2018Philanthropy Report

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How our History is sHaping our future tHrougH tHe Centenary Fund

new partnersHips to improve patient outComes

tHe impact of your support

epworth buys six new da Vinci surgical robots

Dear friends,

I hope you will accept my heartfelt thanks for the support you have given to Epworth during the past year. I feel immeasurably proud of what we have achieved together, in order to provide our patients with the very best care.

Achievements like the purchase of six new da Vinci

surgical robots this year. Epworth pioneered robotic

surgery in Australia, and what this technology can do –

in the hands of our skilled surgeons – is truly

extraordinary. The da Vinci surgical robots provide our

surgeons with precision that is far greater than the

human hand, a magnified vision system with a 3D view

of the inside of the patient’s body, and the capacity to

perform operations through a few tiny incisions, that

dramatically improve recovery times.

Through your generosity, we have also been able to

purchase new rehabilitation transport vehicles, ventilators

that enable us to transport patients safely between

operating theatres and the ICU, improved medication

delivery equipment that increases the comfort of patients

in palliative care, and blood purification units for patients

with serious kidney or multiple organ injuries. Of course,

this is just the tip of the iceberg, and you can read more

about the way in which we have put your donations to

good use in this newsletter.

I also want to draw your attention to page 4, where

we have announced an exciting and dare I say game-

changing campaign for our hospital. In just two years’

time, Epworth HealthCare will celebrate a hundred years

of compassion, care and innovation in our community.

In response, the Epworth Medical Foundation has just

launched one of the most important campaigns in the

century of Epworth: we aim to raise $50 million, which

will be endowed so that Epworth can take the lead in

innovation, excellence and care of our patients for the next

hundred years, and beyond.

Called the Centenary

Fund, this provides

a unique opportunity

for you, as one of our

contemporary donors,

to create a legacy that reflects your own

beliefs and values, and that provides genuine, tangible

help for your loved ones.

The Centenary Fund will draw together people from all

walks of life, who make gifts both large and small, either

now or in their Wills, to help build the Epworth of the

future. I have shared more about this opportunity on page

4, and hope you feel as excited as I do about the future

we are creating, together, for the people we love. If you

would like to know more about the Centenary Fund or

how you can be involved, please do not hesitate to get in

touch with me.

Once again, I want to thank you for your generous

support of our hospital during the past year. Because of

you, I can confidently say that we provide our patients

with the best possible care; delivered by world-leading

surgeons, specialists and nurses; in state-of-the-art

facilities; and with access to leading technologies and

research findings. I hope you are justifiably proud of all

you have made possible.

With my warmest regards,

scott Bulger

Executive Director,

Epworth Medical Foundation

“ The difference you make”

”

“

Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [3]

Thanks to the support of one of our generous donors our neurosurgeons have access to new BrainLab spinal instruments which are used to perform spine and trauma surgeries.The instruments integrate with the BrainLab spinal navigation system which provides real-time visualisation images during surgeries including spinal fusion surgery.

Spinal fusion surgery is complex spinal surgery and it typically lasts for two to three hours per patient. The new instruments allow our neurosurgeons to apply surgical prostheses into the bones which stop movement in a painful vertebral segment.

With the BrainLab navigation system a patient’s anatomy is displayed on a screen in the operating theatre using 3D images. This visualisation allows the surgeon to know the precise path to insert the surgical screws without injuring nerves and any other soft tissues.

Since commissioning these new instruments in April 2018, they have been used every day, sometimes even twice a day. With the number of patients requiring spinal surgery increasing, being able to undertake more surgeries ensures patients can receive the care they need. And this is only possible because of this very generous gift to the Epworth Medical Foundation.

New spinal surgical instruments

Members of the surgical team prepare the BrainLab spinal instruments for spinal fusion surgery

The BrainLab spinal instruments

Having the best equipment is critical when performing delicate spinal surgery and i really appreciate that once again the epworth medical foundation has helped us to have the best equipment to treat my patients.

Mr Patrick Chan, Epworth Neurosurgeon

[4] Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report

It is easy to talk about Epworth HealthCare’s ‘humble beginnings’. We opened our doors in 1920 with just 24 beds, in a converted mansion in Hawthorn Victoria. The funds to make the dream of the first Epworth Hospital a reality were raised entirely from donations by the Methodist community, an extraordinary achievement! Sunday collections, school-children selling bricks, calls for help in the Methodist Thanksgiving Fund, and a few larger gifts from more wealthy benefactors, such as Sir Aaron Danks, a dedicated Methodist who donated the deeds to his house to this cause, and George Sweet and his daughter Dr Georgina Sweet, who donated the funds to equip the operating theatre in memory of their daughter and sister Dr Elizabeth Mary Sweet, who had passed away during the influenza pandemic that year.

