Gait Analysis Laboratory System

The Gait Laboratory plays a crucial role in the long term rehabilitation and care of patients across the hospital, and thanks to support from the Good Friday Appeal, patients will soon benefit from upgrades across the laboratory.

At this world-leading facility, clinicians work with a range of highly developed video and motion capture technology to record the walking pattern of children, all which contributes to their overall treatment and care programs. Thanks to funding from the 2019 Good Friday Appeal, the lab will soon feature an innovative new three dimensional motion capture system, an upgrade of the current equipment that will feature high definition cameras to better capture patient movement, and allow for smoother integration with other equipment on site.

This new, advanced equipment will help provide a more indepth analysis of patients, providing clinicians with greater insights into their development, which in turn helps to inform essential programs for treatment and rehabilitation.

Posted March 2019

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IMRIS Machine

Sometimes, the best way to attract world-class paediatric outcomes is with a five-tonne magnet.

The intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging system (IMRIS) machine enables surgeons to perform MRI scans during brain surgery without the need to leave theatre or move the patient from the table, enhancing patient safety. The new system features an MRI scanner suspended from the ceiling which can move into the Neurosurgical theatre or Cardiology lab, allowing surgeons to access scans in real time, which assists with decision making and guidance during complex operations.

“The advantage is our other areas will be more efficient. There are direct benefits to the patients in the operating theatre, but also improved access to our imaging services for our other patients.”
Timothy Cain, Medical Imaging Specialist

Thanks to funding from the Good Friday Appeal, the RCH was the first paediatric hospital in Australia to offer the IMRIS. It currently assists approximately 1,000 patients each year.

Dr Golly introduces the IMRIS machine and speaks to two surgeons for the Good Friday Appeal 2018 Telethon

Posted July 2018

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Infant Warmers for Critical Care

Funding from the Good Friday Appeal has gone towards the purchase of new infant radiant warmers and hybrid incubators at The Royal Children’s Hospital, keeping our most vulnerable babies safe, warm and closer to their parents touch.

The new infant warmers and hybrid incubators also place staff in closer contact with critically ill infants, and allow for resuscitation and care equipment to be immediately at hand.

Four-month-old Archie was one of the first patients to be supported by the new state-of-the-art devices. Born 11 weeks early, Archie required a hybrid incubator days after his premature arrival.

The night Archie was born he was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the RCH by ambulance, where he was diagnosed with tachycardia, a type of heart rhythm disorder in which the heart beats faster than normal while at rest.

Being in the new hybrid incubator while he was in hospital for treatment meant it was easy for his mum Danica and dad Shaun to be close to Archie.

“Having Archie in the hybrid incubator meant we didn’t have that barrier between us. It was easy to touch him, to give him kisses, to change his nappy, it made a big difference,” Danica said.

The Director of Neonatal Medicine at the RCH, Professor Rod Hunt, said a major benefit of the new technology was that it gave doctors, nurses and allied health staff better access to critically ill and premature babies, like Archie.

“It allows us to weigh babies without removing them from the cot so that we can better monitor their nutrition. It also allows us to do procedures and surgery on babies without taking them off their bed because the sides can come down,” Prof Hunt said.

Posted June 2018

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Digital Command Centre

Thanks to the Good Friday Appeal, The Royal Children’s Hospital is establishing its first Digital Command Centre, a purpose built dedicated workspace fitted out with state of the art audio visual equipment to deliver big data to The Royal Children’s Hospital teams 24/7.

By aggregating data including emergency surgery workloads and state-wide intensive care capacity, the Digital Command Centre will unleash the potential of the Electronic Medical Record in providing data to inform decision making to improve efficiency, productivity and timely access to clinical care.

Posted June 2017

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Nuclear Medicine SPECT/CT Machine

This combined machine includes a SPECT gamma camera, integrated with a CT scanner, meaning for the first time at The Royal Children’s Hospital, these two different types of images can be taken together during one visit. It’s already having a big impact, supporting patients from across the hospital.

What is SPECT?

SPECT stands for single photon emission computed tomography. With this type of scan, images are taken once a patient has been administered with a radioactive tracer. This tracer is then detected by a SPECT camera, which rotates around a patient’s body to produce a three dimensional image.

What is CT?

CT or computed tomography scans are obtained when an X-ray machine rotates around a patient to provide a three dimensional image of their anatomy.

Duncan Veysey, Deputy Chief Medical Imaging Technologist and Senior Nuclear Medicine/PET Technologist at The Royal Children’s Hospital explained how the combined SPECT/CT Machine is able to take both of these scans at the same time, improving patient care at the hospital.

“The combined machine enables us to overlay these two types of scans. We can use the image taken from the CT scan to identify exactly where the radioactivity displayed in the SPECT image is in a patient’s anatomy,” said Mr Veysey.

