HEALTH - Gold Coast Health & Knowledge Precinct

Filed Under: HEALTH, STUDY Tagged With: Cohort, Gold Coast, Griffith University, health innovation

Meet Dennis Nguyen

Meet Dennis Nguyen.

Growing up in Vietnam in the 2000’s, Dennis developed a passion for healthcare and innovation, inspired by stories of technological advancements and entrepreneurship he read on the internet.

Setting his sights on a career in the healthcare innovation industry, Dennis made the decision to move abroad to study at Griffith University in the heart of the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct. Dennis has embraced the Gold Coast life, jumping on every opportunity that comes his way, and becoming an active member of the Griffith and Gold Coast communities.  

He’s looking toward a future where he can use emerging technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, to develop new treatments for diseases and improve medical devices.  

We sat down with Dennis to chat about what it’s like to study and live on the Gold Coast. 

Q. What are you studying at Griffith University, and how far through your studies are you? 

A. I am currently in my third year studying Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at Griffith University. As I approach my clinical placement, I am excited to apply what I’ve learned directly in a clinical setting. Medical Laboratory Science plays a crucial role in diagnostics, contributing to up to 70% of all medical decisions. This field not only deepens my understanding and interpretation of various medical tests but also discover the bridges between on-going and innovative diagnostic tools with essential medical background. 

Q. Why did you choose to study overseas?  

A. Growing up in the 2000s, an era of internet breakthroughs, I was fortunate to be exposed to inspiring stories of technological advancements and entrepreneurship. This exposure, coupled with the reading of historical books, deeply instilled in me the desire to pursue a career in the technological healthcare sector. Motivated by this passion, I have always aspired to study abroad in an unfamiliar environment that not only challenges me and but also supports and aligns with my career-goal of innovative healthcare. 

Q. What made you choose the Gold Coast as your destination to come and study in Australia?

A. I first learned about the Gold Coast from family recommendations. After conducting thorough research on the area and the educational facilities, I discovered Griffith University and then the Gold Coast’s Health and Knowledge Precinct, I am convinced that it is the ideal place for my future studies. The Precinct’s mission of “people transforming lives” aligns with my desire to immerse myself in new experiences and grow both personally and academically. 

Q. What programs or groups have you been part of since moving to the Gold Coast? 

A. Alongside my studies, I have dedicated my time and energy to a range of activities. My journey began as a volunteer with Griffith Mates—an organisation part of Griffith International that supports international students in their transition to life in Australia and at Griffith University. We have hosted and participated in various cultural exchange events, aiming to help international students bond and feel welcomed at Griffith University. I have engaged in similar roles at the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences as a student mentor.  

These experiences have underscored the importance of contributing to the community and how it can profoundly impact individual growth. Most recently, I was honoured to become one of the 2024 Mayor’s Student Ambassadors, a role in which I represent and promote the Gold Coast globally as not only a beautiful destination to live but also a land of excellent education and opportunities. 

Q. What connections have your studies or other programs had with the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct?  

A. During my educational journey at Griffith University, I have been deeply inspired by the dynamic medical sciences research that permeates the atmosphere—something that teachers, mentors, and even my University friends are continuously contributing.  

Through the university’s mentorship network, I have had the privilege of connecting with industry leaders who work at the Precinct, further enhancing my academic and professional experiences. 

Additionally, my passion for entrepreneurship constantly drives me to seek new learning opportunities. The Cohort Innovation Space at the Precinct has become one of my favourite destinations. It is here that I took one of my favourite courses, the Griffith Innovation Challenge, which focuses on teaching entrepreneurship and its application in solving real-world problems. 

The Cohort also provides a dynamic platform for events that allow students like me to learn, engage with industry leaders, and continue to nurture my aspirations in the field of innovative healthcare.  

Q. Do you feel you have been offered opportunities to connect with people/organisations via the Precinct? 

A. Absolutely! As a student passionate about advanced medical research and its potential to transform lives, the Precinct offers an ideal environment for connecting with like-minded and leading individuals. The people here are proactive, always ready to offer support and inspiration, making it a fantastic place for someone like me who is just starting. 

Q. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years’ time?  

A. In near-future time, I would love to see myself gaining as much experience as possible in Medical Laboratory Science. However, with all the opportunities, education and network that I have found at the Precinct whilst being as a student, I wonder how great it would be if I continue my involvements as a health-care professions in a supporting ecosystem like the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct!?

Q. What advice would you give to a school leaver about choosing their next step? 

A. For students studying on the Gold Coast, particularly those will be pursuing a healthcare degree at Griffith University, I believe that we are fortunate to be part of a supportive environment that support our growth potential. The best approach we can take is to continually strive for improvement in our daily activities, engage in various experiences to learn more about ourselves, and regularly reflect on these experiences. This mindset will help us excel both academically and personally. 

Thanks, Dennis, for taking the time to talk to us, and we look forward to seeing you in and around the precinct! 

