Newsroom

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. ...

Brisbane Comedy Festival may be getting underway this weekend, and having a laugh especially in the presence of others has immense benefits for your psychological health. 🤣🫂

Senior Staff Psychologist Luenne says that laughing can not only help lift your mood but also enhance your creativity and reduce cortisol making you feel calmer and more resilient.

"One of the major players in the chemical cocktail that is released is Oxytocin which helps us build trust and emotional closeness with others. It`s really hard to be angry or upset with someone when you are laughing with them," she said.

"The other major neurotransmitter released is Dopamine which is linked to motivation, attention and learning. Humour activates the brain`s reward system and floods us with dopamine when we laugh.

"Studies show that people who laugh more often report better levels of life satisfaction and better coping skills when life gets tough."

Since laughing is the best medicine, tag the person you are overdue to have a belly laugh with below. ⬇️ ...