Frontline Emergency When minutes matterWorld-first trial Cells stem patients’ pain

Chest pain clinic Help in a heartbeat

QU

ARTERLY

autumn 2012

www.southernhealth.org.au02

6CoverDandenong Emergency Department’s Dr Robert Meek and nurses Jackie Drake and Abra Osborne attend to an emergency. See story, page 6.

PhotographAndrew Henshaw

Read Southern Health Quarterly online at www.southernhealth.org.au

For permission to reprint any part of this magazine, please contact the editor. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Southern Health.

EditorChelsea Arnold

e: southernhealthquarterly@southernhealth.org.au

ContributorsAlexandria Tzatzimakis

DesignDynamic Creations

Contact UsSouthern Health Quarterly is published by the Public Affairs and Communication Department

Southern Health Locked Bag 29 Clayton South Victoria 3169

Inside this issue

5

4 03 Baby’s dramatic exit a Monash first

04 Making news

05 iPads help patients communicate

06 A day in the life of Dandenong ED

08 Charity ride helps children

09 Cell trial stems pain

10 Chest pain clinic’s rapid success

11 Stroke intervention saves lives

12 A piece of our past

It’s a pleasure to introduce this new format that brings a spotlight to some of the truly outstanding work we do.

We directly care for more than one million Victorians, and we do that effectively 24 hours a day, every day. This is our core mission, with patients at the centre of everything we do.

As a health service, we also play an increasingly important role in health research, developing and testing new treatments and new

approaches to promoting health for the individual and for the community.

The recent announcement of the Monash Health Translation Precinct, to be developed with our partners Prince Henry’s Institute, Monash Institute of Medical Research and Monash University means this role will only grow.

As a centre of learning we ensure the next generation of health professionals continue to build on the knowledge of the past, and

that current practitioners have the latest knowledge to ensure best possible care for their patients.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition, and we look forward to sharing more exciting and challenging stories with you in the future.

Shelly Park Chief Executive

Message from the Chief ExecutiveWelcome to this edition of Southern Health Quarterly.

I am so proud to be leading a world-class health care teaching, research and service delivery organisation.

6

SOUTHERN HEALTH QUARTERLY autumn 2012 03

The arrival of a baby is always special but doctors at Monash Children’s carried out a rare

procedure to make an extra special delivery.

Message from the Chief Executive

INSIDE STORY

BABY’S DRAMATIC

EXIT A RARE PROCEDURE

When an expectant mother went into early labour one Friday

afternoon in February, a 37-member team of specialists from Southern Health was quickly assembled to carry out a rare, life-saving operation.

In a first for Monash Children’s, doctors carried out an EXIT procedure –

Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment – half-way through delivering baby Jordan Meunier at 34 weeks gestation.

Monash Children’s consultant neonatologist Dr Flora Wong said the EXIT procedure is used to deliver babies who have airway compression.

Airway compression discovered at birth is a medical emergency. However, in most cases, it is discovered during prenatal ultrasounds, allowing time to plan a safe delivery.

In this case, Dr Wong said a mass was observed during pregnant mother Mary’s routine 20-week ultrasound.

“The ultrasound revealed a growth on Jordan’s neck blocking his airway. So the EXIT procedure operation was booked for four weeks before his due date,” Dr Wong said.

“We held a lot of meetings and did a lot of reading. We had even planned to do a mock-run before the real operation.”

However, that wasn’t to be as baby Jordan was intent on arriving two weeks earlier than the scheduled operation.

With Mary experiencing contractions, a team of specialists from the Fetal Diagnosis Unit, maternal fetal medicine, radiology, adult and paediatric anaesthetics, an ear neck and throat surgeon, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, an obstetrician and theatre staff were called in to carry out the “potentially risky” operation.

“The mother was given a very deep anaesthetic to trick her uterus into thinking the procedure hadn’t occurred so it would remain relaxed. It is a risky procedure because if the mother’s blood pressure drops, it can cut off the blood supply to the baby. If her uterus contracts, it can also cut off the supply to the baby. Then there is also risk that the mother could bleed to death,” Dr Wong said.

