RDNS is very grateful for the assistance provided by all our supporters. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of our major sponsors, supporters and partners: Alfred E G Lavey Trust, Estate of Dorothy Alice Witchell, Estate of Glykeria Lambrou, Estate of Ian Alfred Walker, Estate of Mrs Ella Mavis Ford, Estate of the Late Glen W A Griffiths, Estate of Thomas W Whitelaw, Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Herbert & Dorothy Lancaster Charitable Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Marian & E H Flack Trust, Mrs Merna Olver, Mr Alexander Stewart.

Home and Community Care (HACC) services provided by Royal District Nursing Service are jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments.

Royal District Nursing Service LimitedABN 49 052 188 717 31 Alma Road St Kilda Victoria 3182

Quarterly news from RDNS / Spring Edition 2009

Doors open on PeninsulaRoyal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has officially opened a newly developed Care and Assessment Centre at our Rosebud site. Martin Dixon MP, Member for Nepean and Shadow Minister for Education, cut the ribbon in front of delighted guests who included RDNS clients and donors.

The facility offers RDNS clients the option to receive nursing care in a clinic environment at a scheduled appointment time, rather than solely receive their care at home. Main services offered by the Care and Assessment Centre include wound care, continence management and stomal therapy, as well as general assessment and nursing.

“RDNS is so integral and so important, especially in this community. The organisation has shown a lot of foresight by adding this facility to the services already on offer here,” Mr Dixon told guests before officially opening the centre.

RDNS CEO, Dan Romanis, told guests that the Care and Assessment Centre is another important step towards adapting services to cater for the needs of RDNS clients. “This facility provides our clients with more choice

regarding when and where they receive their nursing care. Clients are cared for in a dedicated clinic environment with specialist equipment at hand, as well as having access to nursing specialists,” Mr Romanis said.

He said the Care and Assessment Centre will also enhance partnerships with health professionals who refer to RDNS by offering them more options regarding their own clients’ care.

Mr Romanis also paid tribute to supporters of the development, including the Department of Human Services who provided a special grant

towards the redevelopment of the centre; the trustees of the Herbert and Dorothy Lancaster Trust, who provided funding for the purchase of important equipment; the HV McKay Charitable Trust for supporting the purchase of specialist wound imaging equipment; and the William Buckland Foundation for assistance in purchasing laser devices, currently being used in RDNS’ Low Intensity Laser Therapy trial, which is taking place at the Care and Assessment Centre.

Martin Dixon MP, Member for Nepean, officially opens the Care and Assessment Centre in Rosebud.

Early pilot results promisingThe Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health (the Institute) is currently undertaking a program of research which considers best practice in venous leg ulcer management. Venous leg ulcers are painful and debilitating and affect a high proportion of RDNS’ clients. One component of the research is the ‘Leg Ulcer Prevention Program’ (LUPP) - a client education package for people with venous leg ulcers, which is currently being piloted at eight RDNS sites.

The program uses nurses’ mobile computers to deliver six short, automated presentations which provide clients and carers with information about venous disease, as well as important recommendations about wound dressings, compression bandaging, activity and exercise, nutrition and the use of compression stockings once an ulcer is healed. All clients receive a folder to keep which contains a written copy of all information.

The program aims to support clients and RDNS nurses to work together to promote faster ulcer healing, as well as reduce the risk of ulcers recurring. The package was developed within the Institute and is based on the best available evidence about venous leg ulcers, as well as consideration of how to best use this evidence with RDNS clients receiving care at home.

By the end of 2009, it is expected that 170 RDNS clients will have commenced LUPP. To date, 133 clients have completed the program. To assist the evaluation of LUPP, participating clients and their nurses complete a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the program. Clients also report their satisfaction with the program. In the coming months, all nurses involved with delivering LUPP will have the opportunity to provide feedback about the program via an online survey. Some nurses will also be invited to participate in a focus group to explore, in greater detail, their experiences of LUPP.

It is hoped that clients will have gained considerably from the program: a significant increase in their knowledge of venous disease and their participation in activities to promote healing and prevent

recurrence are the main goals. Feedback from participating nurses has been favourable so far, however, it will be early 2010 before the full effect of LUPP can be evaluated.

