The Clinical Conversations webinar series provide a platform for people to explore speciality areas of healthcare by sharing and discussing key learnings from lived experience in the sector.
Webinars
13 December 2022
Congenital syphilis
Hear updates on the concerning epidemiology of congenital syphilis in Victoria; the patient themes identified, and the important elements of pregnancy diagnostics. Learn about management in pregnancy, including recommended treatments and new guidelines, and the role of the Victorian Investigation of Complex STIs (VICS) team and near misses considered.
This session ensures that clinicians are informed and updated to ensure best practice and safe provision of care to women and their infants.
Presenters
- A/Prof Deb Friedman, Deputy Chief Health Officer, Department of Health
- Stephanie Tran, Senior Epidemiologist, Department of Health
- Jane Hooker, Manager VICS, Department of Health
- Dr Eloise Williams, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory
- Prof Michelle Giles, Monash Health
1 December 2002
Breaking down the barriers to cardiac rehab
Our expert panel discusses the barriers to referral and participation in cardiac rehab and how Safer Care Victoria’s digital cardiac rehab pilot project is trying to address these gaps in five regional Victorian health services.
Speakers
- Roschelle Brown, Critical Care Registered Nurse, Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator, Barwon Health and Bellarine Community Health
- Dr Susie Cartledge, Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University
- Dr Joshua Collingwood, Rehabilitation Medicine Physician
- Sheree Burgess, Exercise physiologist at Albury Wodonga Health
29 November 2022
The conversation clinicians don't want to have
Effectively communicating bad news with respect, empathy and compassion is a skill that is rarely taught but often necessary in health care. Adopting a person-centred approach to challenging conversations results in a better experience for the patient and their family and can have lasting effects for those hearing the bad news.
Speakers and facilitators
- Dr Melanie Benson, Clinical Lead Palliative Care Clinical Network, Safer Care Victoria
- Dr Lisa Mitchell, Geriatrician, Barwon Health
- Bernie Dwyer, National Training Coordinator, Organ and Tissue Authority
- Adam Bonser, Nurse Unit Manager, Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
4 November 2022
Clinical Conversation: Maximising the intensity of stroke rehab with a dose of reality
This panel includes expert clinicians and researchers in the stroke field, who discussed this topic from an academic viewpoint, and a practical hands-on approach. The session is most relevant to clinicians prescribing and delivering stroke rehab programs, stroke survivors, and their support networks. It aims to foster clinical and professional connections to hold future meaningful conversations in the stroke field, with the aim to translate evidence into practice for stroke survivors.
Speakers
- Dr Emma Schneider, Senior Occupational Therapist – Research and Quality, Alfred Health
- Dr Kate Scrivener, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Macquarie University
- Erin Bicknell, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist-Subacute, The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Podcast co-creator “A Neuro Physio Podcast”
2 November 2022
Cardiac Clinical Conversation: The long and perilous journey to guideline recommended heart failure therapy
With several recommended gold standard heart failure medications that have resulted in reduced symptom burden and a reduction in rehospitalisation and mortality, clinicians are required to plan, communicate and monitor complex medication uptitration regimes over many months.
View this discussion on the evidence and prescribing algorithms, work through case examples and watch the Q & A and discussion with the attending audience.
SPEAKERS AND FACILITATORS
- A/Prof David Prior, Cardiologist - Deputy Director of Cardiology, St Vincent's Melbourne
- Tory Warner, Senior Clinical Pharmacist - Heart failure, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Alfred Health
- A/Prof Ralph Audehm, General Practitioner - Carlton Family Medical
- Prof. Andrea Driscoll, Nurse Practitioner/Academic - Austin Health, Deakin University
31 October 2022
Clinical Conversation: Hospital infrastructure infection control challenges and opportunities
Professor Kirsty Buising, Clinical Lead for the Infection Clinical Network, asks panellists to comment on:
- airflow challenges associated with ventilation systems.
- engineering solutions that were used to reduce respiratory particle transmission.
- considerations for new or redevelopment of healthcare service buildings.
Panellists
- Associate Professor Caroline Marshall, Head of the Infection Prevention and Surveillance Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Infectious Diseases Physician, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service. Principal Research Fellow, University of Melbourne.
