St Vincent’s Endocrine Testing Area expands its patient support

Above: (L to R) SVHM’s endocrine testing nurses Meizi Liu and Maresa Derbyshire

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) has become the first hospital in Victoria to have two dynamic endocrine testing nurses onsite.

One of only three hospitals state-wide to offer a clinic for endocrine testing, SVHM expanded the specialised team earlier this year to support a growing demand for this unique service.

In April, the Endocrine Testing Area (ETA) further boosted the medical oversight of its specialised testing with dedicated clinical support from SVHM endocrinologists, Associate Professor Nirupa Sachithanandan and Dr Alice Hong.

“Endocrinology is a discipline that is very reliant on test results and some of these tests require monitoring hormonal response. This can be quite difficult to do and time-consuming,” said Professor Richard MacIsaac, SVHM’s Director of Endocrinology.

“St Vincent’s is recognised nationally as a centre that can provide specialist endocrine testing.”

Patients are referred to the ETA for complex and timed blood testing procedures to diagnose rare endocrine conditions, predominantly relating to the pituitary and adrenal glands.

“Making the diagnosis of a hormonal deficiency or excess, and getting the appropriate treatment for these patients, not only helps improve their quality of life; it can be lifesaving in many cases,” said Prof MacIsaac.

Taking a coordinated approach to care

Above: (L to R) Members of SVHM’s ETA team: Prof Richard MacIsaac, Charlotte Hurburgh, A/Prof Nirupa Sachithanandan, Dr Alice Hong, Meizi Liu and Maresa Derbyshire

Through the ETA service the nursing team can support patients with their treatment options, education in medication management and in helping to develop emergency management plans for those impacted by adrenal insufficiency (where the body fails to produce enough hormones) to reduce any future hospital admissions and the potential for life-threatening adrenal crisis.

The clinic has completed more than 5,000 tests since it started 15 years ago, with infusions being one of the biggest areas of demand.

“Some patients have been looking for answers for many years, or perhaps lost some faith in the hospital system after seeing many endocrinologists and specialists to try and find an answer to their symptoms,” said Maresa Derbyshire, who has worked as a dynamic endocrine nurse at SVHM for the past 15 years.

Maresa also highlighted that “a coordinated approach between the nurses, the endocrinologists and the surgeons underpin our success in supporting a patient to move forward with their diagnosis and find the best health solution we can for them, whether that is through medical management or surgery.”

In 2022, SVHM’s Department of Endocrinology was awarded a Centre of Excellence by the National Association of Diabetes Centres.

“Having such a robust endocrine testing area on site definitely contributed to us receiving this national accreditation and highlights our commitment to providing the best care we can for our patients,” said Prof MacIsaac.