Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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Very sad lead story that does highlight some risks in relying on IT. Worth a thought to see if anything happening nearby has similar risks
Otherwise pretty quiet this week.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/588283/IT-issues-highlighted-in-home-isolation-deaths.htm
IT issues highlighted in home isolation deaths
Sunday, 28 November 2021
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Lack of integration and IT
systems that are not fit for purpose are highlighted in a report into the
“potentially preventable” deaths of two people in home isolation after contracting
Covid-19.
The Northern Region Health Coordination Centre (NRHCC) commissioned the report
into the Community Supported Isolation and Quarantine (CIQ) system in
consultation with the Ministry of Health after a man died at home in Auckland
on November 3. A second person died on November 5.
An independent review panel found there were “missed opportunities” that
contributed to the deaths and the IT systems supporting the home isolation of
Covid-19 patients , “have suffered from being unable to be either linked or
effectively reconfigured to meet the priority needs”.
Also, “escalation pathways did not occur or function as planned, either for
unclear reasons or due to software design issues”, the report says.
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https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2021/45/ranzcps-exam-failure-a-chance-to-rebuild-trust/
RANZCP’s exam failure a chance to rebuild trust
Authored by Benjamin Veness
ON Saturday, 20 November 2021, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) experienced a devastating examination failure.
Across Australia and New Zealand, 248 senior psychiatry trainees and specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) were sitting at their home computers, sweating into their suits but ready to attempt an audio-visual version of the Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). Elsewhere, actors and volunteer psychiatrist examiners were ready and waiting to begin.
Many candidates, especially those in New South Wales who had their July 2021 OSCE cancelled at the last minute due to the lack of a COVID-19 outbreak contingency plan, had been waiting since early 2020 for an opportunity to sit the exam and complete their training.
Then, disaster struck.
After a week of fraught technical practice sessions, which had already distressed and distracted the candidates in the lead-up to the exam, the platform failed spectacularly. A small portion of the morning session’s candidates were able to partially complete the examination. The afternoon candidates received urgent emails from the College advising their session would still go ahead, but about an hour into the scheduled registration time, the College made the decision to abort.
To the candidates’ dismay, the College had seemingly failed to develop a contingency plan, and at time of writing they were scrambling to find a remedy. Scores of letters from trainees, psychiatrists and various committees – many of them shared on social media — have been pouring into the President’s inbox. Candidates are advocating for alternative assessment pathways, noting the abundance of pre-existing workplace-based assessments and centrally administered examination results from which to draw.
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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/something-is-rotten-in-our-training-colleges/58799
29 November 2021
Something is rotten in our training colleges
The events of the weekend disrupting the trajectories of over 100 psychiatry trainees highlights a systemic problem that lies within the ranks of our training colleges in Australia.
Given I am a fellow of the RANZCP, I can speak directly to the issues and the history that paved the way for the outcome. But I am aware the issues the RANZCP are facing are common to most medical colleges in Australia and New Zealand.
While the technical errors that closed down the practical exam component of the RANZCP training pathway were diabolical for the trainees themselves, the impact on workforce and delivery of best practice psychiatric care to the population of Australia is also high.
Almost 10 days later there appears no solution in sight, and with the mass resignation of the Trainee Representative Committee over the weekend, little hope is held for a solution that collaborates with those directly affected.
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Psychiatry registrars in botched exam to be offered 'alternative pathway' to fellowship
College president Associate Professor Vinay Lakra has apologised for the distress caused to candidates
30th November 2021
Psychiatry registrars embroiled in the aborted fellowship exam will be offered an 'alternative pathway' to fellowship rather than being asked to sit a retake.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists said it was working on a proposal that would look at the performance of trainees in previous assessments, and if this wasn't possible, a workplace-based assessment could be considered.
Earlier this month, 270 doctors sitting the college's Objective Structured Clinical Exam via computer in their homes were forced to abandon the test after an IT glitch.
For some, it was their third attempt to take an exam they'd already waited 18 months to complete because of the pandemic.
Nine registrars have now quit the college's trainee committee, saying the botched exam was just one example of a consistent pattern of failures by the RANZCP over the past two years.