However, the truth is that Epworth’s beginnings, while small, were never humble: the cornerstone of compassion, innovation and excellence that exemplifies Epworth HealthCare today was set in place by our founders a hundred years ago, and its importance to the community then, as now, can not be understated.

The founders of Epworth Hospital had a clear vision – to provide excellence in care for people with modest means.

And their vision could not have been more relevant: by the time Epworth opened in 1920, Australia was reeling from the devastation of the First World War, swiftly followed by the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic, which made 40 percent of our nation ill, and killed 15,000 Australians (50,000 died worldwide). Doors opened on 27 February, 1920, and demand for a hospital providing affordable, advanced and compassionate care was so great that by July the same year, Epworth was already at full capacity, and having to turn away patients. We were forced to turn our thoughts to expansion before the year was out.

Since that first day, we have not faltered in our commitment to providing the very best possible care to the sick and injured in our community. Epworth HealthCare today is Victoria’s largest not-for-profit private healthcare group and an innovator in Australia’s health system, taking the lead in evidence-based medicine to pioneer new treatments and services for our patients.

98 years as a cornerstone to the community

Epworth HealthCare will be 100 years old in 2020 and, to celebrate our century of unwavering commitment to care for the people of Victoria, the Epworth Medical Foundation has launched one of the most important fundraising campaigns in our 98-year history.

Where we began

Called the Epworth Centenary Fund, this campaign will draw together people from all walks of life, making gifts both large and small, either now or in their Wills. Together, we will create a corpus of specially-endowed funds that will position Epworth HealthCare to take the lead in innovation, excellence and care for the next hundred years, and beyond.

This is so important that the Epworth Board has agreed to match every dollar that you donate or bequest to the Centenary Fund. We aim to raise $25 million, thereby making, with the Board’s matching funds, a $50 million investment into the future of Epworth HealthCare. A $50 million investment into the best possible care for the people of Victoria.

a unique opportunity to invest in the future of medical care A donation made to the Centenary Fund today is a direct investment into the care that you and your loved ones will receive at Epworth HealthCare tomorrow - and for decades to come. Because these funds will be endowed, and pooled with other donations to generate competitive returns, the funding and grants we establish in 2020 will never run out, ensuring that excellence, innovation and compassion will always be supported at Epworth.

• double your money: the Epworth Board will match every dollar that you give to the Centenary Fund, literally doubling the impact of your gift

• Ways to give: donations to the Centenary Fund can either be made immediately, in stages leading up to 2020, or as bequests in your Will

• Honour your loved-ones: if you wish to, you can name your donation to the Centenary Fund in honour of your family or a loved one. This will be included in official Epworth publications, and on our Honour Boards

• Fund your interests: you can also direct where your donation to the Centenary Fund will be allocated. For example, you may have a special interest in oncology, paediatrics, mental health, maternity or education: you can ensure your legacy of care for this particular field of medicine by directing a Centenary Fund donation to that area.

If you would like to make a donation to the Centenary Fund,

please complete and return the form at the back of this

newsletter. Alternatively, if you have any questions, Scott Bulger

or Vanessa Dannock would welcome a chat with you.

scott BulgerExECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Phone: 9426 6133Mobile: 0407 446 000Email: scott.bulger@epworth.org.au

Vanessa dannockDONOR RELATIONS MANAGER

Phone: 9426 6572Mobile: 0408 122 599Email: vanessa.dannock@epworth.org.au

The Centenary Fund will be one of the most important fundraising campaigns in the history of Epworth HealthCare. As a not-for-profit organisation we rely on donations to continue our history of excellence. It is through the Centenary Fund that Epworth will be able to establish itself as a leader and innovator in medical

research and care for the coming century. Our goal is to raise $25 million, which will be matched by the Epworth Board to create an endowment of $50 million. The funds will be used to care for the patients of the future in three key ways:

Fostering excellence: doctor/registrar grants program

Epworth Medical Foundation will endow $10 million from the Centenary Fund to establish a grants program to encourage excellence in medical practice and care. Through this fund, we will award grants to outstanding early-career doctors and registrars, enable them to undertake research, advanced training or gain international exposure to new techniques and treatments that they then bring to their patients at Epworth.

