* Cultural Warning

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent should be aware that the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service website may contain images and names of people who are deceased or images of places that could cause sorrow.

MEDICAL

MEDICAL TEAM

Over the course of the last Calendar year (2009) the Medical Unit at VAHS has seen:

  • Individual Clients: 2,999
  • Episodes of Health Care: 21,669
  • Male: 8,803 (40%)
  • Female: 12,866 (60%)

Aboriginal Health Workers

The Aboriginal Health workers provide a very important role within the Medical Unit not just in a medical sense but also as an interface and advocate between the client and the Doctors, this has continued through 2009. Congratulations go out to two of our AHW's attaining their Certificate III in Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Primary Health Care, Jade Young & Ronnie McGuinness. Whilst Colin Mitchell left us for Diabetes Australia we gained three very experienced AHW's in Mandy Punch, Shelley Williams and Kimberly Dick.

Doctors

Our Doctor's too provided a very professional and dedicated service in an area that can be quite challenging and demanding but as usual they provided excellent health care often above and beyond the norm. Our Doctor's list increased this year with three new doctors and in fact the VAHS is increasingly contact by Doctors wishing to work here.

Accreditation

As you can see from the above statistics the Medical Unit provides quite a number of health services to the Aboriginal community. This is done by a very dedicated and professional workforce. This level of professionalism has been recognised by the highest Medical accreditation award in Australia, AGPAL, and is only awarded to Medical Practices that adhere to best medical practice standards, of which the VAHS successfully achieved in November 2009. The award says that the medical service that is provided by the VAHS Medical Unit is second to none and is to the very best medical standards and service that you will find in any ̉mainstream, community health and/or hospital medical service in Australia.

This should also serve as a sense of pride for the local Aboriginal community, knowing that their community controlled medical practice is rated so highly and that many fellow community members and relations are working to maintain this standard alongside an equally dedicated and professional workforce.

New Services

Transport

Over the past 12 months a dedicated Transport unit for the transportation of VAHS medical clients has been established within the VAHS. This was a need identified by the community and endorsed by the VAHS board of directors. As such three permanent drivers are employed to provide a transport service to VAHS Aboriginal clients 5 days per week. The feedback from both community and staff alike has been very positive with more clients attending appointments and therefore addressing their healthcare needs. The dedication and flexibility of the three drivers, James Brown, Kevin McNally and Jason Smith and their overall coordination by Kim Kennedy is to be commended as at times it can be a very demanding challenging day at the office.

Duty Doctors

After the outbreak of the "Swine Flu" (H1N1) virus during winter, the VAHS Medical practice became overwhelmed with the number of clients presenting and there being few appointments available to cater for the need. This highlighted a requirement to have a Doctor based in the treatment room, working alongside the Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW's) and Nurses to triage clients based upon their priority who presented to the VAHS without an appointment. This have been a very successful initiative, helping to ease the waiting time of clients and allowing AHW's and Nurse's to work side by side with our Doctors. The VAHS has two Doctors sharing the Duty doctor role over the morning & afternoon.

Doctors at High Street

Following discussions with the new Family Counseling Service (FCS) Manager, Helen Kennedy and in consultation with both the FCS staff & Medical Unit staff if was agreed to trial a Doctor service onsite at the FCS (as has occurring in the past). The plan is to support the FCS staff through the GP in the delivery of health services and the development and on-going management of Care Plans for the clients of the FCS. This FCS/Doctor service will be periodically reviewed to support the needs of the community.

VAHS visiting Doctor/AHW service to ACES

The VAHS and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service (ACES) held talks early last year about the need to provide dedicated culturally appropriate Doctor service to the clients of the ACES. This commenced in February with a female Doctor & AHW providing services to the ACES each Wednesday morning and was further reinforced with a male Doctor and AHW providing a service each Friday morning. This service has now been in operation for over 12 months and the feedback from ACES, VAHS and the ACES clients has been very positive.

Consolidated Reception

After client feedback and discussion between the Dental area & the Medical Unit it was agreed that the VAHS needed a combined medical/dental reception where a client could present at any "window" for either Medical or Dental and be assisted. This has now been implemented and from all reports is working well both clients and staff alike. Just on the Medical Receptionists, The staff that perform this role day in day out need to be congratulated, it can be quite challenging at times juggling phones, clients and other medical staff requests usually at the same time. Our receptionists are the face and voice of the Medical & Dental Units and at times they are presented with the frustrations of clients which requires a great deal of resolve and skill to manage, so thank you girls (and the odd guys) as you do a fantastic job.