- Dr Forbes McGain, Anaesthetist and Intensive Care Physician, Western Health
- Professor Jason Monty, Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne
19 October 2022
Caesarean section surgical site infections in Victorian hospitals
In this webinar, we explored Victorian data regarding surgical site infection following Caesarean sections, for the period 2019 to 2021, and discussed the clinical practices and programs used to reduce SSI risk in antenatal and post-partum periods.
Presenters
- Dr Lyn-li Lim, Infectious Diseases Physician, VICNISS
- Kate Wilkinson, Peri-operative Nurse, Royal Women's Hospital
- Kathe Styring, Midwife, Mercy Hospital for Women
6 October 2022
Dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention - long term perspective
This clinical discussion is centred around 2 patient cases and explores the evidence around selection of DAPT, duration of DAPT and ways the heart team and primary care teams can optimise benefits and maximise safety.
Join a cardiologist, general practitioner, ACS nurse practitioner and cardiac pharmacist as they work through these cases, compare evidence and implement practice strategies
SPEAKERS
- Adam Livori, Cardiology Specialist pharmacist (Grampians Health Service)
- Dr Thomas Faulkner, General Practitioner (Marong Medical Practice)
- Dr Adam Nelson, Interventional Cardiologist, Research Fellow (Monash Heart, Victorian Heart Institute)
- Karen Sanders, Cardiac Nurse Practitioner, Austin Health
10 August 2022
Interventions for vaccine preventable infections in pregnancy
This webinar explores Interventions for vaccine preventable infections (influenza, pertussis and hepatitis B) in pregnancy, presents research findings from three studies, and discusses opportunities for improvement in delivery of influenza, pertussis, and hepatitis B vaccinations and care to women and their infants to prevent infection during and post pregnancy in Victoria.
Speakers and facilitators
- Nafisa Yussf, Social Researcher, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Doherty Institute. Email: Nafisa.Yussf@mh.org.au
- Dr Nicole Allard, Epidemiologist, General Practitioner, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Doherty Institute. Email: nicole.allard@vidrl.org.au
2 August 2022
Optimising hyper-acute stroke care
This webinar explores the evidence and best practice strategies in providing care to patients presenting with acute stroke.
We discuss the importance of pre-hospital stroke recognition and management, including the role of pre-hospital notification, Mobile Stroke Units and the newly developed Stroke Capable Ambulance model, which is about to commence testing in an Australian-first trial.
We examine first hand, real-world practice points on how to improve door to needle times for thrombolysis-eligible patients, and door-in-door-out times for patients requiring inter-hospital transfers for thrombectomy.
Late time window imaging selection for thrombolysis (>4.5hours) and thrombectomy (>6hours) is also looked at, as well as managing treatment eligibility and complications.
Speakers
- Skye Coote, Nursing Lead, Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit
- Philip Choi, Head of Stroke Services, Eastern Health
- Tanya Frost, Acute Stroke Nurse, Eastern Health
- Henry Ma, Director of Neurology, Monash Health
- Bruce Campbell, Director of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital
26 July 2022
Social Prescribing: Enhancing health and wellbeing through meaningful connection
Social prescribing has been shown internationally as an innovative approach to proactively treating chronic illness, mental health issues, isolation and loneliness. Ensuring people have meaningful connections with their community can improve a person’s health and wellbeing, even potentially keeping them out of hospital.
This webinar discusses two programs in metropolitan Melbourne and Rural Victoria where social prescribing programs have resulted in positive outcomes. We hear of experiences from:
- Leanne Fitzgerald about Living our Best Life, the social prescribing project in the City of Knox
- Nerida Dye who has been managing a social prescribing program run from Campaspe Regional Library in Echuca Victoria.
We also hear first-hand the experiences of a consumer Nick, who is a participant with the program in Knox.
14 July 2022
Impactful Integration of Care – Delivery of an Integrated Respiratory and Palliative Care Service
Unfortunately, we experienced significant technical issues with our virtual webinar. Despite this, the session offered invaluable insights and learnings in relation to the experience of Developing and delivering an Integrated Respiratory and Palliative Care Service at SVHM, presented by Dr Julie McDonald, Respiratory and Palliative Care Physician, MBChB, FRACP, FAChPM and facilitated by Dr Melanie Benson, Palliative Care Clinical Lead, Safer Care Victoria.
Due to the poor quality of the recording, Dr Julie McDonald has generously re-recorded her presentation. We have attempted to salvage the original introduction and Q&A recording. We hope this enables an opportunity for important learnings and insights to be captured and applied by clinicians across the network.
