Queensland Health

Meet Tonya, a proud Nurse Unit Manager who's always on her toes and ready for action at the Gold Coast University Hospital Transfer Unit. 🌟 Tonya and her team take care of up to 100 patients a day. They help with new arrivals, transfers from other hospitals, dialysis patients and assist people getting ready to go home. 'We have an amazing team and I’m so proud of how they work together. They give great care, kindness, and support to our patients and each other,' Tanya said. The team has nurses with all kinds of experience, from new graduates to those who have been in nursing for decades. 'The range of experience in the unit is incredible, we’ve got nurses who have come from emergency, from surgical, general medical and paediatrics, and graduates who have come straight to the unit and never left.' No matter where they are, whether at the front desk or in the basement, the team is always there with a friendly face and smile for patients and each other. 🙌 Thank you, Tonya and your incredible team, for all the care and support you provide every day! 🌟 Via: Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service #HealthHeroes

If making or receiving phone calls makes you anxious, you're not alone. ❤️ Phone anxiety (telephobia) is very common, especially among those with social anxiety disorder. The emotional and physical symptoms of phone anxiety include: 📞 delaying or avoiding making calls because of anxiety  📞 feeling extremely nervous or anxious before, during and after the call  📞 obsessing or worrying about what you’ll say 📞 nausea  📞 increased heart rate and shortness of breath 📞 dizziness 📞 tense muscles. So, how do you fix it? It may take some time but here are some tips: 📝 prepare - practise what you're going to say before making a phone call or write yourself a script 😀 smile - this can decrease stress hormones and make you feel more relaxed ☕ treat - give yourself a little reward when you get through a phone conversation ✉️ voicemail - let a call go to voicemail if you're not ready. You can always call them back when you're more prepared. If your phone anxiety is causing you distress or is affecting your work, see your healthcare provider. You can also text a counsellor at Lifeline Australia (SMS: 0477 13 11 44) or chat with them online here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gF9XfS7 Beyond Blue also has a webchat option for counselling here 👉https://lnkd.in/gGQBbszm ℹ️ Sources: Very Well Mind, The Conversation.

'You never stop learning when you work in medicine. The close relationships you build make it a very special and rewarding job.' Meet Dr Claire, a passionate rural generalist who has spent the last six years working and living in Stanthorpe in Queensland’s Granite Belt. 🙌 She provides exceptional care in both the hospital and local clinics. She loves the challenges and changes of working in rural medicine. 'There are many interesting areas of medicine, but in rural medicine, you get to do a bit of everything,' she said. Dr Claire’s journey started with the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway (QRGP), where she learned emergency medicine at Toowoomba Hospital and anaesthetics at Redlands Hospital. Moving to Stanthorpe felt like a "miracle," where she continued to grow her skills. After settling in Stanthorpe, she worked as a general doctor and Senior Medical Officer at Stanthorpe Hospital. Along the way, she balanced family life with her husband Toby and their three children, Henry, Lucy and Charlotte. 🌟 Claire’s learning never stops. This year, she added advanced obstetrics to her skills as a Principal House Officer at the Mater Hospital. 'Say yes when you're ready, but don't be afraid to say "no thanks" if it’s not the right fit. Each experience helps you understand healthcare better,' she said. 'Try new things, both good and bad. If you don’t like it after giving it a try, don’t force yourself to keep doing it. There’s something out there that will fill your cup, perhaps you just haven't given it a go yet.' Thank you, Claire, for your dedication to rural healthcare and for showing us the power of continuous learning and community care. 👏 Inspired by Claire's story? Join our team and help make a difference. Explore rural generalist opportunities with Queensland health at https://bit.ly/40CKDls #HealthHero

Meet Amit, an MRI radiographer who helps make 'taking a closer look' an exciting journey for his patients. ✨ With 16 years of experience in healthcare, Amit is passionate about making a difference in the lives of his patients at Logan Hospital. 🥰 An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan creates detailed images of the inside of your body, helping doctors to identify problems without surgery, and plan treatments for injuries and illnesses. Every day, Amit facilitates MRI scans for a diverse group of patients, from children to adults, each with unique medical needs. 'I see around 20 patients a day, a mix of inpatient, outpatient, and paediatric cases. There’s always something different, and I love the variety,' he said. What excites Amit most about his role is the opportunity to make a real difference. 'I love helping patients, especially when they’re going through tough times and need answers. It’s so rewarding to be part of that process. 'Our team at Logan Hospital work really well together, get the job done, and still manage to have a laugh along the way.' Logan Hospital is home to one of Queensland’s few cutting-edge MRI scanners, which is especially helpful for patients with claustrophobia, offering a welcome distraction during tests. The MRI suite includes immersive lighting, video and sound experiences to distract and entertain patients while their scan was underway. 'We’ve had great success with patients who struggle with claustrophobia. It makes a huge difference in their experience.' When he's not working, Amit enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors. Thank you, Amit, for your dedication and commitment to improving health outcomes in your community! 👏 #HealthHero ℹ Source: Healthdirect and Metro South Health.