For clinicians, these more detailed images mean they can diagnose conditions and recommend a treatment plan with greater certainty and accuracy. Being able to do this is particularly important for patients with complex medical conditions, who require specialised and ongoing care.

“We are fortunate to have this top of the range, flexible model at The Royal Children’s Hospital, and are very thankful to our community of supporters for funding such a vital piece of equipment.”
– Duncan Veysey, Deputy Chief Medical Imaging Technologist and Senior Nuclear Medicine/PET Technologist

Posted December 2016

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MR PET

The nine tonne, $6 million Magnetic Resonance Positron Emission Tomography machine, or MR PET, was funded by community donations through the Good Friday Appeal.

RCH Neurologist Dr Simon Harvey said the MR PET combined the most effective medical scanning procedures, Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), into one piece of equipment for the first time.

“For our young patients, some of whom require sedation and even general anaesthetic to undergo these important but intimidating procedures, the MR PET will means fewer scans, and therefore a more positive experience,” Dr Harvey said.

“It also means more accurate diagnoses, because in addition to giving us high quality MRI and PET scans in one session, the MR and PET will be accurately overlaid into one image.

What is a PET scan?

PET is a form of metabolic imaging – an imaging technique that uses radioisotopes and provides critical information about the metabolic state of body tissues. Doctors use PET scans to identify and monitor tumours, areas of inflammation and sites of seizure activity.

What is an MRI scan?

MRI is form of structural imaging – an imaging technique that provides doctors with critical information about the structure and function of body tissues.

“This will show us, very precisely, the location of tumours, malformations and sites of inflammation in the body, many of which might not be visible with the single images.

“The MR PET will be used to assess and diagnose a wide range of patients, but it has particular advantages for children with certain forms of cancer, uncontrolled epilepsy and inflammatory disorders.”
– RCH Neurologist Dr Simon Harvey

The MR PET was transported to The Royal Children’s Hospital on a semi-trailer and manoeuvred into its new, purpose-built, copper-lined lab in the Medical Imaging Department via a 20 tonne forklift and a team of eight people. The copper shielding is to ensure the operation of the MR PET magnet does not affect other areas of the hospital.

Posted December 2016

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Improved imaging services

Located within what was the Front Entry Building of the old hospital, 48 Flemington Road features many medical centres run by hospital clinicians.

It’s a “home away from home” for these clinicians, making them more available to patients and helping to provide them with better care. However, great care includes not only high quality medical consultations, but also accessible medical imaging services.

Thanks to community support through the Good Friday Appeal, 48 Flemington Road will soon feature its own imaging services.

Specifically, your generosity will fund a fixed x-ray machine with its own waiting room, as well as two ultrasound machines within the same facility.

“The new imaging facilities will provide convenient access for patients seeing their doctor at 48 Flemington Road to the latest digital x-ray and ultrasound machines. Integrated with the main RCH imaging archive system, clinicians will have a complete patient imaging record. The new facility will create a flow on effect for patients at The Royal Children’s Hospital, allowing better access to imaging and reduced waiting times.”
– Padma Rao, Director of RCH Medical Imaging

Posted December 2016

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Hydrotherapy Pool

Since its opening in 2013 the pool has become a vital part of Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) physiotherapy. By helping children achieve what they can’t do on land, the program is a fun and effective way to provide great care to infants, children and adolescents.

The RCH pool is specifically heated to a warmer-than-usual 34 degrees Celsius, which aids recovery through relaxation of muscles, reduction of muscle spasm, increased circulation and pain relief.

It can also facilitate the treatment of children with a limited ability to regulate their own body temperature.

Aquatic Physiotherapy uses the buoyancy of water to assist treatment. Water acts by assisting and resisting movement which helps increase muscle strength and joint movement.

This form of therapy is great for children with everything from sports injuries to chronic conditions like cerebral palsy, as it allows them to complete exercises and participate in activities which they aren’t able to do on land.

When designing a pool for clinical use, the health and safety of patients is of the utmost importance.

“Unlike many adult hydrotherapy pools, our purpose built facility includes shallow water, a ramp and specific equipment to enable training of running, walking or crawling in young children and infants.”
– Emily Ramage, Senior Physiotherapist

Hydrotherapy physiotherapist Daniella Feuerlicht plays with cardiac patient Davina

“Seeing a child’s face light up as they master a new skill or regain the ability to walk, hop or run in the pool is a special moment. But even more rewarding is seeing these therapy gains translate to the child’s everyday abilities at home, in the playground and beyond.”
– Emily Ramage, Senior Physiotherapist

Photo: David Caird, Herald Sun
Posted: December 2016

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Dr Golly introduces the IMRIS machine and speaks to two surgeons for the Good Friday Appeal 2018 Telethon

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