Allied Health & Aging

HHA Launches New Hand Hygiene Module

12 October, 2016 by AHHB

The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) is a culture change program to reduce the rate healthcare associated infections in Australia.

Pembrolizumab plus chemo improves outcomes in advanced NSCLC

11 October, 2016 by Corin Kelly

The addition of PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab to standard first-line chemotherapy for treatment-naïve advanced non-small-cell lung cancer significantly improves response rates and progression-free survival, researchers reported at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Copenhagen.

Killer T Cells - marching towards a viral cure

11 October, 2016 by AHHB

New research has taken us a step closer to finding a cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as other infections including the glandular fever virus, which is associated with the development of lymphoma. Some infections, such as HIV, cannot be cured with antiviral therapy because the virus effectively hides from the immune system.

Building Capacity through Collaboration

11 October, 2016 by AHHB

In the lead up to the Institute of Hospitality in HealthCare conference, 17-19 October, John Kirwan reflects on almost 40 years’ experience in the healthcare industry. He urges us to look closely at the potential of working with the broader health community and organisations outside health to ensure food security and address the rise in co-morbidity.

Vascular grafts grow with patient post-op

07 October, 2016 by Corin Kelly

Surgical heart reconstructions using graft materials can do amazing things for patients, but in young children they have a serious limitation. The grafts don’t grow along with a growing heart, and so for procedures such as right ventricular outflow tract reconstructions repeat surgeries are required. Now researchers at University of Minnesota are reporting in journal Nature Communications on newly developed “off-the-shelf” vascular grafts that can grow as the tissue they’re connecting develops and matures.

Comedian goes into the lab to reduce suicide

06 October, 2016 by Corin Kelly

A lightbulb moment after a show on a cruise ship four years ago was a career turning point for comedian Mark McConville.

Identifying malnutrition and boosting nutritional intake in aged care

06 October, 2016 by AHHB

Undetected malnutrition affects every system in the body. It is directly associated with increasing complex clinical needs, increased vulnerability to illness with associated functional decline, increased dependency and subsequent increased health care costs. Even when underlying illness and age are taken into account, it predicts a greater than threefold risk of death within 12 to 18 months in older Australians.

Patients on Poppers - can you spot them?

04 October, 2016 by Corin Kelly

Amyl nitrite is the most well known of a group of chemicals called alkyl nitrites, usually referred to as poppers. Product names include rush, TNT, thrust, jungle juice, ram and kix, according to Julaine Allan, from Charles Sturt University.

Breast density matters in cancer detection

04 October, 2016 by Corin Kelly

The warning from a new Australian alliance of breast cancer researchers is that almost 8% of women have extremely high breast density, which can make it harder for health professionals to detect breast cancer on a screening mammogram. These women are also more likely to develop breast cancer in the future.

McQuoin Park: Promoting Wellness in Aged Care

04 October, 2016 by AHHB

In May 2016, Catholic Healthcare commenced construction of a $120 million development project at McQuoin Park in Waitara, New South Wales.

Towards better, more efficient and safer patient care: Barcode scanning in healthcare

04 October, 2016 by Ryan Mccann

Barcodes are already widely used across the medical sector, particularly in warehouses and central pharmacies, though they’ve also made some inroads into clinical environments too – patient wristbands, bio-samples, test tubes and order sheets, just to name a few.