We wish to extend our thanks to Dr Julie McDonald for her innovative presentation and to all who participated in the thought provoking discussion that followed.
13 July 2022
Reducing pain in newborns during painful procedures: Evidence, practices and education
This presentation highlights high quality synthesised evidence on the analgesic effects of breastfeeding, skin-skin care (SSC) and sucrose for newborns during commonly performed painful procedures. Current parent-reported data on their involvement during their newborns' painful procedures was reported and publicly available educational products were viewed with the aim to reduce the knowledge to action gap.
We unfortunately had some technical difficulties displaying the slides during the recording but you can view the presentation slides.
In addition to the webinar recording, these resources were made in partnership with parents of newborns, aimed at reducing pain in newborns during painful procedures.
- Reduce your infant's pain during newborn blood tests
- Be Sweet to Moms and Babies: Performing baby blood tests while breastfeeding or holding skin to skin
Presenter
Professor Denise Harrison (RN, RM, PhD)
Professor, Department of Nursing
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne
Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa
Honorary Fellow, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital
Professional Officer, Australian College of Neonatal Nurses
12 July 2022
A tale of two specialties: The Geriatrician and the Emergency Physician
Hosted by A/Prof Gerard O’Reilly, Clinical Lead, Emergency Clinical Network.
The presentation of an unwell older person to the emergency department often poses a challenge for the older person and their family, and for staff trying to provide quality care. Older people typically have complex co-morbidities that require a thorough and complex approach, which often is challenging to provide in the busy environment of an emergency department.
In this webinar, we hear about a program at Monash Health addressing this complex issue. Dr Sumitha Bhaskaran and her team will present their approach to the implementation of a geriatrician led model of care for the older person in the emergency department.
The Great Debate: PPE for respiratory infections
21 June 2022
Note: Due to a technical issue the first 10 minutes of the conversation were not recorded
Professor Kirsty Buising, Clinical Lead for the Infection Clinical Network, asked panellists to comment on:
- the time to ditch droplet and airborne terminology and talk about respiratory particles
- the level of respiratory protection staff should be wearing when caring for patients with a respiratory infection
- the time to replace the use of gloves with hand hygiene when caring for a patient in contact precautions
- eye protection as standard practice for respiratory precautions.
Panel Members
- Maureen Canning, Operations Manager, Infection Prevention at Western Health
- Liz Orr, MPH, GradCertInfCon, GradCertEmerg, BN, Manager of Infection Prevention and Surveillance Service at Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Professor Rhonda Stuart, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Director South East Public Health Unit Director, Infection Prevention & Epidemiology & Infectious Diseases Physician, Monash Infectious Diseases Monash Health, Adjunct Clinical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University
- Amanda Ayres, RN, MInfecPrevCont, GDipNsgSc(ICN), BHlthSc(Nsg), Cert Geront Nsg, Infection Control Consultant with Bendigo Health and a Regional Consultant for smaller health services in the Loddon Mallee Region, Victoria.
Extreme prematurity
11 May 2022
Our webinar provides background to the development of SCV's Extreme prematurity guidance and highlights the components and resources available including management flowcharts and parent information sheets.
A multidisciplinary panel of perinatal clinicians discusses the clinical, logistical and ethical challenges in caring for women and babies at 22-25 weeks’ gestation, and proposes strategies to ensure consistency in practice across all perinatal settings statewide to optimise outcomes.
Presenting Panel
- Dr Rosemarie Boland - Research Fellow MCRI, and PIPER Educator
- Dr Stefan Kane – Maternal Fetal Medicine Subspecialist Obstetrician
- Professor Jeanie Cheong - Consultant Neonatologist, RWH, Director: NHRMC Centre for Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine
- A/Professor Michael Stewart – Consultant Neonatologist RCH, Director PIPER
- A/Professor Alexis Shub - Consultant Obstetrician, MHW and PERS Director PIPER
- Dr Isaac Marshall – Paediatrician, University Hospital Geelong
Renal Network Clinical Conversation: Improvement opportunities in dialysis vascular access
4 May 2022
This webinar discusses improvement opportunities in dialysis vascular access arising from the SCV Renal Key Performance Indicator program. The presentation includes an analysis of data submitted from Victorian renal health services, on reasons leading to central venous catheter use for vascular access in patients new to dialysis.