Filed Under: HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY Tagged With: AI, health innovation, healthtech, image-guided surgery, incisionless surgery, virtual reality

Gold Coast Health leads in healthcare innovation

From an Australian public hospital-first delivering ‘Incisionless Surgery’ to transform the lives of people with tremors, to a new solution to remotely support people with chronic disease who’d otherwise need to revisit the emergency department and a pilot program harnessing virtual reality technology for pain management that is now going statewide, Gold Coast Health is leading the way in healthcare innovation.

Neville Waterstrom drinking a glass of water without shaking for the first time in years

With Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) the first public hospital, and only the third hospital in Australia, to introduce trans-cranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology, Gold Coast Health is happy to celebrate instant success – almost as happy as 74-year-old patient Neville Waterstrom.

“I’ve been experiencing Essential Tremors for the last 30 years. It’s been incredibly difficult to do even simple tasks like feed myself, and drinking out of a glass was just not a possibility,” Mr Waterstrom says.

This procedure has completely changed my life.

“I haven’t been able to write properly for at least 20 years, and now – it’s just amazing. I can drink a glass of water again, and this is just one hour after the procedure. The joy and privilege I feel is immeasurable as the first person in Queensland to receive this treatment. I just want to thank everybody that has been involved, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The so-called ‘Incisionless Surgery” is a non-invasive procedure which uses MRI to locate and treat areas of the brain that trigger symptoms of movement disorders – patients don’t require anaesthetic, are awake during surgery and can potentially be discharged the very next day.

For Gold Coast Health Medical Director Neurology, Dr Sam Heshmat the service launch was a moment of pride in the teamwork that brought different specialists together to change lives.

“To see a significant change in a patient’s functional capacity within a few hours, to see them gain back some independence after so many years, it’s just priceless,” says Dr Heshmat.

“This service is unique as it involves a group of clinicians from different specialties. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, and our radiology colleagues all play a role within each patient’s journey. We also have a Nurse Navigator, which is a newly created position specifically for this service.”

This cross-disciplinary team approach is key to how Gold Coast Health is embracing a future-focused culture of patient-centric innovation – bringing different types of clinicians together with data-scientists, software developers, analysts, AI and automation experts and external partners to lead solutions for Gold Coast patients, with potential to take them into hospitals nationally and even globally.

Leading an ambitious transformation agenda since his arrival three years ago, Executive Director Strategy, Transformation and Major Capital and Chief Digital Officer Sandip Kumar, recently told Hospitals Management Asia that Gold Coast Health was committed to a ‘Smart Hospital’ driven by a seamless and integrated digital health environment.

“At Gold Coast Health we have branded our ServiceNow platform – CareNow. The idea is that we are using technology to enable care anywhere and care now,” explains Mr Kumar.

An example is staff being able to take smartphone photos of wounds, securely upload them to a patient’s integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) for clinical consultants to make rapid care decisions. This pioneering application won a 2023 Queensland Premier’s Award of Excellence for Better Health and Wellbeing Services.

Another is the digitisation of patient lists. A program nicknamed Kirra has digitised outpatient appointments, cutting time to book a single appointment from 5 minutes to 60 secs, and avoiding scheduling issues and wasted appointments.

Billed as intelligent notetaking, ‘Ambient Listening’ is being explored to use natural language processing (NLP), a form of AI, to listen in on doctor-patient consultations, create summaries of relevant conversations, and generate alerts for services such as X-rays if required, without retaining any audio files.

Innovation is occurring across remote patient monitoring and wearables, workflow and demand management processes, communication automation, medical imaging, models of care, robotics and augmented reality, and more.

VR study participant Atla Seitshiro with Hannah Kennedy and Darren Doherty from the Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Centre

One exciting innovation is a Virtual Reality program for pain management, led by Darren Doherty, specialist pain physiotherapist and the team at the Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Clinic, including occupational therapist Hannah Kennedy.

“What we’re attempting to do is supercharge pain education for our patients,” says Mr Doherty, who says the fun program also has a rehabilitation element.

VR provides an immersive leaning environment, that quickly empowers patients to adapt their behaviours, according to Ms Kennedy.

“What we’re seeing is patients seem to be really engaged with the education, relating that to their situation and really quickly are keen to make changes to activities, movements and their day-to-day life,” says Ms Kennedy.

With the success of a six-month trial, and powerful learnings from participating in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct’s Clinician Entrepreneurship Change Agents Program (CECAP), Kennedy had the confidence to successfully pitch the program to Queensland Health for statewide roll-out across specialist pain clinics.

Innovations like Incisionless Surgery and the VR for Pain Management program have an obvious tech component, but behind-the-scenes process innovation is also utilising transformative technology for high impact.

Australian technology company FOXO partnered with Gold Coast Health to launch the digitally-enabled Rapid Access Service in General Medicine, leveraging FOXO’s market-leading expertise in secure unified communications, in what is a game-changer for reducing emergency department readmissions of patients with chronic conditions.

Discharging patients receive a take-home card, with a customised QR code to link them to a simple gateway to future communication with healthcare staff, with no need to download an app, and a simple, password-free yet highly-secure sign on process, incorporating two-factor authentication.