Fostering innovation: the Epworth Innovation Centre

Epworth Medical Foundation will endow $30 million from the Centenary Fund to establish and launch the Epworth Innovation Centre (EPIC), a dedicated centre that will encourage and provide competitive funding grants for truly innovative projects, including new surgical techniques, new equipment and technologies, and new treatment trials. This centre will be a state-of-the-art hub of knowledge and innovation that will help pioneer the medical care of the future.

Fostering compassion: practical patient support

Epworth Medical Foundation will endow $10 million from the Centenary Fund to ensure the holistic care of its patients, from an understanding that a return to health often means much more than physical recovery alone. Through this fund, grants will be issued to establish tailored support programs that help to care for patients’ entire wellbeing, factoring in their physical, emotional, social and financial circumstances.

21 3

Where we are going

Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [5]

[8] Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report

In one of the single largest gifts ever made to Epworth, a donation from international financial services company La Trobe Financial has helped us to purchase six new da Vinci surgical robots.

With the generous donation from La Trobe Financial, Epworth has been able to purchase six x or xi model da Vinci robots along with a raft of new surgical equipment.

Established in Australia in 1952, La Trobe Financial has a long history of helping Australians achieve financial independence and giving back to the community. The company through its Foundation also donates to significant Australian organisations such as Lifeline, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, while its community volunteer program deploys over 280 staff to work two days a year in the charity of their choice.

La Trobe Financial President and CEO Greg O’Neill shared that the company was very pleased to help Epworth embed its reputation as the innovator of robotically-assisted surgery in Australia.

Epworth pioneered robotic surgery in 2003, when we were the first hospital in the country to install a surgical robot, and now in 2018 with the purchase of these six new robots Epworth continues to be a leader and innovator in this surgical technology.

“Our company considers this gift as an important way of giving back to the community. Knowing that Epworth patients and their clinical staff have access to a range of leading edge and world’s best practice medical equipment was important to us”, Mr O’Neill said.

When the robots were recently delivered and installed, the Epworth staff and doctors were more than appreciative. “It is making a difference to people’s lives that matters to us”, said Mr O’Neill.

Epworth at the forefront of robotic surgery

An extraordinary gift from La Trobe Financial

Greg O’Neill President and CEO of La Trobe Financial is given a demonstration of the da Vinci robot by Tim Grogan from Device Technologies

Epworth thanks and appreciates the great generosity and support of La Trobe Financial.

”Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [9]

Left: Luis Prado Executive Director Academic and Medical Services, Andrei Cortez Theatre Technician, Dr Lachlan Henderson Group Chief Executive and Greg O’Neill President and CEO of La Trobe Financial

Right: Greg O’Neill President and CEO of La Trobe Financial with members of our theatre team

robotic surgery continues to develop in australia for a variety of procedures including:

• Urology: radical prostatectomies, partial nephrectomy (removing cancer and preserving kidney) and pyeloplasty (repairing blocked kidney)

• Gynaecology: hysterectomy, fibroid removal to preserve the uterus

• Cardiothoracic: mitral valve surgery, removal of thymus gland

• Colorectal: removal of rectal cancer

• Endocrinology: thyroid removal

Robotic surgery is minimally invasive as patients have a few small incisions rather than a traditional larger cut and this surgical approach has a number of benefits for both surgeons and patients. Using very small instruments means surgeons can access areas that may be restricted using traditional surgical methods. While for patients the less invasive access means faster recovery time.

Each da Vinci robot is used under the guidance of a surgeon who is seated at a console which is placed alongside the patient’s surgical bed. The tower is then positioned over the patient during surgery. Three of the robot arms on the tower are used to hold a range of different surgical instruments while a camera attached to the fourth arm captures the images displayed for the surgeon at the console.

“Epworth has and is committed to bringing world’s best technology and equipment to our patients and this is what we are doing thanks to the outstanding leadership and generosity of La Trobe Financial”, said Dr Lachlan Henderson, Group Chief Executive Epworth HealthCare.

thanks to the generosity of La trobe Financial epworth now have:

• the largest number of da Vinci systems in a single state of any healthcare group in Australia

• the largest footprint of 4th Generation da Vinci technology in Victoria

• invested in three generations of da Vinci surgery technology in order to make the latest technology available to surgeons and their patients.

