Trip To Pusat Jagaan Rumah Kesayangan

         I have been working at Vision College since May 2012 and thus far, I have enjoyed my time here very much. My key duties include coordinating all matters related to student accommodation. As I have never worked in the education industry before, my initial experience in this organization was tough and challenging. Nevertheless, I am ever grateful to my friendly colleagues as they have been very helpful in alleviating my doubts and problems.

     At Vision College, there is a pleasant balance between work and play. Although we can be very focused at times, we never fail to find the time to have some fun with each other and our dear students. A great example would be our recent visit to the orphanage, Pusat Jagaan Rumah Kesayangan in July.

     During our time there, we had many activities with the children. We played games, shared stories and even help to prepare their meals. Finally, we also made a small contribution of daily food necessities such as rice, cooking oil and sugar. 

Before I end my blog post, here are some pictures from that event:

Photo with other student participants

Playing games with the children

Group photo

The children enjoying their meals

      Me presenting a small contribution to the home

 

By,

Norsyazwani Abd Karim

Admin Exec.

Computed Radiography System Experience In Vision Diagnostic Centre

         Almost a year has passed since we upgraded our X-ray department to state-of-the-art Computed Radiography (CR) system from darkroom processor. Since then, more than 1000 patients has undergone X-ray examinations of various parts (mainly chest X-rays), and close to 100 patients has done their mammography examination here.

CR image

        Back in the days where darkroom is our only means for film processing, the maximum number of patients that we can receive a day is around 20 patients. This is because of the time taken for the film to be developed, not to mention if additional views are required or repeated examinations due to errors. Waiting time is quite long, especially when patients came in groups.

      

      However, with the installation of a completely computerized imaging solution, the time taken for an examination to finish has decreased significantly. This is because the image processing time has been reduced to mere seconds, compared to almost 3-5 minutes on darkroom processing. Hence, we are able to reduce waiting time and cater more patients, and the department can be run more efficiently. Radiation safety aspect is also improved, where we are able to implement the high kV technique which essentially reduces exposure time and amount. This results in reduced radiation dose but with images that are on par, if not superior, with diagnostic quality as done previously.

PACS image

        We are also equipped with a PACS system, which facilitates film viewing for our radiologists. By using PACS, X-ray images, especially mammogram, can be viewed without printing the films. This is advantageous because a soft copy image can be manipulated for optimal contrast and details. In addition, the image can be zoomed and enlarged at the part which shows suspicious mass or nodules, a characteristic not found on conventional X-ray film.

       In a nutshell,computerized system has increased the efficiency of the X-ray department to a level that is not possible by the previous system. Moreover, reduction in patient's radiation dose is a part of our responsibility as a radiographer, thus by this CR system, we are able to fulfill that responsibility.

By,
Muhammad Riddha
Lecturer DMI

ISUOG/ASUM Conference

         23^rd World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and joint ASUM Annual Scientific Meeting. Sydney October 2013. DMU(asia) Board of Examiners meeting.

            As part of the Vision College/ Gideons contingent, I was fortunate enough to go back to my home town of Sydney for the 23rd World Congress on my Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) and joint ASUM Annual Scientific Meeting. 

            With a strong background in Obgyn. I knew I was going to be treated to some world class lectures by very familiar faces. I was also looking forward to catching up with some of Vision’s valued international lecturers (Dr. Sue Campbell Westerway) and DMU (Asia) examiners (Carol Bagnall). First thing: get on the plane. Unlike a lot of people, I always love flying from the LCCT. I love walking along the air side tarmac to climb the stairs to the plane. I know it’s not the biggest plane there is, but the size and scale always exhilarates me. 

 

              This time I couldn’t help but draw a comparison between the progress of commercial passenger flight and ultrasound. Initially there were the passionate few, who had a vision and the engineering skill to build a machine that few people could see a large scale use for. Next came the skeptics, the non-visionaries- the ones who worry about the safety and dismiss the benefits. Eventually there was wide spread acceptance of the machine and everyone was finding a use for it, but those uses were limited by physics and engineering of the time. Every operator had to be an expert. Then computer technology came riding along as the knight in shining armour to remove most of the limitations and provide even the novice operator the ability to use the machine. Power and quality improved. More choice was added. Specialist machines came on the market. Many companies started making different brands. The people started demanding choice and themselves became able to understand the technology and the ways it can improve the quality of their life. 

             

         So now, I can use a plane to take me to a conference where all the world experts on Obsgyn have joined together for 4 days of exchanging ideas and expanding their horizons.

          Here is the trade hall, where all the various ultrasound machine companies can display their wares, and demonstrate their advancements into the field.

          

          Of course, with hundreds of qualified sonographers graduating from Vision College over the years, you’re bound to bump into a few. Here I am with Li-Anne Leong. Since graduating from Vision with her Grad Dip DMU(asia), she has moved to Queensland, where she upgraded her professional qualification to DMU(general), and now works as a general sonographer by day, and lives the beach lifestyle on weekends. 

Li Anne Leong and me

Of course, this isn’t sunny Queensland, but Sydney is not bad either.

 

 

Darling Harbour

I’m sure this is just an example of the quirky Aussie sense of humour right?

            After 4 full days of lectures and seminars, hands-on sessions and Q&A time, I was off to Sydney Adventist Hospital where Dr. Sue Campbell Westerway had kindly organised a few days of professional observation in an echocardiography department. Vision College is working towards its first intake of the DMU(cardiac) specialty course, and this means our already highly qualified tutors and lecturers need to learn what makes echocardiography such an exciting and rewarding career choice.

 

 

          To help me understand the unique requirements and demands of the cardiac sonographer, I had to ‘live it’. 5min apple on the lawn anyone? With cardiac sonographers in extremely high demand, patients are flowing through the department, but a dedicated echocardiographer knows that urgent cases come in through A&E and from theaters and need to be slotted into the daily work list. Often, tea break will be the first casualty.

            Do any of the potential sonographers out there see what’s different about this picture? Some of you may have noticed that the ultrasound machine and the scanning bed are opposite sides to general imaging. No, all the echocardiographers are not a ‘lefties’- they are often taught to scan using their left hands as this position can be the best ergonomically. That’s a fancy word for most compatible with the human anatomy. All sonographers at Vision College are instructed on how to minimise the strains on their body that arise in any workplace. After all that dedication to study, we want you to have a long and successful career.

 

            Being an honorary SE Asian for 4 years now, I have forgotten about the familiar critters that share your house in Australia. This (big) fella was greeting me when I climbed the stairs to my bedroom at Dr Sue’s house. He just wanted to let me know that no mosquitoes would get past him, and I was in his safe hands for the wonderful 3 nights I got to stay with Sue and experience her generosity.

 

 

Of course, I was less comfortable with his playful version of hide and seek.

 

               To finish, no souvenir from Australia is complete if it doesn’t have a dual purpose of opening a bottle. Thank goodness the good folk at ASUM understood this unspoken rule. Just remember not to place it in your hand luggage!

Happy scanning. 

By,

Geraldene Carruthers Beirne  

Head Of Programme 

Postgraduate DIploma of Medical Ultrasonography (Asia)