Speakers
- Dr Adam Steinberg, Nephrologist - Melbourne Health
- Associate Professor Peter Mount, Nephrologist and SCV Renal Clinical Lead (moderator)
COVID-19 Therapeutics
Professor Kirsty Buising, ICN clinical lead, asks invited panellists to comment on their lived experience, learnings and innovations that have occurred from navigating treatment options for COVID-19 patients in a constantly evolving landscape.
Panel Members
- Associated Professor Joe Sasaduesz, Infectious Diseases Physician at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Alfred Hospital and the Melbourne Sexual Health
- Dr Megan Rees, PhD, MBBS, DTMH, FRACP, MRCP, Interim Head of Unit, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Convenor, Respiratory infectious Diseases Special Interest Group of Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Deputy Chair, Disease Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel, National COVID 19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce
- Associated Professor Craig Aboltins, MBBS (Hons), FRACP,DMEdSc, Infectious Diseases Physician, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Deputy Director of the Division of Medicine at Northern Health
- Associate Professor Benjamin Rogers, MBBS, PhD, FRANCP, Infectious disease physician, Medical Director of the Hospital in The Home and COVID pathways programs, Monash Health
Adapting to a brave new world – the role of virtual/telehealth in palliative care
28 April 2022
This webinar reflects on the lessons learned by healthcare providers and organisations during their transition to virtual care and how this has led to meaningful improvements to palliative care for patients, their families and healthcare providers.
Speakers
- Prof Jenny Philip, Chair of Palliative Medicine, University of Melbourne and St Vincent's Hospital
- Dr Patrick Steele, Palliative Care Consultant - Palliative Care South East, Monash Health and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- Tim Moore, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Palliative Care/Telehealth, Melbourne City Mission
Maternity and Newborn Clinical Network – Perineal protection
19 April 2022
This webinar provides an overview of the SCV Perineal Protection Project highlighting the success of consumer engagement. We also spotlight the ACSQHC Third and Fourth Degree Perineal Tears Clinical Care Standard and provide an update on the outcomes of the SCV Better Births for Women Collaborative.
Speakers
- Dr Nicola Yuen, SCV MNCN Clinical Lead
- Belinda Phelan, Perineal Protection Project Lead SCV Clinical Fellow
- Consumer Advisor SCV Perineal Protection Project Chair
Move it or lose it – Promoting activity for the Older Person
5 April 2022
This webinar explores innovative strategies for promoting activity and exercise for the older person. We discuss the use of telehealth physiotherapy exercise programs in residential aged care as well as the introduction and expansion of senior’s exercise parks in various local councils across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
We also hear from consumer Rita Hammond, who lives in a Sydney nursing home. She provides us with valuable insights of her experiences and results from her involvement with telehealth physiotherapy exercise programs.
Speakers
- Rita Hammond, a participant of the telehealth physiotherapy exercise program in aged care
- Rik Dawson, Gerontological Physiotherapist, University of Sydney Institute for Musculoskeletal Health
- Professor Pazit Levinger, Principal Researcher (Accredited Exercise Physiologist) at National Ageing Research Institute (NARI)
Lessons learned and changes that will stay
25 March 2022
Our presenters shared what they have learned throughout the pandemic that made care more efficient, effective and better that they will continue to do into the future.
Presenters
- Dr Chris Macisaac, Melbourne Health
- Dr Julia Coull, Alfred Health
- Dr David Crosbie, Northern Health
- Dr Owen Roodenburg, Eastern Health
Reflections on COVID: IPC challenges and lessons learnt from acute care settings
25 March 2022
This webinar shared key strategies that have been used to cope with the infection prevention and control (IPC) challenges that emerged during COVID-19.
Panellists
- Dr Caroline Bartolo, Infectious disease physician, Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Barwon Health
- Dr Stephen Guy, Clinical Director Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Control, Eastern Health
- Jane Hellsten, Director Infection Prevention Control, Bendigo Health
- Maureen Canning, Operations Manager, Infection Prevention, Western Health
COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care – successful strategies and lessons learnt
15 February 2022
This webinar focuses on rural and regional residential aged care facilities, many of whom are experiencing their first COVID outbreaks of the pandemic. We will explore communication strategies and infection prevention and control practices that have worked well in residential aged care.
