Fibroscan at Redcliffe bringing care closer to home

The new FibroScan machine has brought care closer to home for hepatology patients at Redcliffe.

Redcliffe Hospital’s Hepatology service with new scanning technology is bringing care closer to home for hundreds of patients with liver conditions.

The service was expanded at Redcliffe two years ago, and the new FibroScan machine arrived in April last year.

Phoebe Lodge is a Clinical Nurse Consultant with the Hepatology service at Redcliffe Hospital, and she says the FibroScan technology at Redcliffe has been a game-changer for patient care.

“Since the FibroScan arrived, around 850 patients have benefited from the scanning technology,” Phoebe said.

“It’s a non-invasive, ultrasound-based device that measures liver stiffness and steatosis, otherwise known as liver fat.”

“Because it’s non-invasive, it’s a practical and preferable first-line alternative to liver biopsy and a validated method for assessing liver disease.”

“The scan itself is quick, painless, and only takes about 10 minutes. Patients generally only feel a small pulse between their ribs during the scan.”

“The scan provides results immediately, allowing clinical decisions to be made on the spot about the next steps in their care.”

“At our Hepatology clinic, patients receive their scan moments before they walk into their doctor’s office – reducing the number of appointments they need, and reducing the time it takes for clinical decisions to be made about their treatment.”

Phoebe says clinical demand for the Hepatology Service at Redcliffe continued to grow.

“We see close to 20 new patients each fortnight, and we’ve just recently done Saturday clinics to help manage that clinical demand.”

She said the growing demand for hepatology services is largely linked to an increase in fatty liver disease, which is often associated with common conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

“One in three people are now affected by fatty liver, so our clinic sees a lot of patients with fatty liver disease, but also Hepatitis B or C, and autoimmune

Hepatitis, or patients needing investigations about what is causing an abnormal blood test.”

“Most clinic patients are referred to us by their GP after an abnormal blood test. They come into our clinic and I’ll see them first for a FibroScan, then they’ll meet with the medical consultant to discuss their scan results and the treatment they may need.”

Phoebe said having the Hepatology service at Redcliffe Hospital and offering the FibroScan has been a double-win for patients.

“Prior to the growth of the service at Redcliffe Hospital, patients had access to only one clinician locally, with the nearest alternative public service based at The Prince Charles Hospital.”

“By providing additional clinics here at Redcliffe, we’ve made care more accessible and closer to home – and now with FibroScan, patients receive that care sooner.”

The Hepatology clinic at Redcliffe Hospital is available as a referral only service. For more information, talk to your GP.