ and St Vincent’s Lifestyle Centre; food vans, jumping castle, magic show, face painting, kids crafts and novelty • one case (12 bottles) Bellvale Wine, races, and much more! and lots lots more! For all ages and a family fun day finish in beautiful Princes Park. FOUNDATION 7

Bravi! Queen Victoria goes upmarket

The historic Queen Victoria Market was once again transformed from busy shopping hub to glittering opera house, as two thousand guests gathered for one of Melbourne’s most anticipated philanthropic events of the year, 2,000 ATTENDEES Opera in the Market. At centre stage were two of the 390 CORPORATE nation’s leading Opera singers, tenor David Hobson and soprano SUPPORTERS Greta Bradman, accompanied by Opera Scholars Australia, 100 VOICE CHOIR Alpha Sinfonia and a spectacular 100-voice choir conducted by ABC presenter, Guy Noble. $250,000 RAISED This year funds were directed to St Vincent’s Hospital’s Clinical Research Centre, the second stage of our Cancer Centre development. The Clinical Research Centre will bring cancer researchers and clinicians together, over dedicated cutting edge research, to change and revitalise the way the disease is diagnosed and treated. St Vincent’s would like to extend a warm thank you to LUCRF Super, the Queen Victoria Market, Australian Music Events and caterers Fred & Ginger for their invaluable support. The Clinical Research Centre will help to reduce the burden of cancer on people and their families and ultimately increase the number of people cured from this disease. If you would like to support St Vincent’s in its vision to find a cure for cancer, please contact the St Vincent’s Foundation on (03) 9231 3365.

Right: Soprano Greta Bradman was one of the highlights of this year’s Opera in the Market. 8 INSIDE STORY

Kitchen staff now talking the same language

Frank Tracomala loves being a Aoife organised two half day workplace ‘We also learned some basic sign kitchen hand in the St Vincent’s Food training sessions for Food Services and language skills. We are now making Services department. Frank has been staff. Both departments have an effort to practice each day with a part of the team for almost ten staff members who are deaf and were Frank and develop our vocabulary.’ years and receives a lot of enjoyment keen to be able to communicate with Stephen has noted that Frank seems and fulfilment from his job. But when their colleagues in their first language. happier, something that Frank confirms. pressed, he does admit to occasionally Stephen and five more of Frank’s feeling frustrated at work. ‘I’ve noticed a difference already – colleagues took part in the training, and I feel more included. The team just Frank is deaf and has previously found it an extremely valuable experience. needs to practice more to build up found that he was unable to effectively ‘We began with some basic awareness their signing vocabulary,’ says Frank. communicate as none of his colleagues training where we were able to get an understood sign language. In particular, The primary goal of the Deaf and understanding of some of the barriers it was very hard to receive proper Hard of Hearing program is to ensure deaf people experience,’ Stephen says. guidance and feedback from his the health service is as responsive ‘It’s made me realise how difficult it manager, Stephen Tippett. as possible to patients with a hearing must be. If you can’t communicate impairment through the provision of ‘Frank has a very good ability to simplify and no one is making an effort, it information and equipment, access his signing so we can understand it. can be really isolating.’ to interpreters and education for staff. Over time you learn to recognise his cues,’ Stephen says. ‘We would get In February, Aoife and her team through a conversation with a mix of delivered Auslan training to over body language, rudimentary signing ‘We also learned some 70 St Vincent’s staff members who and writing, but it became apparent basic sign language skills. communicate and interact with deaf that we needed to make the workplace patients on a day to day basis. more inclusive for Frank.’ We are now making an About this time, speech pathologist effort to practice each Aoife Sheehy, coordinator of the Deaf day with Frank and and Hard of Hearing Program identified develop our vocabulary.’ a need and approached Stephen to ask if the team would be interested in some Auslan training. INNOVATION 9

