1. NEWS
• Manawatu • Tararua • Horowhenua •
MidCentral
FEBRUARY 2015
7–8 March – Relay for Life Manawatu
23–29 March – Shave for a CureWeek: Leukemia and Blood Cancer NZ
5 April – Daylight Savings Ends
TEAM IMPROVES
PATIENT FLOW
Highway to Health
MEDICINES
MANAGEMENT
ULTRA-HARD WORK
ISSUE 146

2. 2
MURRAY GEORGEL, CEO
The annual planning round has a way to go yet but the key areas for investment (time,resources and energy) include:
• Establishing and reinforcing general practice as the patient’s Health Home in our communities – including
IFHC development,primary acute care services,and supporting general practices to take an outcomes focus
• Continued investment in chronic care,particularly around care plans,self management and case management
• Transformational change within MidCentral Health to firmly establish it as a high performing health system
with the capacity and systems to meet future demand and improve the patient experience – includes new models
of care,site redevelopment and culture
• Implementing the“specialists in out-of-hospital settings”model,focusing first on child health and older
health services
• Advancing the Health Charter as our way of working with others,particularly in social sector,to achieve long term
health gains for our community
• A major organisational culture initiative based on the characteristics of a high performing health system – creating
a supportive environment that enables our workforce to think innovatively and try new ways of doing things in a
measured way,and with leaders that facilitate staff achieving the best they can for their patients and community
• Advancing sub-regional,regional and national collaboration projects
• Living within budget – which will be challenging as our revenue reduces in line with reduced population
growth,costs are increasing,and expectations from others (providers,suppliers,staff) may be beyond our
ability to fund.
We are organising a High Performance Health Care conference
to be held in Palmerston North in May. This will include a raft of
international and local speakers and brings together many of the
elements of what we are striving toward.
These are exciting times for MidCentral DHB and I am confident
we will achieve all we set out to do.
Murray
*Professor Ross Baker,Kings Fund
Congratulations and thanks to all for the great results being achieved,
particularly around patient flows, elective wait times and
other areas that improve the patient’s experience of our services.
We are well on the way to becoming a “high performing health system”*.
This work will continue next year and is the main focus of our
draft 2015/16 annual plan.

3. 3
Compliments c
This issue’s
compliments are
directed at
the STAR 4 team
in Horowhenua,
the Children’s
Ward and one
patient who was
so impressed,
they took the
time to write a
one and a half
page letter,
praising the
service they
have received.
Here are some
of the abridged
comments from
the letter.
“I write as one VERY
SATISFIED MidCentral Health
patient. During my four
hospital stays there were
interactions with over
40 staff. NOT ONCE did I
encounter any cold, uncaring
or procedurally sloppy
incidents. I would especially
commend the Coronary Care
Unit night staff for their
ability to reduce patient
stress and rebuild flagging
patient confidence by their
calm and methodical approach,
clear explanations, and
willingness to field patient
questions with answers that
addressed the whole person,
not just clinical matters.”
The letter also provided
praise for ED, Spotless,
MAPU and Ward staff.
The final compliment
comes from a parent who
was so grateful that the
Children’s Ward had a
bed all made up for her
when she arrived there
at 4am with her sick
child. “After travelling
with an unwell child via
ambulance, and the time
spent in ED before getting
to the ward; it was just
lovely that I could just
fall into bed.”
The next
compliment
is from a
gentleman who
spent time in
STAR 4 and
praised the
nurses who
“approach
each patient
as though
they were
special”, “the
charge nurse
who always
took time out
to listen
to peoples’
problems”, the
social worker
who “was always
friendly and
helpful”, Dr
Coffey for “his
understanding
and sympathetic
approach” along
with a special
thanks to the
physiotherapy
department.
Congratulations to all
those who have taken the
time to give our patients
such a wonderful experience
that they took the time to
write in about it.
 team development 
MDHB is fast
becoming a high
performing health
system and we
are increasingly
changing the way
we work together.
An emphasis
on developing
effective teams is
crucial to a high
performing health
system.
This is where MDHB’s team development programme,which has been running for over a year,comes into
play.The need for this was also identified through the last Staff Safety Culture survey,and helps strengthen
teamwork,both within the team in which we work,and across teams.
Already,14 teams (around 450 staff) have completed the first step of the team development process.
This is a stocktake to see which of the six elements that make up the programme are in place within
the team and are working well.To work effectively,a team needs knowledge and information,clear
agreed goals and priorities,leadership and coordination,decision-making and ground rules,effective
communication,and measurement and feedback.
About one in five staff have taken part from a diverse range of DHB services including regional women’s
health,mental health,public health,patient safety & clinical effectiveness,hospital services and RCTS.
Of course it doesn’t end there.Once the areas for improvement have been identified,the next step is for
the team to attend workshops/presentations to work through these.Many of the groups have already
progressed on to this stage,and the decisions arising from the workshops will be documented and
form part of their team’s standard operating procedures.
Feedback from the teams that have taken part in the programme has been positive,and real differences
have been seen within teams as a result.Rolling out of team development across the organisation is
ongoing and a key area of focus for the coming year.
If you wish to know more about team development,or are keen for your team to participate,please
contact Anne Amoore,Manager HROD,ext 8820 or by email anne.amoore@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

