What's New

 

1. Conversations with the Community

2. Annual General Meeting

3. New Dentist

Conversations with the Community Launch

Peter Quin, Director Community Services, and Erin Murphy, Manager Primary Care /Family & Community Services. show one of the posters the community will see displayed around the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The BIG news is the launch of our fantastic new pilot project "Conversations with the Community'.

With funding from the Department of Human Services, Orbost Regional Health is embarking upon a project to listen to and record the comments people make about health services delivery.  The ‘Conversations with the Community’ project was launched at the Orbost Regional Health Annual General Meeting on 19th November.

‘Conversations” is a collaborative project between Orbost Regional Health and the University of Tasmania, with support from Yarram District Health Service that will use formalised capture and management of comments that in the course of day-to-day community interactions, especially those around service delivery encounters.

Peter Quin, Director of Community Services said “What people think and say informally and spontaneously is very useful information, but it often gets lost.

This project will facilitate a prolonged negotiation and accommodation of the views of our consumers that is not achieved through a formal needs assessment alone.”  Peter added “The advantages of the proposed model over currently used survey-based approaches are that it doesn’t wear people down through a formal process of meetings and surveys and it will capture valuable information from the large number of consumers who do not participate in these formal data gathering processes.”

ORH staff will be key drivers of the project, with a focus on demonstrating respect for all community input, encouraging their patients and clients to provide  feedback through the ‘Conversations’ project.

 

 

 

It is designed to eventually deliver a continuous flow of high quality information. This information, and its systematic and thoughtful management, can then provide the basis for building open dialogue through which ORH can work with the community to shape services and outcomes.

Peter said that “systematically and comprehensively captured, the data  will build over time into a representative high quality data set around the community’s needs.  It will compliment the information we have gathered in the recent round of community  consultations  for health service needs.”

'Conversations' is simply another means of allowing the community to give us feedback of all kinds on the health service as a whole; the services, people and anything you would like to say. We want it all; the good, the funny, constructive, general comments, you name it.

So, how can you tell us?

Well, you can:

  •     Fill in one of the postage paid postcards available widely throughout the community and send back postage paid
  •     Call the Feedback Line: 1800 072 831 (leave a message; your name and number is not required unless you would like a call back),
  •     Email: orhfeedback@orh.com.au,
  •     Fax: 03 5154 2366,
  •     Phone: 03 5154 6666,    OR
  •     Speak to any of our staff who will pass on your thoughts. 

Orbost Regional Health will provide feedback to the community on our fortnightly information section in the Snowy River Mail and on our website at: www.orbostregionalhealth.com.au.

 

ORH 2007 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Orbost Regional Health Annual General Meeting held 19th November at the Orbost Club showcased the outcomes of international trips by staff members Peter Quin and Bernadette Hammond. Peter spoke on his study tour to Canada where he researched their approach to training, recruitment and delivery of medical services for native people. Bernadette gave insight into the conference she was invited to attend in Boston that focussed on safety and quality in small rural birthing units. Bernadette was the presenter of a poster session at this conference highlighting some great quality outcomes for rural women birthing under a unique partnership arrangement in a small rural community.

Volunteers and staff were recognised for their length of service included Margaret Meehan and John Sanna who have been registered volunteers for 10 years.

Christene Cole, Peter Quin and Bernadette Hammond were congratulated on reaching 10 years of service as employees; Grace Camilleri and Sallie Armistead have clocked up 20 years, and Kathy Le Sage a wonderful 25 years as a dedicated staff member.

Catrynes van der Vlugt, Board President, said "Orbost Regional Health have a tremendous power of people who provide both paid and voluntary service to this community. We can be justly proud of the commitment, dedication and accomplishments of these people".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catrynes, on behalf of the Board, presented Life Governorships to Dr Margaret Hollands and Dr Corry De Neef. Unfortunately both were unable to attend due to unforseen circumstances, and an informal presentation will be made at a later time. Margaret and Corry join a list of 93 previous Life Governors who have contributed significantly to the organisation.

The presentation of the 2007 Annual Report demonstrated many achievements. Catrynes van der Vlugt summarised some of the achievements that included:

  • Successful accreditation for the next four years by the Australian council on Healthcare Standards.
  • A restructure of the organisation saw three key executive positions adopted: Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Brendan Coulton; Director of Nursing - Sandy Stewart; and Director Community Services - Peter Quin.
  • Successful recruitment of two GP's to the medical clinic.
  • Noting two GP's have since left the organisation, a GP Recruitment and Retention Plan has been put in place.
  • The organisation continues to strive to achieve increased aged care beds for Orbost.
  • Successful engagement in community partnerships.
  • Adoption of the Koori Health Development Plan and the moving raising of the flags ceremony.
  • A Community Midwifery Program that has had 100 percent uptake by expectant mothers in Orbost.

Darrel Rowe, Chair of the Audit Committee, reported that ORH are in a very healthy financial position with an operating surplus before depreciation and capital items of $327,527, which is $75,622 more than the previous year.
Peter Quin launched the "Conversations with the Community' project. A research grant awarded to ORH will provide new ways to capture anecdotal feedback and comments from the community; more will be heard about this project over the coming weeks.

The Annual Report is available to members of the community, simply by asking at reception; and is also on the website www.orbostregionalhealth.com.au .

Public Dentist for Orbost

Orbost Regional Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Satydeep Gauri to the position of full time dentist at Orbost Regional Health.

Brendan Coulton, Deputy CEO, said "We are very fortunate to have been able to recruit to our community a full time dentist to provide public dentistry from our dental clinic as part of our Multi-purpose Service."

Satydeep commenced on 4th December, having recently completed the twenty week clinical orientation training course at the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital following successful examinations for the Australian Dental Council to become registered as a dentist in Victoria. This process is very arduous for International Medical Graduates to ensure that the standard of dentistry in Australia remains high.

Satydeep has dental care experience in India and has lived and studied in Australia for several years. Satydeep has relocated from Melbourne and is very enthusiastic about providing dental services to the Orbost Community. Brendan also said "It is vitally important that we embrace Satydeep into our community to ensure we have his services for years to come. We can all play a role by making him feel welcome."

Orbost Regional Health has the unfortunate label of being the second highest dental waiting list in Victoria, currently at 48 months (4years). The appointment of Satydeep will assist in reducing this list and provide access for emergency treatments. Dr Tim Allen, who has provided a unique arrangement of public and private dentistry, will be continuing at Orbost Regional Health providing services on Thursdays, with support from Sharon Favaloro (dental therapist who can treat patients aged 25 and under for fillings and first teeth extraction). Brendan said, "We are extremely fortunate to maintain the services of Dr Tim Allen to Orbost Regional Health and thank him for his continued support to our community."

Public dentistry is for those people who hold either a health care card, or pension card. For dental appointments please call dental reception on 5154 6625.