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https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/the-big-picture-on-genomic-data-in-australia/
Launched today: The big picture on genomic data in Australia
Dec 2, 2021 | Advocacy, AIDH news, Community Chats, eHealth, Featured, Genomics, InGeNA
InGeNA today launched the whitepaper “Genomic Data in Australia” providing a big picture view of the present use of genomic data across Australia.
Industry, government, healthcare, research and health consumer groups were consulted about ways genomic data could be managed to meet community expectations around security and confidentiality.
“Genomic Data in Australia”, is the first industry-led report on data sharing and the challenges and opportunities facing governance around genomic data.
The public is becoming more knowledgeable about genomics – whether through their personal DNA and ancestry tracing, or for clinical benefit through screening, diagnosis and treatment.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/murdoch-childrens-research-institute-takes-out-medtech-category/
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute takes out medtech category
Staff Writers
InnovationAus
2 December 2021
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute – Australia’s largest children’s health research institute – has come out on top in the MedTech and BioTech category at the InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence.
The InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence were presented on Wednesday night at a gala black-tie dinner at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney.
The Medical Technology and Biotechnology category of the awards was sponsored by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre.
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute won the award for the MedTech and biotech category for its work on making discoveries to prevent and treat childhood conditions.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/murdoch-childrens-research-institute-wins-research-translation/
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute wins Research Translation
Staff Writers
InnovationAus
2 December 2021
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has taken out the top prize for research translation at the InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence.
The InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence were presented at a gala black-tie dinner on Wednesday night at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney.
The research translation category award, sponsored by national science agency CSIRO, was given to Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia’s largest child health research institute.
The institute is in the top three worldwide for research quality and impact, and has a team of more than 1200 researchers. It is dedicated to making discoveries to prevent and treat childhood conditions.
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https://itwire.com/government/csiro-program-reinvents-the-way-humans-and-machines-work-together.html
Tuesday, 30 November 2021 10:03
CSIRO program reinvents the way humans and machines work together
National science agency CSIRO is designing a new capability called Collaborative Intelligence, which aims to move beyond machines replacing people or automating their jobs, and instead will create teams that maximise the benefits of both human and machine intelligence.
The $12 million Collaborative Intelligence (Cintel) Future Science Platform’s first projects will draw the expertise of CSIRO’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group, the team who bagged a silver medal in the international Darpa Subterranean Challenge.
The challenge, branded as “robot Olympics,” involved using teams of robots to explore and locate objects in unmapped underground environments under the supervision of a human operator.
Cintel leader Dr Cécile Paris says lessons from the challenge could help inform future human/robot teaming.
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Pro Medicus imaging business soars but Australian medical industry hurting from outdated imaging systems
November 30, 2021
This is a business story that will inspire but disappoint all Australians. We have become the global leader in a significant area of medical diagnosis and communication — imaging and associated technology.
The Australian doctor and software operator who developed the technology still head and control the listed company that owns it — Pro Medicus.
The company’s imaging systems are sweeping the US and will extend into Europe. Naturally the two Australians became billionaires, but sadly the majority of the Australian medical industry still suffers from being lumbered with outdated imaging systems. (Perhaps if it is marketed to Canberra as US technology rather than Australian and Melbourne technology we might follow the US and embrace it).
Let me share with you this amazing Australian story that started in 1983 when a youthful Sam Hupert and Anthony Hall combined to offer hospitals, doctors and other parts of the medical profession better paper-based systems.
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More ways for New Zealand citizens to get COVID-19 travel pass now
Vaccinating pharmacies can now assist citizens to obtain their My Vaccine Pass.
By Adam Ang
November 28, 2021 11:35 PM
New Zealand's Ministry of Health has provided more options for citizens to get their COVID-19 travel passes.
In a media release, the government noted the "unprecedented" demand for assistance in generating My Vaccine Pass, the country's official record of COVID-19 vaccination status, which can be currently obtained online or via post. So far, it has issued two million passes to over half of fully vaccinated individuals.
