A ten-year journey from Food Services expert to Mortality Officer lends QEII AO Claudia Blick rare insights on some of the hospital’s most vital - and most unseen - services.
Celebrating ten years of service and six months in her new role, Claudia reflects fondly on her unconventional career path.
Prior to joining the Safety and Quality Unit, Claudia spent more than nine years with the Food Services team, working her way up from assistant to team leader, cook, and nutritionist.
Ready for a sea change, Claudia says it was her own curiosity and a craving for a more family-friendly schedule that first drew her to mortality reporting in May 2024.
“I didn’t know a lot about mortality, but I wanted to give it a go, so I just went for it,” she said.
Six months on, Claudia hasn’t looked back. In her quiet and impactful way, Claudia takes pride in ensuring the final chapter of each patient’s healthcare journey is handled with dignity.
Between overseeing death certificates, liaising with doctors, coordinating with funeral homes, and working closely with coroners to decode suspicious cases, Claudia's role is one that calls for careful attention to detail and profound empathy.
Ensuring the process surrounding a patient's death is handled with the utmost care, accuracy, and respect, Claudia says it’s the human element of her work that motivates her to go the extra mile every day.
“I always think about the families and loved ones involved, because I want to make the process as reassuring and easy for them as possible. The most satisfying part of my role is knowing that I’ve handled each case with care and respect, and that I’ve taken that burden from the family.”
No two days are the same in Claudia’s world, where compassionate care and detailed mortality reporting go hand in hand.
"Understanding the medical terminology in every report and understanding how someone has passed is really interesting to me. I’m always learning new things about the human anatomy—its systems, comorbidities, and how a person passes. It’s fascinating to see how it all works,” she said.
Proudly sporting her 10 Year Service pin, Claudia looks forward to a long career in healthcare.
“Professionally, this role ticks a lot of boxes for me, but I’m excited to see what comes.”
Thank you for your ongoing service to the QEII Community, and congratulations on a year of achievement, Claudia!