4. Happy New Year to you all.
One of the most important tasks facing any
governance board is the replacement of its CEO.
This is the task facing your Board
as a result of Murray Georgel’s resignation.
PHIL SUNDERLAND, CHAIRMAN
4
The appointment of an appropriate CEO is of significant importance to any organisation and in particular to a
District Health Board such as MidCentral.
Our CEO is the sole employee of the Board and accountable for the operation of MidCentral DHB in its various parts.
He is the employer of all staff and ultimately responsible for the conduct of their duties.
Murray has been with the organisation for over 20 years and CEO for the last 15.His wealth of knowledge and expertise
is enormous.Without it the organisation could not operate in the exemplary manner it does.Not only does Murray have
responsibilities for our organisation,he has also carried enormous responsibilities for sub-regional,regional and national
health interests.His reputation in those fields is significant and he will be missed.
It is now incumbent upon the Board to replace Murray as soon as possible so that there is no,or as little as possible,gap
between the time he leaves and the time the new CEO takes over his responsibilities.
The task of appointment is well under way.The Board have appointed Wellington employment consultants to assist in the
search and interview process.That process is being undertaken by a sub-committee of the Board comprising the Chair,the
Deputy Chair and the Chairs of both HAC and CPHAC committees.In addition we have an eminent person representing Maori
and community interests as well as bringing a CEO and clinical background.In addition,the Ministry of Health is carrying out a
watching brief role,although they have no part in the actual selection process.
The process involves reviewing the number of applications received and culling them down to a satisfactory short list which will
then go to the Board at its next meeting for the final appointment process.
To assist the Board in making this decision,we have obtained the views of a number of community groups and leaders,as well as
those local health leaders (both primary and secondary) regarding the attributes they believe our CEO must have.
All details in respect of the process must be absolutely confidential.This article is however,to advise you that a robust process is
under way and we hope to be in a position to announce a successful candidate sometime after the next Board meeting.
DIAL777In case of emergency at Palmerston North Hospital
or Horowhenua Health Centre, dial 777 for emergency services.

5. CEO GOOD DEEDS AWARD
For those of you who do not
know about this scheme,CEO,
Murray Georgel,has a Good
Deeds morning tea award
running for all staff who“go
that extra mile”to help out
clients and colleagues,or
make their service a better
place in which to work.
If you know anyone who
has stepped outside their
job description and gone
beyond the call of duty,
nominate them for the good
deeds award.It is as easy
as emailing Jill Matthews
their name(s) and a brief
description of what they did.
Six nominations for the CEO’s Good Deeds Award were received for the October to November 2014 period.
Two morning teas with the CEO,including cake,were awarded.One went to Mark Beale,Patrick Turc and
the Improving Patient Flow team for the work they are doing in removing blocks and improving patient
flow through the hospital.The other was awarded to the Elective Services team for their work in reducing
waiting times from six months to four months over the past two and a half years.
Chocolates were awarded to Misty Savali (RM) who was first on the scene of a fatal accident on her way to
work night shift.She provided assistance to the crash victims until paramedics arrived,then continued to
work for her night shift.
Cards were awarded to:
• The ladies in the mail room for always being so helpful,friendly and nice.
• Noeline King who went above and beyond to source a replacement hoist when a loan one was urgently
required at another DHB.
• Teresa Callesen for providing an ice pack for a fellow staff member who took a knock to the head,and
checking on the injury later.
DID YOU KNOW?
SPIRITUALITY PLAYS A VERY
IMPORTANT PART IN HEALTHCARE.
CHAPLAINS ARE TRAINED TO HELP
WITH THIS, AND CAN DO SO IN
FOUR KEY WAYS.
• Education around spirituality in
healthcare is provided by chaplains.
A two hour course to learn about the
research around spirituality in health
and tools to improve patient care is
available. Also provided by a chaplain
and a psychologist is a course aimed at
topping up compassion, and the issues
around it. These can be booked through
the education centre.
• Listening is an important aspect of
what a chaplain does. Being there to
hear the stories of those who are
vulnerable and facing a tough road ahead
can help patients feel empowered, and
more at peace.
• Support for staff is also available. Whether
it’s support sessions, supervisions
sessions, or debrief meetings, the
chaplains can help.
• Some patients may want rituals that help
mark the transitions through life, whether
it be communion, prayer, karakia or any
other type of ritual. Chaplaincy can either
provide the service, or work to contact
someone from that particular faith who
can help.
If you want to know more about any of
these services, or the other work that
the chaplaincy service does, contact the
chaplains on ext 8690.
5
The indicative business case for the
redevelopment of Palmerston North
Hospital received support from the
National Capital Committee,and the
process will now move to the next
stage – the development of a detailed
business case.This diagram shows the
proposed redevelopment,with the
new structure containing ED,theatre,
ICU,SSU and more,being built out
toward the community village.The
orange building is a proposed future
replacement for the wards,which is not
part of this redevelopment.
NEXTUP–THEDETAILEDBUSINESSCASE

6. B
LAST
PAST
FROM
THE
W
elcome to 2015. These
days the New Year is a
time of celebration and
enjoyment, but back at the start
of the new millennium everyone
was on edge as Y2K approached.
Of course hindsight is a wonderful
thing, and it’s easy to laugh at the
international crisis that ensued
when it was thought that all our
computers could simultaneously
give up the ghost. However, at
the time it was a very important
matter that required MidCentral
DHB to take it seriously, hence the
establishment of the Y2K project.
Teaser Time
MidCentral DHB
MIDCENTRAL
NEWS GOES
MUSICAL
This issue we’re going to get a little
bit of a boogie on (all the cool kids
still say boogie right?).
Throughout the magazine there are
six headlines that are adapted from
song titles. Match up the headline with
the artist and year of the song.
All correct entries will go in the
draw to win one of two double movie
passes to Downtown Cinemas.
Send your entries with
contact details to: Teaser Time,
C/- Communications Unit, Board Office.
Entries must be received by
Friday, 27 March 2015.
Competition details are also available
on our website. From the staff centre
page click from the left hand menu
“Staff Area” then “Teaser Time” or use
the following link www.midcentraldhb.
govt.nz/teasertime
LAST MONTH’S TEASER
TIME WINNERS
Thank you to everyone who responded to the
“Looking Back on 2014” Teaser Time last issue.
The winners are: Jo Holtslag – Women’s Health
and Julie Morgan – Ambulatory Care.
Jo and Julie earned a double movie pass each courtesy of MDHB.
6
Oasis (1995).................................................................................................
Mariah Carey (1994)..................................................................................
Kenny Loggins (1986).................................................................................
ACDC (1979)...............................................................................................
Louis Armstrong (1967)...............................................................................
ABBA (1975)................................................................................................

