Work For PAH - Allied Health
Who is Clinical Support Services
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The Clinical Support Services Division consists of Allied Health Services, Pharmacy, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Liaison and Volunteer Services. The primary function of the Division is to provide clinical services that support the activities of the Divisions of Surgery, Medicine, Cancer and Rehabilitation. The Division has professional links with the Allied Health within the Integrated Adult Mental Health Service.
The Southern Area Allied Health Rehabilitation Programme employs physiotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists, dietitians, and speech pathologists in districts west of Toowoomba- the incumbents in these positions are supported by departments at PAH.
We employ staff in the following streams:
Administrative - includes reception, Business Manager, Senior Organisational Development Consultant, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers, Pastoral Care Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator.
Operational -therapy assistants in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Audiology; storespersons and pharmacy assistants in Pharmacy; technical assistant in Prosthetics, Orthotics and Podiatry.
Professional – audiologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, prosthetists/ orthotists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, psychologists and neuropsychologists, dietitians.
Technical -Technicians in Prosthetics, Orthotics & Podiatry and Pharmacy.
Directors/ Coordinators
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison – Julie Connell
To support and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure health services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are culturally appropriate and safe.
In caring for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient, staff must be sensitive to cultural, kinship and social concerns of the patient and his or her families including: separation from family members; seeking consent for operations; transport; care of the body after death. There is “Men’s Business” and “Women’s Business” and where applicable gender appropriateness should be considered.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers are also responsible for maintaining links and working collaboratively with District Indigenous Community Health Workers and other Service providers to strengthen the interface between Hospital and Community services.
TopAudiology – Director, Evelyn Towers
The Audiology Department provides the following services:
- Basic Assessments
- pure tone audiometry
- immittance audiometry
- speech audiometry
- otoacoustic emission testing
- Complex Assessments
- central auditory perceptual function testing
- auditory evoked potentials
- facial nerve assessment
- Rehabilitative Services
- tinnitus assessment and management
- hearing aid bank
- coordination of inpatient hearing aid services
- assistive devices loan service
- Special Services
- intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring
- hearing threshold measurement under general anaesthetic
The Department is a major student teaching clinic and is actively involved in education programs for other staff, consumer groups and the general public and is an advisory resource in Audiology for the state of Queensland.
The mandatory criterion for employment is eligibility for full membership of the Audiological Society of Australia. The society states the applicant must demonstrate that they are a university graduate with tertiary qualifications in Audiology from an eligible institution. Clarification on membership eligibility should be sought directly from the Audiological Society of Australia Inc. www.audiology.asn.au or
Suite 7, 476 Canterbury Road
Forest Hill VIC 3131
PH: 61 3 9416 4606
Fax: 61 3 9416 4607
Email: info@audiology.asn.au
Nutrition and Dietetics – A/Director, Nora Ramos
The Department provides nutrition assessment and support to all inpatients and outpatients of PAH & HSD. The Dietitian Nutritionist advises on the most appropriate form of nutrition (oral, enteral, parenteral) and also provides nutrition counselling on all aspects of nutrition care. The service also includes an outreach program to the Charleville Health Service District provided by on-site Dietitian Nutritionist.
Staff teach nutrition and dietetics students from the Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University through lectures and supervised placements in clinical nutrition and foodservice.
Our research focuses on the application of clinical nutrition in the practical care of patients. This includes nutrition support in cancer, liver disease, pressure ulcers, development and implementation of validated nutrition tools and assessment of nutrition requirements.
Occupational Therapy – A/Director, Geoff Lau
Occupational Therapists are health professionals trained to assist people of all ages to overcome factors which limit their ability to function in their chosen ‘occupational roles’ and detract from their quality of life. Injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of aging can cause these limiting factors. Occupational therapists work in partnership with their clients to optimize their clients’ functioning and quality of life. Occupational therapists work with people across their lifespan.
The Occupational Therapy Department provides comprehensive assessment and treatment of inpatients and outpatients in order to maximize their independence and enhance patient function and safety.
Services include:
- Assessment and training of personal and domestic activities of daily living for inpatients and outpatients.
- Upper limb and hand function therapy.
- Fabrication and prescription of splints.
- Compression therapy including prescription of garments.