The new da Vinci robots will be available to surgeons at four sites: Epworth Richmond, Epworth Freemasons, Epworth Geelong and Epworth Eastern in Box Hill.

An extraordinary gift from La Trobe Financial

Did you know?epworth has completed a number of australian robotic surgery Firsts including:

• FirstradicalprostatectomyinAustralia using robot

• Firstradicalcystectomy(bladderremoval) using robot

• FirstcardiacsurgeryinAustraliausingrobot

• FirsthysterectomyinAustraliausingrobot

• FirsthospitalinAustraliatoinstalla dual-console robot for training

[10] Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report

Partnering for our patientsAs Victoria’s largest not-for-profit private hospital group Epworth reinvests any surplus funds back into our hospitals and as such relies on the generosity of strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations and donors to provide the very best patient care.

Epworth Medical Foundation has recently formed two exciting new partnerships with the E.J. Whitten Foundation and the Australian Food Allergy Foundation.

These partnerships will see us working to find new and better ways to treat and care for men with prostate cancer as well as seeking to better understand and treat the epidemic of allergies affecting children across Australia.

Launch of the e.J. Whitten Foundation prostate Cancer research Centre at epworth

To mark the beginning of Men’s Health Week from 11 June, the E.J. Whitten Foundation and Epworth HealthCare announced the establishment of the E.J. Whitten Foundation Prostate Cancer Research Centre at Epworth - a new research centre dedicated to improving treatment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Thanks to this partnership and the generosity of Epworth Medical Foundation supporters, Epworth Urologist and Director of the Centre Associate Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk and his team have commenced their first research project being a prostate cancer clinical trial called AMCoP – Annihilating Metastatic Cancer of the Prostate. This trial combines the surgical removal of cancer affected lymph nodes and targeted radiotherapy treatment for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Patients on the trial have PET (positron emission tomography) scans to accurately locate affected lymph nodes in the pelvis. Using the scan results and the cutting-edge technology now available in Epworth theatres, our surgeons may then perform radical prostatectomy, as well as the precision surgical excision of affected lymph nodes.

A/Prof Lawrentschuk said that “men diagnosed with prostate cancer are living longer, thanks to earlier diagnosis and scientific and medical research that is guiding better ways to treat the disease.”

“Thanks to better ways of treating and managing the initial diagnosis, many forms of prostate cancer are treatable and for some they are even curable.”

The Cancer Council states that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australia (apart from common skin cancers) and Epworth is currently managing a significant number of Victoria’s prostate cancer patients.

“Multiple research projects will run concurrently at the new centre – seeing various approaches to treatment being tested and validated at the same time. This provides the best opportunity for clinical breakthroughs to be uncovered,” A/Prof Lawrentschuk said.

The CEO of E.J. Whitten Foundation Nick Holland said “The aim of the Foundation is to carry on Ted Whitten’s legacy to inspire men to take charge of their health.”

“Since 1995 we have raised more than $12 million for men’s health and prostate cancer awareness and research. We are passionate about projects that save men from dying too young from this disease,” Mr Holland said.

The Director of the E.J. Whitten Foundation Prostate Cancer Research Centre at Epworth, Urologist Associate Professor Nathan Lawrentschuk

Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [11]

uncovering the facts of paediatric food allergies

As the prevalence of children’s food allergies rises on a national scale Epworth has made a commitment to finding answers for the families of some of our smallest patients.

Thanks to an exciting new partnership with the Australian Food Allergy Foundation, we are proudly launching the Centre for Paediatric Allergies in August this year.

The Centre’s dedicated fellow, Dr John Ainsworth, will lead a series of research projects in consultation with our team of allergists and immunologists.

Their research will focus on a number of key projects including:

• Establishing a unified approach on the management of accidental EpiPen self-injection

• Examining whether children with fish allergy can include cartilaginous fish, and potentially other fish, in their diet instead of avoiding all fish.

• Examining the accuracy of using serum Ara H2 (a component of the peanut protein) as a predictor for peanut allergies during testing

• Examining the rates of allergy to almonds

• Examining a better way to test children with cow’s milk allergy

• Examining the number of children having Jack Jumper ant anaphylaxis in Victoria.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, about one in 10 infants, one in 20 children up to five years of age, and two in 100 adults have food allergies in Australia.