7. 7
You can never truly understand what it’s like to be in some
situations unless you experience it yourself.What we can do
though is take the time to talk to people in certain situations,listen
to their stories and begin to form a picture of the issues they face
every day.It may not teach us everything we need to know,but it
sure is a good start.
To help give you an idea of what it’s like for those with disabilities
that use our services,we visited a former patient who has a motor
disorder that prevents him from being fully mobile.He couldn’t speak
highly enough of the staff that cared for him during their stay,and
offered to share a few thoughts on the issues that face someone in
their situation.
To begin with the obvious,having a disorder such as this can
make it very hard to walk around at the best of times.Let’s be
honest,the hospital isn’t a place anyone wants to be,and it can be
hard being here for weeks at a time.Now imagine that you can’t get
out of bed to go to the bathroom,visit the patient lounge,or even
look out the window.
Our patient was more than understanding of the limitations of
staffing and time,and is thrilled with how much effort the staff put
into helping them.The staff they encountered during their stay
were friendly,helpful and always willing to have a chat while they
went about their business.
It is important,however,to acknowledge the loss of independence,
and the increased reliance on others for those who have mobility
issues.Even the idea of entertainment,when you’re there for long
stretches becomes a challenge.As our interviewee said,you have
to have a strong mind and a good imagination to keep yourself
entertained.
An inability to move also means a big reliance on equipment such as
hoists,which become crucial parts of your day-to-day routine.The fact
that staff had these readily available and were able to quickly access
them was something that made a big difference to their experience.
Along with not being able to move from bed come several other
physical consequences.Take your skin for example.If you stay in
bed long enough,your skin will begin to become thin and delicate,
meaning that it requires extreme care when anyone moves you.Staff
who took the time to carefully move them and didn’t rush the process
were definitely appreciated.
Then once you’re on the road to recovery,you have to get out of the
bed and try to become mobile again.Of course,just like the skin,your
muscles will have weakened to the point where they need a lot of
rebuilding before you can return to your previous levels of mobility.
Really,it is often the little things that we take for granted that can
cause the most discomfort.One issue that did arise was the inability,
due to their condition,of the patient to hold onto the sick bag.This
meant that often vomit would miss the bag and cause quite a mess.
Are there other solutions for this kind of issue that you can think of?
These issues,the loss of independence,physical deteriorations,
and the need for a strong mind are all direct results of disabilities
that prevent movement.While this is a motor disorder,many of
these issues could translate across to those with similar disorders,
and the elderly.Hopefully this gives some insight into the issues
faced by those with mobility issues and from here forward we
can put ourselves in their position to understand what they are
going through,and work with them to make their healthcare
experience better.
It’s a looming health menace that threatens to put a
massive load on the health system in the coming years.
However,when it comes to Type-2 diabetes,the Clinical
Networks – Long Terms Condition District Group is
taking the view that the best defence is an offence.
Instead of waiting for more and more of our population
to succumb to the illness,a working party is moving to
tackle it at its source.Often if someone can be identified as
having pre-diabetes,steps can be put in place to prevent
it developing into diabetes.Without this intervention,
around half of those with pre-diabetes will develop
Type-2 within seven years.When you consider that about
a quarter of the population over 15 years of age are
pre-diabetic,it is obvious that the issue needs tackling.
A recent campaign through general practices to raise
public and practitioner awareness of pre-diabetes saw
some high impact displays being developed.Two winning
displays were selected,with one coming from Kauri on
Albert,and the other from Total Healthcare.
The impressive pre-diabetes display at Kauri (pictured)
was developed by HCA Emma Morgan and nurse Sophie
Barnard,and features a road that depicts a journey to
better health.Along the road were health tips,recipes,
exercises and other resources to help patients live a better
lifestyle.Kauri Healthcare,including its other two sites,
has an enrolled population of around 17,000 people;with
1100 currently identified as pre-diabetic.It is expected
that this number will grow substantially as they continue
efforts to identify more pre-diabetics and provide them
with preventative self-management education and advice.
If you would like to know more about pre-diabetes for
your own health,or the health of your patients,flick an
email to Kirsty at kirsty.dunlop@centralpho.org.nz for
more information.
Emma Morgan (left) and Sophie Barnard holding the trophy in
front of the winning display.
Highway to health:
combating pre-diabetes
in the community

8. 8
COMMUNITY
PHARMACISTS
IN CLINICAL
PORTAL
PILOT
ULTRA-HARD
WORK
RESULTS
IN SOUND
IMPROVEMENTS
The clinical portal is a great tool for health professionals; a
feeling that has been backed up by community pharmacists who had
access to the portal during a recent pilot.
Feedback from the pharmacists involved has been positive,with the ability to access discharge
summaries and clinic letters being listed as the most useful aspect of the portal access.The
pharmacists involved also saw benefits for patient care and time-saving.
While this has been a small scale trial with a total of five pharmacies,from Palmerston North,
Foxton,and Feilding,participating in the pilot; it is apparent that there have been clear benefits
from the access.
The next logical step is to expand access to other community pharmacists,GPs,Practice Nurses,
midwives,etc.However,with expanded access comes the need for training,more IT support,
adherence with strict safety and privacy rules,and a robust auditing system.The way forward on
this is being worked through.
If you’re needing an ultrasound the likely wait for a scan has
greatly reduced over the past 12 months. New initiatives, expanded
hours, and good ol’ elbow grease has seen the waiting time for
ultrasounds plummet from 359 patients waiting more than six months
in January 2014, to the point where there are now only 36 waiting
more than two months.
That’s a pretty dramatic turnaround in a single year,so what’s made the difference? The addition
of a full-time sonographer in July and the lease of another ultrasound machine has greatly
increased capacity.The sonographers have been excellent,with some extending work hours,
beginning half an hour earlier,and also working overtime to carry out sessions on Saturdays.
Shifting some appointments to Dannevirke when possible has also seen many from Tararua,and
some Palmerston North patients,having their appointments done there.For those in Dannevirke,
Pahiatua and Woodville this is often far more convenient than coming to Palmerston North.
A review of patients waiting was also conducted,with the medical imaging department going
back to referrers and patients who have been waiting more than four months to check if they still
require an ultrasound.O&G specialists are participating in scanning with the medical imaging
department when available.Their specialty skills support the imaging of women in conjunction
with their radiologist colleagues,support the sonographers and assist with their training.
The final initiative was reducing Did Not Attends (DNAs),of which the ultrasounds had the
highest rate in the department.The focus was to reduce the likelihood that clinical staff would
have precious scanning time wasted with no patients available.In addition to the traditional
ways of confirming appointments,patients can now confirm by email.However,if they still do not
confirm and they can’t be contacted to confirm,then appointments were double-booked.This
way,when patients don’t turn up for their appointment,someone else is there to take the slot.If
they do turn up without confirming the appointment,then they are usually able to be slotted in
to that session.
This has been a big turnaround for the waiting list.It gives referrers and patients much greater
certainty of access to this important diagnostic and has made it more satisfying for all staff
involved.The medical imaging team is to be commended for the work they have put in.Pictured: CEO Murray Georgel
congratulates Radiologist Dr Jonathan
Graham for the hard work the
Ultrasound team has done,at their
Good Deeds morning tea.

