Philips partners to improve health equity of lung checks in regional Australia

MedTech News: A first-of-its kind mobile medical imaging clinic will provide increased accessibility to lung checks to current and former mine and quarry workers in rural and remote Queensland.

Heart of Australia founder, Dr Rolf Gomes, is working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland, which contributed $2 million towards the build and operation of HEART 5, as well as working with project partners Philips and I-MED.

Philips extended its partnership with Heart of Australia as the organisation launches a fifth mobile treatment centre using the latest Philips healthcare equipment, including one of the first mobile CT scanners in Australia.

Matt Moran, Managing Director, Philips ANZ, told Health Industry Hub “Philips innovative mobile CT technology will help make reliable screening and diagnostic services more accessible to underserved communities in Queensland, allowing for earlier detection, diagnosis and in turn, treatment pathways.

“Strong partnerships are key to addressing the complex challenges in expanding access to care and through our collaboration with Heart of Australia, we’re able to provide meaningful solutions that improve health outcomes for Australians.”

Dr Gomes said “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.”

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Minister for Resources Scott Stewart MP said “This means workers won’t have to travel as far to access highly specialised services, ensuring earlier detection and intervention in cases of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis. 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.”

Dr Gomes said providing rural patients with access to locally delivered medical imaging services will make an enormous difference in improving lives and supporting the work of local GPs.

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 added.