Professor John Olver Victor Smorgon Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at Monash University

Issue 170 Winter 2009 Excellence. Everywhere. Everyday. Professor John Olver Victor Smorgon Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at Monash University John Olver, the face of Epworth Rehabilitation for almost 30 years, has recently been appointed to the Victor Smorgon Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at Monash University. His new position comprises dual relationships with Epworth HealthCare and Monash University incorporating Epworth Rehabilitation and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. It is the first academic Chair in the “His role over the next five years the academic aspects of rehabilitative Faculty of Medicine at Epworth is to foster excellence in research, medicine; giving students a better HealthCare and only the second time policy development and professional understanding of the topic; and that a Victorian University has selected activities while ensuring that all extending the role of Monash in the a Chair in partnership with a private rehabilitation medicine service Victorian health system. hospital group. commitments to patient care, “This is a new and very exciting teaching and research are maintained. Philip Williams, President of Epworth’s relationship that will foster Mr Williams said. Board of Management, is delighted improvements to clinical research with the news, noting that it is Professor Olver said he looks forward and to the care that doctors and the first in a series of professorial to working in partnership with allied health professionals can offer appointments at Epworth. Professor Steve Wesselingh, Dean patients undergoing rehabilitation. of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing We look forward to building on “John’s appointment reflects our and Health Sciences at Monash, and these ties with Epworth HealthCare,” commitment to post-graduate Epworth’s Group CEO Alan Kinkade, Professor Wesselingh said. teaching and research – and, in jointly setting the agenda in relation in particular, the quality of our Professor Olver’s main research to rehabilitation policy, services, research in rehabilitation.” interests include outcomes research and teaching. following acquired brain injury “As we all know, John is an “I am honoured that this position through an ongoing prospective internationally-renowned expert in was made possible by the generous long term outcome study, now Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation, financial commitment of the trustees in its 23rd year, conducted at who’s been a clinical leader at of the Victor Smorgon Institute for Epworth Rehabilitation. Epworth Rehabilitation since 1985. Education and Research”. He was a longtime adviser to TAC on their clinical panel and for more than Professor Steve Wesselingh said that 20 years, has mentored and trained the Faculty’s relationship with a leading rehabilitation doctors across Australia, hospital from the private sector will while more recently, in Malaysia. bring a range of benefits: strengthening Message • The Studer Program is being rolled from the out to enhance patient/customer service. Congratulations to the Group Chief Eastern team who have already Executive commenced the program, achieving a significant reduction in nurse calls, patient falls and a greatly improved patient satisfaction level. This month, 10 staff will attend the Program in Chicago to further assist with its application across the Group. • Our teaching hospital program is progressing well with our doctors committed and engaged in this program. Our clinical audit Epwords is a newsletter processes are being significantly for Epworth staff. All enhanced with improved quality contributions and ideas are of care expected over time. welcomed and considered. Winter is here and with it comes coughs, • The world renowned Cleveland colds and flu. I encourage staff to avail Clinic has entered into an affiliation Contact details themselves of our free flu vaccinations agreement with us, endorsing Epworth HealthCare and be vigilant with hand washing and our teaching and research 89 Bridge Road other protections. This is also the time initiatives. Initially this will provide Richmond 3121 of year when we reflect on the past 12 opportunities to develop a fellowship Mail Box: 12B months and what lies ahead. I believe program between the respective Phone: 9426 8816 08/09 has been remarkably successful organisations and expand our clinical Fax: 94266478 and I would like to thank you all and draw trials programs. your attention to some highlights: • Congratulations to Professor John Editors • For the first 10 months of the year, Olver who has been appointed we met our overall financial targets to the Victor Smorgon Chair of Media and repaying $24M in debt