12 The Ramsay Way 2018 | 02 HOSPITAL NEWS Pindara Private Hospital is the first hospital on the Gold
New technology takes aim at Pindara Private Hospital
Coast to purchase the new Stryker AIM 1588 visualisation
technology to be used in minimally invasive procedures.
The Stryker AIM 1588 Platform utilises cutting edge infrared
illumination and military grade visualisation technologies
that can be used to reduce
surgical risks and procedure
time, with no compromise in
patients’ outcomes.
This technology has
applications across numerous
specialties including
gynaecologic oncology, ENT
and colorectal surgery.
The first surgeon at Pindara to utilise the new technology
was leading Gynaecological Oncologist, Associate
Professor Marcelo Nascimento, who has been using the new
equipment in selected patients diagnosed with endometrial
and cervical cancers.
Dr Nascimento was excited about the addition of the
platform to Pindara’s already extensive surgical facilities and
the advantages it will provide to surgeons and patients.
“This technology has been proven to be highly accurate
in identifying potential sites for cancer dissemination. It
definitely has a major impact in decreasing intraoperative,
immediate post-operative and also long term risks to
patients,” Dr Nascimento said.
Dr Nascimento recently used the technology in combination
with the sentinel node technique at Pindara in a procedure
on a patient with endometrial cancer.
“The imaging guided Sentinel Node Biopsy technology
will decrease unnecessary morbidity to patients with no
compromise of oncologic outcomes. It is reliable and has
very low levels of false results,”
Robotic
surgery comes
to Warringal
Orthopaedics
Surgeons at Warringal Private hospital are
now able to offer an innovative treatment
option for adults living with early to mid-stage
osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to
all three compartments of the knee.
Robotic-arm assisted partial knee surgery delivers
a minimally invasive procedure for early to
mid-stage osteoarthritis, confined to one or two
compartments of the knee.
Experienced robotic surgeon Mr Francis Ma
performed the first partial knee replacement at
Warringal using the MAKO robotic assisted arm.
Francis said "The case went very smoothly. The
robot performed perfectly and the scrub team did
very well".
The Mako system enables the surgeon to
complete a patient specific pre-surgical plan,
assessing bone preparation areas and customized
implant positioning using a CT scan of the
patient’s own knee. During the procedure, the
system creates a three-dimensional, virtual view
of the patient’s bone surface and correlates the
image to the pre-programmed surgical plan.
As the surgeon uses the robotic arm, its tactile,
auditory and visual feedback limits the bone
preparation to the diseased areas and provides for
real time adjustments and more optimal implant
positioning and placement for each individual patient.
Robotic-arm assisted partial knee surgery can
potentially result in a more rapid recovery and
shorter hospital stay than traditional total knee
replacement surgery, as well as a more natural
feeling knee following surgery.
Warringal surgeon Dr Francis Ma performs the first partial
knee replacement at Warringal using the MAKO robotic
assisted arm
Pindara Opens New Renal Unit
After an extensive planning and building process, Pindara
has now opened its new Renal Unit.
The impressive new space is double the size of the old unit
and can now accommodate up to six patients at a time. The
new unit is adjacent to a private courtyard, is light and airy and
has been furnished with brand new recliner chairs for patient
comfort, individual TV screens for each patient, a kitchenette
where patients and their guests can make something to eat
or drink while they wait and also includes a private treatment
room which patients can utilise should they wish.
The unit employs the latest Fresenius dialysis machines;
ensuring patient treatment is of the highest standard. The
Renal Dialysis Coordinator, RN Paul Lowes has 20 plus years’
experience in dialysis treatment and works closely with Medical
Director Dr Mohamed Khafaji to provide the best care possible.
The unit performs haemodialysis/haemodiafiltration six days
a week, Monday to Saturday from 7.00am to 2.30pm and now
has capacity to take on holiday patients who need treatment
when away from home. Our central location, just minutes
away from Gold Coast vacation hot spots such as Surfers
Paradise and Broadbeach offers convenience for holiday
makers requiring treatment while travelling.
New car parking spaces for renal patients are located right
outside the Renal Unit, providing quick and easy access for
our patients. The Unit is also supported by a fully equipped
ICU and comprehensive 24 hour Emergency Department.
Ramsay Commences Study in Mental Health Outcomes
Commencing in 2018,
patients at Ramsay Health
Care mental health facilities
who are receiving treatment
for depression and
anxiety will be offered the
opportunity to participate
in a study to compare
their outcomes against
international standards.
Patients will provide feedback
through the course of their
treatment and post treatment, according to a framework
established by the International Consortium of Health
Outcome Measures (ICHOM).
Seven Ramsay Health Care mental health sites will participate
in this first in Australia study that will recruit 1000 patients and
be the largest of its kind in the country.
The project has been funded by Ramsay Hospital Research
Foundation (RHRF) and a national steering committee has been
established to guide the development of this and other outcomesbased
projects that evolve from the information collected.
Foundation CEO Nicola Ware said the project would align
with the Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation’s goals to
improve patient outcomes and to embed research in the
provision of clinical care.
A digital platform, Vision Tree Optimal Care (VTOC), has
been selected to support the research initiative. VTOC is a
fully cloud-based, multi-site, multi-discipline patient-centred
outcomes and engagement platform, designed to deliver
improved quality and efficiency in patient care. It is currently
used at over 600 sites globally for 2.5M plus patients.
“VTOC will be used to track and report longitudinal patient
outcomes for depression and anxiety patients at RHC
facilities,” said Nicola.
“We hope to extend its use to support PROM research
programs for oncology and bariatric surgery in late 2018.
The data collected is expected to provide significant value
in quality care measurement, site benchmarking and patient
outcome improvement.
“The platform also has the capacity to collect clinical data
and will be integrated with Meditech to facilitate research
projects. There is potential to utilise this platform in other
research projects that are developed internally.
“The establishment of patient reported outcome measures
within Ramsay offers the opportunity to develop greater
insight into the patient experiences and outcomes as they
progress through our facilities.”
CEO Ramsay Hospital Research
Foundation Nicola Ware