Surgical

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32 South:   Monash Medical Centre, Clayton

32 South provides services to patients requiring cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology and specialty surgical units such as gynaecology, oncology, dental, ENT, plastics, urology and facio-maxillary. The ward accommodates acute, elective and tertiary referral patients within these specialties.

Our cardiothoracic program commences at pre-admission clinic. All patients that present to PAC are admitted on the day of surgery. A cardiac surgery pathway is used during the patient’s admission. We have a well established cardiac surgery fast track program where patients are transferred from ICU to HDU on the day of surgery after meeting the transfer criteria. We provide advanced hemodynamic monitoring in our HDU with arterial and central lines, manage low dose vasopressor therapy and high dose vasodilators. Most patients are discharged at day 5 to Hospital in the Home or day 6 if from country areas. Cardiac rehabilitation is offered on discharge to all cardiac patients admitted to 32 South or transferred from CCU.  We are also able to manage patients who require CPAP.

Patients within our other specialty units, require our services during the acute unstable phase of their admission. Once stable they are then transferred back to their home units in Moorabbin / Dandenong or Casey hospitals. We can guarantee a challenging and supported work place with a highly motivated leadership team.  32 South has 24 beds which include a four bed high dependency unit and 2 negative pressure rooms. There is also a bed in the procedure room that is used for DOSA patients, discharged patients that require medical review, and some procedures such as insertion of ICC, TOE’s, and elective DCR’s.  Current bed configurations are 14 cardiothoracic beds, 6 cardiology beds and 4 surgical specialty beds. 32 South is dedicated to maintaining a high standard of service delivery. We are committed to improving patient focused service delivery with a dedicated allied health team as well as ensuring communication with families is optimum. Staff are encouraged to contribute at all communication opportunities with families and the team.

Ward A – Surgical:   Casey Hospital Berwick

Ward A is a predominantly elective, adult unit catering for eight surgical specialties including general surgery, breast surgery, plastic surgery, gynaecology, ENT, urology, neurosurgery, and vascular services. As well as this, limited emergency surgery and medical overflow patients are welcomed onto the ward. Our average length of stay is 2 days, and we utilise a multidisciplinary and team nursing model of care, evidence based practice and criteria driven discharge principles to facilitate safe post operative care and timely discharges from the hospital setting.

West 3 – Surgical:   Dandenong Hospital

West 3 is a specialised 36 bed Adult Surgical Unit comprising a mix of patients admitted for elective surgery and via the Emergency Department. Our specialities include vascular, thoracics, upper G.I. Surgery, Ear, nose and throat Ophthalmology, Plastics, Gynaecology, and Facio – Maxillary.

West 3 provides a very supportive and enthusiastic working environment. It comprises a team of dedicated, hard working and committed health professionals with a focus on demonstrating a commitment to Southern Health Values and patient centred care. We have the support of a clinical coach and nursing educator who work closely with all staff to provide and offer guidance in recognising the individual and Units Professional requirements, then work in conjunction with the staff to meet these needs. The nursing, allied health, medical staff work closely together to provide a holistic approach with a goal of achieving best patient outcomes.

The layout of the Unit is conducive to team work with a strong emphasis on open transparent communication.

We are a unit with a strong discipline in early discharge planning with a focus on achieving best practice in patient care.

West 3 has a strong emphasis on continuing education and promotes attendance at regular in-services offered on the ward, within Southern Health and via external providers.

Ward I - Women’s Health:   Moorabbin

Ward 1 is situated at Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin. It is a Women’s Health Surgical Speciality ward- Gynaecology, Gynaecology-Oncology, Breast and Urological Gynaecology with some General Surgery. Our Women’s Health unit also includes gynaecological medicine and reproductive biology.

The staff from Ward 1 pride themselves on supporting students, graduates and new members to our team. We have a comprehensive orientation package, surgical guidelines for referencing, a 3 month mentorship program for all new staff, and a Moorabbin specific orientation day to the site. Ward 1 has implemented comprehensive competencies to assist with professional development, and we encourage attendance to in-service training, lectures, seminars and conferences. Moorabbin has dedicated clinical nurse educators to support clinical practice.

We have a weekly comprehensive multidisciplinary meeting, and daily updates to promote a broader delivery of patient care. This has been a great initiative to ensure positive patient outcomes, and holistic care. We have Social workers, Occupational therapists, physios, Royal District Nursing Service and Hospital In The Home services available to us to ensure that patients receive the relevant support during their stay in hospital and for their impending discharge.

Patients/Families and their carers are empowered to participate in the individual care delivered to them. Participation with care takes place on ward rounds with Medical and Nursing staff and members of the Allied team where required.