HOSPITAL NEWS
Associate Professor Matthew Foote and Clinical Lead Radiation Therapist Kurt Burrows with the TrueBeam linear accelerator
and the HyperArc system.
World-class radiation therapy to
treat secondary brain tumours
Radiation Oncology Centres (ROC) in Greenslopes Private Hospital is now offering Varian’s HyperArc™
technology, a new advancement in cancer treatment technology providing a true end-to-end solution
for multiple brain metastases.
HyperArc technology utilises the features of the Varian
machine that delivers radiation therapy (TrueBeam linear
accelerator) to accurately deliver precise radiation therapy
and enables a patient’s cancer treatment to be delivered
with greater efficiency, accuracy and comfort.
It enables clinicians to treat multiple tumours with high-doses
of radiation therapy and precisely pinpoint the tumours in
various locations in the brain – all within a full automated
system. It enables accurate tumour targeting while ensuring
limited doses to surrounding healthy brain tissue.
HyperArc’s automation capabilities mean patients are on
the bed for shorter periods of time than have previously
been achieved. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes and
the process is completed in the safest way possible with
seamless delivery from start to finish.
ROC Radiation Oncologist A/Prof Matthew Foote
said this new technology is a milestone in radiation
therapy treatments.
8 The Ramsay Way 2019 | 01
“The HyperArc™ technology places Greenslopes at the
forefront of exceptional cancer care, both in Australia and
in the world. With an increase in new cancer diagnoses each
year, providing the latest technology is vital to give people
the best possible treatment outcomes,” A/Prof Foote said.
“HyperArc enables us to accurately target up to eight
tumours in the brain at once, which previously could not
be achieved and would have previously required whole
brain radiation. The automation and precision of this type
of treatment means patients can also have fewer side effects,
allowing them to continue on with their day to day lives.”
ROC Greenslopes offers the latest in radiation therapy
technology and techniques and has the capacity to deliver
9,000 treatments annually. The HyperArc software at ROC
Greenslopes is only the second in Australia and could
benefit up to 100 patients this year alone.
Faster, more secure internet at Ramsay
Doctors, staff, patients and visitors now have
access to new, high-speed and secure WiFi across
all Ramsay sites in Australia.
65 kilometres of cabling was installed by more than
150 contractors across 28 partners over 1748 man hours.
More than 5000 wireless access points and 190 network
switches were also fitted.
The completion of this project paves the way for Ramsay
to adopt more sophisticated services in the years to come.
The new WiFi network provides reliability for:
• More than 800 pieces of medical equipment.
• Other important services such as patient meal-ordering.
• Doctors who can now seamlessly connect to their consulting
rooms and practice management software as they move
between Ramsay facilities. This allows specialists to view
their clinical notes, results and images.
The number of patients, guests and doctors using the new
WiF system has increased by more than 500%.
Some of the most utilised websites are Netflix, YouTube,
iTunes, Spotify and Facebook.
Neurodegeneration service
opens at Shepparton
Private Hospital
A private specialist clinic has opened at
Shepparton Private Hospital for patients
with neurodegenerative conditions, such
as Parkinson’s disease and other movement
disorders, dementia and geriatric conditions.
Geriatrician Dr Arup Bhattacharya and nurse Sheree
Ambrosini are highly qualified and experienced at caring
for people with these conditions and will work closely
with patients to manage their symptoms. They have
teamed up with other allied health specialists to provide
comprehensive and local specialist care for the treatment
of various movement disorders.
According to Dr Arup Bhattacharya, Parkinson’s disease
affects more than just movement; it involves pain,
depression and may progress over time.
“We aim to recognise health problems before they occur,
whenever possible, to help patients consistently maintain
their health,” Dr Bhattacharya said.
“We are proud to be starting an in-patient Parkinson’s
care program on the rehabilitation ward at the Shepparton
Private Hospital, accessible for patients with private health
insurance or DVA coverage.”
The dedicated team of Ramsay Health Care professionals,
who specialise in caring for patients with Parkinson’s
disease and other movement disorders, will tailor a care
plan to help patients live a productive and fulfilling life.
They will help manage symptoms, improve quality of
life, and maintain independence and wellbeing via a
multidisciplinary approach. This may include development
of an individual exercise program, participating in a group
exercise program, introducing cognitive strategies, speech
therapy and ongoing assessments of disease stage,
functional ability, motor and non-motor symptoms and
monitoring response to treatment.
Care can be provided in an outpatient setting,
regular inpatient intensive therapy programs and day
rehabilitation settings. Patients will be assessed for
advanced therapies and, if suitable, will be started on
infusion therapies.
Ms Ambrosini explained there are many patient benefits
of the new clinic. While the inpatient program is for
patients with private health insurance or DVA, the clinic is
open to both public and private patients without any out-of-
pocket expenses.
“Waiting times will be reduced and patients will have
expedited access to monitoring and much-needed repeat
scripts. The nurse practitioner visiting service will enable
patients to be seen more regularly in their own homes
throughout
the region, as
far away as
Echuca, Cobram,
Yarrawonga,
Nathalia,
Numurkah and
other locations
where there is
demand,” Ms
Dr Arup Bhattacharya and Ambrosini said.
nurse Sheree Ambrosini.