“The procedure involved a caesarean incision and delivering baby Jordan to the top of his shoulders. At this point he was still attached to his mother by the placental-umbilical cord.”

The paediatric anaesthetist was then able to insert a tube to establish an airway so baby Jordan could breathe. He was then delivered fully, the cord cut and clamped and the remainder of the caesarean carried out.

“The procedure went very smoothly. I don’t think we could have done it any better,” Dr Wong said.

Jordan is now being cared for at the Monash Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Photograph: Sunday Herald Sun

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Making news

1Organ donation leads to transplant recordMonash Medical Centre performed almost 100 kidney transplants last year, a procedure that provides positive results for patients, families and the health system.

Director of Nephrology Peter Kerr said Monash Medical Centre nearly doubled its average number of transplants in 2011.

“We perform about 50 a year on average, but the trend is upward. We performed 60 in 2009, a few more again in 2010, and over 90 in 2011,” Professor Kerr said.

“These numbers are a great sign that organ donation messages are having an impact, and that’s important because just about everybody wins when a transplant is performed,” Professor Kerr said.

5World-leading research precinctThe Monash Medical Centre Clayton will be home to Victoria’s first multidisciplinary translation research facility.

Chisholm MP Anna Burke announced on 3 April that the Federal Government has committed $71 million for a new building and facilities for the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP).

The MHTP is a partnership between Southern Health, Prince Henry’s Institute, Monash University and Monash Institute of Medical Research.

The facility will include a series of linked, disease-themed laboratories and clinical research units, and will expand to 800 the number of laboratory and clinical researchers accommodated on the campus.

Southern Health Chief Executive, Shelly Park, said the announcement reinforces the precinct’s reputation as a world leader in translating innovative scientific discovery into the best possible patient outcomes.

4Community Rehabilitation Centre now openThe $46.3 million Kingston Centre redevelopment has been unveiled.

The new community rehabilitation centre on the corner of Warrigal and Kingston roads, Cheltenham is now open to patients.

This most recent redevelopment is a key part of Southern Health’s vision to provide better health in our community.

The facility features 64 inpatient beds for geriatric evaluation and management and rehabilitation patients; an inpatient therapy unit providing dietetics, physiotherapy, music therapy, podiatry, social work, occupational therapy, psychology and more, and a Community Rehabilitation Centre and hydrotherapy pool.

Leading edge: The Kingston Centre redevelopment will provide patients with world-leading rehabilitation.

2Children’s cardiac careChildren with heart murmurs will be seen sooner and receive better cardiac care with the launch of a paediatric heart murmur clinic at MonashHeart at Clayton.

The clinic will ensure timely assessment of children with a murmur, helping to relieve the waiting times experienced at the general cardiology clinic, and streamlining assessment and diagnosis into one dedicated clinic.

Kids’ clinic: Riley and his mother Jody were among the first to attend the paediatric murmur clinic with Associate Professor Sarah Hope.

3Radiation reductionAn innovative program led by Southern Health has analysed and optimised the use of CT scan technology, reducing the average radiation dose for patients and addressing the possible carcinogenic effects of ionising radiation.

A team of CT Medical Imaging Technologists achieved a 30 per cent reduction in patient CT dose in audited machines. This may prevent 10 radiation-attributable cancers per year at Southern Health sites, based on studies of theoretical risk from ionising radiation.

CT Medical Imaging Technologist Dana Jackson said the major challenge was balancing dose reduction with the need for image quality.

“Fortunately, we were able to produce clinically meaningful dose reductions without sacrificing image quality,” she said.

“Hopefully this program can provide a benchmark for Southern Health and all Victorian health services in the future.”

Funding boost: The MHTP will see world-leading research translated

into best practice healthcare.

SOUTHERN HEALTH QUARTERLY autumn 2012 05

Last year, 8921 babies were born at the three maternity services at

Southern Health hospitals.

