Videos

People in Healthcare: Danica Prodanovic

Continuing our series on people on healthcare, meet Danica Prodanovic from Biointelect. Now a Senior Associate who migrated from Serbia in 2014, Danica is a former Eurovision Song Contest singer and musician. Yes, you read that right! Hear about her story doing a PhD in Pharmacology at The University of Melbourne and starting her career in healthcare. Recently she performed at the ARCS Australia Dinner, reflecting her musical background remaining part of her life. Danica’s story shows the vibrancy of the Australian health sector. Watch the interview and her performances now!

Sonia Marshall – South Western Sydney Local Health District

South Western Sydney Local Health District serves nearly 1 million people in a rapidly growing area of Sydney. Currently 250-300 families a week are moving into the region and with a growing population, the health district requires well executed strategy and delivery of healthcare to the population. Executive Director Sonia Marshall spoke with Australian Health Journal reporter Anne Dao at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week in Sydney, on supporting staff and the community. Sonia highlights the mission of delivering Safe Quality Healthcare at all times. In-time patient feedback is important and the SWSLHD has implemented a system called “My Experience Matters” to give near immediate response from patients on their level of care, whilst they are still on site at the hospital. The aim of the initiative is to quickly identify bad experiences that could be rectified.

AHW Exhibitor: Gentec Australia

Gentec Australia, an Australian supplier of tapware and designer of wash basins to the healthcare industry exhibited at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week 2019. Their patented basin design reduces the risk of infection through splashing from water through an offset waste, as well as other infection control features. Know My Group reporter Anne Dao spoke with General Manager for Sales Graeme Bunt and State Manager (VIC) Vanessa Beever.

In an upcoming segment Australian Health Journal will cover the technologies deployed and steps taken by hospitals and clinics in infection control.

AHW Exhibitor: Health Professionals Bank

Healthcare professionals recently had a new bank enter the market. Health Professionals Bank owned by Teachers Mutual Bank, commenced operations in February this year aiming to be a member owned bank that “Cares for those who care”. Exhibiting at Australian Healthcare Week in Sydney last week, General Manager Carolyn Murphy spoke with Australian Health Journal reporter, Anne Dao

Dr Anjali Jaiprakash, Robobiologist from Queensland University of Technology

Dr Anjali Jaiprakash is a robobiologist working at the intersection of medicine, engineering and design, with a transdisciplinary approach to develop medical devices that translate robotic vision into affordable systems that can be used to improve healthcare outcomes. Anjali has experience in the fields of medical robotics, medical device, orthopaedics, trauma, bone and cartilage biology. She spoke with Anne Dao following her talk “The Robot Doctor Will See you Now” at Australian Healthcare Week 2019.

AHW Exhibitor: HPA Managing Director Shawn Wigham

Hospital Products Australia (HPA) exhibited at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week. Anne Dao spoke with Managing Director Shawn Wigham on the advanced equipment HPA supply, that combines technology and furnishings within the clinical setting.

Australian Healthcare Week 2019: Pitch Fest Finalist Lumin

Startup company Lumin was a Pitch Fest Finalist at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week Expo in Sydney. The Lumin platform is used in aged care where loneliness and isolation can be a trigger for stroke and dementia. Lumin helps the connection to care providers, family members and duress monitoring services in a device that has been designed for those with dementia, vision impairment or find complex devices difficult to use.

Managing Director and Co-Founder Paul Wilson spoke at the Mepacs booth with Anne Dao from Australian Health Journal about the market they target and the design of the user experience, including the remote servicing and monitoring. The integration allows the monitoring team in the call centre see and hear the personal raising the alarm. Mepacs is a provider of personal duress alarms and have teamed up with Lumin.

Michelle Fenwick – Northern Health

The outskirts of Melbourne is experiencing significant population growth over the next 10 years and Northern Health has taken preemptive steps to ensure the supply of new talented healthcare staff as well as develop the culture of the workplace.

Michelle Fenwick, the Executive Director of Northern Health spoke with our reporter Anne Dao on the challenges of this urban growth over the past 3 years. By 2031 the region is expected to increase in population by 63%. Added to this is hiring and training the right workforce to align with the clinical care needs of people coming into the healthcare centres.

Culture is forming in a growing organisation with approximately 70% of staff having been at Northern Health less than 4 years. However there is opportunity for clinical staff to accelerate their career in such an environment

Interview with Kylie Ward, CEO Australian College of Nursing

Kylie Ward, CEO Australian College of Nursing spoke with Anne Dao from Australian Health Journal, at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week Expo on the vital role of the nursing professional.

Australian College of Nursing oversees 390,000 nurses in Australia and is the national leader in the nursing profession.

Changes in nursing policy are needed in areas of aged care, chronic disease and workforce sustainability. There are forecasts of shortages in nursing by the year 2025 of 80,000 and by 2030 the number growing by 125,000.

Kylie also mentioned the new Nursing Trailbrazers Award that has been recognised by Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt. The 4 finalists have been recognised for influencing models of care, and implementing game changing initiatives across the country. They will be presented at the Nursing Now Australia event held by the ACN on 9th April.

Australian Healthcare Week 2019: Pitch Fest Finalist Coviu

Telelheath startup company Coviu was a Pitch Fest Finalist at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week Expo in Sydney. The Coviu platform has been developed as an spinoff from CSIRO and allows healthcare businesses offer video consultations to their own patients. It differs from being just a ‘talking head’ platform that Skype or Zoom could offer, by providing clinical tools integrated within the app. Anne Dao spoke with Co-founder and CEO Silvia Pfeiffer about the company and platform’s journey to date and its longer term goals.

Coviu helps healtcare businesses by helping fit in more consultation during that day and reducing no-shows for appointments. Also given the nature of the dispersed population, the application reaches to rural and regional areas where patients are a long distance from their healthcare provider. The company is focused on the Australian market and aims to enter the US market next year

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