Author: Staff Writer

Milestone For Groundbreaking Non-Surgical Heart Device

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Why it matters:

FMR occurs when the left atrium or left ventricle of the heart dilates, causing the mitral valve annulus to also dilate and prevent the mitral valve leaflets from properly closing.

The Carillon System is designed to treat the primary cause of FMR in patients and is the first and only device to demonstrate a reduction in regurgitant volume and favourable left ventricular remodelling.

How it works:

The implantable device consists of a proximal anchor and a distal anchor connected by a shaping ribbon.

Utilising the proximity of the coronary sinus to the mitral annular apparatus, the device is designed to reduce mitral annulus dilatation upon deployment, thereby reducing functional mitral regurgitation (FMR).

The implant is inserted through a catheter and hence requires no surgical procedure.

Ask the expert:

Gregory D. Casciaro, President and CEO of Cardiac Dimensions Inc.

“It was not long ago that surgical intervention was the final solution to treating FMR. We are now part of a new paradigm of minimally invasive care that can safely and effectively treat FMR in a wide range of patients. Because the Carillon System preserves mitral valve leaflet integrity, patients can be treated earlier in the highly progressive disease cycle.”

The details:

Cardiac Dimensions Inc is a leader in the development of innovative, minimally invasive treatments to address heart failure and related cardiovascular conditions.

For more information, visit www.cardiacdimensions.com.

Government Releases New Charter for Aged Care Rights and Quality Standards

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Ask the expert:

Maree McCabe, Dementia Australia CEO:

“The Charter of Aged Care Rights states that people receiving Australian Government funded aged care have the right to safe and high-quality care and services, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have their identity, culture, and diversity valued and supported.”
 
“The new standards place consumers at the centre of their care and focuses on giving people greater choice and flexibility, as well as making it easier for consumers, their families and carers to understand the regulation and what can be expected from a service.”

The details:

More information on the new Charter and Standards can be found at www.agedcare.govcms.gov.au/ensuring-quality

New App Developed to Assist in Medication Management

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How it works:

Patients can simply go to the myMedPac website or download myMedPac from the app store to register.

Once a profile is setup, myMedPac works with partnered pharmacies and communicates between doctors and patients for medical history and any prescriptions required.

Ask the expert:

Joe Zhou Founder and CEO

“The service greatly improves medication compliance and makes life so much easier for both patients and carers.”

“So often patients are getting hospitalised not because they aren’t prescribed the right medication, but they miss doses and get medications mixed up.”

The details:

To find out more go to the myMedPac website at www.mymedpac.com.au 

First Human Drug To Be Completely Designed by Artificial Intelligence

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Why it matters:

Although computers have been used in the past to help in drug design, this vaccine technology was independently designed by an AI program called SAM (Search Algorithm for Ligands), created by the Flinders University team.

How it works:

The algorithm generates trillions of theoretical drugs before creating a shortlist that can then be tested in a laboratory.

Ask the expert:

Nikolai Petrovsky Professor at Flinder Univerisity

“This represents the start of a new era where artificial intelligence is going to play an increasingly dominant role in drug discovery and design.”

Leaving Defence Force Personnel to Receive Free Health Checks

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Facts and figures:

The Australian Government provides more than $230 million a year towards veteran mental health.

This is part of more than $11 billion for veterans and their families in this year’s budget.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Federal Minister for Health

“These health checks are specifically designed for veterans and allows them to keep on top of their health after they leave the ADF.”

“The Veteran Health Check allows a veteran and their GP to act on any issues before they become major problems and for the GP to assess their patient’s current physical and mental wellbeing.”

The details:

Australian Defence Force members who transitioned before 30 June 2019, will continue to be able to gain access to the comprehensive One-off Veteran Health Check (formerly known as the one-off ADF Post-Discharge GP Health Assessment) at any time post-transition.

HIV Infection Rates Reported Lowest In Almost Two Decades

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Facts and figures:

The Kirby Institute Report confirmed 835 HIV diagnoses across Australia in 2018.

This represents a decline in new diagnoses of 23 per cent in the past five years and this is the lowest number of new diagnoses since 2001.

The largest decline in HIV diagnoses has been seen in homosexual men, which has declined by 30 per cent in the past five years.

How it works:

Australia’s National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy is supported by an investment of $45.4 million in the 2019 budget.

The strategy aims to reduce the impact of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections, including HIV.

Key initiatives include:

  • Listing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention on the PBS
  • Including additional HIV treatment medicines
  • Ensuring the broadest possible access to new direct-acting antiviral treatments for hepatitis C

In addition, $5 million will be invested over two years and will provide support to national peak organisations to assist in implementing these initiatives.

