Innovations and Inventions

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The resources on this page have been developed by innovators and inventors amongst the ASA membership.

Here, we celebrate and showcase the pioneering contributions of our members in the field of anaesthesia that have advanced the practice of anaesthesia, enhancing patient safety and improving clinical outcomes.

The ASA is proud to support and highlight the ingenuity and dedication of our members who continuously push the boundaries of medical science. This page features detailed accounts of cutting-edge technologies, novel techniques, and inventive solutions developed by our members, reflecting their commitment to excellence and innovation in anaesthesia.

We invite you to explore the stories behind these remarkable achievements and to be inspired by the creativity and expertise of our vibrant community of anaesthetists. Whether you are a healthcare professional, researcher, or simply an enthusiast of medical advancements, this page offers valuable insights into the future of anaesthesia, driven by the visionary minds within the ASA.

Books and Education

EPICkids

EPICkids is an organisation dedicated to creating positive medical experiences for children and young adults through Effective Peri-Procedural Communication (EPIC). Their vision is to optimise the psychological wellbeing of infants, children, and young adults undergoing medical and surgical procedures. They aim to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of patient autonomy and control by using effective communication and behavioural strategies. This approach has the potential to significantly improve patient care and outcomes.

AMAX4

AMAX4 is an initiative by Dr. Ben and Tamara McKenzie dedicated to reducing and preventing unnecessary deaths related to anaphylaxis and asthma. The initiative was launched in 2022, following the tragic death of Ben and Tamara’s son, Max, who died at the age of 15, from hypoxic brain injury sustained during food anaphylaxis related bronchospasm/asthma.

Periop Concepts

Periop Concepts is an online education provider for peri-anaesthesia nurses. Founded and run by Australian anaesthetist, Dr Jack Madden, Periop Concepts provides individuals and institutions with the tools to build knowledge and improve patient safety through online courses and live, online education sessions. Periop Concepts is endorsed and accredited by the Australian College of PeriAnaesthesia Nurses.

Leeuwin Press

Leeuwin Press specialises in design-driven medical textbooks, manuals, and eBooks.

The Anaesthetic Crisis Manual is one of the main publications. ASA Members are entitled to a discount price of $41.

Not a member yet? Join ASA membership or email asa@asa.org.au for more info.

STARGATE Study

The STARGATE Study is a large international multicenter study aiming at tracing current airway management practice and complications during anesthesia and in the non-operating room setting (NORA). The study plans to recruit more than 10,000 patients around the globe and it will represent the largest international prospective study on airway management to date. Following the success of the INTUBE study which was published in JAMA in 2021, which focused on the critically unwell patient, the international steering committee aimed to reproduce a similar trial within the operating room and include elective surgical patients. Over 200 hospitals have registered so far. The aim is for over 20 Australian hospitals to participate.
Any hospitals interested in recruitment, which would involve 50 consecutive patients at each site. Please register here.

A/Prof David Brewster (Cabrini Hospital, Victoria) is on the steering committee and is the national coordinator for Australia and New Zealand and can be contacted on david_brewster@me.com or Ms. Lisa Dougherty (national research manager) on icuresearch@cabrini.com.au.

Equipment & consumables

DEX

A pre-op alkaline complex carbohydrate drink designed to improve recovery after surgery, facilitate intravenous cannulation, and decrease insulin resistance post operatively.

Scott Airway Management

Developed by Dr Paul Scott, anaesthetist and founder of Scott Airway Management, to address critical safety issues identified with bag-mask ventilating and protecting health care professionals from aerosolised patients airway secretions.

Apps and software

HosPortal Roster

Medical rostering and on-call management software for hospitals, in use by over 30 public and private anaesthesia departments. It allows doctors and administrators to develop, publish and maintain clinical and on-call rosters, theatre allocations, events and leave.

HosPortal Connect

A patient survey tool built specifically for health sector, allowing data to be collected from patients efficiently.Features such as immediate notification of clinically-relevant responses, real-time reporting and data analysis are suitable for use in pre-and post-operative surveys.

Online medical consent tool

MedConsent is a simple online consent application that helps anaesthetists to, consistently achieve compliance with patient consent requirements, manage financial consent, provide simple, procedure specific information to patients prior to their hospital visit.

Online Pre-Op Assessment

Anaesthetic Group offers secure online pre-op questionnaire and PES forms built to help private Anaesthetists improve efficiency and optimise patient outcomes. 100% Australian Made, Managed and Owned.

e-Clinical Audits for anaesthetists

An innovative mobile App (RAD App: Regional anaesthesia database) which enables practitioner to enter data at patient bedside through their smart phones and devices with continuous automated analysis.

All-in-one anaesthetic billing service

Anaemate is designed to facilitate efficient anaesthetic billing. It automates the process of generating accurate patient quotes, collecting payments, and overseeing the practice, freeing up valuable time. 

Where software is offered, you are advised that the ASA may not have tested this software and therefore cannot make any representation regarding the quality, safety or suitability of any software found there. You are cautioned to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software.

Disclaimer: They are provided for your information. The ASA does not warrant, guarantee or make any representation regarding the correctness, accuracy, reliability, or any other aspect regarding characteristics or use of the information presented here.

ASA members can enquire about adding your invention or innovation here.