This is a significant issue and one that both Epworth and the Australian Food Allergy Foundation are committed to supporting.

“This partnership will create change and improve outcomes for children with food allergies” said Patricia Ilhan, Founder Australian Food Allergy Foundation.

“As the mother of a child with a food allergy I know first-hand the importance of this research” said Patricia.

“it is a privilege to have this opportunity to partner with epworth and create an environment where patients and their families can know that they will receive the best possible care whilst contributing to future treatment discoveries.

Patricia Ilhan, Founder Australian Food Allergy Foundation ”

Dr John Ainsworth – the inaugural Australian Food Allergy Foundation fellow for the Centre for Paediatric Allergies

[12] Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report

To help our patients, Epworth has established Wig Salons at Epworth Freemasons, Epworth Eastern and Epworth Geelong where patients can have a wig, hair scarf or hat fitted and tailored to them at no cost. In addition, they also receive a product bag containing a range of items based on their personal needs such as a bamboo night cap, turban, hairnet, shampoo or wig brush – all of which assist them during this time.

This is a volunteer led service funded by Epworth Medical Foundation and the service recently expanded to assist our Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Unit with the purchase of beanies and baseball caps which are popular with young men.

Epworth recognises that care for our patients is much more than simply providing the best clinical care. It is about providing holistic care so that they feel positive as they undergo their treatment and this is what our Wig Salons achieve.

Over 500 patients have now benefitted from this service and it is certainly having a great impact.

Wendy Dawson, Gynaecology Clinical Nurse Consultant shared, “I am lucky to see and hear first hand how this service provides a major boost for our patients and it is wonderful to give them this gift at no cost to them or their family.”

Hair loss is often a challenging side effect for women and men who are undergoing cancer treatment.

a visit to the Wig salonWendy Dawson, Gynaecology Clinical Nurse Consultant provides an insight into a visit to the Wig Salon.

At what stage in treatment would a patient visit the Salon?

At initial diagnosis or a little later when planning or starting chemotherapy. For rural patients it is often helpful to organise a wig while still in hospital after surgery as it saves them having to return to the Salon at a later date.

Volunteer Anny Wyman assists Anna Vento during the very first appointment at the Wig Salon at Epworth Eastern

”

“the wig salon staff were empathetic, kind, informative and reassuring. i think this service is an indispensable adjunct for people going through cancer treatment. in a way, it is also empowering because you can do something for yourself as opposed to having things done to you. i came out feeling happy for the first time for a long time – a wonderful experience.

Wig Salon caring for our cancer patients

A message of thanks from an Epworth patient who has visited the Wig Salon.

What happens during a visit?

Women browse through the wig catalogue to find a style they like and then try on a selection of wigs with the assistance of the Salon’s experienced staff.

If we don’t have the style they like in stock we can also order for delivery within a week. Clients can also choose from a selection of soft bamboo night caps, turbans, beanies and scarves. And they are also provided with wig care instructions, internet resources list, wig brush and baby shampoo.

Advice and education is also provided with regards to wig care and other useful resources.

If the client is an inpatient and not well enough to visit the Salon, we also offer wig/headware fitting in the ward.

Patients also have access to pastoral care and the clinical nurse consultants if required.

How long does a Salon consultation last?

Appointments are booked for one hour.

What other services are available following the initial consultation?

If a wig is ordered, clients can make another booking for trying on and fitting the wig when it arrives, or alternatively we can also express post it directly to their home. And if a patient needs additional assistance at any time they are welcome to return for a follow up consultation. Wigs can also be returned if women have completed treatment and they no longer need them. These wigs are cleaned and donated to the Gippsland Wig library.

Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [13]

If you would like to support any of the research projects underway at the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health or would like to be kept informed of new research projects as they commence please contact Vanessa Dannock, Donor Relations Manager on 9426 6572 or vanessa.dannock@epworth.org.au

Mental health research centre now open

The launch of the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health (ECIMH) is a reflection of the commitment which Epworth has to providing the best clinical care informed by leading edge research.

The ECIMH conducts research to better understand mental health, develop new treatments and improve existing treatments for people experiencing mental health concerns.

“Research makes innovative treatments possible that can have life-changing benefits for patients,” said Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Professor Director of Psychiatry and Head of the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health.

“We are incredibly lucky to have received support from Sue Keable, a generous donor to the Epworth Medical Foundation who had the foresight to recognise the significance of mental health research, and the need to develop innovative treatments that will bring critical hope to people experiencing mental health concerns.”

