SanNews Innovation and unity Bright lights* providing care VOLUME 2 2020 A teaching hospital of Partner in nursing education Proudly supported by CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY Welcome to this edition of San News. It highlights new technology, services, events, and community support, and shows how despite the recent unparalleled COVID -19 situation, we have been able to continue to meet the healthcare needs of our community. Underpinning every story and every image, and what humbles our Adventist HealthCare Executive, are the remarkable health professionals and support staff who make those stories happen. Their resilience, fortitude, positivity, expertise, compassion and care shines through. These are the character traits we see and hear daily as we manage the financial, operational, and administrative matters supporting the teams who provide the care. Adventist HealthCare Executive: Clare Lumley, Brett Goods, Dr Jeanette Conley, Phil West. In the last 10 months rising to the challenges team. We were able to lean into it, rather than On behalf of the AHCL executive, we of preparing for the invisible and unique resisting, because there was trust in team thankyou for your continued support. foe that COVID-19 is, these traits united and members, strong relationships built on respect We wish you all the blessed joys of this very inspired us. for each other’s roles.” special season. Comments on page 12 of this newsletter by The insights of these individuals reflect Professor Simon Finfer AO, a member of our why all our Hospital and Day Surgery senior COVID-19 response team, remind us. managers had confidence and a quiet faith that, despite the uncertainty of COVID-19, we “What’s characteristic about people who work would emerge from the crisis, healthy and Brett Goods in healthcare, is that they tend to run towards strong. We believe we have. Chief Executive Officer the fire, rather than away from it.” The stories of connection and competency Adventist HealthCare It is reaffirmed by Emergency Care Nurse Jen shared in this newsletter are testament to it. Poon who shares her thoughts on page 9. We hope you agree. “Having to work through a Pandemic magnified the importance of having a strong Front Cover: : Front page photos (left to right) The bright lights* of the Hospital: Professor Henry Woo, Integrated Cancer Centre health professionals, ICU Nurse Nicole Williamson and ICU Manager Chris Waite. The bright lights* of the San at Dusk photo taken by health informatics engineer and photography enthusiast Ian Jones. Many photos in this publication were taken pre COVID -19 social distancing measures. San News Production Team: AHCL Corporate Communications Manager, Leisa O’Connor E: [email protected] Design: Michael Pellaers. Photographic and editorial contributions: Maddi Glover. San News is the bi-annual newsletter of Adventist HealthCare from the Corporate Communications and Marketing team. San Cancer Outpatient Services rated ‘very good’ first again ‘worked well together’ San Cancer Outpatient Services have received the highest ratings of care in NSW for the third consecutive year. ‘very well organised’ The 2019 Outpatient Cancer Clinics Survey by the Bureau of Health Information and Cancer Institute NSW evaluated the experience of 13,000 San Integrated Cancer Service providers (Gastrointestinal Multidisciplinary Team). patients cared for at over 46 public cancer treatment admissions each genuine empathy and commitment and 3 private cancer clinics across year complement a generally to quality which I believe has resulted NSW. excellent standard of public sector in these impressive results for the These included 375 patients who cancer care across NSW. third year running. attended the San Integrated Cancer “Our cancer carers are humble and Every interaction a patient has with Centre. focused on the caring they provide. hospital team members can influence These 2019 survey results follow the Earning this ranking three years in a how patients and their carers cope, Hospital’s best patient experience row is a significant achievement they how they respond, and the ultimate ranking in the 2017 survey, and its should celebrate. outcomes. 2018 survey results that ranked it It’s also an endorsement of the vision Reception, administrative, hospitality, equal first with Campbelltown Cancer of including the Integrated Cancer imaging, nursing, medical, pharmacy, Clinic. Centre as part of our 2012-2016 support, allied health and the San’s The Hospital received some of Milestone Redevelopment. Volunteer Team members have an incredible impact at a time in a the highest results in the State Cancer patients having access to all in reported patient experiences, patient’s life when they may often the services they need under the one feel overwhelmed. significantly ‘more favourable’, roof clearly makes for a better patient than the NSW average, across 10 experience.” The care and compassion patients performance areas - the highest receive can be life-changing for number of any NSW facility. Icon