Maternity services are based at Monash Medical Centre Clayton, Dandenong

Hospital and Casey Hospital.

DID YOU KNOW? FACT FILE

193,000The number of people admitted to

Southern Health hospitals in 2010-11.

626,000The number of people who received care as outpatients at our 375 clinics in 2010-11.

WARD WATCH

Technology gives patients a voice

Name: Lauren Page

Position: Grade 2 Speech Pathologist

Workplace: Speech Pathology, Monash Medical Centre Clayton

Fast fact: There are 30 speech pathologists working across Southern Health.

Fast fact: This trial is the first of its kind in Victoria.

Patients are being given access to iPads as technology plays

an ever-increasing role in treatment and recovery.

Speech Pathologist Lauren Page is overseeing an innovative trial which sees eligible acute and sub-acute patients given access to iPads during their inpatient stay.

“It really started out as an idea during a casual conversation between clinicians. We spoke to Monash Health Foundation about obtaining one iPad and that turned into a $10,000 State Trustees equipment grant which allowed for the purchase of nine iPads,” Ms Page said.

The trial which began in August across all Southern Health sites, involves speech pathologists using iPads with patients on the wards.

“The iPads can be utilised for three main purposes – as an education tool, a therapy tool and as a communication device to allow patients that are unable to communicate verbally a socially acceptable alternative communication mode to encourage and support the development of communication skills.

“We can use the iPads for patient education about procedures and conditions, to assist in therapy activities such as word finding and oromusculature exercises or as an alternative method of communication for those unable to

speak due to a stroke, tracheotomy or head and neck surgery. There are really advanced text to speech Apps.”

The trial is proving beneficial for patients with dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphasia and cognitive/linguistic impairments.

The trial has also seen iPads used during neurosurgery.

“I am starting to use the iPads when in theatre,” Ms Page said. “During craniotomies, when the patient is still awake, I can use the iPad to assess language ability during language mapping when neurosurgeons are stimulating the left hemisphere of the brain.”

Sixty-four patients will be involved in the trial in total.

If the trial proves successful and iPads are introduced permanently, the Speech Pathology Department may look to develop an App specifically to its own requirements.

“It has fantastic potential to increase access to therapy by enabling practice outside of formal speech and language therapy settings, providing opportunities for mass practice, instant feedback and real time task modification to meet individual needs. The iPad also has the potential to facilitate patient centred care which assumes the ability of the patient to participate in their own health care.”

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The busiest time and day of the week at Dandenong Emergency Department is Monday afternoon.

About 55,000 patients present to Dandenong Emergency Department each year.

fast facts

Whenminutes matter

There’s not many places in Melbourne open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

52 weeks a year, but Dandenong Hospital Emergency Department is one such place.

It is one of the state’s busiest emergency departments, handling more than 55,000 presentations a year. That’s more than 1050 people a week turning up to the Emergency Department with injuries, sudden illness and critical medical concerns. Demand on the service is growing with the south eastern suburbs’ population expanding rapidly.

Dandenong is abuzz with patients being admitted, doctors and nurses doing their rounds and concerned loved ones keeping bedside vigils.

Nurse Unit Manager Jo Morey is responsible for overseeing day-to-day Emergency Department operations. There are 15 nurses rostered for the morning shift in addition to seven doctors and almost all the cubicles are full with patients. It is a busy morning.

“We would see, on average, 150 people a day. That’s a high turnover. It can be a significant challenge to manage that number of patients. But we are here for the patients to ensure they receive the very best care,” she said.

A trail bike rider has just presented at Triage after suffering a fall while riding in the bush.

He is placed in a neck brace and is being assessed for multiple injuries. It is determined that he will need to be transferred to The Alfred Hospital for specialist treatment.

In the cubicle opposite, nurses are monitoring Elvis, who is a little incoherent, suffering loss of motor skills and slurred speech. It is unclear whether he’s had a stroke.