- Prescription of assistive devices and equipment.
- Cognitive and perceptual therapy.
- Home assessment and recommendations for home modifications.
- Community access retraining including driving assessment and rehabilitation.
- Work assessment and work hardening.
- Education programs including education in areas such as relaxation, energy conservation, work simplification and leisure.
Pastoral Care – Coordinator, Noela Fanshawe
To provide pastoral, spiritual and religious support to patients and their families during hospitalisation and associated critical events, as well as for the hospital staff. Pastoral Carers also offer sacramental, scriptural and prayer sharing, in addition to liaison with other church personnel as required.
Pharmacy – Director, Lynette Loy
To provide strategic and operational management for Pharmacy Services and to provide professional leadership within the Health Service District and the profession, in alignment with District and Queensland Health goals.
Physiotherapy – Director, Kathy Grudzinskas
Physiotherapy involves the holistic approach to the prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic management of pain, disorders of movement or optimization of function to enhance the health and welfare of the community from an individual or population perspective.
The physiotherapy department provides services to inpatients and outpatients throughout the PAH HSD including the specialties of:
- neurosciences(including acquired brain injury)
- rehabilitation (including management of strokes and amputees)
- spinal injuries
- emergency department
- cardiorespiratory
- critical care (intensive care, high dependency, cardiac surgery)
- acute aged care
- cancer services (at both PAH and Mater sites)
- musculoskeletal inpatients (orthopaedics)
- musculoskeletal outpatients including orthopaedic screening clinics
- on site aquatic physiotherapy pool for inpatients and outpatients.
Outpatient programmes are provided in the areas of Heart Failure, Pulmonary Vascular and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Fitness for Surgery.
Prosthetics, Orthotics, Podiatry – Director, Graham West
The Prosthetic/Orthotic & Podiatry Services Department divides its service into 4 defined streams:
Acute Orthotic Services: - This is a tertiary referral service treating high acuity patients following trauma, as well as pre and post operative care for both inpatients and outpatients; this also includes patients of the Spinal Injury Unit.
Prosthetic / Orthotic Rehabilitation Services: - This as the title suggests provide specialist rehabilitation services to units of the PAH, Southern Area Health services as well as some Statewide responsibilities. This stream provides both inpatient and outpatient services and is the initial contact in the Southern Area for amputee services.
Diabetic Podiatry Services: - This is a tertiary referral inpatient / outpatient service that specialise in the treatment of acute conditions of the diabetic foot. This service operates within the Diabetic / Endocrinology Unit.
General Podiatry Services: - This service has been established primarily to aid the safe and timely discharge of inpatients that require Podiatric treatment; in addition this stream also provides short term acute Podiatric outpatient care.
All of these above streams of service are available on request for consultation, patient counselling and education as well as staff and facility education and assistance.
Psychology – Director, Annette Broome
The Psychology Department provides assessment and treatment for a wide range of psychological, psychiatric and neurological conditions, as well as consultation and education to staff on request. Psychologists in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry and Health Psychology also see people where psychological or psychiatric issues impact on a medical illness and recovery. The Psychology department is also active in postgraduate clinical teaching and research. Clinical Psychologists are situated in teams and service units including:
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- Home Haemodialysis Training
- Fit for Surgery, and
- Mental Health teams, both hospital and community based
Clinical Neuropsychologists service:
- the Aged Care Mental Health Service
- the Acute Adult Psychiatric Unit
- the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit
- the Mobile Intensive Service Team (MIST), Mental Health
- Neurosciences and Neurosurgery, and
- the Spinal Injury Unit
Minimum requirements for employment:
- general registration as a Psychologist in Queensland, or
- probationary registrants nearing completion of a professional postgraduate degree (Masters, Doctorate, PhD)
Social Work – Director, Sue Cumming
Social Workers are skilled professionals who can assist patients, their families and carers in dealing with the emotional and practical issues that may arise due to illness or injury.
Services provided include:
· Counselling, support and groupwork
· Exploring possible lifestyle adjustments after hospitalisation
· Assisting with the process of Residential Aged Care, disability placement and respite.