Significantly, this pilot project has utilised nurses’ mobile computers for a brand new purpose: to deliver clients an innovative, multimedia health promotion program. It is anticipated that LUPP may set the pace for further development of such programs at RDNS, as well as be of interest to other community healthcare providers looking for alternative ways to support clients and clinicians in delivering healthcare.

If you would like more information about the Leg Ulcer Prevention Program, please contact Suzanne Kapp, Clinical Nurse Consultant Wound Management and Research on (03) 9536 5222.

Members of the general public wanting to refer to RDNS can now do so by using a new online referral system on the RDNS website. The innovative online system allows prospective clients, family members and friends to make direct referrals to RDNS, using a customised online form.

The enhanced method of referral is a result of RDNS’ ongoing commitment to meet the changing needs of the community, as well as staying in touch with evolving modes of communication and technology.

Individuals can still call RDNS’ dedicated phone line if they prefer to speak directly with a Customer Service Centre representative to make a referral or for general enquiries.

The new online referral system can be accessed at www.rdns.com.au

Online referral goes live

RDNS has been endorsed by WorkHealth, a division of WorkSafe, to deliver their Worker Health Check program. WorkHealth aims to support Victorian workplaces by offering voluntary programs to promote health and wellbeing.

Under the initiative, the Worker Health Check program offers organisations confidential health checks for employees to help them understand their risk of developing certain medical conditions. Checks are free to employees of companies with a payroll of less than $10m per year and substantially subsidised for companies with a larger payroll.

The program focuses on the prevention and early detection of health problems associated with blood pressure, cholesterol and high blood sugar such as heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes. By assessing workers in the workplace, staff have greater opportunity to identify risk factors for these medical conditions and take actions to improve their overall health.

The program is being rolled out across Victoria on a region-by-region basis, with service providers currently endorsed to provide the program based on their ability and experience. RDNS has been approved to provide Worker Health Checks in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and Barwon South West.

To be eligible for WorkHealth checks, organisations must be Victorian-based, or have Victorian-based operations, pay a WorkSafe Injury Insurance premium or be an approved WorkSafe self-insurer.

For more information on WorkHealth checks for your organisation, visit the RDNS website at www.rdns.com.au. Or if you would like to discuss the specific WorkHealth needs for your organisation, contact RDNS directly on 1300 33 44 55 or send your enquiry via email to workhealth@rdns.com.au

Keeping health in check

RDNS recognised at prestigious awardsThe winners of the 2009 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards were announced at a gala ceremony at The Carousel in Albert Park in September. RDNS was well represented at the function, having been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories: the ‘Premier’s Award’ category and the ‘Minister’s Award’ category. Whilst neither of our finalists received the major gong, both received special mentions.

RDNS’ Homeless Persons Program (HPP) received a ‘Special Commendation’ in the Premier’s Award ‘Primary Health Service of the Year’ category. The Premier’s Award recognises leadership and excellence in the provision of publicly funded healthcare for the Victorian community.

RDNS Cultural Liaison Coordinator, Jaklina Michael, was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Minister’s Award

‘Outstanding Achievement by an Individual’ category. The Minister’s Award acknowledges the exceptional dedication of individuals or teams to deliver the best possible care for consumers and communities.

We are extremely proud of both the RDNS Homeless Persons Program and Jaklina for the contribution they bring to their jobs each day that has resulted in such significant public recognition.

Over recent years, RDNS has endeavoured to become a provider of aged care services for people who are eligible to receive Care Packages funded by the Australian government. Initially, this involved becoming an Approved Provider. This year, we successfully applied to provide Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs), Extended Aged Care At Home (EACH) and Extended Aged Care At Home - Dementia (EACH-D) packages. The Department of Health and Ageing

has allocated 20 CACPs, 10 EACH and 9 EACH-D packages for RDNS to provide to people living in Melbourne’s Western Metropolitan region.