Mrs Morey tries to find out his next of kin details so she can notify them of his whereabouts and let them know he is OK.

In a treatment room, student doctors watch as patient Shane is being prepped for a general anesthetic for a simple procedure to treat an abscess on his foot. The abscess is only small but acutely painful.

Down the hall, teenager Raquel is being fitted with a sling after injuring her shoulder. Allied Health occupational therapists assess her mobility before she is discharged.

Director of Dandenong Hospital Emergency Department Dr Neil Goldie said the hospital had been designed to streamline patient care.

The Emergency Department at Dandenong Hospital is working more efficiently to ensure patients receive the treatment they need within four hours.

Elvis, who has slurred speech and loss of motor skills is being monitored by nurse Wendy Hartney.

Shane presented for treatment of an abscess on his foot. Nurse Anna Wojciechowski, Dr Meredith Adie and a student doctor carry out the procedure

9am 9.15am

9.35amDr Dimitri Giannios and nurse Zeynep Bakan with patient Norman who has suffered a broken hip.

COVER STORY

SOUTHERN HEALTH QUARTERLY autumn 2012 07

All smiles: Jo Morey and nurse Jane Gillian share a

laugh while doing their rounds.

Nurse Unit Manager Jo Morey and Emergency Department Director Dr Neil Goldie discuss the day’s presentations.

Patient Nora is reassured by nurse Samantha Taylor.

Teenager Raquel has hurt her shoulder and is assessed by Allied Health physiotherapist Scott Anderson.

Paramedics prepare the motorbike victim to be transferred for treatment.

9.50am

10am

10.20am 11am

“After a $25 million redevelopment, the state-of-the-art facility has increased its capacity from 35 to 55 treatment spaces, and includes a 10-bed short-stay unit, additional procedural and minor treatment areas,” Dr Goldie said.

It provides a larger, lighter, and more open environment with greatly improved amenities, making the trip to emergency less traumatic for patients and their families, as well as a pleasant working environment for staff.

“The design lends itself to patient streaming so we can get patients into the right places to be treated,” Dr Goldie said. “Work has also begun on a 24-bed Acute Assessment Unit and stage two of the Emergency Department due for completion later this year.”

The changes save time and make processes more efficient, which is just as well as targets have been set to ensure patients are seen to within set timeframes.

By 2015, 90 per cent of all patients will have been treated, moved to a ward in the hospital for further treatment, referred elsewhere for treatment or discharged to recover at home within four hours of arriving at Emergency.

It is all part of the National Emergency Access Target which came into effect on 1 January and sees Australian emergency departments striving to provide the best patient care by meeting these targets.

Southern Health’s Director of Emergency Professor George Braitberg said research

shows that patients who present at the Emergency Department and are processed within four hours have significantly better rates of recovery.

“By reducing the length of stay, we have saved lives,” Prof Braitberg said.

It is not about increasing the work carried out by staff, he said, but a hospital-wide approach to being more efficient, getting patients to the right place for treatment by the right people.

“The Emergency Department is for emergencies only. It is not a one-stop-shop. Our primary role is to assess, resuscitate and instigate treatment. Once we have done this, we need to ensure patients are transferred to another ward within the hospital or referred to another health provider or to recover at home. New models of care such as the acute assessment unit should assist with this process.”

It’s ambitious, but Prof Braitberg is confident of achieving the target.

“It’s achievable but we have to change the way we work.”

A HOSPITAL-WIDE APPROACH TO BEING MORE EFFICIENT, GETTING PATIENTS TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR TREATMENT BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

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Vital equipment: Consultant neonatologist Dr Flora Wong, Clinical nurse educator Jacquie Taylor and Chain Reaction chief executive John Ward with the MRI incubator.

Charity ride: Chain Reaction rode from Sydney to Melbourne to raise funds for Monash Children’s.

Chain Reaction was founded in 2007 by Berrick Wilson after his then two-day-old daughter Milla was rushed to Monash Children’s NICU with a brain haemorrhage.