Speakers
- Darren Clark, Nursing Director Aged Care Services, Echuca Regional Health
- Joanna Price, Senior Infection Control and Prevention Consultant, IPCAR
- Amanda Ayres, Infection Control & Prevention Consultant Bendigo Health & Loddon Mallee Infection Control Resource Centre
- Jamiee Oxford, Operations Manager, Loddon Mallee Primary Health Unit
- Faline Howes, Medical Lead Covid Response, Department of Health
For more information please contact olderpeople.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Lessons from end of life and bereavement care in the UK during the pandemic
18 January 2022
In this webinar, Dr Hasan talks to us about how the first WAVE of the COVID-19 pandemic led to improvements in bereavement care, grief support and advance care planning at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaker
Dr Sharmeen Hasan, Consultant Geriatrician at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London UK
For more information on upcoming webinars, please contact Palliativecare.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Review of the impact of COVID-19 in a rural/regional setting
11 November 2021
In this webinar, we heard from several rural and regional health services about the challenges and subsequent changes made to service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A panel discussion facilitated by leaders in rural health helped to answer some questions from the audience about tailoring solutions to meet their individual service level needs.
Speakers
- Prof Peter Cameron, Monash University
- Dr Jaycen Cruickshank, Clinical Director Medicine & Subspeciality Medicine, Ballarat Health Services
- Dan Crompton, Clinical Director of Emergency Services, Bass Coast Health
- Steve Warren, Nurse Unit Manager, Geroe Unit, Castlemaine Health
- Emma Gallagher, Nurse Unit Manager ED, Mildura Base Public Hospital
Safe management of proning awake patients
29 October 2021
Speakers
- Dr Scott Bradley, Senior ICU Physiotherapist, Alfred Health
- Heather Fitzgerald, Senior Physiotherapist, Eastern Health
- Kirsty Hearn, Cardiorespiratory Clinical Lead (Physiotherapy), Eastern Health
For more information on upcoming webinars, please contact criticalcare.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Lessons learned caring for the COVID-19 patient
22 October 2021
We hosted an ICU allied health webinar on lessons learned caring for the COVID-19 patient.
Speakers
- Rachel Fyfe, Pharmacist, Barwon Health
- Namita Warrior, Pharmacist, Western Health
- Kate Lambell, Clinical Dietician, The Alfred
- Kym Wittholz, Clinical Dietician, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Trish Kinrade, Senior ICU Social Worker, Barwon Health
For more information on upcoming webinars, please contact criticalcare.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Lessons learned in COVID-19 streaming in Emergency Care
20 October 2021
This webinar topic discussed best practice models of care for the streaming of COVID-19 patients in Emergency Care. We heard from several leaders across metro organisations, who have flexed existing models and created new models to facilitate safer and more timely care for all patients. We also heard presentations on best practice in infection control and expert commentary from our NSW colleagues.
Speakers
- Prof Peter Cameron, Monash University
- Dr Megan Robb, Director of Emergency, Northern Health
- Dr Carl Luckhoff, A/Director, Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre
- A/Prof Mark Putland, Director of Emergency Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Dr Clare Skinner, President Elect, Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
- A/Prof Caroline Marshall, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Q and A lessons learned
15 October 2021
Speakers
- Steve McGloughlin, Director ICU, The Alfred
- Kirsty Buising, Infectious Diseases Clinical Lead, Safer Care Victoria
- Irma Bilgrami, Intensivist, Western Health
- Michelle Topple, NUM, Austin Health
- Thomas Rollinson, Physio, Austin Health
For more information on upcoming webinars, please contact criticalcare.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Sharing lived experience caring for COVID-19 patients
6 October 2021
Our inaugural webinar was opened by Prof Brett Sutton who thanked the critical care network for all their hard work. The session focused on supporting the deteriorating COVID-19 positive patient.
Speakers
- Dr Jimmy Chien, Westmead Hospital
- Paula Lyons, ICU Liaison Nurse, Western Health
- Naomi Pratt, ICU Liaison Nurse, Peninsula Health
For more information on upcoming webinars, please contact criticalcare.clinicalnetwork@safercare.vic.gov.au
Additional COVID-19 resources
To support collaboration and learning, Safer Care Victoria and the Department of Health have created a secure COVID-19 clinical shared resources SharePoint page, enabling the sharing, with permission, of COVID-19 resources developed by health services. The page is intended for use by clinicians involved in the delivery of COVID-19 care.
To register for access to the COVID-19 clinical shared resources site, please email centresofclinicalexcellence@safercare.vic.gov.au
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Page last updated: 31 Jan 2023