Bring the power of information to your hands with the new Open Hospitals website. 🙌 The website provides real-time data updates, refreshed every 15 - 30 minutes, for 25 of our emergency departments (EDs) and our 7 minor injury and illness clinics. You can use the website to see: 🤕 how many patients are waiting in EDs 🕐 what the median patient wait times are 🛏️ how many permanent treatment spaces the facility has. Access it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer to stay informed anytime, anywhere. 🤗 Please note: your closest ED or clinic may not be included in the data. To find your nearest facility, use the healthdirect service finder. For emergencies, always call Triple Zero (000). 📱 🚑 To explore the Open Hospitals' website for real-time updates visit: https://lnkd.in/g7-hiYnG

Once a classical pianist, violinist and music teacher, Fiona made the gutsy move to medicine to follow her passion for helping others. 🎻 Now the Clinical Director of Integrated Care on the Fraser Coast, she helps to develop hospital avoidance models of care, including Hospital in the Home (HITH) and Geriatric Evaluation and Management Hospital in the Home (GEM HITH). 🏡 She is the current chair of the Clinical Network of Queensland Dementia, Ageing and Frailty and the medical lead within the HIU project team for the GEM HITH statewide rollout. Fiona also works clinically in HITH and as an emergency physician in the Hervey Bay and Maryborough emergency departments. 🏥 A highlight of Fiona's amazing career is her involvement in promoting the Care Companion Decision Aid. This is a new resource designed to support patients with serious health conditions in making informed, values-based decisions about their care. 🌟 'One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping patients and families navigate challenging health care decisions, to ensure they're making the choices right for them,' she said. 'The purpose of the Care Companion is to facilitate honest conversations between patients and their healthcare professional and guide decisions about treatment and care. 'With this resource, patients are enabled and supported to have a more active role [in their healthcare decisions].'  Thanks, Fiona, for your tireless efforts to advocate for patients and their families. Your work and dedication is appreciated. 🤩 For more information about how the My Care Companion Decision Aid could help you or a loved one, visit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gHPRumhc

Critical Care Research Group (CCRG) Director, Professor Fraser, was named as an Officer of the Order of Australia last weekend! 🌟 This prestigious recognition celebrates his unwavering dedication to medicine, his impactful role at The Prince Charles Hospital, and his trailblazing work in critical care research. Professor Fraser said he was both humbled and honoured by the accolade. 🥰 'This represents not just my efforts, but the efforts of my many mentors, collaborators and team members I have had the good fortune to work with and learn from,' Professor Fraser said. Under his leadership, the CCRG has been behind some groundbreaking projects like The Living Heart Project, ICU of the Future, and COVID Critical. A huge thank you to Professor Fraser and his dedicated team for their tireless commitment to advancing critical care research and improving lives. Professor Fraser was one of the many Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service workers recognised for their outstanding work. Congratulations to everyone that was honoured! 👏 Via: Metro North Health #HealthHeroes

Friendly reminder to sit up straight ... did we get you? 🪑 We're sure you've heard it all before, that slouching is bad for your back. Did you know it's not just your back that struggles when you slouch? Poor posture can actually increase your risk of incontinence, constipation and heartburn 😰 If you've been hunched over at your desk, whether you're sitting or standing, give these posture perfecting tips a try: 🪑 When sitting, lean back into the backrest and use a lumbar cushion for support. 🪑 Keep your knees level with feet comfortably flat on the ground. 🪑 Make sure your computer screen is at eye level—not too high, and not too low. 🪑 When standing, relax your shoulders down and back, tucking in your stomach to engage those core muscles. 🪑 Switch between sitting and standing to avoid being in the same position for too long. Your spine does a lot of heavy lifting, day in day out—so a little extra support goes a long way when it comes to your posture! ℹ Sources: Harvard Medical School. Healthdirect. Healthline.

If you were born on the Gold Coast after 1982, there’s a good chance Dr Charters played an important role in your birth! 💙👶 After 43 years of exceptional service and around 20,000 births, this exceptional doctor is retiring from Gold Coast Health, leaving behind a profound legacy. ❤ Throughout his career, Dr Charters prided himself on his close connections with colleagues, especially midwives, and said those relationships shone most strongly in the tough moments. 'We work together as a very strong, very close group of maternity providers, and I think that is so important,' he said. Dr Charters said it was a 'privilege' to spend his career looking after women. 'They are so import to our whole society; they’re mothers, they’re sisters, they’re grandmothers, they’re friends, partners, whatever – women are such a positive to all of our lives.' As the Women, Newborn and Children’s Services first specialist obstetrician/gynaecologist, Dr Charters has been instrumental in growing the department into the world-class service it is today. 'Being involved in the origin of this department and seeing it develop and become what it is today is the most satisfying part of my career,' he said. Dr Charters spent 25 years as Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and his legacy includes the prestigious President’s Medal from The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the first for a Queenslander. Thank you, Dr Charters, for your remarkable contributions to women’s health. Your legacy will continue to inspire for generations to come. ✨ Via: Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service #HealthHero

'I love being part of the neonatal team and watching tiny patients grow stronger each day. The smallest moments of comfort can make all the difference to them and their families.'   Meet Ashtyn! For almost three years Ashtyn has been a dedicated Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in the neonatal unit (Special Care Nursery) at Logan Hospital, bringing care and compassion to some of the most vulnerable patients. ✨   In her role, Ashtyn plays a key role in the day-to-day operations of the unit. From helping with admissions and discharges to making sure the nursery is stocked with the essential supplies for each baby, she’s there to support her team and ensure everything is in place. 🍼   The Neonatal Unit specialised care for sick premature babies, including respiratory aid and constant monitoring.   'What I love most is meeting all the new faces and their families. It’s so rewarding to help them feel at ease during what can be a very emotional time,' Ashtyn says.   Whether Ashtyn’s caring for babies in long-term care or jumping in to help the nurses during critical moments, she’s always ready to lend a hand where it’s needed most.   'It’s also inspiring to watch the team work in high-pressure situations every day,' Ashtyn said.   'It motivates me to continue my studies in nursing and midwifery, so one day I can do the incredible work they do.'   Thank you, Ashtyn, and your team in the Neonatal Unit for all that you do. Your compassion and care make a big difference in the lives of the families and babies you care for every day. ❤ #HealthHero