The user-friendly platform enables secure messaging, sharing of documents and images as well as video-calling and interfaces with Microsoft Teams to ensure ‘frictionless’ communication and hopefully avoid more than 1000 emergency department re-admissions each year.

“Through the integration of FOXO’s comprehensive communication platform, our health service stands at the forefront of modern healthcare delivery and accessibility. Our focus on improved patient access and reducing Emergency Department visits underscores our commitment to elevating healthcare outcomes, ” says Mr Kumar.

“Gold Coast Health has also built up a reputation for innovation. People have seen how we have transformed and how the industry speaks about us. If you are a beacon for innovation, and transforming for purpose, it becomes easier to attract talent from across private and public sectors.”

Filed Under: BUSINESS, HEALTH Tagged With: innovation summit

GCHKP experts speak at 2023 National Health and Innovation Precincts Summit

By Precinct Director Craig Rowsell

I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 National Health & Innovation Precincts Summit held in Sydney last week, alongside fellow GCHKP colleagues. This conference, in its second year, brings together key precinct stakeholders from across Australia and overseas including hospitals, universities, government, industry, start-ups and developers to discuss what makes innovation precincts effective in driving impact and investment to their regions. Personally, it was a great opportunity to meet many people that do the same job as me nationally and internationally.

In its simplest form, to improve health outcomes for our community, research and innovation needs to operate hand-in-hand with our health system. The co-location model delivered by innovation precincts is a key enabler of health translation, which also brings opportunity for greater community impact if done correctly, including job creation and economic diversification.

The conference discussed the growth in the number of innovation precincts being established across Australia noting to truly identify as a precinct, the manner in which the different stakeholders interact and work towards a shared vision is the critical element.

Dr Iris Depaz (left) from Sanofi with Griffith University Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans and Acting Deputy Director General Mark Tierney, Queensland Government

During the summit, Dr Iris Depaz from the Sanofi Translational Science Hub gave insights into the global pharmaceutical company’s deliberate decision to open a new office within the GCHKP, at Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics.

Dr Depaz described how a casual interaction with a researcher from Griffith University, led to discussion around aligned areas of research, resulting in new research partnerships. Dr Depaz also spoke about the co-location of startups within a precinct, and how they can filter new ideas, making it easier for large companies to innovate.

Gold Coast Health’s Dr Salim Memon spoke about how digital transformation crosses the borders of innovation precincts. He talked to the paradigm shift we are currently experiencing in how health care is being delivered, evident through artificial intelligence and medical imaging advancements. Technology is reducing errors whilst simultaneously improving staff satisfaction.

The more innovation precincts are embraced and supported by health services, the greater the opportunity for integration of new technologies, leading to improved outcomes in health service delivery.

Steve Woodyatt, CEO at precinct company Datarwe, spoke about the significant health and financial outcomes that can be achieved by sharing data. Risks vs rewards need to be weighed up – what benefits do we miss out on if we don’t share data?

Australian health services have significant data outputs and data centers are critical in storing this data locally in Australia as a means to maintain sovereign security. Centralised data platforms enable innovations in health by providing a secure space for clinicians, researchers and industry to access de-identified data to validate technologies, saving money and time.

Executive Director of Urban Planning for Economic Development Queensland Leisl Harris, spoke to the need for a unified precinct vision and the importance in investing considerable effort in shaping this vision and determining the value proposition of a precinct. Although this can be challenging, partnership and collaboration in the early stages is critical and will set up a precinct for long-term success. Holding true to an agreed vision is equally important in achieving growth and preserving the value for partners, investors and industry.

Steve Dolores, Senior Development Manager for Economic Development Queensland discussed the influence of responsible placemaking and planning that underpins the physical design of common spaces, and with transport and connectivity is imperative to foster organic connections and ultimately spark innovation.

Co-location with great amenities, backed by good placemaking decisions, attracts talent. Good placemaking is one thing, but the physical space is only as good as the environment it provides for the precinct eco-system to meet and collaborate.

Steve highlighted an important consideration in the overarching governance strategy is to identify how physical spaces will be maintained, managed and curated post-construction. An innovative means is to set up a Precinct Management entity owned by all building owners who share the costs of maintaining public spaces, not unlike a body corporate where a constitution is in place that includes a requirement for activation.

Finally, I led a roundtable discussion with Mark Aimes from Macquarie Park Innovation District and Matthew Proft from Tech Central on “How Precincts Collaborate”. This topic has been a common thread throughout the conference to better share information and best practices, to raise the bar nationally and internationally.

Craig Rowsell, Matthew Proft and Mark Aimes

A new group was established off the back of this discussion in the Australian Innovation District Professionals Network, to begin information sharing to build an ecosystem of trust amongst innovation precincts.

The conference concluded with the announcement that the 2024 National Health and Innovation Precinct Summit will be held on the Gold Coast 3-4 December 2024, showcasing the GCHKP.

I hope to see all interested stakeholders attend and continue to raise the profile and build the capacity of innovation precincts in Australia moving forward.