Medical Index 2023_Bulletin Newspaper

AfriRad Medical Imaging(ARMI) turned 8 this December

In the past year, significant upgrades to our department have been made.

In June 2022, installation of the latest state-of-the-art fully automated xray machine with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) was installed making it the first for the province and only the second in the entire country.

This new machine from United Health Imaging, allows faster acquisition and processing times, reducing patient waiting time and more importantly decreasing radiation dose whilst optimising imaging quality.

In the past year, a further digitization of our department was made by virtue of the introduction of the scannable QR code to access images and reports via our secure online webserver. This has made it significantly easier, for referring doctors and patients, to view diagnostic grade images from the comfort of your smartphone or tablet. It also makes it easy to share with medical doctors being consulted outside the province. No more clunky old CDs…

Our website, www.afrirad.com, in conjunction with the introduction of our webserver, was also launched this year allowing patients and doctors to gain insightful information of procedures and services being carried out by our practice and also allowing doctors and patients to refer and make bookings electronically.

So what’s next for AfriRad Medical Imaging?

ARMI spreads its wings to neighbouring town of Louis Trichardt, Zoutpansberg Hospital, where a full

radiology service will be offered from August 2023.

A cardiac imaging service will be rendered in Tzaneen, from 2023, including cardiac echo/ultrasound (first quarter) as well as the introduction of a massive upgrade of our CT scanner from a 16 slice CT to a 128 slice CT scanner allowing cardiac imaging, including non-invasive coronary artery imaging and CT Colonography.

Most medical aids will cover CT coronary angiography over a formal angiogram due to the cost savings and non-invasive nature of the modality. The bigger CT will be faster with greater image quality and best of all extremely low radiation dose similar to that of a simple x-ray. Watch this space!

Further upgrades, to the latest technology, of our ultrasound as well as our mammography and

bone density machines will also be made during the course of the year.

Body composition scanning, using the bone density machine, will be a new service being rendered enabling monitoring of body fat and muscle mass in a non invasive objective manner.

We hope to expand on our oncology/cancer imaging service as well, specifically MRI Prostate, now the gold standard for prostate cancer staging. The provision of MRI-Ultrasound fusion guided biopsies optimises biopsy yield and minimises fall negatives. Exciting times ahead!

We embrace the power of technology to fulfil our motto of “ We see your problem through”

We look forward to assisting you in your healthcare imaging needs and wish you the best of health

INTERESTING FACTS

This publication, that you are reading through currently, marks the tenth annual edition of the Medical Index proudly produced each year since 2012, by the same team who brings you the weekly Bulletin. Here are some more fascinating facts.

A person will die from lack of sleep sooner than they will from starvation, which usually takes a few weeks.

Humans are the only known species that can blush.

Like fingerprints, every person has a unique tongue print.

Your eyelids have the thinnest amount of skin on your body.

Each person sheds 22 kilograms of skin in his or her lifetime.

The space between the eyebrows has a name. Its name is the glabella. It’s from the Latin word glabellus. This word directly translates to smooth. Clinically, this area is a basis for measuring how dehydrated a person is.

Dr Shaun ompson

Dr Michelle King is a qualified psychiatrist with both a passion for learning and teaching. In addition to her qualifications as a psychiatrist, she has a Masters Degree in Early childhood intervention and Post Graduate Diplomas in both Interdisciplinary Pain Management and Palliative Medicine.

As a psychiatrist she treats all types of mental illnesses, including ADHD, dementia, depression, anxiety, bipolar and substance use disorders. She is the current President Elect of PainSA and is part of the Limpopo Pain Clinic. This is an interdisciplinary team that offers both chronic pain management and palliative care services.

Her passion for teaching has led her to become a guest lecturer at both UCT and Kwazulu-Natal Universities and she regularly presents at conferences as well as webinars. She is a co-author of the South African Guidelines for Treating Depression and South African Guidelines for Palliative Medicine which are currently being drafted.

Dr King believes strongly that patients should be empowered. She says, if patients have a good understanding of their illness, they can make decisions to empower themselves and live their best life possible.

If you would like to make an appointment please contact 0825781658.

Ready to serve the community

After completing his studies at TUT in the 1980’s, Jean Britz has been practicing as a qualified Medical Orthotist and Prosthetist in Tzaneen for almost three decades. Having 32 years’ experience in Orthotics and Prosthetics, he worked in many hospitals serving the community and further broadened his knowledge by accepting a position at King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh Saudi Arabia in the early 2000’s.

Britz was leading as one of the Chief Orthotists in the government medical system where amongst others, he practiced at Letaba Hospital upon his return from Saudi Arabia, but decided after recognizing a demand for his expertise, to return to private practice by accepting a 5/8 contract with the government.

Due to numerous frustrations which included government’s insufficient budget to meet the needs of the community he served, he returned to full time private practice since 2012 where he still operates at Ivory Tusk Lodge Medical Centre Room B11.

Britz is regularly involved in outreach clinics to Polokwane, Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit and Louis Trichardt. An Orthotist and Prosthetist is a specialist in the field of Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, where they assess, measure, design, manufacture, maintain and fit all orthoses and prostheses to patients. They work with other specialists to create proper prosthesis for the patient’s physical disability. Known as JJ, he is ready to serve the community.

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

REMEDIATION OF A HEARING LOSS IS BOTH A SCIENCE AND AN ART

Hearing loss is amongst the most common chronic conditions of ageing, having a significant higher incidence than cancer, diabetes and even hypertension. Hearing loss is diverse and complex because of many factors, in addition to aging, such as noise exposure, ototoxic drug (drugs that causes hearing loss), ear diseases, genetics and other health conditions which can contribute to hearing loss in the older person.

At Angelic Venter Audiologist and Speech Therapist, our professional duty is to provide education and resources to every client who seek our professional help. Counselling our clients through the emotional effects of hearing loss starts with our very first encounter. Our role in holistically supporting clients are more likely to include descriptions of “coaching” and providing “lifelong” care rather than short term interventions.

We are exceptional at listening to our patients: we take in consideration their lifestyle and budget needs.

We o er: Comprehensive Diagnostic Hearing Testing for both Children and Adults. Visit us for:

“We are honoured to serve our community.”

Many hearing aids focus on sound brilliance and clarity and noise management strategies to improve listening experience in noisy environments.

We provide Speech-Language Therapy and Auditory processing therapy for all ages.

Hearing Tests, Supply of Hearing Aids, Hearing Aids Accessories/ Batteries, Hearing Aid Repairs and Services and Hearing Protection. Contact us for an appointment: 0834607264

5 Doulas Street, Tzaneen

Rental Space Available!

Furnished Consulting room available.

Includes wifi, parking, cleaning & more

Contact 083 635 4132

Tzaneen Care Group consists of a group of volunteers who care and attend to the needs of cancer patients. The group was founded in 1989 when the need arose for volunteers who were prepared to help care for cancer patients, especially the terminally ill. The Tzaneen Care Group is a registered non-profit company solely reliant on the goodwill and donations from the community. Since the Tzaneen Hospice closed down, there is now no haven for our terminally ill cancer patients. This is where the Tzaneen Care Group’s dream started. An anonymous benefactor purchased a house to be used for the Tzaneen Care Group’s purposes. The group hosted a few successful fundraising projects to cover building costs to renovate the house to make it more patient friendly. The house consists of three bedrooms that will be used for patients, three living areas and an enclosed veranda.

The Tzaneen Cancer Care Group’s goal is to provide a safe haven for terminally ill cancer patients, with trained staff and without the hospital environment. Here our patients can spend their last days with family and friends.

EMERGENCY CARE TZANEEN