Rotary helping patients find their voice

An innovative program using iPads very user friendly, and people from have all responded positively. to help patients with communication a range of backgrounds and age Patients with communication difficulties problems, has been possible due groups with differing speech, can become isolated and depressed, to the support of the Rotary Club language and cognitive disorders but the speech pathology team of Collingwood. reported that those using the tablets, were more easily able to stay in touch Rotary provided funding for an iPad with friends, family and the world for the initial pilot study, and when this ‘The iPads are an around them. proved to be an overwhelming success, invaluable resource to us they funded two additional iPads, on the rehabilitation ward. Rotary is delighted with the result, which allowed the program to become ‘We were attracted by the innovative an established part of St Vincent’s Our patients thoroughly use of iPads in this area of healthcare speech pathology service. enjoy using them – even and were delighted with the success of the pilot study. It is very encouraging The colour screen and audio-visual if they’ve never used one to know that this is now a regular feedback is more interactive and before! We have had a lot part of patients’ rehabilitation,’ stimulating for patients, and empowers said Wendy Tang, Collingwood them to be more involved in their own of patient success with Rotary Club President. treatment. The tablets can record them both as a therapy progress in therapy, provide visual feedback to patients and create and education tool.’ communication aids. They’re also – Renee Heard, speech pathologist

‘We were attracted by the innovative use of iPads in this area of healthcare and were delighted with the success of the pilot study.’ 10 INSIDE STORY

A powerful union; Patricia Russell Starr supporting asylum seekers This is a wonderful hospital. They are so caring to every patient that arrives via Ambulance or to Two iconic Melbourne services, The event, held at the ASRC building have a procedure done. On the the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray involved not only the 2nd March I slept on a couch, (ASRC) and St Vincent’s Hospital signing of the formal documents, then up on 4th floor I wouldn’t to have signed a Memorandum of but also the unveiling of an artwork other accommodation & insist on Understanding (MOU), committing created by Boman Ali Wakilzada. sleeping in a chair besides Sam, to working together now and in the The painting entitled ‘The Inside they woke us at 6am to get ready future to be a powerful voice for Story’ is loaded with symbolism, to be transported to Essendon to asylum seekers. The development and highlights the struggle that be flown home via Air Ambulance solidifies a relationship which has many asylum seekers encounter that had arranged for us the day been building for many years. before. Thank you St Vincent’s when coming to Australia. Boman, Hospital Melbourne. At the official signing ceremony, a St Vincent’s polio patient originally St Vincent’s CEO Ben Fielding from Afghanistan, himself spent years highlighted the history of St Vincent’s in detention centres across Australia. Norm-bev McSwain as one of advocating for the voiceless The painting and the story behind it and providing services to many in My husband was at St Vincent’s will be on display in each organisation, our community who find themselves for a long time and I would just like one original and one copy, reinforcing on the margins. to say the care we both received the commitment both organisations was of the highest quality, they The head of the Resource Centre, have made to improving the dignity were fantastic every doctor gave Kon Karapanagiotidis emphasised and care of those seeking asylum. him 120 per cent and their nursing his agency’s role in advocating for staff were fantastic I give them the rights of asylum seekers to equal 1,000 points so caring. access to services regardless of how Above: Boman Ali Wakilzada with his they may have come to this country. poignant artwork, The Inside Story. INNOVATION 11

From the archive...

