Renowned global pharmaceutical company Pfizer has chosen to support
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s Endocrine Testing Service to increase the department’s capacity and to provide specialist training to St Vincent’s endocrine nurses.
Endocrinology deals with the endocrine system, which controls the hormones in our bodies.
Patients are referred to the testing service for complex blood testing procedures to detect rare endocrine conditions caused by a deficiency or excess of hormones. This important service helps to diagnose a variety of serious conditions and diseases. Examples of these include hormonal causes for high blood pressure, rare causes for low blood sugar levels deficiency and excess amounts of the hormone cortisol, which is vital for the body's response to stressful situations. An imbalance of this hormone can cause Addison's Disease or Cushing Syndrome.
The Endocrine Testing Service is a busy clinic. In 2022, they accepted almost 400 patient referrals. Its role is to support internal and external endocrinologists and specialist clinics across Victoria. Generous support from Pfizer and the hospital enabled the clinic to expand its operating function from two to four days per week. Plans are also underway to further expand this service.
PHOTO: Rebecca Broadhurst, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Endocrine Testing Nurse looking after a patient.
Pfizer has also assisted St Vincent’s Endocrine nurses to undertake specialist training. These new skills mean nurses can support patients to gain more independence by teaching them how to administer their own medications. Patients can also learn how to manage an adrenal crisis by using the drug, hydrocortisone.
Professor Richard MacIsaac, Director, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes said, “The financial support from Pfizer also supported our activities in trials relating to the development of the Glucagon Test protocol (a test of hormonal deficiency). These guidelines are needed to assist with the specific testing for growth hormone deficiency which is required to gain access to growth hormone medication under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
“This protocol has been shared with many hospitals around Victoria, presented at national conferences, and published in a recognised journal Clinical Endocrinology in Dec 2020.”
Professor MacIsaac recognises the important impact Pfizer’s support has had on the Endocrine Testing Service. “We are so grateful to Pfizer for recognising the importance of this service. I believe we are the only hospital in Melbourne that provides such a service.”
If your Trust or Foundation wishes to support St Vincent’s Foundation, please contact Richard Prentice, Head of Trusts and Foundations at richard.prentice@svha.org.au
