Royal Adelaide Hospital

The Royal Adelaide Hospital acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of the lands on which it's located. We respect their spiritual relationship with their country and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. Read more about CALHN's commitment to reconciliation - https://loom.ly/2KrFXPE

Thanks to an Australian-first training program, RAH staff will be able to provide more informed care to patients who are Deaf, Deafblind, or Hard of Hearing! 🧏♂️ Launched on International Day of People with Disabilities, this online Deafness Awareness Training was developed with Deaf Connect. It helps staff communicate more effectively and understand the unique needs of CALHN consumers, leading to better outcomes. Pictured below: TQEH nurse Luisa and Deaf Connect's Caroline chatting about the new training program using Auslan.

What do your lungs look like on the inside? Here's RAH respiratory specialist Professor Phan holding a 3D-printed model of parts of the lung, the trachea and bronchi. The model helps trainee doctors learn about lung structures, and is just one example of many innovations applied by Professor Phan in his daily practice. For patients with emphysema, the Professor and his colleagues are developing new approaches for safely lowering lung volume to help patients feel more comfortable. Learn more 👉 https://loom.ly/ZOPPjDA

Congratulations Charlotte! At the RAH we know our patients and community benefit when staff are guided by safe and connected leadership. Acting Cancer Program Director Dr Charlotte Sale was awarded Best Overall Student and Best Capstone Workplace Project in the 2024 Next Executive – Public Sector Management Program (PSMP) provided through Queensland University of Technology. “I am a strong believer in building leaders and managers across the public sector,” says Charlotte. “This program helped me better understand myself, the environment I work in and the importance of relationships in being an effective leader.” Following a busy year-long schedule of workshops, knowledge development and assignment delivery, Charlotte says she now feels more confident, self-aware, resilient and armed with strategic tools to be an effective healthcare leader.

The facts don't lie: men live shorter lives than women, around 5 years less (on average). Men's health specialist Dr Sam Tafari has an idea that could help: conversations that go 'below the belt' and delve into common health issues that can be well-managed if identified early. And yes, by 'below the belt', Sam means ... physically below the belt 🍆 Our chat with Sam launches Season 3 of the Research Pulse podcast. Sam's 10-minute episode is available here 👂 https://loom.ly/tbalH88 Central Adelaide SAHMRI University of Adelaide

Our doctors, nurses and surgeons don't often to get the opportunity to see their patients once they leave the hospital, but for the team who helped save the life of Advertiser Deputy Editor Ben Hyde, this reunion was particularly special. 3 years after being struck at 170km/h by a drug-affected driver, Ben was able to meet with the people who saved his life, reflect on the care he received at the RAH, and share his story of recovery as part of his new documentary, 'While I was sleeping'. Pictured here is Ben with Central Adelaide ICU nurse Rochell, Burns Unit staff Patrick, Marcus, and Stuart and Consultant Urologist Dr Diwei.

Like a Hollywood movie, imagine if we could send an enforcer to track down and kill cancer cells. That's exactly what CAR-T cells are designed to do. For patients with cancer, CAR-T cells are made from cells of their own immune system and directed to attack cancer cells. At the RAH, Professor Michael Brown and Dr Tessa Gargett are developing CAR-T cells for hard-to-treat cancers of the brain, bowel and other organs. Read our update on their work: https://loom.ly/kCGXa2c

One day, a PICC might save your life. Short for peripherally inserted central catheter, a PICC is a thin, flexible tube guided into a large vein and used to deliver medical treatments. A team at the RAH has implemented a way to prevention infections that might sneak in via PICC lines. It's simple but effective: an alcohol disinfection cap over the end of the PICC line. Over 16 months this approach prevented 70% of hospital-acquired blood stream infections in patients with blood cancer. This impressive outcome has resulted in the team being selected as finalists in the 2024 SA Health Awards, in the category Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care. Infection Prevention and Control Week is 13 to 19 October in Australia, acknowledging that everyone has a role in the prevention and control of infections in health care.

🩸 Haemophilia, often called a 'royal disease', affects around 3,000 adults in Australia, including 289 in South Australia. Yoshi, a Haemophilia Nurse Consultant at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive care for patients, including preventive treatments and emotional support. “In my role at the RAH, I manage patients with haemophilia as well as those with other bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease and platelet disorders.” “We work hard to help people maintain good physical and psychological health over time, and to prevent any kind of health crisis.” October is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. Read our latest story to learn how Yoshi helps patients manage haemophilia 👉 https://loom.ly/dS64v1E

Congratulations! CALHN clinical and clinical-support staff are finalists in the 2024 SA Health Awards, announced this week by the Department for Health and Wellbeing. Included in the shortlisted projects is work from the RAH Burns Unit to improve accessibility of care across regional and remote South Australia. A RAH project to reduce bloodstream infections in cancer patients is also among the finalists. More information about each finalist is available here: https://loom.ly/bol4Zhs Thank you to all finalists for helping to shape the future of health with world-class care and world-class research. Award winners will be announced in November 2024.