Teladoc tech helps Rockhampton doctors save patient in public hospital first

Groundbreaking virtual technology has helped a Rockhampton medical team complete a complex surgery they had never tackled, incredibly saving a man’s life.

Rockhampton surgeons have used groundbreaking teladoc technology to perform life saving brain surgery on a patient who would have otherwise died.Gladstone Hospital perioperative staff members are excited to be utilising the state-of-the-art Teladoc system. Pictured from left Clinical Nurse Julie Gorse, Director of Surgery Dr Darren Lituri, Principal House Officer Anaesthesia Dr Alexander Kelly and Staff Specialist General Surgery Dr Faris Alaswad.

Rockhampton surgeons have been the first in the Australian public hospital system to use a piece of piece of groundbreaking communication technology to conduct life-saving trauma surgery.

The Teladoc system allows clinicians in Rockhampton, Gladstone, and Emerald to virtually “scrub in” and assist each other during surgical procedures.

It was recently put to the test by Rockhampton surgeons who received specialist advice from neurosurgeon Dr Craig Winter at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Dr Winter contacted Rockhampton Hospital Deputy Director of Surgery, Dr Michael Lamparelli, who was in Brisbane at the time, with news of a Rockhampton patient in need of urgent surgery, to relieve life-threatening pressure on his brain.

Dr Lamparelli then linked and controlled the Teladoc device remotely from his phone to Dr Winter who was able to support local surgical staff in the Rockhampton operating theatre via the images shared to his laptop in Brisbane.

“This enabled me to ‘dial in’ to the operating theatre in real time and provide instruction and support to the surgeon and other theatre staff,” Dr Winter said.

“The feedback from the staff was very positive, they felt supported and thankful that a specialist could be virtually present with them during a life-saving procedure that none of them had performed previously.

“The availability of the equipment which allowed supervision via video call was critical to the success of the operation and ultimately the patient’s life.”

Rockhampton Hospital Director of Surgery Dr Chris Lewis said it was amazing that a specialist neurological surgeon in Brisbane could provide vital advice and support to Rockhampton surgeons by videolink.

“This patient would not have survived the transfer to Brisbane,” Dr Lewis said.

“With that specialist advice, our team did a craniotomy, basically opening the patient’s skull, evacuated a clot to stop bleeding on the brain, saving the patient’s life.

“This would not have been possible in our regional operating theatres before Teladoc.

“It proves this new technology is already saving lives. Surgeons can now remotely provide real-time support, consultation, and specialist guidance without needing to physically travel.”

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Lisa Blackler said the technology would reduce the need for patient transfers between hospitals and empower local clinicians who are on the ground.

“It means patients get quicker access to care, closer to home, and it will also benefit trainee surgeons who will have access to better observing of complex procedures,” she said.

Originally published as Teladoc tech helps Rockhampton doctors save patient in public hospital first