9. 9
All I want for Christmas is
1850 gifts
9
Wander Well
As modern technology develops,the benefits
for those with health issues really are
quite amazing.The latest example of this
is Alzheimers Society’s (Manawatu) new
WanderSearch system that has been jointly
funded by MidCentral DHB.
Anyone who has worked in older people's
health will know that some people with
Alzheimer’s Disease have a tendency to
wander and get lost.With this new system,
those with Alzheimer’s,along with people
who have autism,will carry a small pendant
that emits a specific radio frequency.
If someone goes missing,a tracking unit with
a directional aerial,can be used to hone in
on their location.As the unit gets closer to
the person’s pendant,the radio pulse gets
stronger and stronger.
This new device does more than help
find someone who is lost.It also gives
those with Alzheimer’s and their family
peace of mind,and gives people a level of
independence that they wouldn’t normally
have.In a society that has become so risk
adverse,it can be easy to forget to let people
live their lives to the fullest where they can
for as long as they can and being able to take
a calculated risk.Being able to go for a walk
and knowing that you will be found if you get
disorientated,or lost,is a great extra layer of
security for those who need it.
Christmas is the season for giving, and 2014’s festive season saw staff
and the community rally together to provide 1850 gifts for the Kmart
WishingTree Appeal.The presents are collected by Kmart and passed on
totheSalvationArmywhoprovidesthemtothelessfortunateinourarea.
Kmart Palmerston North was again the top performing Kmart in New
Zealand, and when you consider that MidCentral DHB provided a third of
their 5900 presents,it shows just how much influence our appeal has.
A big thank you to the team from women’s health who raised $300 for
the appeal. This was used to buy presents for teenage boys, a category
that often struggles to attract gifts.Donations of non-perishable food also
helped make many people’s Christmas that much better.
Jonathan Malone, Store Manager for Kmart Palmerston North said: “The
Palmerston North Wishing tree appeal was still the most successful out
of all the Kmart stores in New Zealand. I know that the reason for that is
because we have great partners like you and your team working with us to
help support families in need at Christmas.Every year I am amazed with the
generosity of the Palmerston North community and the ability for different
organisations to band together to achieve something truly special.”
A big thank you to all the staff, patients, and members of the community
who showed that generosity is still alive and well in the MidCentral district.
From left: Elaine Newman,
Dr Steven Grant and
Emma Shaw from Women’s
Health present their
donation to Kmart manager
Jonathan Malone.

10. –– eventsin-focus ––
10
 The new theatre lights that were
trialled near the end of last year have
been installed into theatres. In addition
to their energy savings, the HD camera and
different coloured lights make it easier to
see certain items such as tumours and blood,
are proving to be very popular.
 The end of year morning tea
for staff proved popular again.
CEO Murray Georgel was on hand
to talk to staff and present the
winners of the annual Christmas
Quiz. The six winners who got
all questions correct and had
their name drawn, each received
a $50 New World voucher.
 When Daneby Liddell noticed
that there wasn’t a lot to keep
children entertained as they came
through theatre, he wrote to Lego
New Zealand asking if they could
send him some models to set up
a display. Instead they sent a
whopping 92 boxes of Lego which are
being given away to the children,
and making their journey through
surgery that much more enjoyable.

11.  Lisa Clince, Grant McCullough and
Erica Gleeson, collectively made up
The Pain Team as they tackled the Iron
Maori triathlon event in Napier. They
each took on one part of the race and
managed to raise an impressive $1410
for KidsCan, the charity that supports
disadvantaged children.
11
...aroundMDHB
 Work is well underway on the environmental
and structural work taking place at
Information Systems. A new back-up generator,
along with upgraded air conditioning means
that a large amount of work is required to
provide enough space for the new equipment.
Once completed, the additional equipment will
provide benefits for IS in both emergency
scenarios, and day-to-day running.
 The team from More FM’s Mike West in
the Morning teamed up with Mitre 10 Mega to
donate thousands of dollars of presents to
patients in the Children’s Ward. Several
trolleys were required to wheel in the loot
which included a presents for all ages, a
soda stream, and even a full-blown barbecue.

12. The good thing about a story like this is that
as you moove through the story,you can milk
the cow-related puns for all they’re worth.But
before it gets udderly ridiculous,let’s look at
the link between cows,chemotherapy,and ice.
Last year a social media event,the ice
bucket challenge,became an unexpected
phenomenon.Simply put,people dumped
buckets of icy water on their heads,
videoed it,put it on Facebook and nominated
others to do the same.The goal was to
encourage people to donate to cancer-related
organisations,an aspiration that delivered
beyond any expectations.
While this clears up the link between the ice
and the chemotherapy,it still doesn’t quite
explain where our bovine friends come in.
Udderly Smooth cream was originally
developed in the United States to help soothe
dairy cows in the hot summer temperatures.
It wasn’t long before people tried it on
themselves and discovered that,sure enough,
it works just as well for creatures of the two-
legged variety.It turns out that it’s especially
soothing for chemotherapy patients who suffer
a side-effect known as hand-foot syndrome
(HFS),or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
Chemo patients grateful for
From left: Chris Franklyn and Pauline Wharerau from the Cancer Society, present RCTS patient
Keith Fenemor with some of the donated cream. MidCentral Health staff, Jenni McWhannell,
Erin Snaith, and Petro Nel were also present to thank the society for their donation.
THANKS FOR
LEADING
THE WAY WITH
MATERNITY
INFORMATION
SYSTEM
Taking a leading role in the
development and implementation of
the new Maternity Clinical Information
System has seen MDHB receive
praise from the national maternity
programme’s steering group.
We were the first in the country to
go live with the system,kicking off at
Horowhenua maternity in October.Since
then staff have continued to provide
excellent support to the system and are
feeding back useful information to help
further refine the programme.
Well done to all those who helped make
the launch and ongoing development
such a success.
12
udderly ice challenge
(PPE).This results in red,tender,sore
skin that can sometimes require the
treatment to stop until it clears up.
Over $61,000 was raised for the
Cancer Society Central Districts Division,
covering the Gisborne,Hawke’s Bay,
Whanganui,Taranaki and MidCentral
regions.The wonderful team over at the
Cancer Society decided to make sure
that none of the funds went toward
their administration costs,but instead
went into special projects that directly
benefit patients.The first being to
donate box loads of this cream to the
cancer services across the region.Prior
to this,patients with HFS had to buy this
cream personally.
Having this product available for those
with HFS,at no cost,will make a huge
difference for patients and is welcomed
by the staff administering the treatments.
So a big thanks to the Cancer Society for
making the lives of our patients more
comfortabull and leaving everyone in a
good moo-d.

