SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE HOSPITALS Redevelopment and construction news
Issue 4: April 2022
OUR PATIENTS: WHO WILL THEY BE?
With our opening soon approaching, many are beginning to ask about our patients. Who will they be? What sort of care will they need? How will our programs assist them?
manage on their own. These periods can be triggered by all sorts of events like losing a job, loss of a loved one, a pandemic, the birth of a baby, caring for a family member, illness or divorce.
Let us paint you a picture.
This is where we come in.
Our patients will be just like you or your work colleague, your postman, your dad, your friend or the kind lady who serves you at the supermarket. They will be normal people who are facing life’s challenges who need a little extra TLC.
St John of God Langmore Centre will offer inpatient and outpatient mental health care to the community. We will have three inpatient units for those who require a hospital stay- an adult mental health unit, an alcohol and other drugs unit and a perinatal mental health unit. Our consulting suites will allow others to make outpatient appointments with our specialist psychiatrists and it will all be supported by our comprehensive suite of day programs. We also look forward to offering community education and information sessions around mental health.
In fact, 1 in 5 of us will face mental health issues each year in Australia. Life is full of ups and downs and sometimes there are periods where people find it more difficult to cope and
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: March progress
Left: Patient room fit out
Middle: Perinatal mental health unit
Right: Historical stained glass installed
OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES The care and services we will offer are part of a planned admission. Our patients must consent to their admission and we will be legally unable to admit a person who does not agree to stay with us. Without an emergency department, we will be unable to provide care to people requiring emergency assistance. instead, they will need to present to an emergency department. We will cater to the large cohort of patients who are ready to seek help, make a change in their lives and are obliging to hospital care.
ADULT MENTAL HEALTH Our adult mental health unit will cater to people aged 18+ years. These patients may be facing a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, a mood disorder or PTSD. Sometimes these are conditions a person will face throughout their life, but for others it may be a one-off situation. Either way, our multi-disciplinary team are specialists in providing compassionate care backed up by strong clinical evidence. The length of stay depends on the individual patient, but on average, most inpatients will stay for around 3 weeks.
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS People sometimes have a picture in mind around what addicition looks like- scary and dangerous. In reality, everyday people can become addicted to a variety of substances and require assistance in removing them from their lives. Living with a physical ailment may lead someone to become addicted to their pain medication, a glass a day after work may become a bottle a day or a bit of fun starts to become a big problem.
PARENT INFANT MENTAL HEALTH Having a baby is a life-changing event. While it is usually a happy one, sometimes the change in life can be difficult for new parents. Perinatal mental health issues can present in new parents either during pregnancy or after the birth of the baby. Our custom designed unit will offer spacious rooms for new parents and their baby to seek the care they need, allowing them to bond and learn new skills and coping techniques, all under the guidance of our clinical team.
DAY PROGRAMS Our suite of day programs will cover a broad range of concerns and themes and are available to both inpatients and outpatients. They will allow patients to spend a day in a group environment, focussed on a specific goal and engaging with clinicians to learn coping strategies, skills and management tools. rTMS Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a specialist treatment which can be offered to both inpatients and outpatients in our custom designed suite. The non-invasive treatment uses magnetic stimulation to treat major depressive disorders when other treatments have been exhausted. The patient is completely alert during the treatment, which is quick, safe, painless and has a low risk of side-effects. ECT Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be offered to patients who have not responded to other treatment for their depression or bipolar disorder. It uses brief electrical stimulation and is administeerd under a general anaesthetic. ECT can trigger changes in brain chemistry which can reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions. CONSULTING Our consulting suites will be a busy hub for our team of psychiatrists to offer treatment by appointment. GP referral is required.
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION | APRIL 2022
OUR CARE: A TEAM APPROACH Patients are at the centre of everything we do. The care we will provide reflects this sentiment and our multidiscliplinary team will combine their skills and expertise to provide a well-rounded and holistic experience for each and every patient. Multi-disciplinary care is an integrated team approach where professionals from different disciplines work together to deliver comprehensive care addressing as many patient needs as possible. Throughout their hospital experience, patients will be exposed to a variety of mental health specialists, including: • • • • • • • • • •
Psychiatrists Psychologists Mental health nurses Exercise physiologists Art therapists Music therapists Allied health professionals Pastoral practitioners Physicans/GPs Social work
There are significant benefits to this multi-disciplinary approach which sees increased patient satisfaction, enhanced treatment and quality of care and better outcomes. CARE BASED ON VALUES St John of God Health Care is a values based organisation and our practices are always underpinned by the five core values of respect, excellence, justice, compassion and hospitality. We welcome people of all cultures,
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Pastoral practitioner
Exercise Physiologist
Mental health nurse Art/music therapist
Physician/GP
Allied health clinician
religions and beliefs and we will never discriminate against sexual orientation or gender. Our compassionate and non-judgemental caregivers will help our patients to feel safe, welcome and at home. PATIENT JOURNEY MAPPING As we lead up to the commissioning of the new facility, our team are busy stepping through each and every stage of the patient journey using a prototype patient called ‘Jane.’ Our processes and practices are being assessed, moulded and adapted and the building and facilities themselves are being scrutinized for practicality, safety and comfort. It’s part of our commitment to ensuring every step of the patient experience is valuable, comfortable and in line with our values.
A NEW FACILITY WITH A LONG HISTORY While our introduction of private mental health services may be new to Berwick, we have a long history of providing care throughout the south east of Melbourne and the Langmore Centre will be the latest facility to carry on the legacy. 1949
2005 2022
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The Sisters of St John of God purchased the 28 bed Brighton Hospital. The two founding Sisters were Mother Raphael Tuttle and Sister Alcantra Byrne. Neither had psychiatric training, but both willingly accepting the challenge of running a psychiatric hospital. The hospital closed in 1999 and funds were preserved while St John of God Health Care (SJGHC) sought a new home for mental health care. SJGHC takes ownership of Pinelodge Clinic and transitions it’s mental health service to the Dandenong facility to carry on the work of the Sisters. Pinelodge Clinic will relocate it’s services to the Langmore Centre, Berwick to meet changing and growing community need. Services will be enhanced by the introduction of the region’s first Perinatal Mental Health Unit.
Above: St John of God Brighton Hospital 1949-1999
UNDER CONSTRUCTION | APRIL 2022
A sneak peek
Above: Decking for patient outdoor lounge Below: Progress with interior fit out
Above: Updated facade Below: Stained glass transported from Pinelodge Clinic
Construction Timeline: To be completed: -Elevated Decks/courtyards -Alcohol and other drugs unit -Swing/Special unit -Front reception & Executive
Mar 2022
To be completed: -Adult mental health unit -Neurostimulation Suite -Art Studios & Exercise Studio
Perinatal Unit complete
Apr 2022
May 2022
Stephenson House completed. Handover at month’s end & start of builders commissioning.
Commissioning period. -Caregiver orientation and training -Furniture and equipment -Scenario testing -Official opening and blessing
Open to patients
Jun 2022
Jul 2022
Aug 2022
For more information on the Lanngmore Centre redevelopment: sjog.org.au/our-locations/st-john-of-god-langmore-centre
UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Issue 4 April 2022 St John of God Health Care South East Melbourne Hospitals
info.langmore@sjog.org.au @StJohnofGodLangmoreCentre