“What we have is unique, embedding our research unit within a hospital environment which will ensure the outcomes will directly translate to a wider range of evidence-based treatment options for Epworth Clinic patients.”

Professor Fitzgerald leads a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, researchers and engineers who are all dedicated to enhancing mental health outcomes.

Thanks to Sue’s generosity, the ECIMH team will now focus on a number of key research projects including:

• improving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment for depression

• investigating TMS as a new treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and addiction

• and developing and evaluating other innovative treatments such as transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) for obsessive compulsive disorder and depression in young people.

The ECIMH has a newly-built space at Epworth Camberwell, comprising clinical labs and research offices and a growing suite of sophisticated neurostimulation and monitoring equipment.

Professor Paul Fitzgerald and the Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health research team

Sue Keable (pictured centre) cuts the ribbon to officially open the research centre alongside Epworth Group Chief Executive Dr Lachlan Henderson; Mr Scott Bulger; Professor Paul Fitzgerald; Sue’s son Murray and Epworth Rehabilitation Executive Director Carolyn Bell

Your support in action The impact of donor support is seen by Epworth staff, doctors and patients across all areas of our hospital. These are some examples of the many ways donor funding is used to directly benefit patients each and every day.

Our non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) drivers have gratefully welcomed two new Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans which are used to safely transport rehabilitation patients to medical appointments at other Epworth sites and external hospitals.

These vans feature a new patient stretcher with powered lifting mechanism and laser lights to accurately guide patient stretchers in place, a wheelchair lifter and rear parking cameras and sensors.

NEPT drivers Greg Spicer and Justin Melgoza are thrilled with the new vehicles and agree they will make a world of difference to patient comfort during transport.

These ventilators are used when transferring patients between an operating theatre and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). And they can also be used for patients who have a medical emergency on a ward which requires transportation to ICU.

The ventilators have the flexibility to be used for both adults and children and they also have a data connectivity facility which means all information relating to the patient can continue to be captured during transport so that care can continue seamlessly once they arrive in ICU.

While Epworth was the first hospital in Victoria to introduce scalp cooling, demand for this unique hair loss treatment has continued to increase.

The scalp cooling machine, or ‘cold cap’, is used to counteract the effects of chemotherapy with the goal of either reducing or stopping hair loss. Scalp cooling works by lowering the temperature of the head and scalp immediately before, after and during chemotherapy.

Thanks to donor funding an additional scalp cooling machine has been purchased to help patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Drivers Justin Melgoza and Greg Spicer with Daniel, first patient transported in the new cars

new rehabilitation patient transport vehicles

Continuous care with oxylog 3000 plus transportable Ventilators

additional scalp cooling machine to reduce chemotherapy hair loss

Getting our iCu patients mobile Many of the patients in our Intensive Care Units (ICU) are intubated and therefore bed bound during their early recovery. Thanks to donor funding, our ICU patients now have access to an EMU Walker that can help with the recovery of strength and function for patients who are immobile for prolonged periods.

The EMU Walker allows our intensive care physiotherapists to start early mobilisation as part of a patient’s treatment plan. It provides mechanical assistance to enable safe standing and walking whilst ensuring patients and staff remain safe at all times. The Epworth ICU and physiotherapy teams are partnering to report on patient outcomes seen from using the EMU Walker as part of a multi-hospital research trial being led by Monash University. This international study will involve medical, nursing, physiotherapy and PSA staff in the largest trial ever conducted into early activity and mobilisation of prolonged invasively ventilated patients. Our team are proud to be part of the study that is assessing the long term benefits of this treatment and recommendations for future patient care.

Oxylog 3000 Plus Transportable Ventilator

The Trident specimen radiography system

Prismaflex haemofiltration unit

Thank you from our oncology team

Thank you on behalf of the Hospital in the Home team

A message of thanksOn behalf of the staff, doctors and patients at Epworth Freemasons and Richmond I want to say a very big thank you. As a team, we pride ourselves on delivering the best possible patient care and clinical service and we continue to achieve this thanks to the amazing and generous donations that come from the Epworth Medical Foundation.

Your support makes an enormous difference each and every day. Thanks to you we make such a difference to our patients by expanding patient support services; purchasing new equipment for our theatres and wards; and investing in upskilling our staff. Thank you for being such an important part of the Epworth family and for making the difference you do. We couldn’t do it without you!

