Category: Patients

New Device Created to Help Assist in the Severity of Parkinson’s

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Attached to the patient’s hand in what resembles a bionic hand, the device utilises a tiny motor to bend the patient’s middle finger repetitively over a period of 30 seconds. With the objective to measure any muscle stiffness, this is then recorded and can be sent to the patients GP.

A stiff the finger can indicate the more advanced the disease, as muscle stiffness is considered one of the first early warning signs of Parkinson’s.

Dr Thushara Perera, Research Fellow at the Bionics Institute and inventor of the BiRD, said the device not only offers a simple diagnosis in an otherwise complicated condition, but may also one day help monitor patients where they need it most—in their own homes.

“In the future, patients may be able to use the BiRD at home to monitor their own health and provide a report to their doctor, just like a blood glucose monitor for diabetics. This will help their doctor decide how to give the best treatment to their patients, including which medications to administer.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Another Drug Added to the PBS As Health Becomes A Key Battleground in the Election

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The drug Vimpat® (lacosamide) will be extended to include treatment of intractable partial epileptic seizures for children aged four to 15 years, in combination with two or more anti-epileptic medicines. The medicine is designed to assist with brain chemicals that send signals to nerves that affect the possibility of seizure.

There are approximately 14,000 children aged 15 years and under with partial onset seizures and this medicine will help 870 children per year who have trouble in controlling their epilepsy and seizures.

The medication is designed to stop children whom suffer seizures that affect only one part of the brain and they experience inadequate seizure control with currently available anti-epileptic drugs.

The medicine will be available on the PBS from 1st of May 2019.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Measles Outbreaks On The Rise

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The accepted vaccinated rate for community immunity is 95%, however currently there are only 93.5% of 2-year-old children in Australia that have received their required two doses of measles vaccination.

Year to date there had already been 83 measles notifications in 2019, compared with 103 for the whole of 2018 and 81 for the whole of 2017.

The Australian Academy of Science has been left with the task of developing and distributing material that will aim to raise awareness amongst individuals and health professionals about the risks of measles and the importance of being fully vaccinated against the disease.

The promotion will be primarily through online channels and through engagement through media channels.

The four videos will focus on:

  • A measles explainer, to describe the disease’s epidemiology and symptoms.
  • An educational video for health professionals to raise awareness of increased notifications and the importance of talking to patients about their vaccination status and the availability of catch up vaccines (where appropriate).
  • A promotion for travellers to ensure they are aware of the risks of measles in countries where the disease is endemic or where there are outbreaks, and that a cost-effective vaccination option is available to protect them from the disease.
  • A promotion for those born between 1966 and 1994, to encourage them to check their vaccination status and talk to their GP if they are not sure.

The first symptoms of the virus are fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and general unwell feeling. With a rash appearing after a few days, the rash starts on the face, spreads down to the body and lasts for 4-7 days. Young children (especially infants) may also experience diarrhoea.

Up to a third of people with measles will have complications. These include ear infections, diarrhoea, and pneumonia, and may require hospitalisation. About one in every 1000 people with measles develops encephalitis (swelling of the brain).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Opposition’s $26 Million For Clinical Trials

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In a follow-on announcement from Labor’s signature Medicare Cancer Plan, is an investment of $26 million for clinical trials over four years. With the aim to ensure as many Australians as possible can access trials that can improve patient lives.

The funding will be broken down into three main segments and will be invested in the work of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance, they include:

  • $12 million to support two research projects – one cancer related
  • $10 million to provide more support for existing Clinical Trial Coordinating Centres
  • $4 million to help ensure that results from clinical trials are quickly implemented

Clinical trials however don’t just benefit patients and the advancement of medical knowledge there are also estimated to be worth around $1 billion to the Australian economy each year.

The environment in which clinical trials are conducted is complex, often occurring across multiple jurisdictions and with every study needing ethics and governance approvals before it can commence.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Increased funding a boon MedTech in Victoria

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos has announced Victorian hospitals will receive $60 million in the latest round of the Medical Equipment Replacement Program and Engineering Infrastructure Replacement Program grants.

Both these programs are aiming to replace existing end-of-life, critical, high-risk assets that are deemed essential to maintaining life and safety in the state’s health care sector. Whilst maintaining ongoing continuity for acute services in public hospitals.

Jenny Mikakos stated “New state-of-the-art medical equipment and better hospital infrastructure will make sure more Victorians can get the world-class care they need, when they need it, closer to home.”

The grant funds will be focused on purchasing updated and new cutting-edge medical equipment such as mammography units, fluoroscopy units, digital X-ray machines and gamma cameras. In what would may be that start of a funding windfall for the states MedTech sector.

The State of Victorian is coming off several years of budget surplus thanks to a booming population and property market and is currently delivering the biggest pipeline of infrastructure projects in the state’s history. Having invested $3.2 billion on infrastructure in a first term Government, with another $3.8 billion to be delivered over the next four years.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

A Pandora’s Box of Possibilities for World First Trial

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Royal Melbourne Hospital will begin an early feasibility study for the safety of the Stentrode™ device. The Stentrode™ is a device that is placed inside a blood vessel of the brain located in the area that controls movement, the motor cortex.

