INTERVIEWS

Overview:
• South West Palliative Care Services is calling for volunteers to help improve the quality of life of patients with terminal conditions. The group is holding an information session next month for people interested in volunteering. 

• Plans for a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle have moved forward, with the construction tender awarded. Children are currently treated in the main intensive care unit at John Hunter Hospital.

• Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signed agreements with New South Wales and Victoria to proceed with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Mr Turnbull signed the deals alongside NSW Premier Mike Baird and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Overview:
• Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy says her department will listen to any recommendations made by the Hazelwood mine fire inquiry board. And she said that “We absolutely intend to initiate changes that arise from any of the recommendations.” She wants to build trust between her department and the Latrobe Valley community.

•  A 54-year-old Spanish cancer patient is the first person in the world to receive a titanium 3D-printed sternum and rib cage, designed and manufactured by an Australian company. The CSIRO said chest prosthetics were “notoriously tricky” to create due to the complex customised geometry and design for each patient.

•  It is not yet known if the $50 million Macksville Hospital upgrade will see the existing building demolished, or incorporated into the new structure. NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said clinicians and special interest groups will play a major role in the planning process of the new hospital. And the NSW Government has committed to redeveloping the hospital in this term of Government, and allocating $1.5 million for planning in the 2015-2016 Budget.

Guest: Lisa Rath
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Lisa has worked for the Epilepsy Foundation and people living with epilepsy for 25 years, half the lifetime of the organisation. Throughout her work both in regional areas and within Metropolitan Melbourne, Lisa has provided gold standard service in providing up to date information in a way that is understandable and accessible to those affected by epilepsy, whilst also ensuring that medical personnel have a greater focus on the needs of the individual and an understanding of the issues that they are facing in their lives.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, know more about epilepsy and what you can do to support those with this condition and their loved ones as we are joined by the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria’s Client Services Manager Lisa Rath. Lisa is a strong advocate for people with epilepsy. She ensures that her clients receive the best services possible to maximize their opportunity to live well in the community despite their diagnosis of epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation continues to work towards the aims of enhancing the quality of life for people living with epilepsy and improving community awareness and understanding.

Guest: Milena Katz
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Milena is an APD and also a qualified high school science teacher. She is the founder of Ahead In Health, a Sydney-based private practice and nutrition consultancy. Milena works part-time within the Multicultural Health Service of NSW Health and has wide ranging experience in clinical nutrition and education of health care professionals. After more than ten years helping people make better food and lifestyle choices, Milena understands the stress that modern families have trying to navigate today’s food environment.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, we are joined by Dietitians Association of Australia‘s Accredited Practising Dietitian Milena Katz to share her interest in women’s health, food and evolution, complementary medicine and anti-ageing. She is passionate about spreading the word on good nutrition for children and adults, particularly about the nutrition status of older adults especially those that are residents in aged care facilities. The Dietitians Association of Australia represents more than 5,700 members in the country.

Guest: Dr Linda Worrall-Carter
Presenter: Wayne Bucklar
Guest Bio: Dr. Linda Worrall-Carter is CEO & Founder of Her Heart, a non-profit organisation that combines expert advice and information to increase awareness on the risks of heart disease in women. As a leading authority on Cardiovascular Health for Women, Linda has a background in nursing, teaching and research and has substantial leadership experience. Professionally, Linda has wide national and international networks and has been invited to work with a number of key national organisations including the Heart Foundation, NHMRC, and the ARC. In Australia, Linda has been recognised for her significant contribution to the Cardiovascular and Nursing Community and was awarded the CSANZ Cardiovascular Nursing Lecture as well as a Fellowship of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, we welcome Her Heart founder and CEO Dr. Linda Worrall-Carter who is here to discuss the not-for-profit organization’s objectives. Studies have shown that Every hour a woman in Australia dies of heart disease, so every day 24 lives will be lost. That’s one-in-three Australian women of all ages, and many of these deaths are often preventable. Today more than 90% of women in Australia have at least one risk factor for heart disease, and as many as 50% have two or more risk factors. Among Her Heart’s objectives is to raise awareness of the prevalence, risk factors and symptoms of heart disease in women.

