Regional patients to join Perth-based clinical trials closer to home
L-R: Anita John, Director Research and Innovation, Nadine Herren, Clinical Trials Manager, Tep Llewellyn, Senior Podiatrist, Dr Lloyd Nash, Physician, and Katrina Orr, Senior Pharmacist - TeleTrials.
For the first time, patients living in regional Western Australia will be able to take part in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home, with the launch of WA Country Health Service's $11.3 million TeleTrial Program.
The initiative will connect patients living in regional areas with Perth-based and interstate research programs, trial treatments and monitoring using state-of-the-art telehealth technology.
It will bring potentially life-saving treatment closer to home for some of regional WA's most vulnerable patients.
WA Country Health Service’s Director of Teletrials Dr Wei-Sen Lam said it was exciting to see the TeleTrial program rolled out in country WA for the first time.
“Regional Western Australians can now take part in potentially life-saving clinical trials and stay in their local communities.
"It means that someone who might be identified as suitable for a trial can now say yes regardless of their postcode, improving access and equity for regional residents.
"Dedicated teams in Albany and at Fiona Stanley Hospital worked hard to recruit the first regional participants in the Vitafoot diabetes-related foot ulcer study.
"Importantly, country clinicians now have opportunities to pursue their passion for research while continuing to live and work in regional WA.
"It's part of the WA Country Health Service’s commitment to attracting and retaining the brightest and best, to safeguard the health of country communities."
The landmark initiative recently got underway at Albany Health Campus with Great Southern based patients welcomed into Fiona Stanley Hospital's Vitafoot diabetes-related foot ulcer study.
A digital three-dimensional wound imaging system has been installed at Albany Health Campus and will be used by local clinicians to track participants' healing progress over the course of the trial.
Clinicians from the Albany High Risk Foot service team will work with lead researchers from Fiona Stanley Hospital's Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot Ulcer team using videoconferencing technology.
The Silhouette wound measurement system will remain in Albany long-term to help local clinicians provide gold-standard care for people living with diabetes-related foot disease.
WA Country Health Service secured the $11.3 million TeleTrial funding over five years from the Commonwealth Government's Medical Research Future Fund.