Nicole WaldronExecutive Director Epworth Richmond and Epworth Freemasons

new car for Hospital in the HomeThanks to funding from Portland House Foundation, Epworth’s Hospital in the Home team now have access to an additional vehicle to help our patients when they return home after surgery or a hospital stay.

The Hospital in the Home Unit is designed to substitute home care for suitable patients who would otherwise need treatment in a traditional hospital bed. It is effectively a mobile clinical unit/ward of the hospital, with its own medical, nursing and administrative staff.

This additional car means there are now five cars available for the Unit and allows an additional five home visits to be made every day.

trident specimen radiography system gives a clear view during breast surgeryWith the help of our donors, our breast surgeons now have access to a Trident specimen radiography system which allows specimens to be scanned in the operating theatre. The digital x-ray system provides high quality images of a biopsy specimen in real-time.

Prior to the Trident system, specimens were transferred to laboratories outside of theatres and results would take up to 40 minutes to be determined. However by being able to perform this scanning in theatre, patients are now having less anaesthetic time as imaging results are available immediately.

prismaflex blood purificationWhen our patients have a serious kidney injury, multiple organ dysfunction, or sepsis they will likely need immediate haemofiltration for blood purification. Thanks to the generosity of our donors our intensive care and dialysis units now have access to an additional four Prismaflex haemofiltration units.

The Prismaflex takes over the role of the patient’s own kidneys when they are unable to function effectively on their own.

patient comfort during palliative careFor patients in palliative care they may receive treatment for a variety of symptoms at once and in turn may require a number of different medications. A large proportion of these medications are delivered via a drip or subcutaneous infusions.

Thanks to donor funding, we now have six new ambulatory syringe drivers and lock boxes available on our wards. The drivers and boxes allow medication to be delivered at a constant rate and some patients may even require more than one driver at a time. This new equipment is being used to directly improve patient comfort during their end stages of life and we are grateful to our donors for supporting this essential stage of patient care.

[14] Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report

seedinG Grants

professor Jennie ponsford – Director, Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre

Topic: Light Therapy for Fatigue Following Traumatic Brain Injury

mr michael pellegrini – Neuromodulation Audit Coordinator

Topic: The Epworth Healthcare Neuromodulation Registry: An electronic platform to streamline data collection

ms suzie Hooper – Director Clinical and Site Service, Epworth Rehabilitation and Mental Health

Topic: Development of recovery-oriented mental health services at Epworth Clinic: Does the introduction of a mental health passport facilitate patient-led recovery?

associate professor Jonathan Barrett – Acting Director, Epworth Intensive Care Unit

Topic: Biostatistics and Intensive CAre Research dataBase (BICARB)

dr Birinder Giddey – Medical Administration Registrar

Topic: Implementation of a structured medical handover and interprofessional huddle at a metropolitan private hospital: Impact on frequency of deterioration of ward patients.

transLationaL Grants

ms Louise o’Connor – Executive Director, Epworth Eastern

Topic: Leveraging the Point-of-Care System to enable high value patient-centred care.

dr nicole tan – Consultant Anaesthetist, Epworth Critical Care Institute

Topic: NATO: Non-Anaemic Iron Deficiency and Treatment Outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery

dr natalia Contreras Granifo – Clinical Research Fellow, Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health

Topic: Investigating the patient experience of a novel brain stimulation treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

ms Jemma Keeves – Senior Physiotherapist, Epworth Rehabilitation

Topic:Understanding the perspectives of community-based healthcare providers involved in the care of seriously injured patients and the impact of geography.

ms sara aldous – Physiotherapist, Acquired Brain injury Unit, Epworth Richmond

Topic: When is it safe to commence physical activity following traumatic brain injury?

dr rachel delahunty – Medical Oncologist, Epworth Eastern

Topic: Assessing circulating tumour DNA as a prognostic biomarker in type 2 endometrial cancer.

At the forefront of medical research

Epworth has made significant contributions to medical research for over 90 years and this tradition is proudly celebrated each year during our Research Week. During this event we celebrate those staff who are dedicated to delivering on one of Epworth’s fundamental values – to innovate and improve patient care through research.

The 2018 event included an awards dinner held on 7 June where 11 Epworth research grants were awarded.

A combined total of $328,000 in grants was awarded to help our researchers undertake research projects. These grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of Epworth Medical Foundation donors.