Given the huge volume of requests, "we have added to our call centre capacity to support customers wanting to set up their My COVID Record, check their NHI number, or generate their My Vaccine Pass," said Michael Dreyer, group manager for National Digital Services at the Ministry of Health. Three call centres are now operating with extended hours, he added.
Over the coming days, citizens can also visit their local pharmacy to request their My Vaccine Pass. According to Dreyer, around 400 pharmacies that are vaccinating people will also be assisting them in getting their vaccination passes.
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Launch of national leadership program for Women in Digital Health
Today we are proud to launch our newest #leadership program - a national leadership program for Women in Digital Health - in partnership with Telstra Health, Alcidion, EY and Coviu. The 25 people accepted into the program will work with inspirational digital health leaders, coaches and mentors from across the digital health community and join leadership retreats from February - August. The WiDH Leadership program is accepting applications until Monday 10 January 2022.
An online information session will be held Tuesday 7 December at 8.30am. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gCeJC4aq
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/gov-appoints-new-national-data-commissioner-573469
Gov appoints new National Data Commissioner
By Justin Hendry on Dec 2, 2021 1:15PM
Designate role until controversial bill passes.
The federal government has named Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications executive Gayle Milnes as the country’s next National Data Commissioner.
Milnes will join the Office of the National Data Commissioner (ONDC) within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on December 8, replacing Interim National Data Commissioner Deb Anton.
She will hold a commissioner-designate role until passage of the controversial Data Availability and Transparency (DAT) Bill, which has not progressed since it was introduced to parliament in December 2020.
The bill, which will make it easier for agencies to share public sector data between themselves and the private sector, is awaiting changes recommended by a senate committee in April 2021.
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Digital health leadership programme launched for Australian women
The programme is seeking its first 25 participants.
December 01, 2021
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health has opened applications for its new leadership programme to advance women's careers in digital health.
According to a press statement, the six-month Women in Digital Health Leadership programme aims to enable women to "realise and develop their leadership potential to advance the capability of organisations to achieve 'healthier lives, digitally-enabled'".
In the first cohort, 25 participants will be chosen to partake in a personalised learning programme that includes six one-hour individual coaching sessions, on top of peer learning, said AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper.
The participants will also finish small group projects that will "have an impact on the digital health community" as part of their learning outcomes.
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Sonic takes strategic stake in AI health start-up in $129m fund raise
Carrie LaFrenz Senior reporter
Dec 1, 2021 – 8.00am
Artificial intelligence healthcare start-up Harrison.ai has closed its latest financing round, raising $129 million, while also penning a new partnership in tandem with pathology giant Sonic Healthcare to help develop pathology AI.
Harrison.ai is a Sydney-based software company that builds AI tools for the medical industry.
The Series B funding round was split on one side by global venture capital firms led by existing Hong Kong investor Horizons Ventures, along with Blackbird Ventures and Kim Jackson’s Skip Capital.
New equity investments came from Sonic and I-MED Radiology Network. Sonic is not only investing directly into the parent company, taking a strategic minority stake, but also will invest into a new joint venture entity, on which Sonic will have board representation.
Sonic boss Colin Goldschmidt told The Australian Financial Review while the investment is not material for the world’s third-largest pathology player, he is excited by the future prospects since Sonic had been looking into the AI space for several years.
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Digital resource to help clinicians prevent childhood obesity
Wednesday, 01 December, 2021
Dietitian and University of Queensland Research Fellow Dr Oliver Canfell and team have developed an online resource to help prevent childhood obesity.
The resource is being developed as part of the Precision Support for Preventing Childhood Obesity (PRECISE) program, a partnership between UQ and Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld).
Almost 20 health professionals including GPs, child health nurses and dietitians have been recruited from across Queensland to design the digital solutions to focus on prevention in routine practice.
The tools designed in the PRECISE program will be available via Clinicians Hub, a central digital platform created by HWQld to help health professionals effectively prevent and manage childhood obesity.
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‘I’ve never felt happier’: Epilepsy sufferer opens up about ‘life-changing’ new device now approved by TGA
NCA NewsWire
December 2, 2021
Morgan Adams had been suffering from seizures since she was just 15 years old.