The Bryan Egan Memorial History Prize is an annual award sponsored by the Egan family and the St Vincent’s Medical Alumni Association, which honours Oh what a feeling; the work of the late Dr Bryan Egan, St Vincent’s alumnus and historian. expert guidance in continuous improvement The award encourages original work giving insight into an aspect In an Australian first, St Vincent’s decisions that need to be of St Vincent’s history, adding to and Toyota Australia have teamed made when a patient comes to the richness of source material up to find ways to streamline the way hospital for cancer treatment like available to the St Vincent’s we work and improve the healthcare chemotherapy. The patient may Archives and Heritage Centre. experience for our patients. need to have a blood test and wait for the results before their Entries for the 2014 prize were It’s a highly collaborative process chemotherapy can begin. assessed by a judging panel that’s based on the world-renowned comprising Dr Egan’s daughter Toyota Production System, which Frances Bell, historian Mary introduced an approach known Sheehan and hospital archivist as ‘lean thinking’. The Toyota Way, The partnership Barbara Cytowicz. which revolutionised manufacturing worldwide, has been successfully connects staff from This year’s Bryan Egan Memorial applied to many different sectors, History Prize of one-thousand St Vincent’s and Toyota including healthcare. dollars will be shared between to identify opportunities the authors of two outstanding St Vincent’s Hospital CEO for positive change. works, ‘Microsurgery at St Vincent’s Ben Fielding says he is delighted Hospital in 1974’ by Philip Sykes to be working with Toyota. There can be up to an hour OBE and ‘The Studio – The History ‘In many ways we are a natural of waiting time between each of St Vincent’s Artist in Residence fit for Toyota because we’ve made step in this process, and that’s Program’ by Anneliese Milk. a real commitment to improving what this project is working to Philip Sykes’ work adds substantial our approach to patient care using change. The team is tracking new material and a different lean management techniques. They and timing the complete patient perspective to the important story have a lot of knowledge to share,’ journey, from arrival through of the pioneering work of Bernard Mr Fielding says. to treatment; taking a fresh look O’Brien and the Microsurgery Unit. The partnership connects staff from at how chemotherapy treatment Anneliese Milk’s work gives St Vincent’s and Toyota to identify chairs are configured and used; a highly accomplished account opportunities for positive change. and examining how pathology and pharmacy services connect of the genesis and development The first project focused on our to the patient journey. The aim is of an important and innovative Correctional Health Pharmacy, which to cut the time between each step program that is outside the fills and packs thousands of often- so our patients spend less time in traditional parameters of services complex prescriptions each year. hospital and more time at home offered by health care providers. By applying concepts from Toyota, with their loved ones. Bryan Egan Memorial the team cut the packing time by a History Prize staggering 83 per cent, from 210 Training is another key feature minutes to just 34 minutes per pack. of the partnership. So far, 64 staff members, including doctors, nurses Joint Winners Work has now started in the and members of our leadership team, Philip Sykes OBE: ‘Microsurgery Chemotherapy Day Unit. There have been trained in the Toyota Way. at St Vincent’s Hospital in 1974’ are many steps and clinical Anneliese Milk: ‘The Studio – The History of St Vincent’s Artist in Residence Program’ We are on social media Book prize awards Peter Burke Helen Matson www.facebook.com/ www.linkedin.com/company/ Highly commended StVincentsHospitalMelb st-vincent’s-hospital-melbourne Tina Melrose @StVincentsMelb @stvincentsmelbourne 12 FOUNDATION

Autumn Appeal update A library with a difference

In February 2015, St Vincent’s significantly helped to improve the care Foundation launched its Autumn we provide. Demand for the service is Appeal to support the work of the growing by the week, and the library Central Equipment Library through needs to purchase additional medical the purchase of additional equipment. equipment to meet this demand. The Central Equipment Library At the time of going to print we houses items that are shared between are pleased to report that so far wards according to demand, such as over 1000 people have generously intravenous pumps, air mattresses, donated $65,000 towards our appeal. bed occupancy alarms and bladder Each donation will go towards new scanners. In its short existence, equipment for the Central Equipment the Central Equipment Library has Library’s Wish List. St Vincent’s Foundation continues to seek support for the Central Equipment In its short existence, Library and hopes to reach our target 1000 DONATED of $114,900. the Central Equipment Should you wish to contribute donations $65,000 RAISED Library has significantly can be made by calling (03) 9231 3365, helped to improve the online at stvfoundation.org.au/donate or complete and return the donation $49,900 STILL TO GO care we provide. form in this newsletter.

Dine out and save

The new 2015/16 Entertainment The more memberships sold the Book™ is now available for purchase more St Vincent’s Foundation raises. as either a book or as a digital You can buy an Entertainment membership using your Smart Phone. Book™ membership online For just $65 members will receive at entertainmentbook.com.au/ over $20,000 in value in offers for orderbooks/9137w47. restaurants, hotels and attractions. For more information please contact For every Entertainment™ Julia Evans on (03) 9231 3365, Membership sold through or email [email protected]. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, 20 per cent goes towards fundraising.

PO Box 2900 Fitzroy www.facebook.com/StVincentsHospitalMelb VIC 3065 Australia @StVincentsMelb (03) 9231 2211 www.linkedin.com/company/st-vincent’s-hospital-melbourne www.svhm.org.au @stvincentsmelb