Cancer Centre Radiation them.” Oncologist Dr Andrew Fong, says the In the extensive questionnaire, results are a reflection of a strong The Centre links access to radiation treatment at the patients were asked to evaluate their ICON Cancer group, services of Northern Haematol- commitment to providing the best experience of access to services, ogy and Oncology and the San Day Infusion Centre, possible cancer services. allied health services like dietetics, exercise physiol- care planning and coordination, ogy and lymphoedema, and other cancer support complications, follow-up and support. “To once again achieve these services. outstanding results is testament to Highlights of the patient survey The San Day Infusion Centre is also contracted to our shared dedication to world-class provide chemotherapy treatments to public sector indicated 96% rated the care they cancer care” said Dr Fong. patients. received as ‘very good, 88% thought See Outpatient Cancer Clinics Survey 2019 results the Centre’s health professionals The San’s Clinical Director of Cancer at bhi.nsw.gov.au or www.sah.org.au/cancer-why- ‘worked very well together’, and 94% Services Associate Prof Gavin Marx, choose-sah. believed the care they received was says the results are a credit to the The San Integrated Cancer Centre was officially ‘very well organised’. people providing the care. opened in 2016 assisted by donations to the San Adventist HealthCare Chief Executive “The Hospital facilities are excellent, Foundation. Want to help us help others? Donate at www.sanfoundation.org.au Officer, Brett Goods, said the San however it is the expertise of all the is proud that our more than 12,500 individuals underpinned by their 3 Australian first at the San: another option with reduced side effects In an Australian first, San Urological Surgeon Professor Henry Woo has pioneered the introduction of a new procedure to deal with the common problem of enlarged prostate causing urinary flow issues and discomfort. The condition is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. Effecting 50% of men aged 50 and 70% of men aged 70, it can disrupt sleep, lifestyle and activities. “As men are increasingly living longer, the majority will eventually end up with the condition caused by the compression of the bladder outflow by an obstructed prostate” says Professor Woo. “The compression triggers a range of symptoms which include weak urinary flow, urine frequency and urgency requiring multiple bathroom trips during the night. Men commonly find themselves adjusting their life around the availability and location Professor Henry Woo with members of the surgical team, Holly Neal, Mercedes Colquhoun, Anthony Chan and of toilets.” Chloe Cullen. Baulkham Hills father of three, 55 following its successful use in “The thought of carving off year-old project manager Mark Tunks America, the new stent like device is tissue required by other remedial agrees. implanted during day surgery, and procedures to deal with the then expanded until removal 5-7 days “I was in a regular routine of going condition, struck me as fairly later. to the gym and it was particularly primitive” he says. annoying that the water I was The triangular-shaped 3 ridges of the “I also like the fact that this is an drinking during work-out sessions iTIND device reshape and widen and early intervention procedure, so if I meant I couldn’t travel onto work remodel the internal tissue helping need different treatment later, there without a toilet stop. urine flow while reducing the often are still options for me.” uncomfortable symptoms. It was frustrating and uncomfortable Published reports indicate the and making me feel older than I am.” Dr Bronte Douglass, a 78 year-old benefits of the iTIND device include father of 2, grandfather of 5 and Traditionally the treatments to preservation of sexual function, rapid former medical entrepreneur who provide relief for patients have been symptom relief, minimal recovery founded the now globally known medication, or the cutting, or removal time, and no catheterisation. Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, says of tissue. At only 55 and after 30 years of it was the minimally invasive and marriage, Mark Tunks says after Approved by the Australian temporary implantation of the new discussions about the options, he Therapeutic Goods Administration technology that attracted him. 4 Australian first at the San: another option with reduced side effects and his wife decided they would prefer to try treatment less likely to have adverse side- effects. “I considered myself lucky that I heard about this option before I proceeded with something else.” For former investment bank Head of Compliance 70 year-old Paul Williams, increasing symptoms requiring him to visit the bathroom up to 5 times a night, worried him. “I like to walk and trail ride but riding The iTIND device. became painful. I had to rely on my mobile phone app to make sure I could find a public BPH, says that while long-term data about toilet quickly if I needed it.