The random fits she endured over the past 12 years resulted in her breaking bones and teeth, needing two shoulder reconstructions and numerous surgeries.
The 27-year-old tried various medications to help control the condition but became one of about 80,000 Australians diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).
Miss Adams said she felt embarrassed having seizures, especially when they happened in front of strangers, like at the train station or walking along tram lines.
But the Prahran resident said her life “completely changed” after she had a groundbreaking nerve stimulation therapy system called SenTiva inserted in September last year.
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29 Nov 2021 8:24 AM AEST
LivaNova receives TGA approval for its VNS Therapy System for drug-resistant epilepsy
MEDIA RELEASE
LivaNova receives TGA approval for its VNS Therapy System for drug-resistant epilepsy
- LivaNova receives TGA approval for its VNS Therapy System for drug-resistant epilepsy
- SenTiva® is the first epilepsy device of its size and weight approved for use in Australia that prevents seizures before they start and delivers extra therapy to stop seizures¹
- VNS Therapy® is an alternative treatment option for children and adults with drug resistant epilepsy¹
- In Australia, around 250,000 are currently diagnosed with epilepsy² with over 30% of people with epilepsy are classified as 'drug resistant³
Sydney, Australia, 29 November, 2021 – LivaNova PLC (“LivaNova”), a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, has announced today the TGA registration of its vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) Therapy System, SenTiva for the treatment of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) using VNS. SenTiva® is the first epilepsy device of its size designed to prevent seizures in people living with all types of epilepsy who are not responding to their antiepileptic medication.¹ It is available for adults and children over 4 years of age.
According to the International League against Epilepsy, DRE is defined as failure of adequate response to at least two anti-epileptic drugs to achieve sustained seizure freedom.⁴ Out of the 250,000 Australians who are diagnosed with epilepsy more than 30%, or approximately 80,000 Australians, are diagnosed with DRE. ²,³
VNS Therapy is an adjunctive therapy that reduces seizure frequency in children and adults with DRE who are not suitable for resective surgery.⁶ ⁷It works by delivering mild pulses to the vagus nerve at regular intervals throughout the day via a small device implanted under the skin in an effort to reduce seizure frequency and improve recovery time.⁸
The SenTiva® device is implanted in a day (outpatient) procedure and has a feature called scheduled programming that when enabled, allows a user to schedule automated increases to output current using a protocol of up to 7 steps.8 With SenTiva, you can safely titrate multiple steps without a need for office visits.9
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https://www.zdnet.com/article/kate-mckenzie-shifts-to-nbn-chair-as-switkowski-departs-at-year-end/
Kate McKenzie shifts to NBN chair as Switkowski departs at year end
Former Telstra CEO to be replaced by former Telstra COO, and a former Telstra enterprise chief joins the board.
By Chris Duckett | November 22, 2021 | Topic: NBN
Teleommunications Minister Paul Fletcher said on Monday afternoon that current chair of NBN Co Ziggy Switkowski will depart on January 1.
Taking the reins of the company responsible for the National Broadband Network will be Kate McKenzie, who was the CEO of New Zealand broadband wholesaler Chorus until the end of 2019.
"Of course, my one regret is I'd love to take the fantastic Chorus fibre network back home with me, but yeah, that's probably not going to happen," McKenzie said at the time.
Completing the board is Nerida Caesar, who also sits on Westpac's board, and was previously CEO of Equifax in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Telstra.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/optus-starts-its-own-5g-standalone-trials-573335
Optus starts its own 5G standalone trials
By Ry Crozier on Nov 30, 2021 10:57AM
Ahead of planned commercial launch next year.
Optus has started “limited trials” of 5G standalone services ahead of a planned commercial launch of the network in 2022.
The telco said in a statement that it had now connected its first customers to a multiband 5G standalone network”, with customers using an Oppo smartphone to test the network.
An Optus spokesperson told iTnews: “We have a small cohort of customers taking part in the trial in Sydney, with additional triallists in Melbourne joining shortly.”
Standalone refers to 5G networks that are capable of operating in pure 5G mode, instead of being aided by existing 4G infrastructure.
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Enjoy!
David.
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