Fellowship awarded for groundbreaking virtual epilepsy screening

St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals Neurophysiology Scientist Phillip Lawrence has been awarded a Clinical Research Fellowship for a virtual home access epilepsy screening through the State Government’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.

14 Dec 2022

The fellowship will cover an outpatient video evaluation program internet device that will enable virtual access to the device in a patient's home, allowing real-time data collection and the ability for the clinician to communicate with the patient directly.

Mr Lawrence said a similar remote service is currently not available in public hospitals in Western Australia.

“With only a limited number of inpatient video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring across Perth hospitals, the new technology will enable patients to have a test sooner and from the comfort of their home,” he said.

“The combination of video technology with traditional EEG testing will help to improve diagnostic outcomes for patients.

“The other significant benefit is that we will be able to remotely check if the equipment is working effectively during the testing.”

Up to 60 outpatients from St John of God Midland Public Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital will be examined across a 12-month period as part of the project.

In addition, Royal Perth Hospital will provide support for the project, utilising their onsite ambulatory video EEG monitoring program.

The research project will closely emulate the inpatient video EEG monitoring setting with a significantly improved patient experience through provision of in-home services and is anticipated to improve diagnostic outcomes.

It is one of nine projects and initiatives supported by the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.

Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson recently announced the recipients of the fund.

"All of these successful recipients are to be commended for what they have achieved and the amazing work they do to contribute to our burgeoning local medical research and technology sector that has the potential to improve lives around the world,” Minister Dawson said.

"Congratulations to this year's four Clinician Research Fellowship recipients, whose research projects have the potential to translate to evidence-based practice and quality health outcomes.”