Monash to tap Apollo Hospitals DB for clinical AI projects

Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology has tied up with one of India's biggest hospital groups, Apollo Hospitals, to test and validate clinical AI. 

They signed a memorandum of understanding to share data and technology to advance research in digital health. 

As part of this, Monash will be testing and cross-validating the clinical AI work done at Apollo Hospitals, according to Monash Faculty of IT's Digital Health lead and professor Chris Bain. 

Apollo Hospitals will provide access to its database of de-identified health data from over 200 million patients, which could be used to train AI algorithms to potentially detect major diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 

The institutions also plan to set up a multinational event on health AI research. 

$8M to roll out AI in aged care

The federal government has made new investments in its aged care research initiative.

The Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) has received A$13 million ($8.6 million) in new funding, which will enable it, among others, to support the implementation of emerging technologies.

"The new round of funding will enable ARIIA to broaden our local and international partnerships and allow us to implement scalable, evidence-based solutions across the sector including a focus on emerging technologies such as AI and digital strategies," shared CEO Reuben Jacob in a statement. 

An initial $34 million ($22 million) was invested in ARIIA during its founding in 2021. 

SVHM adopts microsurgery robotics

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) has recently started using a robotic surgical system provided by United States-based Medical Micro Instruments. 

In a media release, SVHM claimed they are the first in Asia-Pacific to use the Symani RAS. The robotic technology was used in a microsurgery procedure to reconstruct a lower limb. 

SVHM will employ the RAS in procedures in breast, sarcoma, and head and neck cancer reconstruction, digit replantation, and treatment for lymphedema. 

Clinical Labs implements eRequests 

Pathology diagnostics provider Australian Clinical Labs has recently adopted an electronic pathology test request solution by Magentus. 

eRequests allows medical specialists to make direct digital referrals via Magentus' practice management systems. 

This implementation adds ACL's over 1,300 collection centres to the eRequests network, which now comprises nine out of 10 testing sites nationwide, according to Magentus. The solution has also been rolled out across Sonic Healthcare and Healius. 

First health check station rollout in New England town

A community-based health check station has been launched in a New England town in New South Wales to help raise health outcomes in rural and regional communities.

The self-service health station, powered by SiSU Health, has been installed at Timbs Pharmacy in Glen Innes. It provides health checks within four minutes, measuring basic health indicators including weight, body composition, blood pressure, and heart rate. 

It also connects to a mobile application to deliver a user's personalised health reports and access to their health data. Moreover, it can recommend a GP or pharmacist consultation to users with concerning results for further assessments. 

The project is part of a rural community preventive health initiative by the Primary Health Network, in partnership with Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network and the University of New England.