Innovators

Nina Holden is a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Both Nina and her team work closely with patients in the ICU to help them to start their physical recovery.

If ICU patients are on the ventilator for a long time, their respiratory muscles, the ones they use to breathe, get weak. They can also experience joint stiffness, muscle weakness and reduced fitness. Physiotherapists like Nina play a vital role by helping them maintain and improve muscle strength, mobility and overall function.

Innovation
Nina is currently undertaking an innovation project to develop the use of respiratory muscle strength training in ICU which she says is, “An emerging treatment with a strong evidence base.” Respiratory muscle strength training programs are exercises that work to strengthen the muscles used in breathing.

In addition, Nina and her team are leading out on a project introducing“Lung Ultrasound for Physiotherapists” funded by the Adelaide Health Foundation. This aim is to develop the use of lung ultrasound as a key clinical skill within the critical care physiotherapy team. This is a great example of the development of new, novel and innovative clinical skills.

Nina says, “Having access to this has enabled us to tailor the management of our patients while they are still in ICU and further develop the effectiveness of our treatment.”

Nina also secured funding from TUHF Ignite for Impact Awards to purchase a cutting-edge new Virtual Reality headset for patients in ICU and says “This is a novel and exciting idea that helps patients by providing them with the opportunity (once they put on the VR headset) to do more active rehab through the use of games and exercise. This new technology also helps patients to relax by generating a tranquil virtual environment, this distracts them from pain for example after surgery or during wound care.”

Nina says she always had an interest in, “What is novel and creative in healthcare as well as developing new ways to introduce cutting edge evidence-based treatments. “I am passionate about humanising the ICU experience for patients during what can be the most challenging times of their lives.”

Nina says her advice to other staff who want to introduce innovative ideas to help patients is to, “Just go for it! There is lots of support from the Innovate Health team to help put your idea into action. and navigate funding available to support your ideas, however big or small. I think it is really helpful to link with your clinical team as well Innovate Health and it is important to be open to building relationships with those in different departments whose help will be essential to ensuring your innovation is successful.”