13. Check out the latest edition of our “Let’s Talk About Health” column
– Are you a Healthy Weight? – printed in some of the region's papers.
www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/ltah
13
Our next generation of doctors
have taken a big step in their
careers at Palmerston North
Hospital over the past couple of
months. Also known as PGY1s, the
latest bunch of first year interns
have settled straight into working
on our surgical and medical wards
as they further their training.
Almost half of the 16 made the journey down
from the big smoke of Auckland University,
half ventured into our‘tropical’climate after
their time at various placements in the Otago
University clinical attachment area and one,
although a local woman,came across the‘ditch’
after having completed her training in Australia.
This variety of experience from the different
training institutions will be a real benefit to
our services.
Dr Joy Percy and Dr Ivan Iniesta,who have given
themselves the delightful acronym of PEST
(Prevocational Education Supervisor Team),are
thrilled with the new cohort and are there to
support the trainee doctors as they progress
through this first challenging,but rewarding year.
MAMMA MIA!
IT'S INTERN
TIME AGAIN
Our venerable HOMER patient administration system is heading
toward retirement, and its sprightly replacement, WebPAS,
is being put through its paces ahead of its 2016 launch.
One of those taking part in initial training and orientation with WebPAS was Professional
Clerical Advisor Robyn Shaw,who gave a brief overview of the highlights so far.
It’s no surprise that WebPAS will be far superior to HOMER,and those that are doubtful
that HOMER needs replacing will soon change their mind after using the new system.The
areas that have been seen so far include the outpatient referral management,which will
no longer require a new template for a patient if a clinic changes; you can simply edit the
old one instead.
The theatre booking system is going to be
integrated into the system,so every aspect of
a patient’s journey through the hospital will be
accessible in one place.Likewise,it will replace
the community health system which will bring
allied and mental health into the WebPAS family.
The layout is far more user friendly,and there will
be no need to file every change when it is made,
as the current system requires.This system will
impact everyone who works within secondary
services for MidCentral DHB,and it will truly be
worth the wait when it is implemented.
Before that can happen,there are several layers of
training,testing and implementation planning to
ensure that the launch,around mid 2016,goes as
smoothly as possible.Keep an eye out for further
updates as the change to WebPAS progresses.
Robyn Shaw and Allan Hansen try out WebPAS during a training session.
A SNEAK PEEK AT WEBPAS
The new interns are welcomed to Palmerston North Hospital.

14. Ifyou’reanythinglikemeandstruggletorememberwhat
you had for breakfast then you will be familiar with the
struggle of remembering every password that modern,
internet-centric life requires. As much as it can take
some work to remember, we must admit that a secure
password means a secure network,and better protection
of confidential patient and MDHB documents.
So what are the tips to ensure you have a secure password?
I’m glad you asked:
1. Change your password every 60 days. This is easy to
do because Servicedesk send out timely reminders
before your password expires.Sorted!
2. It should be at least eight characters. By eight
characters we mean letters, numbers or symbols.
So that doesn’t mean your password should be
mickeydonaldgoofyplutominniehueydeweylouie.
It could also be a phrase“ImT1pT0p”Pro tip – throwing
in some CAPITAL LETTERS along with lowercase ones
makes a password much harder to guess.
3. Don’t serialise it. If your password is Password1, the
temptationistochangeittoPassword2,thenPassword3.
Easier to remember,but also easier to guess.
4. Don’t use parts of your name.If your username is Johnd,
don’t make your password johnd123. Again, this just
makes it easier to guess.
5. Keep it unique and private. Make sure your password
is something that only you know.This means no dates
of birth, children’s birthdays etc. Especially in the age
of Facebook this sort of information can be relatively
easy to discover.
6. Speaking of Facebook, make sure that your password
is different than what you use for other websites. If
you use the same password everywhere and hackers
steal your password from another website, all your
accounts are now compromised.
7. With all this flash technology, it’s surprising how
many people allow their information systems to be
compromised by old fashioned pen and paper. You
wouldn’t write your pin number of your credit card
(at least you shouldn’t), so why would you write down
your password beside your computer?
These are all pretty straight forward, and often we don’t
follow these rules simply because it’s easier not to.However,
theamountofconfidentialinformationwedealwithmeans
that this isn’t a trivial concern.While the ultimate password
would be 128 characters long and look something like this
‘$aR3#sg..&rRs9)Wsa@@53GeV^%’, we’re not expected to
remember that; but it would be good to have something
much better than password123.
However, normal infection control practices probably
have a lot in common with the digital type. From 1
October to 31 December last year, Information Systems
detected 135 viruses trying to do nasty things to our
computer network. They also snapped 140 cases of
adware or potentially unwanted applications, which can
be just as nasty for our network.
Without further ado, here are infection prevention and
control strategies for the digital world:
1. If you’re downloading software,get it from a reputable
source. You wouldn’t inject a patient with a needle
you found in the gutter, so don’t do the same to your
computer.As a rule of thumb,any website with adverts
telling you that you’re the 1,000,000th visitor are not
reputable sources.
2. Be careful with emails and their attachments. If you
suspect a staff member has gastroenteritis, they
shouldn’t be allowed at work. In the same way, if you
thinkanemailislookingabitdodgy,makesureyoukeep
wellawayfromit.Whileemailsofferingyoucheapdrugs
from Canada are obviously dangerous, you should be
careful with any emails that are from unknown sources,
especially if they have attachments.
3. Treat your home computer like it could be infected.
Always have up-to-date antivirus programmes to
ensure your data is safe.However,you should still avoid
transferringfilesfromyourhomecomputertoyourwork
computer, especially with a USB memory stick, as this
can give the virus a way onto our computers/ network.
Oursystemshaveplentyofsafeguardstopreventdangerous
infections, but we can help the team at IS by being careful
whatwedownload,watchingfordodgyemailsandkeeping
ourhomecomputerswellawayfromtheworkenvironment.
If you’re unsure about passwords or how to keep clear of
viruses, give Service Desk a call on x8000 and they’ll be
more than happy to provide advice.
14

