Services

St John of God Health Care hospitals in Western Australia made further progress during the financial year toward the strategic vision to create a cohesive, united, collaborative network of hospitals delivering outstanding care to the community.

This included the implementation of a new regional structure announced in February 2017 and the development of a standardised divisional structure, for which implementation has almost been finalised. In addition, monthly CEO forums commenced and further work is being carried out to develop a metro Perth Clinical Services Plan.

These initiatives were undertaken while adapting and responding to the current downturn in the private health sector through: effective cost management, increased service and activity growth, maintaining a positive, patient- focused culture, developing middle management capability, embedding strong patient and caregiver safety and quality culture, and embracing and embedding new information technology and digital opportunities.

At St John of God Subiaco Hospital, stage 1 of the redevelopment program, including the demolition of St John of God House, was completed. Planning for stage 2 will commence in 2017-18.

Research and development into lung cancer and lung disease received another wonderful boost with a $500,000 donation from philanthropist and businessman Jack Bendat.
In June 2017, Professor Shirley Bowen was appointed Chief Executive Officer for St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

At St John of God Murdoch Hospital, an important initiative was the opening of the St John of God Mandurah Consulting Suites, giving the Peel community local access to specialists and a broad range of services and specialties, including urology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology and ophthalmology.

The program of strengthening relations with general practitioners continued through the General Practitioner Education Program, and the expectation is that this will expand in the next year with additional events such as education sessions, clinical workshops and case studies.

The Procedural Areas Transformation Program, which aims to improve patient experience, support specialists in their work and create efficiencies, commenced implementation. A program, designed to link the hospital’s Mission, Values and Service Ethos with person-centred care, was launched with the intention of rolling it out for the whole hospital.

Murdoch Community Mental Health’s transition to the newly established Social Outreach division will provide opportunities to focus on the role of St John of God Health Care in the community mental health arena, and to coordinate and resource our practice of social outreach to those who are disadvantaged and marginalised.

There were some important leadership changes. Ben Edwards was appointed Chief Executive Officer of St John of God Murdoch Hospital after John Fogarty left to take on the role of Executive Director, Western Australia Hospitals.

At Midland Public and Private Hospitals, The Lions Eye Institute Midland Eye Service was established to assist Aboriginal people with eye care. Social outreach funding provided an Optical Coherence Tomography Unit to facilitate early assessment of eye conditions.

St John of God Midland Public Hospital also took responsibility for the management of Moort Boodjari Mia, an Aboriginal-led maternity program that assists Aboriginal women who are expecting a baby.

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital’s $17 million redevelopment continued and the Specialist Rehabilitation Service expanded to meet growth in demand. The service has continued to run at close to full capacity since this expansion.

St John of God Geraldton Hospital and the WA Country Health Service continued their collaboration in developing a plan to provide health services to the Mid West region.

In the South West region, St John of God Bunbury Hospital introduced a renal dialysis treatment management system that enables patients to transfer clinical and treatment data through their own personal health record via smart card when treated at either our hospital or Fiona Stanley Hospital. St John of God Bunbury Hospital also introduced an electronic discharge system that has improved communication to patients, referring general practitioners and specialists.