General News
29 September, 2026
World-first research in Horsham
Researchers and participants met at Horsham Town Hall to review stage one findings from the world-first Practice Nurses to Augment the Clinical Evaluation and Care of People at High Risk of Heart Failure project. The Rotary Club of Horsham East hosted the event, following its partnership with the research team last year to support the project.
Researchers and participants met at Horsham Town Hall to review stage one findings from the world-first Practice Nurses to Augment the Clinical Evaluation and Care of People at High Risk of Heart Failure project.
The Rotary Club of Horsham East hosted the event, following its partnership with the research team last year to support the project.
Speakers included Professor Simon Stewart of the University of Notre Dame, Western Australia, local research nurse Casey Kosch, and former Lister House Clinic owners Dr David Wilson and Amanda Wilson.
Research participant Anne Lane described establishing a regional palliative care service in the 1990s and discussed how a similar approach could significantly benefit rural and regional communities.
Dr Garg of Lister House received special recognition as a key advocate for the project.
Mrs Wilson reflected on the timely arrival of the research opportunity, which has now completed its first stage.
The research examined whether primary healthcare nurses could use portable, AI-assisted echocardiograms to detect previously undiagnosed heart failure.
Horsham was one of four participating communities, along with Salisbury in South Australia and Kyneton and Daylesford in Victoria, each representing distinct demographics.
Participants were aged 60 or older, had no current heart failure diagnosis, and a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or another common cause of heart failure such as coronary artery disease.
“Most heart failure cases remain undiagnosed in the community, with the first presentation often occurring in hospital as acute heart failure - a life-threatening event," Mrs Kosch said.
"Having worked in intensive care units and emergency departments for more than 20 years, I can attest to this.”
“Over 15 months, 722 people met this profile, with a balanced representation of men and women,” Prof Stewart added.
"Although we are still compiling the full findings, 64% of those screened had at least one sign or symptom of heart stress or failure, and 41% had an elevated blood marker indicating the same.
"AI-assisted heart imaging performed by practice nurses identified changes in heart shape in 32% of participants.
"Also, 14% and 8%, respectively, had difficulty filling with and/or pumping out blood.”
Rotary Club of Horsham East president Scotney Hayter said the service group was honoured to be part of the initiative.
“It has been a privilege to be involved in a project with the potential for the project to benefit millions of people.
"This work is not theoretical; it is human, real and capable of changing lives.”