Annual Report 2011 - Calvary Health Care Bethlehem

Chief Executive Officer Message
Dr Jane Fischer
Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director
As I reflect on the past 12 months, the work that has
occurred at our hospital has been consistent with the Little
Company of Mary Health Care strategic direction. This
has ensured the sustainability of our hospital in order for
us to continue providing high quality compassionate care
for the most vulnerable in our community, consistent with
the original Mission of Mary Potter.
In our role as a statewide provider of Progressive
Neurology, work has continued over the year with the
Department of Health to revise and develop our model
of care and to ensure alignment with the Framework for
Sub-Acute Service System. This included a review of
our inpatient service along with changes to the Neuro-
Ambulatory Service. The development of the Little
Company of Mary Health Care palliative and end of life
strategy will further inform the development of our model
of care as a leading specialist provider.
Our Values in action stress the importance of high quality
compassionate care and continual learning. There
have been a number of initiatives which have been
implemented including a major care planning project
which has been progressively applied across all clinical
areas, while benchmarking with external organisations will
commence in the next year. Improvements in the quality
of our care will continue to be informed by the number
of leading research projects that are occurring in both
clinical streams.
As an Executive, Stewardship of our hospital is critical
to ensure that we continue as a tertiary level specialist
provider of palliative care and progressive neurology
within the state health system. The introduction of a
new telephone system, improvements to our information
technology infrastructure, management of OH & S,
planning and scoping for implementation of e-medication
record, ongoing work to improve our financial
sustainability and the implementation of the environmental
strategy are just some examples of our commitment to
improving our hospital over the last 12 months.
There continues to be a strong focus on supporting
our staff and the work culture of the hospital. This year
observed a change to our strategic planning process with
the engagement of all staff in this process.
The biennial Staff Survey, apart from providing information
in relation to our workforce, saw a significant improvement
in staff satisfaction. This progress confirms the priority
and commitment we had given to developing an education
and research culture, the wellbeing of our staff, focus on
human resource processes and development of a safety
culture at the hospital. Over the next 12 months we are
dedicated to further advancing our learnings from the
results of the staff survey feedback.
The progress of the Community Advisory Board and the
development of a Corporate and Community Engagement
Strategy, reflects the importance of community
engagement and partnerships. These advancements
continue to enhance our model of care and our
responsibility to provide community education and raise
awareness of the issues that people face at the end of life.
The most critical issue now facing our hospital is in
relation to the ageing of our hospital’s physical facilities.
The configuration of the current site is not suited to the
delivery of modern health services and is compromising
our ability to develop and expand our services and most
importantly provide an optimal experience for those in
the community who need our services. Work on the
Business Case for redevelopment of Calvary Health
Care Bethlehem was completed with the Department
of Health and Southern Health. It was confirmed that
redevelopment of the existing site is the best option for the
future. Therefore the emphasis of the hospital’s Executive
Team, the National Board and Community Advisory Board
will be on achieving this aim in the near future.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank all of our
departmental managers, staff and volunteers for their
ongoing contribution and commitment to our hospital.
There have been many developments over the last
year; which always brings challenges. It is the staff’s
commitment, passion and daily evidence of ‘being for
others’ that enables us to make a real difference to
peoples’ lives, consistent with the original Mission of Mary
Potter. Particular thanks to the National Little Company of
Mary Health Care Leadership Team for their support and
my Executive Team for their never ending assistance and
leadership in ensuring the secure future of the hospital.
Attestation on Compliance with Australian/New
Zealand Risk Management Standard
I, Dr Jane Fischer, certify that Calvary Health Care
Bethlehem has risk management processes in place
consistent with the Australian/New Zealand Risk
Management Standard 4360 and an internal control
system is in place that enables the Executives to
understand, manage and satisfactorily control risk
exposures. The Audit and Risk Committee verifies this
assurance and that the risk profile of Calvary Health
Care Bethlehem has been critically reviewed within the
last 12 months.
Dr Jane Fischer
MBBS, DCH (London), PGDPM, PAChPM
Calvary Health Care Bethlehem 2010 – 11 Annual Report
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