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Keeping Our Community Close to Home

In an innovative achievement for rural healthcare, Timboon and District Healthcare Service (TDHS) has become the first health service in Australia to implement the Abionic AbioSCOPE® Pancreatic Stone Protein (PSP) point-of-care sepsis test, an advanced diagnostic device distributed by Getz Healthcare that enables clinicians to detect sepsis earlier than ever before.

Following an eight-week clinical evaluation earlier this year, TDHS has integrated the AbioSCOPE into everyday clinical practice, strengthening its commitment to value-based care, where outcomes, experience, and access drive every decision.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can progress rapidly if not diagnosed and treated early. Traditional diagnostic methods often rely on visible symptoms, which may delay timely intervention. The easy-to-use AbioSCOPE PSP test delivers lab-quality results within seven minutes from a single drop of blood, allowing clinicians to measure pancreatic stone protein, a biomarker that can rise up to 72 hours before conventional indicators of sepsis.

By enabling earlier detection, this innovation supports regional and rural hospitals where laboratory access can be limited, helping clinicians manage consumers more effectively and reduce the need for transfers to regional centres.

“Our focus is always on delivering the best possible outcomes for our consumers, safely, effectively, and close to home,” said Larissa Barclay, Director of Clinical Services at TDHS. “The AbioSCOPE provides our clinicians with timely, evidence-based insights that can save lives and reduce the burden on consumers and families who might otherwise need to travel for care. It gives us confidence that we can continue delivering high-quality, advanced care right here in Timboon.”

The clinical evaluation, conducted in partnership with Getz Healthcare, confirmed the AbioSCOPE’s ability to complement existing sepsis detection protocols and enhance clinical confidence in early decision-making.

TDHS Chief Executive Officer Gary Castledine said the project highlights how a small rural health service can lead innovation through strategic partnerships and a strong focus on community impact.

“Value-based care is about improving outcomes that matter most to our consumers,” Mr Castledine said. “This partnership with Getz Healthcare shows what’s possible when innovation is guided by purpose, helping us deliver advanced, personalised care right here in Timboon.”

Derek Foltin, Managing Director at Getz Healthcare ANZ, said the introduction of the first AbioSCOPE PSP point-of-care test at TDHS reflects their commitment to supporting clinicians across Australia and New Zealand with advanced diagnostic solutions.

“This represents a significant step forward in sepsis detection,” Mr Foltin said. “By enabling earlier diagnosis, this technology empowers healthcare professionals in both metropolitan, regional, and rural settings to make informed clinical decisions, leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of healthcare resources.”

Through the implementation of the AbioSCOPE, TDHS continues to lead the way in integrating technology, clinical excellence, and consumer-centred care, keeping its community healthy, connected, and close to home.

About Abionic
Abionic is a Swiss-based medical technology company advancing diagnostics with its nanofluidic point-of-care platform. Its PSP test is the world’s first biomarker-based tool for the early detection of sepsis, providing clinicians with rapid, accurate, and actionable results to support better patient outcomes. The company’s technology is designed to bring critical diagnostic insights to the patient’s bedside, supporting faster clinical decisions in emergency and critical care settings.

About Getz Healthcare
Getz Healthcare is a leading distributor of medical equipment, devices, and consumables across the Asia Pacific. Headquartered in Singapore, the company partners with global manufacturers to provide innovative, high-quality healthcare solutions. Operating for over 110 years across 23 offices and distribution centres in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Getz Healthcare remains committed to bringing meaningful healthcare solutions to the people of the Asia Pacific.

Source: Timboon and District Healthcare Service (approved by the Victorian Department of Health).