The care packages are designed to help older Australians with complex care needs to remain living in their own homes. This new role as a provider of packaged care will enable RDNS to diversify its services. To deliver the care packages, we have employed Case Managers who will work with clients

and their carers to develop a care plan comprising a range of services tailored to meet clients’ needs. The funding will enable RDNS staff and staff from sub-contracted services to provide personal care, home help, meal preparation and travel support for social activities, to name a few. Services from these packages are due to commence from RDNS’ Altona site during October 2009.

From left: RDNS’ Fiona Hearn; The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Minister for Health; RDNS’ Jaklina Michael and Rosemary Hogan.

From left: RDNS’ Fiona Hearn with HPP staff Gabrielle Bennett; Julie Fry and Ann Hatchett.

Diversifying our services

Staff loyalty laudedEach year, RDNS makes it a priority to recognise and celebrate the long-term loyalty of our staff. It is a highlight of District Nursing Week and a chance to personally acknowledge the incredible work of staff who have given so much of their professional lives to RDNS and the community we serve.

Eighty-six RDNS staff members were recently acknowledged for long service at a special awards function. Staff members who have worked at RDNS for 10, 15, 20, 25 and in one case, 30 years, were presented with their long service badges and commemorative pens by RDNS’ Chairman, Paul Montgomery.

Prior to the formal presentations, CEO, Dan Romanis, paid special tribute to the qualities of such long-serving staff members, saying: “You bring inspiration and stability;

consistency and dependability; loyalty and trustworthiness. Collectively, we celebrate the fact that between you, an incredible 1,230 years has been worked. Most significantly, this is time that has been spent providing or supporting the delivery of the highest level of care to people across our local communities.

“To your colleagues, you serve as an example of excellence to aspire to; a supportive and understanding voice; a font of wisdom, experience and know-how. To those you care for, you are a trusted and reliable ally and friend; a foundation of support and encouragement; a source of comfort and stability in often challenging and confusing times.

“These are the things that we celebrate today; this is the reason that we recognise and honour your contribution, for ultimately this awards function is not about numbers but about experience, commitment, loyalty and dedication. You are a shining light within this organisation and an inspiration to many and it is a pleasure and privilege to honour your achievements,” Mr Romanis said.

The awards function concluded with a discussion panel showcasing some of RDNS’ longest serving staff members, who between them share 146 years of experience at RDNS. To the delight of the audience, each panellist recollected some memorable career highlights that shared tales of challenge, success, courage and the odd humorous story!

Long serving staff entertained with amusing stories from times gone by.

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We were delighted recently to receive hot-off-the-press copies of a book in which RDNS has prominently featured - a volume from the new children’s book series ‘People We Need’.

Published by Pearson Education, each book in the ‘People We Need’ series follows the day-in-the-life of a person working in a particular field, giving young readers a comprehensive insight into what their job entails. A school library resource, the books aim to give primary school readers an understanding of important jobs in the community.

The book ‘People We Need - Nurse’ focuses on the nursing profession in general, but in particular follows a day-in-the-life of an RDNS nurse. Grateful thanks to our staff member Hayley who featured in the book ‘People We Need – Nurse’ for her time and enthusiastic involvement in the project. Other jobs featured in the series include a Doctor, a Police Officer and a Recycling Truck Driver.

For more information about the ‘People We Need’ book series, please visit www.pearsoneducation.com.au

RDNS’ bushfire effort honoured

People we need

If you do not wish to receive future copies of “Inside”, would like to receive an email version or wish to update your contact details, please email your specific request/information to: inside@rdns.com.au or fax to (03) 9537 0287. Editor: Dan Woods, Marketing Communications Manager.

The Hon. John Brumby, Premier of Victoria and the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Minister for Health, honoured RDNS for its response to help victims of the Black Saturday bushfires at the recent Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. Along with many other fine organisations, RDNS played an important role, working alongside health and relief organisations to assist communities devastated by the bushfires.

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, RDNS deployed nursing staff to the frontlines in the Whittlesea, Kinglake and Kinglake West areas. Three, and sometimes four, nurses a day worked in partnership with doctors and paramedics to provide primary healthcare to individuals who needed help.

Image courtesy of Pearson Australia