Government to Accept Recommendations of Stillbirth Research and Education Report

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Key points:

The accepted recommendations include:

  • Developing a National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan
  • Investing in stillbirth research
  • Developing best practice and culturally appropriate resources
  • Working with States and Territories to make improvements in key areas including improving national perinatal mortality data collections, improving access to publicly-funded stillbirth autopsies, building the perinatal pathology workforce, developing more culturally and linguistically appropriate models of care, bereavement support and protocols for public hospitals and community health services.

Facts and figures:

In Australia, about 6 babies are stillborn every day and 2 die in the neonatal period (within 28 days of birth), with congenital anomaly accounting for almost a third of all perinatal deaths.

Rates of perinatal death have remained relatively constant since 1997.

Whilst the rates of perinatal death of babies born to Indigenous women have been decreasing, the rate is still higher than compared to babies of non-Indigenous women.

Ask the Minister:

Greg Hunt Minister for Health

“Reducing the rate of stillbirth in Australia, including providing the best possible support services for families living with the tragedy of stillbirth, is a Morrison Government health and wellbeing priority.”

“We understand the importance of this issue not only for the women affected, but for their partners, families and the broader community.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Fadwa Al-Yaman, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) spokesperson.

“Ongoing monitoring of perinatal deaths could help build the evidence base to drive better outcomes and that the AIHW was also working on improving the quality of data around contributory factors.”

“The report provides valuable information to enable effective policy, practice and services for mothers and babies.”

The details:

The full response will be available once formally tabled in the Senate at www.health.gov.au

Report Finds Correlation Between Multiple GPs and Reduced Shared Patient Information

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Facts and figures:

People with no usual GP were three times as likely as those who had a usual GP to report that their usual place of care did not seem informed about their most recent specialist visit.

They were also twice as likely to report that their usual place of care did not seem informed about their follow-up needs or medication changes following a visit to the emergency department.

Ask the expert:

Richard Juckes AIHW spokesperson

“The sharing of health information between health professionals and across care settings is an essential component of health-care management and continuity of care.”

 “Having access to complete information about a patient’s health history enables providers to deliver care that is appropriate, current, and meets a patient’s needs.”

The details:

The report is the second in the AIHW’s coordination of health care series.

The first report, Coordination of health care: experiences with GP care among patients aged 45 and over 2016, looked at ongoing relationships between patients and their usual GP or place of care.

Victorian Government to Change Discriminatory IVF Policy and Practice

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How it works:

  • Change legislation to ensure same-sex female couples are recognised as one family. Allowing same-sex couples to use donated sperm and eggs or embryo, removing discrimination and increasing the chances of being able to have biologically-related siblings by using the one donor.
  • Undertake further consultation on removing the discriminatory requirement that Victorians hoping to grow their family with IVF must first undergo police and child protection checks, which can cause long delays.
  • Ensure more Victorians can become a parent through IVF, without the high costs, with public IVF services – bulk billed and subsidised for low-income Victorians.
  • Improve quality and safety by investigating reports of rogue practitioners who put patients at risk or peddle false hope about their chances of conception.

Ask the Minister:

Jenny Mikakos Victorian Minister for Health

“We know that while IVF can be a life-changing experience for many families, it can also be an emotional and financial rollercoaster. That’s why this once-in-a-generation review was so important.”

“We’re removing unfair hurdles faced by too many families and making IVF easier and more affordable to access – it will mean the world to thousands of Victorian families.”

Ask the expert:

Dr Sue Matthews Chief Executive of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria

“We welcome the report’s recognition that current regulation is not fit-for-purpose and are pleased to be playing our role in creating equitable access to IVF.”

“An important factor will be getting the structures and mechanisms right, including setting up appropriate governance and funding arrangements.”

The details:

The changes are in response to the findings of the landmark report commissioned in 2018.

The full report can be viewed at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/patient-care/perinatal-reproductive/assisted-reproduction/regulatory-review

Australian World First Surgical Robot

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How it works:

The project aims to design snake-like robots as miniaturised and highly dexterous surgical tools.

The robotic bodies will be fitted with computer vision capabilities and have the ability to navigate around obstacles in confined spaces such as the anatomy of the human body.

Ask the expert:

Ross Crawford, Medical and Healthcare Robotics Group Project Leader

“At the moment surgeons use what is best described as rigid ‘one-size-fits-all’ tools for surgical procedures, even though patients and their anatomy can vary significantly.”

“The surgical system being explored has the potential to vastly surpass capabilities of current state-of-the-art surgical tools.”

The details:

More information can be found in the latest annual report at https://www.roboticvision.org/wp-content/uploads/Australian-Centre-for-Robotic-Vision_2018-Annual-Report_Spreads.pdf