Guest: Dr. Emilio Sacristan
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Dr. Emilio Sacristan is Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering , Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, at the UAM-Iztapalapa in Mexico City. He is also an active entrepreneur seeking to translate medical innovations to the market, having served as founder/CEO/CSO of Enviva Corp. (MA), Innovamedica (Mexico), Abdeo Medical (Mexico and CA), Critical Perfusion Inc. (CA), and currently serves as Chief Science Officer of Nervive, Inc. He holds a B.S. in EE and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, Dr. Emilio Sacristan, Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, discusses services available to medical researchers and startups.

Overview:
• A study was published in the Medical Journal of Australia examined that the cause of Type-2 Diabetes and why it is worse in certain parts of Australia. And they have found that out that they have a fewer healthy food options for the people who live there. Director of Public Health Sciences at Western Sydney University Dr. Thomas Astell-Burt and Dr. Xiaoqi Feng from the University of Wollongong calculated the number of greengrocers, supermarkets, takeaway shops and alcohol outlets that are 20 minutes’ walk away from a person’s home.

• A new study into health risks linked to Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos-contaminated houses has found a rising incidence of mesothelioma in Canberra over the past 30 years. But the Australian National University research found in the period from 1982 to 2011, only one case of mesothelioma had been diagnosed in a person while living in a Mr Fluffy house.
The final results of the study will be released in 2017.

• Perpetrators of family violence will be given better access to programs aimed at changing their behaviour and cycle of abuse, the Victorian Government says. Corrections Minister Wade Noonan said it was an important step in trying to break the cycle of family violence for men, many of whom who may have experienced it themselves as children. He said he hoped the plan would be in place by the end of next month.

Guest: Dr. Emilio Sacristan
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Dr. Emilio Sacristan is Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering , Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, at the UAM-Iztapalapa in Mexico City. He is also an active entrepreneur seeking to translate medical innovations to the market, having served as founder/CEO/CSO of Enviva Corp. (MA), Innovamedica (Mexico), Abdeo Medical (Mexico and CA), Critical Perfusion Inc. (CA), and currently serves as Chief Science Officer of Nervive, Inc. He holds a B.S. in EE and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, Dr. Emilio Sacristan, Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, talks about the development of a new early treatment for stroke and the development of an artificial heart.

Guest: Dr. Emilio Sacristan
Presenter: Neal Howard
Guest Bio: Dr. Emilio Sacristan is Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering , Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, at the UAM-Iztapalapa in Mexico City. He is also an active entrepreneur seeking to translate medical innovations to the market, having served as founder/CEO/CSO of Enviva Corp. (MA), Innovamedica (Mexico), Abdeo Medical (Mexico and CA), Critical Perfusion Inc. (CA), and currently serves as Chief Science Officer of Nervive, Inc. He holds a B.S. in EE and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Segment overview: In today’s Health Supplier Segment, Dr. Emilio Sacristan, Director and Founder of the National Center for Medical Instrumentation and Imaging Research, CI3M, talks about what it is and it’s mission to enable translational research in the field of medical technology.

Overview:
• The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, found that capturing the cells prevents their spread and helps stop cancer progression.The study’s co-author, Professor Lonnie Shea from the University of Michigan, said the invention could lead to new ways of diagnosing and treating cancer.

•  A new Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) report shows cavities in country children are 55 per cent higher than city children and almost 40 per cent of adults in the bush suffer the chronic disease of untreated tooth decay, compared to less than a quarter in the city.The rate is worse for Indigenous Australians, with 57 per cent also suffering tooth decay. RFDS CEO Martin Laverty said there was a lack of dentists in regional and remote areas.

• Vietnam veteran Augustinus Krikke, 64, has camped on the steps of South Australia’s Parliament House for 161 days, fighting to save the Daw Park Repatriation Hospital. But yesterday he gave up his post. “We’re not going to achieve any more than what we have done here on the steps, so it’s time to leave,” he said.