Medical Workforce team celebrated for robust COVID-19 staffing management plan
During an incredibly difficult and unprecedented time, the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Medical Workforce team ensured our doctors were provided the information they needed if impacted by COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 wave of February 2022, the team were prepared, flexible and ready to put initiatives into action to enable medical workforce movement agility.
The initiative included a streamlined COVID-19 close contact and positive case information service, assisting junior medical officers to navigate leave entitlements, work remotely where possible and access rosters, and ensuring consistent and adequate staffing levels across our services.
Initiatives also included a new SMS system to contact doctors to fill critical vacant shifts, and a walk-in service for medical staff to discuss term allocations and leave requests, sign AHPRA paperwork and raise personal concerns.
Last Thursday 20 October 2022, the team was recognised for its contribution to the SMHS workforce and therefore, our patients, taking home the top prize in the ‘excellence in developing and engaging our staff/team’ category at the 2022 South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Excellence Awards.
SMHS Manager Workforce and Clinical Strategy, Marani Hutton, detailed how when COVID-19 started impacting our State and the public health and safety measures came in, it was an especially challenging time requiring the medical workforce team to really pull together and establish systems and processes to best support our clinicians and departments.
“Obviously our number one priority is ensuring the safety and welfare of our doctors and ensuring the departments have a workforce to support our patients,” Marani said.
“Luckily, we were already a strong central communication portal for doctors, so when the upcoming impact of COVID-19 on our health system became evident, we knew it was a matter of pitching in to expand our service delivery in a constantly changing environment.
“It was a challenge managing the changing circumstances, but our doctors needed reliable information and advice when everything else was so unsure and ever-changing – they really appreciated the timeliness, and the consistency and standard of information we gave them.
“We certainly weren’t expecting to win – we are so grateful to have been acknowledged with a nomination – thank you so much to the judges and SMHS for this incredible recognition.”
SMHS Chief Executive Paul Forden said he is continually impressed by the high calibre projects, teams and individuals who are in the running at the SMHS Excellence Awards every year.
“We are privileged at SMHS to have a cohort of staff and volunteers who are so passionate and committed to further improving patient outcomes for our community,” Paul said.
Read more about our finalists and winners.
