New $4.9m Medical Training Facility for Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital

An innovative clinical school providing multidisciplinary training for undergraduate doctors, nurses and physician assistants will be built at Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital (HSN).

During a visit to HSN, Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, announced that the Australian Government would provide up to $4.9 million for the project.

The Ministers congratulated the not-for-profit Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital for embracing innovative clinical teaching and training in acute care.

The new multidisciplinary clinical school will increase the hospital’s clinical training capacity for undergraduate students and increase the academic support available to students.

Mr Chris Flynn Executive Director for HSN said "This new facility to be opened in 2012 will be known as "Holy Spirit Northside Multidisciplinary Clinical School". This grant will deliver teaching space and a range of simulation equipment to enable students to undertake clinical and academic training outside clinical settings. Facilities will also enable students to watch the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE will be partners in the new clinical school. This academia along with the expertise and support from our Medical community will underpin this new development and will offer a well rounded and enriched clinical learning experience across the disciplines of Medicine and Nursing."

Mr Chris Flynn Executive Director for HSN said "Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital is embracing innovative clinical teaching and training in acute care."

Mr Flynn continued, "The University of Queensland, the Australian Catholic University and procedures in the operating theatres via audio-visual equipment " .

Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital launches $2 Million high tech operating suites

Four of the hospital's eight operating rooms now have pioneering i-Suite technology, a partnership with Stryker Endoscopy and Stryker Communications, offering patients the latest in minimally invasive and other advanced surgical technologies.

With the installation of the new i- Suite technology and the expansion to the operating services at Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital, patients now have access to the very latest medical technology and services in Australia; the best quality High Definition surgical images combined with telemedicine in Queensland.

The surgeon has direct control over all the medical equipment via his/her own voice. Sidne, the technology, can activate equipment, document findings with pictures and/or motion video, and dictate notes directly to the hospital network.

Benefits include shorter hospital stays, faster recovery periods and less pain due to the shortening of the period that the patient must remain under anesthesia.

Dr Andrew Stevenson, Colorectal Surgeon, said, "This technology also allows surgeons to connect across theatres, with other conference and teaching facilities and other hospital campuses around the world."

According to Dr Stevenson, over 5000 surgeries will be performed in the new suites in 2009 - including everything from ear nose and throat surgery to major navigation joint replacement surgery."

Mr Chris Flynn, CEO of Holy Spirit Northside Hospital, said that the advanced medical technologies and expanded services in the new operating suites make the hospital one of the premier facilities in Queensland.

"Holy Spirit Northside Hospital is committed to providing the highest level of health care using state of the art technologies. Our new i -Suite operating rooms are an obvious example of our strategy to improve patient care through clinical and international technologies," he said.

Building a Better Hospital for Our Community

"The hospital, which only opened seven years ago, has quickly gained a reputation for excellence and as a consequence of the significant demands placed on it, our expansion plans were fast tracked" Chris Flynn, the Hospital's Executive Director said.

The works will include the addition of a new hospital wing accommodating an extra 60 patient beds together with the expansion of the existing medical centre.

Chris Flynn said "the multi-million dollar redevelopment just reinforces our commitment to provide acute care medical services to residents of Brisbane's north".

The works are expected to commence at the beginning of July and will continue for approximately 12 months. Whilst there will be disruption for patients and visitors to the hospital Mr Flynn believes that the measures put in place should minimise inconvenience.

The current main entrance to the hospital will be closed for the duration of the works with and a new entrance created adjacent to the main entrance of the Prince Charles Hospital and directly opposite the public car park. Directional signage and information brochures will be provided to assist visitors.

Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital Cardiac Surgeons perform groundbreaking cardiac procedure

New technology from Medtronic is allowing Cardiac Surgeons at Brisbane's Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital to perform, for the first time in Australia, life-saving heart surgery to patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) using bipolar radiofrequency ablation.

Recently, Holy Spirit Northside cardiac surgeons, Dr Trevor Fayers and Dr Morgan Windsor under the proctorship of Dr Erik Beyer MD from the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center in Houston, Texas, performed the minimally invasive procedure known as minimally invasive bilateral thoracotomy RF ablation.

The emergence of minimally invasive surgery has radically changed the way surgeons operate, resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery periods and less pain.

"With the advances in technology and techniques, cardiac surgeons can now offer multiple treatment options for AF," Dr Fayers said.

"This is an important step forward in improving both quality of life and survival for these patients and is good news for the growing number of Australians diagnosed with AF each year."

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of heart rhythm that occurs when electrical disturbances in the heart cause the atrial chamber s to quiver rather than beat normally. Symptoms of AF can include palpitations, shortness of breath, lethargy and light-headedness. Some patients are at considerable risk of stroke.

AF will not terminate by itself. One of the most effective surgical treatments of AF is through radiofrequency ablation.

Cardiac surgeons are able to use new Medtronic Endoscopic Surgical Ablation equipment at Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital, which enable them to create lesions on the atrial chambers that block these irregular signals, re-establishing normal heart rhythm.

Long term results are excellent in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF (>90% in sinus rhythm at 20months). Chronic AF remain less favourable (50-60 % at 20 months)

For interview and photograph opportunities and for more information contact:

Jenny Kilby, Business Development Consultant- HSNS, Ph 0401 712 990

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Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital surgeon performs first published laparoscopic hemicolectomy in a pregnant woman

With an increasing trend for pregnancy to occur later in life, colorectal cancer complicating pregnancy may become more frequent.

Dr Clark said that "Colorectal carcinoma in pregnancy is rare. In the medical literature, case reports detail open hemicolectomies for colorectal cancers. The laparoscopic approach is becoming more widespread in non-pregnant patients."

Continuing on Dr Clark said "In this case, the expectant mother presented early in the pregnancy and it would not be reasonable to delay surgery until term or even viability of the foetus."

A successful laparoscopic procedure was undertaken. Her post-operative recovery was uneventful and she was discharged home 3 days post-operatively.

The woman gave birth by vaginal delivery without complication 5 months later.

Dr Clark said that "There are many reports of laparoscopic surgery being performed in pregnancy for other operations such as appendicectomy and cholecystectomy. This case illustrates that a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy can be safely and successfully completed during pregnancy."
For interview and photograph opportunities and for more information contact:

Jenny Kilby, Business Development Consultant- HSNS, Ph 0401 712 990

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