Announcements, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy

Welcome Genevieve new DOTS Team Leader

Posted on December 12, 2024December 12, 2024 by Nicole Cook

12
Dec

We are thrilled to welcome Genevieve to the Empower Healthcare team as DOTS Team Leader. With a robust background in Dietetics, Genevieve brings a wealth of experience across various healthcare settings, shaping her professional skills and patient care approach.

Genevieve’s career began in rural communities, where she gained a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced in these areas. She then transitioned to community health, helping individuals achieve their health goals.

Her time in the acute sector allowed her to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, providing specialised patient care. Throughout her career, Genevieve has also gained significant project management experience, working to implement and improve services in hospitals.

In addition to her clinical work, Genevieve has found great fulfillment in her role as a Dietetic lecturer. She enjoys teaching and mentoring future Dietitians while staying current with evidence-based practices. This varied experience gives her a holistic view of healthcare, enabling her to address individual needs with empathy and a commitment to enhancing lives through nutrition.

Over the past four years, Genevieve has worked at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance. There, she led the development and refinement of program management frameworks and guided teams in embedding best practices to deliver impactful outcomes across research and education programs.

Genevieve thrives in collaborative environments where challenges lead to innovation.

I am motivated by helping clients achieve their goals and supporting colleagues by building trusting relationships with a shared vision for success

When she’s not working, you can find Genevieve walking her cheeky cavoodle puppy, playing backyard cricket with her seven-year-old son, or enjoying dinner out with friends and family. She particularly enjoys family holiday time.

The Empower Healthcare motto, “We Change Lives,” deeply resonates with Genevieve. She believes in creating an environment where talent is nurtured and inclusion is fostered. Through mentoring and support, Genevieve aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of colleagues and clients alike.

Welcome, Genevieve!

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Announcements, Community, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy

An innovative approach to delivering Allied Healthcare to remote WA

Posted on February 28, 2023December 15, 2023 by Nicole Cook

28
Feb

Kojonup: An innovative approach to delivering Allied Healthcare to remote WA

Working together as an integrated team, Empower Healthcare clinicians and Residential Aged Care Facility Springhaven relished the opportunity of in-person collaboration to care for residents despite their remote location.

Kojonup is a town situated 250km Southeast of Perth with a population of little over 1000. Therefore it’s not surprising that the town’s only aged care facility struggles to procure Allied Health locally in order to meet compliance and care standards.

In total WA has only 22 Speech Pathologists per 100,000 of population, and nationally and only 17 per 100,000 in remote regions.

With demand far outstripping the number of allied health clinicians in remote and metropolitan WA areas, Springhaven Lodge in Kojonup was one such facility.

Springhaven Lodge contacted Empower Healthcare West Perth office for Dietetic, Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy services. The challenge of providing these services in the most cost-effective, efficient and sustainable way fell to the team of our Perth based clinicians who understood that an innovative approach to service delivery would be needed.

Empowers interdisciplinary team of Speech Pathologist, Dietitian and OT’s set about developing an understanding of the unique requirements of the facility. They brainstormed the best method of delivering high quality healthcare and the best possible outcomes for the residents and staff. In collaboration with the facility manager, it was decided that a combination of telehealth and in-person assessment, intervention and training was the best approach.

A well planned and outcomes-based trip was organised for the team, who understood that efficiency and efficacy were key when time is limited. During their first day at Springhaven, the clinicians conducted menu audits, individual and process assessments, IDDSI training and implementation and staff training.

Working together as an integrated team, Empower and Springhaven staff relished the opportunity of in-person collaborative care for residents and implementing sustainable interventions and care plans. With ongoing bespoke telehealth and onsite support, Springhaven residents are now receiving the high-quality care they deserve.

We look forward to a building relationship with Springhaven and its residents and bringing this approach to other remote Residential Aged Care facilities in the future.

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Announcements, Speech Therapy

Difficulty Swallowing?

Posted on July 1, 2022July 1, 2022 by Nicole Cook

01
Jul

Humans swallow at least 500 times a day. Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex that we don’t think about unless there is a problem with the process, this difficulty swallowing is known as dysphagia.

When challenges with swallowing do arise, they can cause distress and pose a significant risk to the health of the person who suddenly must consider every mouthful of food, sip of water or reflexive swallow.

What causes swallowing difficulties?
The most common causes of swallowing difficulties in adults arise from neurological conditions like stroke and Parkinson’s Disease. In children, developmental and congenital problems can affect swallowing and interfere with feeding and growth.

What are the warning signs for dysphagia?
Most of us will experience an episode of choking occasionally, luckily this is usually self-managed with a good amount of strong coughing and occasionally some help by those around us.

The real cause for concern is when these episodes occur frequently and do not resolve.

Other signs that swallowing is a problem are:
• an inability to swallow certain foods or liquids
• bringing food back up, sometimes through the nose
• a sensation that food is stuck in your throat or chest
• persistent drooling of saliva
• being unable to chew food properly
• a gurgly, wet-sounding voice when eating or drinking

Over time, dysphagia can also cause symptoms such as weight loss and repeated chest infections.

How do Speech Pathologists help people with swallowing difficulties?
Empower Speech Pathologists offer comprehensive swallowing services for people who are struggling with dysphagia and can help clients and their caregivers manage eating and drinking with less stress and more enjoyment by providing practical guidelines, recommendations, and therapy.

Empower’s Swallowing services include
• Full Swallowing assessments.
• Advice on posture and positioning for meals.
• Texture modification recommendations.
• Saliva Management
• Oral Motor Therapy.
• Compensatory strategies for safe swallowing.
• Mealtime Management Planning.
• Telehealth services and support.
• Education and training for clients, parents, carers, families, and support workers.

Our services can be accessed through a range of funding options and tailored to meet the needs of clients, participants and their caregivers.

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

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