15. WE NEED YOU
FOR NEXT
STAFF SAFETY
CULTURE
SURVEY
15
BRIGHT
MINDS
AND
CLEVER
INNOVATIONS
Three years ago MDHB ran its first Staff Safety Culture Survey to
assess how staff rated factors that are likely to affect safety
with MDHB.
At the beginning of March the survey will be run again to see how much has changed,
after all the work that has been done to address the key themes that emerged last time.
While the last survey showed that we have a good safety climate and do not knowingly
compromise the safety of patients/clients,there is always room for improvement.
Over 3500 comments were received in 2012,and it would be good to have a similar,
if not better response,this year.
The confidential survey will be live from Monday 2 March to Friday 13 March.It should take
around 15–20 minutes to complete online,although hard copies will be made available for
staff without computer access.An update on the work that has already been completed will
also be made available once it is completed.
More details will be provided closer to the time,including the link to the survey,so keep an
eye out for a Staff News telling you exactly what to expect.
Changing healthcare for the better was at the forefront of
staff minds when they took up the challenge put forward by the
Innovation DHB competition.
Working with the BCC,a local organisation that are already well known for their regional ideas
competition‘Innovate’,and an independent panel of judges,the aim was to support staff
through the process of developing their innovative ideas into viable opportunities to improve
healthcare for our patients. The winner on the night was respiratory physiotherapist,Mike
Perry whose new design for a positive expiratory pressure device (PEP) saw him receive the
$10,000 worth of expert support to further develop his idea.
Current PEPs are relatively straightforward plastic devices that raise airway pressure,as
people with respiratory issues often have narrow or weakened airways that can collapse.
Unfortunately,these devices are sourced from overseas manufacturers and are very expensive
for such a small device that is often lost by patients.Mr Perry’s solution was to redesign the
PEP so that it is simpler to make,which means it can be made much cheaper.This will allow it
to be a semi-disposable item and will remove a lot of cost concerns.
However,it isn’t just Mr Perry’s idea that caught the eye of the BCC team and the independent
judges.Several of the other entries are also being investigated for further development,
including smokerlyser devices for pregnant mothers and a lockable-programmable dispensing
device for controlled substances.We will keep you updated on their progress.
Partnering with the BCC isn’t just about running an innovation competition once a year,
although that’s certainly a big part of it.It’s about providing an environment where innovation
is embraced; one that will allow the hundreds of health professionals working here to develop
ideas that may have been swimming around in their heads for years,with no real outlet.
So BCC will continue to walk the halls in search of clever new ideas and providing one-on-one
support to take them forward.
That’s definitely how the BCC CEO Dean Tilyard sees the situation.He was present to see
Mr Perry receive his award,and is excited about the potential for this competition.
He said,“I have been really happy with what I have seen.There is a lot of enthusiasm and
diversity in the ideas that have come out of this competition.Everyone involved sees this as
just the beginning of an ongoing process,and we look forward to building on this in 2015.”
If you’ve got the next big,or small,idea in your area of work,then get hold of Jane Donaldson
on (06) 352 0112 or jane@thebcc.co.nz to discuss your innovation further.
Pictured: Mike Perry (centre) discusses
his innovation with the BCC CEO Dean
Tilyard (left) and General Manager,
MidCentral Health Mike Grant.

16. 16
On the other end of the connection is Judy and James
from McCrae’s Pharmacy who can now fill orders
much quicker. Andrew Orange from MDHB looks on.
This system is the logical next step in medicines management,
and will electronically link medicine records in rest homes with
pharmacies and general practices through a shared electronic
database.
No longer will nurses in aged care facilities carry around piles of
medicine charts with crossed out medications and scrawled notes.
Instead, the nurses will carry around tablet computers that access
a database with all their residents’ medicines on it. They simply
select a wing of their rest home, pick the resident, choose what
time the medicine is to be given, and are then presented with a list
of the medicines. Once the resident has taken their medicine and
the database is marked that they’ve been given,it’s all done.
Making it easier to record medicines given is, on its own, enough
to justify the new system, but it does far more than that. There is
a three-way relationship between the rest home, pharmacist and
general practice for residents. This means everyone is accessing
the exact same medicine chart and administration record, and it
is updated continuously whenever a change is made.
To describe all the benefits would take much more room than we
have here, but here’s a scenario that will show the benefit of the
system. If a GP is out of the office and gets notified that a resident’s
medication needs altering,he can use his phone to securely log onto
the system and update it. The pharmacist is then instantly notified
of the change, at which point they can prepare and package the
new medicine and dispatch it to the rest home. When the nurse
goes on their next medication round the electronic medicine
record will be updated with the changes, making sure that the
resident is receiving the appropriate treatment.
It is hoped that future development of the system will see hospital
prescribersalsoaccessingthesystem.Thiswouldmeanreduceddelays
in discharges,as the rest home would potentially have the resident’s
updatedmedicinesbeforetheyarriveattheresthomefromhospital.
Onceitisfullyrolledout,therewillbetimesavings,moreinformation,
reduced medicine errors and reduced medicines wastage. All of
this will make life better for residents, and easier for staff, GPs and
pharmacies.A revolution indeed.
Viva la revolución! An electronic revolution in medicines management that is. In a
first for any DHB, MidCentral DHB is providing support funding for rest homes and
pharmacies to implement the electronic medicines management system, medi-map.
Staff at Ranfurly Residential Care Centre in Feilding compare
the new tablet based system to the old paper based one.

17. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
The holiday season may be coming to an end, but
it can be a stressful time of year when people feel
increased pressure in all aspects of life, and the effects
can linger on. Getting back to work can be stressful
for some, and at home pressures can arise from
relationships, children, or financial worries.
While some people may be feeling relaxed and in the
holiday spirit after
time away, others
may feel more tired
than ever.
It’s important that
we keep a check
on our own health
and wellbeing
during this time.
Please remember
that EAP Services
are available 24/7 if
you feel you need
some independent
support and advice.
TRAINING
Looking for education and training information? Visit the education and
training calendar on the MDHB website: www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/training
This page has the most up-to-date information including available,
cancelled or rescheduled courses.
Further help is available by contacting:
Raewyn Knight, Education & Development Programme Administrator
Human Resources, Education Centre
Phone: 350 8205 Fax: 350 8010
Email: raewyn.knight@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
17
GOT FEEDBACK? LET US KNOW
MidCentral News is the bi-monthly MidCentral DHB staff news magazine.
It is produced by the Communications Unit:
Team Leader Communications Dennis Geddis; Communications Officer,
Jordan Dempster; and Graphic Design and Print Co-ordinator Jackie Taylor.
You can contact us with any feedback or story ideas on
email: communications@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
Having the ability to save a life when necessary is a crucial part of everyday work in any hospital.One of the most recognised life saving
procedures is cardiopulmonary resuscitation,more commonly known as CPR.
The responsibility for overseeing CPR at MidCentral Health falls to the Resuscitation Committee,a sub-committee of the Clinical Board.
One of the committee’s most visible activities in the last few months has been the rollout of defibrillators throughout the entire organisation.
These defibrillators are advanced,user-friendly devices that,in the right circumstances,can be used to help reset the heart beat of someone
who has gone into cardiac arrest.Training on how to use them has also been organised by the committee.
Having defibrillators throughout the organisation,both in clinical and non-clinical areas,means that staff can help keep someone alive until help
arrives.Related to this,the committee has also been restructuring
the activation and response of the 777 emergency system at
Palmerston North Hospital to ensure that emergency situations
are handled effectively.Remember,if any of your colleagues
appear to be having a serious health incident,call 777 for help.
The committee meets on a three-monthly basis under the
leadership of Chairman,Dr Jeff Brown,and is comprised of a
multi-disciplinary team of nurses,a physician and managers.
In addition to their work with the defibrillators,they are also
responsible for establishing and overseeing policy regarding
resuscitation.The committee works to ensure that staff are
‘current’with cardiopulmonary resuscitation training,and
to implement and adhere to the New Zealand Resuscitation
Council’s guidelines and standards.
RESUSCITATION COMMITTEE A LIFE SAVER
Board Office staff from left: Julie Taylor, Ginny Bunt, Chris Channing and
Cheryl Benn watch on as Ian Ironside practices compressions
on a mannequin in a recent training session.

18. 18
Under the umbrella of district nursing there
are a wide variety of roles;all of which are very
important for the wellbeing of our patients.
The hospital-to-community nurse is one of
these roles,which is why Nicki took the time to
sit down and talk about what her job entails.
We’re doing this interview by phone because
you’ve broken your foot and can’t work.
So I have to ask, is it true that health care
workers make the worst patients?
Yes,in my case that is definitely true.
Excellent, I’m glad we’ve cleared that one
up. So when you’re not injured, what does
your job involve?
The hospital-to-community nurse is a role that
requiresalotofliaisingwithamulti-disciplinary
team.ForthemostpartIworktohelpthosewho
requireintravenous(IV)antibiotics,returnhome
whilestillgettingtherequiredmedication,under
the umbrella of the district nursing service.
So people can handle their own IV treatment
at home?
Yes and no. It all depends on a variety of
things including the severity of the illness, the
length of treatment and their competence.The
complex cases will still need to be seen at the
hospital once a week and the serious cases are
actually still classed as inpatients even though
they can return home. All patients are seen by
district nurses who help manage the home
IV therapy. For those who are going to be on
the antibiotics for six to eight weeks, and are
competent enough, we can educate them on
how to self-administer the antibiotics.
Alright, so people come into hospital where
youliaisewithdoctors,socialworkers,district
nursesandmore,tomakesurethatthepatient
has the care they need when they go home?
That’s right, but additionally GPs can also
prescribe IV antibiotics for certain conditions
by following the map of medicine. So yes, I
work with a real variety of staff, right across
the healthcare sector. Even pharmacists can’t
escape me, because the patients need what
are known as ‘community friendly’ antibiotics,
so I need to work closely with them to make
sure the appropriate antibiotics are prescribed
by the team.
It must be a rewarding job to help these
people get back into their homes?
Definitely. I find most people recover better
when they’re in the comfort and familiarity of
theirownhome.Comingfromaroleasadistrict
nurse, I have found it a bit of an adjustment,
because as a district nurse you have a small
tight knit team that you work with. However,
here at the hospital I work right across the
wards, the rehabilitation areas and have a lot
to do with the Transitory Care Unit, so it has
certainly been challenging but rewarding.
As one of three Associate Charge
Nurses who help coordinate District
Nursing activities from Norsewood
through to Otaki, Mandy’s role
requires a lot of hard work and
careful planning to ensure everyone
is where they need to be.
You’re helping coordinate a big
team across a wide area. What
does this mean for your role?
There is a big team to manage, but
they’reagreatteam,whichmakesthe
job easier. Essentially the Associate
Charge Nurse is a jack of all trades
in District Nursing. We have around
70 staff, so I help make sure they’re
in the right place at the right time,
and that all our patients are getting
the required treatment. Overseeing
referrals, ensuring the distribution
of supplies and being a general go
topersonarealsobigpartsofthejob.
So how did you end up with District
Nursing here at MDHB?
My first DN role was actually with
MidCentral Health in Horowhenua,
thenIheadedtoCapital&CoastDHB
toworkasanoncology/palliativecare
community nurse specialist and a
DN.I returned to work for MDHB and
have worked as an ACN,doing bits in
Horowhenua and Palmerston North.
As you can see, District Nursing is
very much ingrained in me now.
What is it that appeals to you
about the job?
Workingwithagreatteamandbeing
able to provide them with advice
and guidance is an awesome part
of the job. As a lot of our DNs work
in very singular roles it is good to be
able to help them meet the unique
challenges that this type of nursing
presents.
It sounds like the District Nursing
team is doing a fantastic job.
While I will probably leave it to the
professionals,whatwouldIneedto
do to become a District Nurse?
First things first you would need
a Bachelor of Nursing, along with
someexperienceinageneralnursing
environment. Then you would be
assigned to either Palmerston North
or one of our seven outer bases
around the district. Encouraging
people to come to clinics at these
bases is becoming a goal for us, so
new facilities like Te Waiora Health
Centre are great for District Nursing.
Nicki
Scott (left)
discusses a
patient with
RN Mary
Sinclair
in the
Transitory
Care Unit.

