HEART 5 Archives - Over The Walter Taylor Bridge

Heart of Australia Expands Fleet with New Mobile Health Trucks

Heart of Australia, based in Chelmer, has announced ambitious expansion plans. The healthcare company is set to add five new trucks to its fleet, dramatically increasing its capacity to deliver vital health services to underserved communities.

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At the heart of this expansion are the world’s first battery-powered mobile CT scanners. These state-of-the-art devices will be integrated into the new trucks, allowing Heart of Australia to bring advanced diagnostic capabilities directly to remote areas. This innovation promises to revolutionise healthcare delivery in rural settings, particularly in the realm of lung cancer screening.

The HEART 5 Model

The new trucks will be modelled after the organisation’s existing HEART 5, which has been successfully providing respiratory health checks and radiology services throughout Queensland since 2022. HEART 5 is equipped with:

A battery-powered mobile CT scanner
X-ray machine
Specialised testing equipment for comprehensive lung health screening

This model has proven its effectiveness in delivering mobile radiology services and conducting lung health screenings, regardless of location.

The expansion is made possible by a substantial $45 million federal investment, complemented by additional corporate funding. This financial backing underscores the importance of the project and its potential impact on national health outcomes.

Dr Rolf Gomes (Photo credit: heartofaustralia.com.au)

Dr Rolf Gomes, founder and cardiologist of Heart of Australia, announced the expansion at the organisation’s 10th anniversary gala dinner last week. While the routes for the new trucks are yet to be determined, the first of the new fleet, HEART 7, is expected to be operational by August 2025.

This expansion not only increases the organisation’s capacity to provide lung cancer screening but also opens the door to implementing other specialist services nationwide.

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As Heart of Australia embarks on this new chapter, its mobile health clinics stand poised to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of Australians living in rural, remote, and First Nations communities. By bringing advanced medical technology and expertise directly to those who need it most, Heart of Australia is setting a new standard in mobile healthcare delivery.

Published 29-August-2024

‘HEART 5’: World’s First Mobile Respiratory Health Screening Service Hits the Road

Photo Credit: Heart of Australia / Facebook

‘HEART 5’, the world’s first mobile health unit to aid in the early detection of mine dust lung disease in regional QLD workers, has hit the road.

Developed by Chelmer-based Heart of Australia, HEART 5 launched their fifth truck at a February event held in the RNA Showgrounds. The project was made possible through the partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland which contributed $2 million towards the build and operation of the mobile unit.

‘HEART 5’: World’s First Mobile Respiratory Health Screening Service Hits the Road — Photo Credit: Heart of Australia / Facebook

The project will see the state-of-the-art mobile unit bringing “high-quality respiratory health screenings to mine and quarry workers in regional and remote parts of the state.”

“This means workers won’t have to travel as far to access highly specialised services, ensuring earlier detection and intervention in cases of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis,” Resources Minister Scott Stewart said.

HEART 5 is loaded with an x-ray machine and a world-first battery-powered, high-resolution computerised tomography (CT) scanner. Philips and I-MED designed and built the battery technology that will power the CT scanner and will allow HEART 5 to do a CT whilst parked on a mine site.

“HEART 5 breaks down the tyranny of distance, so if you do have a lung disease, we can find it early and quickly,” Heart of Australia founder Dr Rolf Gomes said.

“We have implemented the toughest mine safety laws in the world, lowered allowable levels of dust exposure, prescribed requirements for monitoring and reporting, and enhanced health surveillance across the mining sector,” Mr Stewart said.

“We’re proud to have HEART 5 on the road helping to uphold our high standards for health and safety in the resources sector, and our government will continue to support workers, on and off the job site.”

“With the launch of HEART 5, our CT truck, we will be finding more, treating more, and saving more lives,” Dr Gomes said.

Heart of Australia has been delivering specialist medical services to regional, rural and remote area communities across Queensland since 2014. The clinic-on-wheels has so far seen more than 12,000 patients, saved more than 500 lives and served more than 30 communities.