Mercy Hospital for Women appoints Dr Gillian Paulsen as Director of Medical Services
From medical student to Director of Medical Services: a lifelong journey of Mercy.
From tiny patients to tiny joeys: Mercy Hospital for Women incubator given a second life
In August, Mercy Hospital for Women donated two decommissioned neonatal incubators to zoologist Dr Robyn Coy, founder of Tarcombe Animal Shelter, whose 400-acre wildlife sanctuary was devastated by the Longwood bushfires in January. The fire tore through Robyn’s home and wildlife shelter, destroying her veterinary equipment and leaving her without the specialist equipment she relied…
Mercy Hospital for Women’s NICU marks 50 years of care
This International Neonatal Nurses Day (15 August), Mercy Health is marking five decades of neonatal care by celebrating the generations of nurses who have shaped the unit, and the families whose lives have been changed along the way. For neonatal nurse Olivia Reynolds, the NICU’s story is also deeply personal. Olivia had spent a decade…
Ellen Flint joins Mercy Health as Chief People Officer
Ellen has more than 25 years of people and culture leadership experience across health, aged care and not-for-profit organisations. She joins Mercy Health following a seven-year tenure as Chief People & Communications Officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she led a 120-person team spanning People, Culture, OH&S, Security and Communications. During her time at…
Celebrating our staff on Aged Care Employee Day
Friday 7 August is our opportunity to say thank you to the aged care employees who keep Mercy Health’s Healthy Ageing division moving. From team leader and administrators, to nurses, lifestyle coordinators and care workers, every aged care employee plays an integral role in the care we provide and the joy we bring to our…
Sustainable care in action: Delivering specialist stroke care closer to home
Together, these services create an integrated stroke pathway that allows patients to access specialist neurological care throughout their hospital journey without routinely needing transfer to a tertiary hospital. When patients arrive at the Emergency Department with suspected stroke, specialist neurologists can assess them immediately via telehealth. The care continues throughout their admission, with inpatient neurologist reviews, coordinated…
Elevating Mercy Health’s research culture, one patient at a time
At Mercy Health, one such person is Von Roodenburg, Clinical Trial Coordinator and passionate advocate for women’s health research. Von’s role is pivotal in recruiting patients for national and international studies that aim to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. Among these are the C*STEROID trial, which investigates the effectiveness of corticosteroid…
Continuity of midwifery care improving outcomes for First Nations families
The study found the model of care significantly reduces rates of premature birth, low birthweight and neonatal intensive care admissions, while increasing the likelihood of babies being born healthy and women initiating breastfeeding. At Mercy Hospital for Women, this care is provided through the Nangnak Baban Murrup Midwifery Group Practice, established in 2018 to provide…
MHW teams reduce waste with metal recycling initiative
Nursing teams in the Emergency Department and Birth Suite at Mercy Hospital for Women (MHW) are making a big difference by reducing waste and helping the environment. Over the past two years, the teams have recycled over two tonnes (more than 2,000 kilograms) of single-use metal instruments. Instead of going to landfill, these materials are…
CMV: A preventable virus. A lifetime of impact
Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common infections passed from mother to baby during pregnancy… and one of the least known. In Australia, around 1 in 300 babies are born with congenital CMV each year, and hundreds will experience lifelong complications, including hearing loss, vision impairment, developmental delay and cerebral palsy. Yet what makes this even…