19. HOURS
Mon, Thur, Fri 8.30am–5pm
Tues, Wed 8.30am–8pm
Sat, Sun Closed
After hours access by swipe card.
Welcome to all those embarking on tertiary study in 2015.
Come and visit us if you need any advice, help or resources
to aid your study. We can find articles, loan or interloan
books, and provide advice on all sorts of things. The libraryprovides a great place for uninterrupted study, so ask us
about after-hours library access if you don’t already have it.
JOURNAL CHANGES
Please note the following titles are now available online only.
All online journals can be accessed via the Ebsco A to Z link
on our databases page.
• American Journal of Infection Control
• American Journal of Psychiatry (Psychiatry Online)
• Physics in Medicine and Biology
• Seminars in Nuclear Medicine (Clinical Key)
We have also cancelled several titles; mainly due to ongoing
supply issues, lack of use or rising costs. We can supply articlesvia interloan if required. Most journals’ websites will allow youto set up your own e-TOCS should you wish to do so.
CANCELLED TITLES
• Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin
• Applied Ergonomics
• Australian Family Physician
• British Journal of Haematology
• Canadian Family Physician
• Clinical Psychology Review
• Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
• Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
• Neurologist
NEW BOOKS
• The wandering mind : what your brain does when you’re
not looking/M Corballis, 2012
• Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease/KR Chaudhuri
et al, eds, 2014
• Wound management for the advanced practitioner/
T Swanson et al, eds, 2014
• Introduction to cardiopulmonary exercise testing/
AM Luks, 2013.
IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER
INFORMATION, PLEASE ASK A LIBRARIAN.
CENTENNIAL
CLINICAL LIBRARY
19
TAKING
ACUTE CARE
TO THE
COMMUNITY
As efforts continue to help reduce Emergency
Department attendances and hospital admissions,a
new primary care pilot is showing promising results.
Primary Options of Acute Care (POAC) is a newly
launched initiative that sees some acute health
needs treated at general practices,rather than being
referred to hospital.
Over 100 patients have gone through the programme
since its December launch,and the majority of these
were able to avoid going to the ED.The pilot is a joint
operation between general practices,Central PHO,
the DHB,along with key stakeholders such as St John,
District Nursing,pharmacy and haematology.With
this new POAC model,they have managed a variety
of conditions,including cellulitis,suspected deep vein
thrombosis,chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder,
and pneumonia.
Feedback for the programme has been very positive.
St John Ambulances are experiencing faster
turnaround times for patients in primary care,meaning
they can be back on the road quicker.District Nursing
is able to be better coordinated for the clinical
follow-up of cellulitis patients,and more of this is
being managed within the general practices.The
general practices themselves are enjoying the
opportunity to stretch their wings and try out different
strategies for looking after their patients..
Then of course,there are the patients who are seeing
excellent benefits from POAC.Positive feedback has
come particularly around the issues of continuity of
care,improved management of acute conditions,and
a reduction in the travel distance required to access
acute care.
Indications so far are that the POAC approach adds
value to general practice teams and is successful in
avoiding ED referrals.The next phase is to review the
outcomes of the pilot and identify the specifics of a
model that could be implemented across the district.
There are also funding considerations that need
to be worked through.It is expected that further
development of the POAC model will be included in
the 2015/16 Annual Plan.
For more information on the POAC initiative you
can contact the project lead Debbie Davies on
debbie.davies@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

20. PATIENTFLOWPROJECT
BENEFITSEDTARGETS
If anything proves the old saying that when the going gets tough the tough get going,it’s the waiting times in ED over the past few
months.After a good increase in the first quarter of the 2014/15 year,the results have continued to track upwards,and MDHB has now
officially met the shorter stays in ED target for the first time with 95.2%.
The target measures the percentage of patients who are discharged or transferred from ED within six hours.Up until quarter two of last year,
we had not managed to meet the target,but a concerted effort by a large number of staff has seen our results improve dramatically.
A large part of the improvement can be attributed to the patient flow improvement team.Their work to free up beds across the hospital and
allow patients to flow throughout the building much quicker has made it easier for ED to admit patients when needed.This work has also
benefited the wards,with better flow meaning fewer crisis points where bed occupancy reaches 100%.
Most of the team’s efforts have focused on the medical services,which account for around 60% of ED admissions.Over the past few months,
an increase of 15% in the number of medical patients being transferred out of ED quicker has had a big impact on the upswing in our
percentage for the shorter stays target.
The next step is to be mindful of the lessons learned so far,in order to maintain the momentum and keep up the good work; especially as
we head toward the busy winter period.
ELECTIVESERVICESWAITING
TIMESDROPBELOWFOURMONTHS
Ultrasound wait times have been greatly reduced,ED targets are being met,and now the elective teams have achieved green status for
Elective Services Patient Flow Indicators (ESPIs) 2 and 5.
In layman’s terms,this means that no elective patients are waiting greater than four months.In achieving this by the end of December,the
teams have successfully met the Ministry of Health’s target time frame.
Access to elective surgery can make a big change in people’s lives,whether it’s a hip operation to let someone get back to gardening,or a
cataract operation that will allow them to drive again.It’s great to see such hard work being put in to ensure those in our communities who
need it are being seen in a timely manner.Congratulations to all the staff who have worked to achieve this.
20