Newsroom

A new online therapy study is bringing quality care closer to home for people with post-stroke aphasia who live rurally. 💻❤️‍🩹

The TeleCHAT Implementation Study, delivered via telehealth, addresses the challenges presented by aphasia which is common in stroke survivors and affects a person’s ability to talk, read, write, and comprehend others speaking to them.

Dr Jade Dignam from @uq_health Queensland Aphasia Research Centre pictured with STARS Speech pathologist Angela says that they have already received positive feedback from consumers saying they are feeling more confident in their communication and are highly satisfied with the virtual service.

“Patients living in remote areas face great barriers in accessing treatment, and we want to address these health inequities,” Dr Dignam said.

“We’ve had 3 participants – including one who lives in a rural town, and an 8 hour-drive from the closest medical centre – complete 50 hours of therapy in our first treatment block of the study.

“All therapies have been successfully adapted to be delivered online, and all participants were able to complete their care virtually, which is very encouraging.” ...

"My daughter bought me this balloon when I got here 10 days ago, just for a laugh. We used to watch Toy Story when she was little. It`s definitely brought a lot of `buzz` to the floor. My wife and I moved to Brisbane 40 years ago, and we`ve been here ever since. We backpacked together around the world in our early twenties and have seen a lot of Australia as well. India and Pakistan have been the most interesting; once you start travelling, you never want to stop. We live in a wonderful age with the way technology has moved. We`re much better off now than we ever were. It`s important to be appreciative of the things we have, we`re so lucky to live in such a wonderful country."

💭 Monday Mantra, David, RBWH General Surgery Ward ...

Research is woven into everything we do at our hospitals, helping to shape safer, smarter and more effective care for patients. 🔬🔍

The Allied Health Research Collaborative supported by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation helps with integration of research into clinical practice to improve treatment options.

Allied Health Research Coordinator Lisa who also works as a Senior Physiotherapist focuses part of her research program on managing Bronchiectasis - a common yet under-recognised lung disease - through physiotherapy treatments.

"When I was working full time as a physiotherapist, I was also doing my PhD in Bronchiectasis and airway clearance techniques. I noticed it was an area that didn’t have much research," she said.

"We were drawing from work done in other chronic lung diseases, but I wanted to find ways to further personalise care to each patient.

"The next step is evaluating whether early intervention with chest physio can delay the need for antibiotics and even halt the progression of disease, so we will use CT scans and other outcomes to check in with patient`s progress and determine further treatment steps. ...

Before James was a nursing assistant in the ICU at the Prince Charles Hospital, he was a medic in the Australian Army for 15 years.

James has many family ties to the defence force with his grandfather being a Gallipoli campaign veteran and survivor of the battle of Fromelles, and his great uncle, father, aunty and uncles having all contributed to serving the nation.

"I was a medic for 15 years mostly within infantry. I was discharged with PTSD, and my aim was to become a paramedic but with that diagnosis my chances were slim," he said.

"I actually retire next Monday, we`ve got a house at Bribie that is being renovated, and I`ll take the boat out for fishing and I`m going to join the volunteer marine rescue group, so lots to look forward to!

"I do go to the dawn service each year, for me the day is about mateship and being thankful for what we have in this country but also remembering all my family members that served and how the effects of war are felt through generations."

👏#ShoutoutSaturday to James and all of our Metro North staff who have served or are currently serving in the Australian Defence Force. Lest We Forget. ...