In October 2022, Smartz won the Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology – Improving Quality of Life. The award was established to recognise and profile the innovative and extraordinary contribution of medical technology in improving health outcomes of Australian patients.
Smartz monitors patient wellness including 2 significant issues affecting the elderly in residential aged care facilities; incontinence and pressure injuries.
Smartz also helps efficiency of staff time by reducing unnecessary diaper checks whilst also significantly reducing the invasive manual practices currently used to check when diapers need changing.
There was also a potential reduction in the number of diaper changes by changing the diaper only when really needed thus saving time, and improving toileting routines. These benefits may result in lower overall cost, fewer hospital admissions for UTIs, less waste, and more significantly, better individualised care.
Clinical study results have shown that the time residents are left in wet diapers significantly reduces when carers are alerted when the diaper has reached capacity. This reduces the risk of incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD) and UTIs.
Neina Fahey from the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) spoke with Peta Jurd, Smartz AG Commercial Director about winning the award.
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Strategic research investments for health and prosperity
The CEO of Research Australia, Nadia Levin spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Current medical research and development landscape in Australia
– Investment required to support the Health and Medical Research and Innovation pipeline
– The National Medical Products Industry Plan and its impact on the Australian economy
– The Health and Medical Research WorkforceIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Growing impact of blood cancer on women
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, blood cancer is one of the most urgent and under-recognised women’s health issues in Australia, with three times more Australian women diagnosed with blood cancer than ovarian and cervical cancer combined (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
Blood cancer has also emerged as the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women overall – behind only breast cancer – and the leading cancer amongst girls and women under the age of 30 (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
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The role of genomic screening in transforming public health
Dr Jane Tiller is a lawyer, genetic counsellor and public health researcher. She is Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser in Public Health Genomics at Monash University, and a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant holder. Jane is passionate about the use of genomics to prevent disease, and in delivering equitable access to preventive genetic information at the population level. She is co-lead of DNA Screen, a world-first study piloting the offer of preventive DNA screening to the Australian adult population. DNA Screen has tested over 10,000 young people for genetic high risk of medically actionable conditions such as cancer and heart disease, finding about 2% of participants had genetic high risk. Jane is leading efforts to secure Commonwealth Government funding to expand the DNA Screen program, with the eventual goal of the development of a public health population screening program for disease prevention based on high genetic risk.
