Excellence recognised

The partnership that stood the test of time to win the Interprofessional recognition award

During the height of Covid uncertainty, a chance meeting between the Metro South Public Health Unit (MSPHU) and Metro South Oral Health (MSOH) department gave life to a new interprofessional healthcare team.

Members from both departments worked collaboratively helping with Covid-19 contact tracing. The team worked tirelessly to prevent outbreaks within the community. They were presented with the Interprofessional Recognition team award in the 2022 International Nurses Day awards at PA Hospital. This has established a blueprint for how teams can think outside the box and forge exceptional working relationships to address emerging issues.

Oral Health Therapist – Leah Hobbs, was part of the team and has kindly shared her experience with us.

How were you redeployed?

“The Metro South Oral Health Director at the time of the pandemic outbreak floated the idea of the oral health and dental therapists supporting the Public Health Unit. At the time, oral health services were working under Tier 3 and 4 restrictions and some therapists had training in public health. The therapists were fully trained and deployed whenever there was an outbreak in the health service area.”

Was there extra training? And if so, what was involved?

“Yes, there was extra training provided to us. This involved training to be a Contact Tracing Officer (CTO) on iLearn (Queensland Health online training platform). This was mandatory for appointment as a CTO in Queensland. There was also lots of Face to Face training session with a Public Health Nurse for Ongoing in-service training as well as additional training through the Public Health Unit: John Hopkins University online CTO Course”

Did you learn new skills?

“Yes, I am grateful to have learnt new skills working collaboratively in an inter-professional team.

New skills included exposure to additional computer programs that are not normally used in oral health therapy practice, as well as the management of complex phone calls and complaints. I feel this has helped me manage my patients in the dental chair”.

Was it difficult working in an inter-professional team?

“I worked with many other healthcare members, including Public Health Nurses, Public Health Physicians and Registrars, Epidemiologists, Environmental Health Officers, Hospital nurse staff, and Public Health administration teams.

The partnership between MSPHU and MSOH has stood the test of time managing 13 outbreak situations; from the return of overseas travellers before the international borders were closed, through to support for Victoria, 10 organisational, restaurant, and school clusters and then the management of the community cases and aged care outbreaks after state borders reopened.” I have been very fortunate to have worked with so many amazing people at the MSPHU. Every outbreak was a ‘crisis’ but the kindness shown to us was appreciated. No question was too silly, escalation was an easy process, and the nursing team supported our contribution. Saying yes to working late nights, weekends and public holidays was never an issue due to the team’s kindness and support to all of us.”

How has this experience benefited you?

“I have been exposed to so many areas and teams within the health care

service. This has mostly benefited the patients that I treat, as I am more aware of allied health services that patients are able to access and have a further understanding of referral pathways within the health service.

I also got to work with therapists that I would normally never see as they work in different locations. It was amazing to put a face to a name and get to know my colleagues better and make new friendships.

Are you still working within this role or are you back in the clinic?

“I enjoyed my time working in an interprofessional team and learning new skills, but am happily now back working full time in the dental clinic, treating patients”.

Is there anything else you’d like to add or share?

“Working with the Public Health Unit was such an enjoyable time in my working career. I have an undergraduate degree in Public Health as well as a BOH degree so it was fantastic to have the opportunity to apply both skill sets and help my community. The PHU team were so fantastic to work with and lifelong friendships have been made. Through this redeployment, I met a wonderful sexual health nurse and we collaborated recently to give a lecture to the CQU students on links between oral health with risky behaviours for teenagers and young adults”.

Thank you for sharing your unique experience with us Leah and thank you for your tireless efforts in keeping our communities safe throughout the pandemic.