INTERVIEWS

Overview:
• An air strike on an Afghan hospital that has killed 19 people, and is suspected to be from NATO forces, is ‘inexcusable and possibly even criminal’, the United Nations says.Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the trauma centre in the city of Kunduz was “hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged”.

• A “radical” back-to-basics approach by providing health care to children visiting homeless centres would result in fewer medical complications later in life, according to Dr Yvonne Parry researchers at Flinders University.

• There has been a spike in infections at the Royal Hobart Hospital, with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) saying it is worried about an increase in reported cases of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) at the facility. The AMA said there were 26 cases reported this quarter compared with two for the same quarter last year.

Guest: Dr. Toby Fogg
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Dr Toby Fogg is the National Medical director for CareFlight. He started this role in June 2015, having worked for CareFlight as a specialist in Pre Hospital and Retrieval Medicine since 2009. He is also an Emergency Physician at the Royal North Shore Hospital – one of Sydney’s busiest trauma centres. Toby graduated from Southampton University Medical School in 1996 and left the UK to live in Australia in 2003.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, learn more about the brave men and women of Careflight. Our guest today is Dr. Toby Fogg, the Medical Director of Careflight which is an Australian aeromedical charity estalished in 1986. They use helicopter, airplanes and medi-jets to bring hospital level of care to the critically ill and injured. Their aircrew, medical teams and coordinators work closely together to ensure that patients receive the best care as soon as possible. They believe in bringing the right team to the right patient at the right time.

Guest: Dr. Lesley Braun
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Dr. Lesley Braun is currently Director of the Blackmores Institute, Adjunct Associate Professor of Integrative Medicine at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Monash/Alfred Psychiatric Research centre. Lesley co-authored the best-selling textbook ‘Herbs and Natural Supplements – an evidence based guide’, is founding editor-in-chief of the journal ‘Advances in Integrative Medicine’, and is a regular columnist for the Australian Journal of Pharmacy. She regularly presents at national and international conferences about integrative medicine in addition to undertaking her own complementary medicine research projects.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, learn more about the products and services that Blackmores provide as we are joined by their Director Dr. Lesley Braun. Their quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health. This month, they will be hosting the 2015 Blackmores Institute Symposium which will feature plenary sessions as well as GP/allied health and Pharmacist-specific streams, supported by clinical case study workshops. The program will cater to the clinical needs of a wide spectrum of healthcare practitioners including general practitioners, pharmacists, naturopaths, nutritionists and complementary medicine practitioners.

Guest: Michelle Harris
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Michelle joined Bethanie in 2008 in a Regional Leadership position before returning to a clinical role as a Dementia Consultant with the not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider in December 2013. With a background in gerontology and roles in aged care nursing in the UK, Michelle re-trained in midwifery and moved to Australia in 1987, in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing Australia. Her fascination with ageing within different cultures and new technological advancements in the field of treatment, coupled with a determination that there must be better ways to provide aged care, brought her back into gerontology. Michelle has since completed a Masters in the subject at ECU. In addition to her work with Bethanie, Michelle works closely with Alzheimer’s Australia on research projects, including a current trial documenting the effects of available technology on stimulating patients’ memories.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, we are joined by Michelle Harris the Dementia Specialist for the Bethanie Group. Bethanie offers the full continuum of service, from care in your home and social centres for seniors, to retirement villages, affordable housing and residential aged care across Perth and regional Western Australia. In her current role, Michelle works closely with people living with dementia across Bethanie’s network, including those at home, in residential care and in hospitals. One of the favourite aspects of her job is being able to change perceptions of ageing and aged care and she regularly participates in talks and events to raise awareness of dementia. Michelle believes that more emphasis needs to be placed on promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and also the support needed to care for people with dementia. She believes that each case is unique and finds it hugely satisfying to be able to help increase peoples’ quality of life through her work.

Guest: Carol Bryant
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Carol Bryant has held executive positions within the private hospital sector for the past 25 years. Prior to her position as CEO of Macquarie University Hospital, she was the CEO at Westmead Private Hospital for 11 years. Before taking up the position as CEO of Westmead private, she was the Director of Clinical Service and in 2000, Carol played a key role in opening Westmead Private. First qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1975, Carol Bryant spent 12 years with North Gosford Private (1988 – 2000) including fulfilling the roles of Acting Director of Clinical Services and Deputy Director of Nursing, before moving to Ramsay Healthcare in May 2000.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, learn more about Macquarie University Hospital and the services they offer as we are joined by their CEO Carol Bryant. The academic hospital is modelled on leading international university hospitals and their facility incorporates the latest design principles because they recognize the therapeutic role the healthcare environment plays on patients, visitors and staff. Their health professionals are committed committed to a culture of continuous improvement through teaching and research. They take a multi-disciplinary approach to care and many of their specialists also work in teams, to ensure patients have access to their collective expertise.