After the excellent care his daughter received he wanted to do something to help other sick children.

Since its first ride in 2007, Chain Reaction has raised more than $2.75 million for its charity partners.

There are many ways you can make a difference to the health of our community through supporting the Monash Health Foundation.

For more information, contact the Monash Health Foundation

on 9594 2700 or visit www.monashhealthfoundation.org.au on the Internet.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

INCUBATORa Victorian f irst

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Monash Children’s has benefited from extensive community fundraising efforts.

Dr Wong said that without the MRI incubator babies were at risk of having their body temperature drop which could lead to serious health complications.

“We have noticed that with the MRI incubator the babies’ temperature is stable and their overall condition is more stable. They come back from having the MRI much happier and settled,” she said.

Dr Wong said that the MRI incubator meant a lot more babies could have MRIs carried out a lot earlier because it was now safer to do so. For the very little, seriously ill babies it was previously too risky.

“Having this piece of equipment will also help us to do more research to learn more about brain injury and improve the outcomes for premature babies worldwide,” she said.

The purchase of the MRI incubator was made possible by the extensive fundraising efforts of Chain Reaction which raised $300,000 towards the purchase.

Last year, 44 Chain Reaction riders took part in a 110-kilometre ride from Sydney to Melbourne.

The six-day charity ride raised more than $1 million for its charity partners.

Babies born prematurely or suffering serious illness will benefit

from a vital piece of equipment now at Monash Children’s.

In a Victorian-first, Monash Children’s has purchased an MRI incubator which allows for babies to undergo an MRI scan while being monitored, keeping warm and without being taken off ventilation.

The MRI incubator allows babies to have MRI scans more easily and is essential for assessment of brain injury and trying treatments which could prevent brain damage.

Neonatal paediatrician Dr Flora Wong said the MRI incubator is used for transporting vulnerable babies from the cot to the MRI scanner with minimum disturbance.

“It is used for all babies who are at risk of brain injury, such as birth asphyxia or pre-term babies whose brains may not have developed properly,” Dr Wong said.

Previously, the babies had to be removed from their own cot, placed in a transport incubator, transported to the MRI, and then taken out of the transport incubator again to be put on an open bed in the MRI scanner. With the addition of the MRI incubator they now only need be moved once, making for a much safer and more pleasant experience.

SOUTHERN HEALTH QUARTERLY autumn 2012 09

Research Week

Dr Tony Goldschlager’s work is featured in the 2011 Research Report.

The report will be released at the Monash Medical Centre,

Clayton during Research Week 7-11 May 2012.

World first: Dr Tony Goldschlager is leading a

trial which could prove to be welcome relief for severe

neck pain sufferers.

Cells stem patients’ painA clinical trial using stem cells to treat pain is one of 217 clinical drug or device trials carried out in 2011, showcasing Southern Health as a world leader in medical research.

Patients suffering severe pain have been injected with stem cells in

a world-first clinical trial at Monash Medical Centre Clayton.

Early results recorded greater mobility and minimised pain by those who took part in the trial sponsored by Australian company, Mesoblast.

Neurosurgeon Dr Tony Goldschlager and the neurosurgical team at Southern Health are carrying out the clinical trial in 12 sufferers of cervical spine degenerative disease, commonly known as slipped disc.

This is caused when the discs that lie between the vertebrae in the neck degenerate over time.

The usual procedure for a slipped disc involves major surgery to remove the disc and then insertion of a small cage between the remaining discs to allow bone fusion to occur.

For some patients, fusion does not occur and their pain remains. These patients were recruited for the trial.

“We approached the patients, who needed to have this operation anyway, and offered

them the chance to be involved in the trial,” Dr Goldschlager said.

Some were randomly selected to receive an additional injection of adult stem cells into the cage to encourage fusion between the remaining discs. As it was a blind trial neither the patients nor their assessors were informed as to whether they received stem cells.

Dr Goldschlager said using stem cells in this way provided unique advantages.

