A world-first delivering lung checks to regional miners
Heart of Australia, in partnership with the Queensland Government, has officially launched a first-of-its kind mobile medical imaging clinic called HEART 5, that will provide increased accessibility to lung checks to current and former mine and quarry workers in rural and remote Queensland.
The fifth truck in the Heart of Australia fleet, HEART 5, includes a world-first battery powered CT scanner and X-ray equipment to assist in the screening and early detection of mine dust lung diseases, such as black lung and silicosis.
Adoni Media is a long-standing PR partner of Heart of Australia and proudly supported the launch with stories of the new mobile imaging clinic featuring in news bulletins across Queensland.
WORLD-FIRST BATTERY POWERED CT SCANNER
Heart of Australia Founder, Dr Rolf Gomes, said he’s thrilled to be working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland, which contributed $2 million towards the build of operation of HEART 5.
The clinic will improve accessibility to respiratory health examinations for current and former mine and quarry workers as well as their broader communities across rural and remote areas of Queensland.
“The battery technology we have designed and built in Queensland to power the CT scanner means with HEART 5 we can do a CT parked on a mine site, and that is a world first.
“Through the collaboration of the project partners, the Queensland Government, Philips, and I-MED, this technology and innovation has been made possible.
“HEART 5 breaks down the tyranny of distance, so if you do have a lung disease, we can find it early and quickly,” Dr Gomes said.
INCREASING ACCESS FOR RURAL PATIENTS TO MEDICAL IMAGING SERVICES
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said HEART 5 is a revolutionary piece of technology that will bring high quality respiratory health screenings to mine and quarry workers in regional and remote parts of the state.
“We’re proud to have HEART 5 on the road helping to uphold our high standards for health and safety in the resources sector, and our government will continue to support workers, on and off the job site,” Minister Stewart said.
Dr Gomes said providing rural patients with access to locally delivered medical imaging services will make an enormous difference in improving lives and support the work of local GPs.
“Heart of Australia is pioneering the delivery of radiology services in regional Queensland. For retired miners as well as those living in rural and remote communities, this means easier access to testing and screening which will improve patient health outcomes,” he said.
PROJECT PARTNER – PHILIPS TECHNOLOGY
The battery-powered CT scanner was designed by Philips, with some modifications to their technology to enable the scanner to withstand the vibrations of Queensland’s roads.
Andreas Roost, Philip’s Sales Manager Qld & NT, said the way the system is mounted is quite different to how it would potentially be in a fixed environment.
“Being able to put it (the scanner) into a mobile environment and take it to the patient, rather than the other way around, I think is huge,” he said.
PROJECT PARTNER – I-MED RADIOLOGY NETWORK
I-MED Radiology Network is the Radiology partner for Heart of Australia, providing the radiographer inside the truck, taking care of the data transfer, and the reporting by the radiologist.
I-MED Cardiothoracic Radiology Lead, Dr Catherine Jones, said it’s important for people living in rural and remote areas to have the same improved health opportunities that everyone else does.
HEART 5 has began visiting Queensland mine sites with some patients already diagnosed with early stages of dust-related pneumoconiosis and possibly lung cancer.
“It’s a sign of things to come because, on the small number of people we’ve already been able to screen, we’ve had promising results and we know this is going to be replicated over the years to come,” Dr Jones said.
HEART OF AUSTRALIA BEGAN IN 2014
Since 2014, Heart of Australia’s medical specialists have seen more than 12,000 patients and saved more than 500 lives. The fleet has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres servicing towns from Stanthorpe in the south to Weipa in the far north and Winton in the west.
“With the launch of HEART 5, our CT truck, we will be finding more, treating more, and saving more lives,” Dr Gomes said.
On top of HEART 5’s project partners, the Queensland Government through Resources Safety and Health Queensland, Philips and I-MED, HEART 5 also has the support of Foundation Partner Arrow Energy, as well as Anglo American, IOR, PACCAR Australia, Toyota, QML, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Telstra, Bayer, Bridgestone, Rex Airlines, Brown & Hurley, Janssen, Frasers, Abbot, NTI, and Medtronic.