Guest: Luke Lorenzin
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Luke Lorenzin started his Prosthetics and Orthotics career at Barry Leech Prosthetics and Orthotics as a Graduate in 2008, he knew from the outset that Prosthetics was to be his chosen speciality. After about 18 months he decided a change was needed and took up a Prosthetist Position at Brisbane Prosthetics and Orthotics. There he was to manage two external clinics and further his knowledge in both the clinical and technical aspects of P&O. In 2010 he was appointed Manager at Artificial Limbs & Appliances Pty Ltd. As Manager he has overseen the rejuvenation of a 40 plus year old company. Outside of his work life he is an active member of Surfers Paradise SLSC, enjoy getting to the beach both for patrolling and competitions.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, Clinical Manager for Prosthetics Luke Lorenzin from the Artificial Limbs and Appliances Pty Ltd joins us today to discuss their products and services. They pride themselves for providing quality service to the amputees of Queensland and their goal is to ensure that all their clients achieve their highest possible level of function. They cater to all levels of limb amputation, and their products include lower limb products such as micro processor knees, high energy storing feet and cosmetic prosthesis with life like appearance as well as upper limb prosthetics which include myoelectrics devices, body powered prosthesis and purely cosmetic prosthesis.

Guest: Professor Joanna Kempner
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Professor Joanna Kempner works at the intersection of medicine, science, gender, and the body. Her research focuses both on the formation of social problems and on the ways in which some issues are consistently ignored, dismissed, or de-legitimated. Her book, Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health (Chicago 2014) examines the social values embedded in the way we talk about, understand, and make policies for people in pain. She has also written extensively on the formation of “forbidden knowledge,” i.e. the boundaries that form around what we think is too dangerous, sensitive or taboo to research. She is currently working on several projects related to the politics of disease.

Segment overview: In this segment Professor Joanna Kempner discusses the social difficulty those with migraine share and the need for more funding in headache research.

Guest: Professor Joanna Kempner
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Professor Joanna Kempner works at the intersection of medicine, science, gender, and the body. Her research focuses both on the formation of social problems and on the ways in which some issues are consistently ignored, dismissed, or de-legitimated. Her book, Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health (Chicago 2014) examines the social values embedded in the way we talk about, understand, and make policies for people in pain. She has also written extensively on the formation of “forbidden knowledge,” i.e. the boundaries that form around what we think is too dangerous, sensitive or taboo to research. She is currently working on several projects related to the politics of disease.

Segment overview: In this segment Professor Joanna Kempner talks about the diagnostic definition of migraine and the consensus about what migraine really is.

Guest: Professor Joanna Kempner
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Professor Joanna Kempner works at the intersection of medicine, science, gender, and the body. Her research focuses both on the formation of social problems and on the ways in which some issues are consistently ignored, dismissed, or de-legitimated. Her book, Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health (Chicago 2014) examines the social values embedded in the way we talk about, understand, and make policies for people in pain. She has also written extensively on the formation of “forbidden knowledge,” i.e. the boundaries that form around what we think is too dangerous, sensitive or taboo to research. She is currently working on several projects related to the politics of disease.

Segment overview: In this segment Professor Joanna Kempner discusses her book, Not Tonight: Migraine and the Politics of Gender and Health.

Overview:
• The Garvan Institure has signed a memorandum of understanding with Genomics England, the organisation established by the UK’s Department of Health to deliver the world-first 100,000 Genomes Project. The two organisations will share resources and expertise to advance genomic medicine in Australia and the UK.

•  There are hopes a new centre for homeless fathers in Tasmania’s south will help fathers stay connected with their children.The State Government has pledged $2.5 million towards a purpose-built $4 million centre to house men and their children. The facility in the Hobart suburb of Moonah will be a first for the state and forms part of the Government’s affordable housing strategy.

• More restrictions could be placed on a range of medical tests and procedures subsidised by Medicare, with the Federal Government carrying out a “spring clean” of the entire system. Health Minister Sussan Ley has commissioned a review of the 5,700 of medical services subsidised under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).