Congratulations to the 2018 grant recipients:

Grant recipients are congratulated by their team at the Epworth Research Week Awards Dinner.

Recipients left to right: Ms Suzie Hoper, Ms Jemma Keeves, Dr Natalia Contreras Granifo and Ms Sara Aldous.

Q: When did you join the Epworth team?

a: I was fortunate enough to be involved in the opening of Epworth’s new Geelong hospital which was a greenfield site construction and opened just over two years ago on 4 July 2016.

Prior to that I had done some occasional shifts in the emergency department (ED) at Epworth Richmond and the Epworth Freemasons ED when it was operating.

What was the scholarship you received?

a: I received the Northwell Study Tour Scholarship for 2018, which involved a 2 week experience in New York visiting the Northwell Healthcare Group from 28 April until 11 May.

What did the trip involve?

a: Prior to the trip I undertook quite a bit of research regarding the North American health system. This specifically related to my focus area of emergency department operations.

My first focus was the operational activities of ‘freestanding’ emergency departments (that aren’t attached to a hospital). While my second focus area was how organisations coordinate hospital-based emergency departments across multiple sites.

The trip itself involved travel to the Long Island area of New York State with eight other scholarship recipients from all divisions of Epworth. I visited multiple hospitals and urgent care centres in Long Island and Manhattan and there was also an opportunity to present my learnings to the Northwell executive team at the end of the two weeks.

Did you notice any similarities between Epworth and Northwell?

Many. We are both not for profit, values driven, healthcare organisations who have patient care as the focus of all activities. We are both operating in intensely competitive environments which does drive both productivity and innovation. Both organisations really value their staff and staff development and I think the Northwell/Epworth alliance is an example of this commitment.

At Epworth we have 6,000 staff and 11 sites so we are quite a bit smaller than Northwell which has 66,000 staff, 23 hospitals, and their own medical school and ambulance fleet.

Despite the obvious difference in scale I thought both organisations had a similar feel with most staff I met being incredibly proud to work for Northwell.

What are the next steps?

One thing that came out of the ED coordination piece was the benefits of standardising both the collection of patient data and quality activities across multiple EDs. This is something I am investigating between Epworth Richmond and Epworth Geelong (and perhaps Epworth Eastern in future).

Do you have any closing remarks?

This scholarship was truly a career highlight for me and I cannot thank Epworth Medical Foundation and its generous donors enough for this opportunity. I have worked in multiple hospitals, and organisations across the public and private sectors over more than 20 years and have not come across anything like the Epworth Scholarship program.

Meet Dr Matt Ryan

We recently sat down with dr matt ryan, Director of Emergency Medicine at Epworth Geelong shortly after he returned from participating in the Northwell Study Tour Scholarship.

Epworth Medical Foundation | 2018 Philanthropy Report [15]

The Northwell Study Tour Scholarship is part of Epworth’s strategic alliance with Northwell Health. The scholarship provides staff with an opportunity to benchmark Epworth’s systems against one of the leading US healthcare providers to ensure we are adopting global best practices.

Northwell is the nation’s 14th largest healthcare system with 61,000 staff delivering services across 21 university and community hospitals. And like Epworth, Northwell is committed to providing innovative and compassionate healthcare to improve the health of the community.

Dr Ryan’s scholarship is one of 150 donor funded scholarships presented to our staff in 2018. These scholarships provide staff with the opportunity to undertake a research project, conduct study tours to other health facilities and complete further education - all with the focus of finding better ways to treat and care for our patients.

Dr Matt Ryan involved in a simulation training session at Northwell.

ContaCt detaiLs

If you would like to know more about the activities of Epworth Medical Foundation,

please do not hesitate to contact us, as we are always happy to help.

Epworth Medical Foundation Ph: 03 9426 6132

89 Bridge Road Fax: 03 9427 9253

Richmond Vic 3121 Email: emfinfo@epworth.org.au

ABN: 77 906 718 129 Web: www.emf.org.au

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Alternatively if you have any questions

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scott BulgerExecutive Director, Epworth Medical FoundationPhone: 9426 6133Mobile: 0407 446 000Email: scott.bulger@epworth.org.au

Vanessa dannockDonor Relations ManagerPhone: 9426 6572Mobile: 0408 122 599Email: vanessa.dannock@epworth.org.au

Will you help provide the best care for our patients into the future?