“These stem cells have the ability to turn into bone or make the bones grow quicker. We also know that stem cells are completely safe and no adverse events have been recorded,” he said.

Patient Alice Begley was diagnosed with cervical spine degenerative disease while working in the aged care industry. The pain severely impacted on her job and daily activities.

After taking part, Ms Begley’s mobility improved and she is no longer in pain.

“I felt important taking part in the trial. This research has improved my life and it will be an important procedure for many patients in the future,” she said.

Studies have shown that by the age of 60, most people have some form of degenerative disc disease, but not everyone has obvious symptoms.

“It’s a two-year trial but the initial results do look promising,” Dr Goldschlager said.

“The next stage of the trial will involve several hundreds patients around the world having the procedure carried out. Then if it proves successful it will be made available to everybody.

“This research between Southern Health, Monash University and Mesoblast is very exciting. It’s the first of its kind.”

IF IT PROVES SUCCESSFUL IT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.

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Patients with heart complaints are being assessed and treated in rapid time thanks to a

Victorian-first clinic at MonashHeart.

It was Frank Monaco’s heart that won over his wife Brenda more than 24

years ago.

But it was their hearts that threatened to split them apart.

The 63-year-old storeman “took a turn at work” one afternoon in September.

“I put it down to my lungs because I had lung cancer three years ago. I didn’t put it down to my heart,” Mr Monaco said.

“I was experiencing shortness of breath and it felt like I was breathing in flames. My whole body felt like jelly and I was sweating. I have had the symptoms before but this time they lasted about 15 minutes.

“If I hadn’t been at work I probably wouldn’t have done anything about it. They sent me home so I thought I should have it looked into. I went to the doctor the next day and had an electrocardiogram but nothing showed up.

“My doctor suggested I go to the Rapid Assessment Chest Pain Clinic (RACPC) at MonashHeart and within a week I was there having all the tests.”

The tests showed that Mr Monaco had two critical narrowings in his arteries. Within a week he had a stent – a tube inserted to restore blood flow through narrow or

blocked arteries - inserted in his right coronary artery which had a 95 per cent blockage and three weeks later he had another stent inserted in his left coronary artery.

Three months later, Mrs Monaco, 60, went to her doctor experiencing a persistent pain in her jaw. She was then taken by ambulance to Casey Hospital before being transferred to MonashHeart. Tests revealed she too had a critical narrowing – a 99 per cent blockage - in her main artery. She had a stent inserted that week.

The Beaconsfield couple concedes they are lucky to be alive and credit MonashHeart with saving their lives.

The RACPC, the first of its kind in Australia, ensured they were assessed and treated in a timely manner.

“I’m pretty sure it saved my life,” Mr Monaco said. Sentiments shared by his wife.

“There are no words to describe what they have done for us,” Mrs Monaco said.

MonashHeart Director Professor Ian Meredith said patients could be fast-tracked to the RACPC by a referral from their GP or an emergency department, rather than being placed on a waiting list to see a cardiologist.

“This clinic fast tracks the system for cardiac assessment, diagnosis, treatment, risk factor modification and follow-up,” he said.

“The clinic provides patients with same day and/or early access to various cardiac tests, including exercise stress testing, stress echocardiography or cardiac CT. It’s a one-stop clinic for early and quick review of referred outpatients, without a waiting list or prolonged waiting times.”

By mid-March, more than 810 patients had been through the RACPC, averaging about 45 a week, since it opened in July.

“We’re saving lives by diagnosing heart problems quicker therefore preventing heart attacks and death,” he said.

Lives saved: They can laugh about it now but Brenda and Frank Monaco

narrowly escaped serious heart attacks.

“I’M PRETTY SURE IT SAVED MY LIFE.”

SOUTHERN HEALTH QUARTERLY autumn 2012 11

fast factsAmazingly, within two days the patient was home and experiencing only minimal residual symptoms.

“Without treatment there is a greater than 50 per cent chance of the patient dying from the stroke,” Dr Chong said.

Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr Michael Holt said this patient is one of more than 700 who present to Monash Medical Centre each year suffering a stroke.

A patient’s recovery is proportional to the time it takes to clear the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the brain.

In addition to the intra-arterial intervention, about 10 per cent of stroke patients are deemed suitable for intravenous intervention.

“If it’s been less than 4½ hours, we can inject a clot buster intravenously which will break up the clot,” Dr Holt said.

“The sooner they seek help, the better the outcome will be.”

Stroke detected: An image of the brain showing the brain stem where the clot was detected.

Time criticalInterventional neuroradiology is becoming an increasingly successful method of treating patients suffering stroke but time is of the essence.

In 2011, 60,000 Australians experienced a new or recurring stroke – that’s one every 10 minutes.

In the next 10 years, half a million Australians will suffer a stroke. 20 per cent will be aged under 55.

Act FAST, call ‘000’ if you think someone is having a stroke.

Chance of a stroke doubles with each decade.

Figures: National Stroke Foundation

Intervention success: Brain angiogram images show the lack of blood circulation during the stroke (left) and restoration of normal blood flow after the clot has been extracted (right).

When a seemingly healthy 60-year-old man presented at the Emergency

Department at Monash Medical Centre Clayton in March with partial facial weakness, doctors were racing against the clock to save his life.

These relatively minor sounding symptoms masked a life-threatening event taking place, a brain attack.

Director of Interventional Neuroradiology, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Winston Chong said that unlike a heart attack, a stroke causes the patient very little or no pain.

“He presented with weakness on one side of his face,” Dr Chong said.

“He was seen by a stroke neurologist and had a CT scan which confirmed an evolving brain stem stroke.

“He was suffering an acute occlusion due to embolus, meaning the clot has come up into his brain from elsewhere in the body, into his Basilar artery. This is in a critical area of the brain stem which controls breathing, consciousness and the heart.”

Given the patient’s age and the fact that he was in the early stages of stroke he was assessed as suitable to undergo intra-arterial intervention treatment. Only 15 to 20 patients each year are assessed as suitable for this.

“We send a tube in through the arteries from the groin all the way up into the brain. We can then inject a clot buster directly into the clot and then using a device called a Trevo, which is like a wire with mesh attached to the end, we can extract the clot in one piece.”

Dr Chong said that if this patient had delayed seeking treatment “the consequences could’ve been catastrophic”.

“We have the evidence that shows we can reduce the severity of the stroke and give them a better quality of life with minimised ancillary help,” he said.

IF THIS PATIENT HAD DELAYED SEEKING TREATMENT “THE CONSEQUENCES COULD’VE BEEN CATASTROPHIC”

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Unique insight into our heritage

A PIECE OF OUR PAST

An exhibition that delves into Southern Health’s rich history is on display at

the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

A Woman’s Place: 100 Years of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre reveals how various women pioneered services across three distinctive eras that were intertwined with Southern Health’s development.

The first era (1912 to 1944) witnessed a revolution in nursing during the time in which The Royal Melbourne Hospital occupied the building.

The second era (1946 to 1987) saw the setting of benchmarks by women doctors and nurses from the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital, in terms of female leadership and in relation to maternal and paediatric care.

The third era (1986 to today) saw the amalgamation of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Prince Henry’s Hospital and Moorabbin Hospital to form the Monash Medical Centre.

It was during this era that a female-led campaign reclaimed a tower from the abandoned site of the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital and in 1994 established the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.

The free exhibition A Woman’s Place: 100 years of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre runs until 27 April at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Proud history: Dame Kate Campbell tending to a prematurely-born baby in a humidicrib circa 1954.

PARTNERSHIPS sustain the work we do. Across research, community and acute care we actively develop cross sector partnerships that improve the care provided by Southern Health.

For more information, contact the Monash Health Foundation on 9594 2700 or visit www.monashhealthfoundation.org.au on the Internet.

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