giving us the Rehabilitation Medicine at Monash Communications Team ability to invest further in our people University. This is the first academic Phone: 9426 6441 and equipment. Chair in the Faculty of Medicine [email protected] • Our Executive Leadership Program is at Epworth, made possible by the being launched this month investing financial commitment of the trustees Thank you over $1M in our people to further of the Victor Smorgon Institute for Education and Research. The Victor Thanks to the contributors of assist them in achieving their goals. stories, photos and ideas for Smorgon Chairs in Medicine and • $15M will be spent on equipment this issue of Epwords. Without Surgery will be advertised shortly this year. In May, we committed to them this edition would not and filled later this year. the purchase of a Jackson Operating have been possible. • Development applications for Table used primarily for spinal Richmond and Camberwell operations. This is the first time redevelopments are progressing Disclaimer such a piece of equipment has been well with approval expected in the available for use in adult surgery The views expressed in coming months and construction in Victoria. An additional 2.3M will Epwords are not necessarily to start in early 2010. These are purchase new camera stacks and those of the editors. two early initiatives that will provide drills for theatre. Reproduction in whole or in exceptional infrastructure for our part is not permitted without • A new PABX (telephone) system staff and doctors to work in. prior consent from the editor. costing over $1.6M will be installed 2010 is a major milestone for Epworth as The editor reserves the right to across the Group to improve it is our 90th anniversary. If you have any edit or condense a contribution responsiveness to our many callers. in order for it to fit inside the bright ideas on what we should do to limited space of the newsletter. • The doctor satisfaction and staff celebrate, please contact Susan Wardle engagement surveys gave us on [email protected]. satisfactory results and in some ways better than we expected given the substantial changes we have undergone. This information will be utilised to improve our performance, Alan R Kinkade working environment and delivery Group Chief ExecuTivE of exceptional care. We have so many reasons to say thank you. 2173 to be exact. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. At Epworth HealthCare we would like to recognise the vast contribution our nurses make in providing excellence in all areas of patient care. Our nurses are highly valued for the continued efforts in an often demanding clinical setting and our patients, families, staff and doctors are sincerely grateful for your care and hard work. Various celebrations occurred across the campuses to thank all our dedicated and talented nurses. Clockwise from top left: EPworth REhabiLitatiOn Camberwell: Epworth Richmond: Epworth Richmond: Epworth Freemasons: JacQui Sinnott, WenDy Moon, BethAny MorriS, Lisa Phillipa RAiT, GlenyS BOwRinG, RuTh Watson, Narneet Grewal, Rodgers, ShEila Daly, Charles BOnAviA, MarYann MCCusker, Sue Richardson, nimmi ZachariA, LiZ TEiwaki, KuldiP KAuR, SAnjee DESiLvA, DAna Hall, DeannE PRuE GEnT, MAnDy WanG, TRiSh Russell, Justin Greenwell Campbell, JuLiet Adams, MerediTh Elliot, LeannE Larter, Gill Cartledge, MiCh ChRistinE BalfouR. Seated: AnniE Martin, Davids, Heike RAYmer, MarY DurojaYE, EPworth Eastern: Angela Wilkinson AnD Carmen Haydon, Madge Holcombe, ERil Harrower, vicki Hoath, Karen The masseuR iS Robert Dalle Molle JennY Dempster Bicknell, Ven MAizo, Help the women close to your heart be better informed about heart health Guests learnt that 10,500 Australian Epworth Medical Foundation held its 80% of risk factors are due to lifestyle women die of heart disease each second annual Women in Healthcare choices such as smoking, poor year and one in four women dying luncheon on Thursday May 7 at the nutrition and lack of exercise. Other within an hour of showing her very Atlantic on Central Pier, Docklands risk factors include high cholesterol, first symptom of heart attack. attracting 270 guests and raising high blood pressure and diabetes. $40,000 to purchase cardiology To check your health, A/Prof New equipment across the group. suggests measuring your waist Cardiovascular disease is the leading circumference. The optimum cause of death and disability for measurement is less than 90cm for the women in Australia and Channel average man and 80cm for the average Seven’s Lynda Kinkade led the woman. “Those with measurements discussion with a panel of Epworth greater than these need to start making HealthCare doctors – cardiologists healthier choices,” said A/Prof New. Dr Jennifer Johns and A/Prof Gishel Ms Janet Latchford, Deputy

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