New Rocky dermatology business uses world first technology

‘I hope with this service we can get earlier diagnoses for people and have better outcomes.’

Rockhampton is Queensland’s skin cancer capital, making it the perfect location for a test site for a new dermatology business.

Dermatology Solutions, owned by husband and wife team John Evans (a radiologist) and Leith Banney (a dermatologist), opened this month in the former Demedios building near Stockland Rockhampton.

The clinic boasts world-first technology with the $350,000 Vectra whole body 3D imaging machine.

The Rockhampton machine is the 21st installed worldwide and is the first to be used for teledermatology.

The machine has 92 cameras, each with 25 megapixels, and takes 92 photos at the same time, capturing the entire skin surface, which are created into a 3D image that clinicians are then able to use for diagnosis.

The machine is totally painless and is similar to going through airport security.

There are only four of the machines in Australia, with the others used at research sites.

With a lack of services in rural and regional centres, Rockhampton was identified as a good location to open a clinic.

Mr Evans is no stranger to Rockhampton as he visits regularly for BreastScreen assessment sessions, reports nuclear medicine at Rockhampton Hospital by teleradiology and is a locum for Central Queensland Radiology.

“The dermatology services in Rockhampton are overwhelmed, there is too much demand,” he said.

“There is a currently a long waiting list here in Rockhampton or flying to Brisbane, if you have a diagnosis of melanoma, or if you have something that you think is melanoma, you don’t want to wait.

“This way patients don’t need to leave Rockhampton to get their skin assessed.”

Ms Banney is also the director of dermatology at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and said there was a need for the service in the Rockhampton community.

“We have been doing teledermatology services at our hospital for years and now we can do that remotely,” Ms Banney said.

“I hope with this service we can get earlier diagnoses for people and have better outcomes.”

Rockhampton is being used as a test site and there is hope the service will be expanded in other locations.

Dermatology Solutions

Services: diagnosis, management plan, specific acne pack, lesion mapping and monitoring

www.dermatologysolutions.com.au

Aquatic Place, Park Avenue, near Stockland Rockhampton

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