Once implanted, the Stentrode™ picks up signals and transmits them to artificial intelligence software that can allow a person to communicate or control a computer.

It is the only investigational technology of its kind that does not require open brain surgery.

Five participants with loss of motor function due to paralysis from spinal cord injury, motor neuron disease, stroke, muscular dystrophy and loss of limbs were chon to take place in the ground-breaking trial. The research will be the first of its kind to be performed in humans and will attempt to find safer, more effective ways to implant electrical sensors in patients’ brains.

Testing is supported by Synchron (formerly known as SmartStent) that spun out of the University of Melbourne. A company that was founded in 2012 after a cold-call pitch to the Pentagon with a new concept for a Brain-Computer Interface by CEO and founder Thomas Oxley.

Synchron claims this technology has the potential to enable patients with paralysis to take back digital control of their world, without having to move a muscle.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR RADIATION THERAPY FOR REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Announced as part of the $2.3 billion Medicare Cancer Plan announced in the Budget-in-reply this week, an elected Labor government would provide $60 million towards 13 radiation therapy facilities in rural and regional areas.

This follows on from the Coalition’s commitment of $45.5 million for regional radiation therapy in Tuesday’s Budget.

In Australia, radiation therapy is underused in the fight against cancer. In Europe and North America, 1 in 2 cancer patients receives it as part of their treatment, here it is only 1 in 3.

The medical technology industry has long called for greater funding for radiotherapy in Australia, with a campaign launched recently by the Radiation Therapy Advisory Group, a group formed in 2017, comprising of expert individuals and organisations dedicated to raising the profile of radiation therapy.

The Radiation Therapy for Regional Australia campaign was launched in Newcastle earlier this year, and their success in bringing the plight of rural and regional cancer patients to the attention of government has helped to ensure that all Australians have access to the treatment they need.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

FIND OUT HOW MUCH $$$ YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL GETS

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That sounds interesting! Tell me more.

The Federal Government is responsible for jointly funding Australia’s public hospitals, which are owned and operated by the State and Territory Governments. Health Funding Facts shows how much hospital, Medicare and medicines funding your local hospital network and electorate receive from the Australian Government – think of it as a one-stop-shop!

So how does the website work?

  • Hospital funding – enter your postcode or your local public hospital from the menu to reveal the Australian Government’s funding
  • Medicare funding – enter your postcode or Federal electorate to find out how much Medicare funding was received between 2012-13 and 2017-18
  • PBS funding – reveals how much was received in PBS benefits by people in your area between 2012-13 and 2017-18

Hit me with the facts!

Under the next National Health Reform Agreement, from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025, the Federal Government will contribute $130 billion in funding to Australia’s public hospitals

Nationwide, the Federal Government’s funding to all States and Territories for public hospital services is growing from $13.3 billion in 2012-13 to an estimated $28.7 billion in 2024-25

KEY INSIGHT: Currently in Australia, close to nine out of every ten GP services are bulk-billed, meaning that Aussie patients do not have any out-of-pocket costs when they visit their local GP.

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THE FREEZE IS OVER!

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That’s hot! – tell me more.

The Commonwealth Government has injected almost $200 million into providing greater rebates for diagnostic imaging. This includes ultrasounds and x-rays, CT scans, fluoroscopy, mammography, and interventional radiology scans.

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Tony Bartone, welcomed the long overdue announcement by the Government. The industry has been calling for these changes for many years.

What does this mean for patients?

Out-of-pocket medical expenses for patients who need life-saving scans, including ultrasounds and x-rays will now be reduced starting from July 2020. This change is an important step in addressing the rising costs patients are forced to cover.

Investment in high-quality diagnostic imaging services also makes good economic sense, by ultimately saving taxpayers from much higher downstream costs in the acute care sector.

KEY INSIGHT: with more than 9 million Aussies relying on diagnostic imaging services each year, these services play a critical role in a world-class, 21st century health system. With it, many modern medical treatments would not be possible.

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Heart Tech Gives Second Chance at Life

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And it seemed to never be the same again. Following the burglary, his health started to decline, and one year later he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure requiring emergency surgery to implant one of our pacemakers.

About 12 months after receiving his pacemaker, Tyrone’s heart began retaining fluid – a dangerous complication for someone with congestive heart failure – and his doctors recommended our CardioMEMS HF System. The heart failure monitoring system allows Morris’ doctors to keep a close watch on him, wherever he is.

But even with the pacemaker and CardioMEMS, Tyrone’s heart kept getting worse – he needed a transplant. As a bridge-to-transplant therapy, his doctors implanted our HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). The HeartMate 3 LVAD takes over the pumping function of your heart and can prolong the lives of those waiting for a transplant. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]