· Linking with community support networks and groups
· Discharge planning
· Education and support programs
· Liaising with members of the treatment team and arranging family conferences so as to ensure patients and their families remain informed about the respective illnesses/injuries
· Assistance with various patient travel schemes
· Accessing affordable accommodation – eg Housing Queensland, Community Rental Schemes and local accommodation providers for patients and their families who are from intra/interstate (Accommodation Guide available)
· Income support needs such as Centrelink, Workcover and various insurance claims
· Assistance with Enduring Powers of Attorney, Guardianship and Administration Tribunal applications
· Child Protection Liaison Officer
Southern Area Allied Health Rehabilitation Program – Manager, Maryann Schubert
This program was developed to support and work with each of the rural Districts in Southern Area to recruit and retain allied health adult rehabilitation positions, to grow the local allied health workforce and increase the range of services available locally.
The program employs physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers and dieticians in Charleville, Roma, Warwick, Kingaroy and Dalby.
The team provide clinical services in a range of rural settings across the continuum of care including inpatient, outpatients, community based services and outreach thus facilitating rehabilitation and health services close to people’s homes in rural communities. Each of the teams work closely with the local health teams on local health priorities, thus enhancing services.
The program’s strong professional links to a major teaching hospital ensure that rural practitioners are supported through clinical networks, mentoring, supervision, and access to continuing professional development opportunities.
Speech Pathology – Director, Wendy McCallum
The Speech Pathology Department specialises in the assessment and treatment of adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing associated with acquired brain and spinal injury, stroke, neurosurgery, head and neck surgery, degenerative diseases and aging. Services are provided through two speech pathology teams which are sited in acute services and in the Geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit.
Services to inpatients and outpatients include:
- Assessment and differential diagnosis of disorders of communication including
- Language – dysphasia, including reading and writing, Speech ( dysarthria and dyspraxia)
- Voice (dysphonia)
- Swallowing (dysphagia)
- Contribution to the following multidisciplinary tertiary diagnostic and treatment clinics:
Swallowing Clinic (modified barium swallow to investigate and treat oral and/or pharyngeal swallowing disorders), EES Clinic ( Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing), Voice Clinic (flexible nasendoscopic examination of vocal functioning), Spasmodic Dysphonia Botox Clinic, Head and Neck Clinic, Brain Injury OPD Clinic, PAH and Mater Radiation Oncology clinics - Provision of individualized evidence based therapy programs for each patient and group therapy
- Prescription of augmentative/non verbal communication aids when appropriate, both low tech ( communication board) and voice output /technology based (Lightwriter)
- Support for patients and families through the provision of appropriate information and counseling
- Liaison with team members to ensure best possible outcomes and discharge planning
- Active contribution to support groups and clinical networks in the Southern Area including the Southern Area Allied Health Rehabilitation Program and consultancy for state wide services.
- Active involvement in research programs coordinated by a conjoint research fellow with the University of Queensland and an onsite research laboratory
Volunteer Services – Coordinator, Nicole Milazzo
The ‘Busy Bee’ Volunteer Services Unit was formally established at the Hospital in 1998. Our Mission is to support the staff deliver excellence in health care in a world class teaching and research facility. By having volunteers at the PA, we are bringing the ‘community’ into the hospital. We are a diverse group of over 100 volunteers who donate our time and talents in over 25 departments within the hospital. Our programs give volunteers unique hands-on opportunities and offer valuable experiences that last a lifetime. Many people assume that in a hospital environment much of the care given is patient orientated, when in fact, there are many other areas where our volunteers are able to make a valuable contribution such as: With the public - Volunteers with a cheerful demeanour and helpful manners make getting around our large campus a lot easier. With staff - Reliable and responsible volunteer support during busy times allows staff to dedicate more of their time to patient care. As a fundraiser - Giving time and talent to raise money for the purchase of equipment, or to improve facilities for the benefit of patients. With patients and their family – Volunteers have the time to listen, encourage and support when the paid staff are sometimes too busy. Volunteer to volunteer – Team members support one another and take an interest in each other’s well being. This helps to create a happy working atmosphere. Some people volunteer during high school or university, to gain exposure to different health care professions. Others volunteer at later stages in their life, particularly after retirement. There are no ‘typical’ volunteers are the PA Hospital and we welcome people from all walks of life. The presence of volunteers within the hospital is greatly valued by the staff, patients and their families.
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