Today is : Wednesday 10/3/2010

Helen Crowe

Helen has been working with me for over 10 years. Her experience is invaluable. If you take a look at her CV, you'll quickly see why. Having completed her Masters in Nursing in 2006, Helen has been endorsed as Australia’s first Urology Nurse Practitioner. This endorsement allows Helen to treat and prescribe for urinary tract infections and erectile dysfunction resulting from treatment for prostate cancer. This exciting development in Helen’s career will further streamline her care of our patients. Helen has researched, published, presented and won awards for her work on quality of life issues related to prostate cancer treatment.

Work email: helen.crowe@mh.org.au

SECONDARY EDUCATION:

1970 Genazzano College, Kew, Victorian Higher School Certificate (Biology Honours)

TERTIARY EDUCATION:

2004-06 Master Nursing Science (Ad Nurse Practitioner), University of South Australia
1996-97  Graduate Diploma Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Melbourne
1988 Bachelor of Applied Science (Advanced Nursing)
Advanced Clinical Stream (9 Distinctions)
Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne
1974 Certificate in General Nursing, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne

POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION:

2001 Good Clinical Practice Short Course, Monash University
1998 Cleaning & Maintenance Workshop Endoscopic Equipment
1992 Excel 4.0 Basics St Vincent's Hospital
1983 Management Seminar, Mayfield Centre, Melbourne
1980 Unit Management Program (6 months), St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne

HONOURS AND AWARDS:

2004 Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates Catherine-Ann Lawrence Literary Excellence Award “Prostate Cancer: Perspectives of Patients and Their Partners On Quality Of Life and Impact of Treatment”.
2003 ANF Conference Grant
2003 AUNS 8th Annual Meeting Best Victorian Paper “Streamlining Outpatient LUTS Assessment”.
2000 Nurses Board of Victoria William Cooper Fellowship.
2000 AUNS 5th Annual Meeting Best Paper Award “The perspectives of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners on quality of life and impact of treatment".
2000 AUNS/Astra-Zeneca Travel Fellowship.
1999 Victorian Urological Nurses Society Conference Grant.
1995 Nominated for Nurses Care Award.
1992 American Urological Association, Allied. Annual Assembly, Washington. D.C., USA First prize, Research Poster Presentation. "Midnight vs. 6am Urinary Catheter Removal".
1988 Victorian Health Department Full Scholarship (2 years) to Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2007- Nurse Practitioner Urology, private urology practice.
2002-06 University of Melbourne Tutor, 5th year medical students - male catheterisation
1999- Urology Research Nurse, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital Department of Surgery, Division of Urology.
Urology Nurse Consultant, Cancer Council of Victoria, Cancer Helpline
1997-  Accredited External Nurse Consultant, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne
1992-99 Urology Nurse Clinician, private urology practice.
1992-99 Urology Research Nurse, St Vincent's Hospital Department of Urology.
Establishment Impotence Clinic.
1988-92 Charge Nurse, 22-bed Urology Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne
1987-88  Sessional Clinical Teaching, Phillip Institute of Technology, Melbourne
Footscray Institute of Technology, Melbourne.
1987-88 Relief Nurse, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne
1978-87 Charge Nurse, 31-bed General Surgical Unit (Colo-rectal, Vascular, Renal Transplantation, General  Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.
1974-78 Registered Nurse, 31-bed General Surgical Unit. St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:

2006 - Member committee to develop nursing research at The Royal Melbourne Hospital
1999 - 2002 Member committee to design and implement post graduate urological nursing certificate in conjunction with La Trobe University
1993 Founding member Victorian Urological Nurses Society. Elected inaugural Chairperson.
1991 Selected by Department of Urology, St Vincent's Hospital to co-ordinate inter-disciplinary activities and write protocols relating to clinical trials and management of patients with impotence.
1990 Selected by St Vincent's Hospital for secondment to Nursing Administration to develop an education program, assessment guidelines, and an evaluation process for the newly created position of Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Conceived, designed, implemented and evaluated a program to develop the management role of the Associate Charge Nurse, adopted throughout St Vincent's Hospital.  

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS:

2006 Member, International Zometa Nurses Advisory Board
2004 Chairman, Zometa Urology Nurses Advisory Board
2002- Lecturer, University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine
1998- Victorian Representative Australasian Urological Nurses Society
Secretary Victorian Urological Nurses Society
Treasurer Australasian Urological Nurses Society
1995 Founding member Australasian Urological Nurses Society
1993-97 Chairperson Victorian Urological Nurses Society
1993 Founding member Victorian Urological Nurses Society

CLINICAL TRIAL EXPERIENCE:

2006 Clinical trial co-ordinator: Efficacy study of HP749, 20 mg twice-daily versus placebo in patients with OAB.
2006- Clinical trial co-ordinator: A Phase I Study of Sodium Selenate in Patients with Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
2005- Clinical trial co-ordinator: Long-term, open-label extension trial for subjects completing the Phase III trial of Fesoterodine (SP583) for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome.
2004-05 Clinical trial co-ordinator: SP583 A Phase 3, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo and active-controlled multi-centre trial to investigate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of Fesoteridine sustained release in subjects with overactive bladder syndrome.
2004- Data manager: Clinical outcomes following robotic radical prostatectomy
2003- Clinical trial co-ordinator: A randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Dutasteride 0.5mg Administered Once Daily for Four Years to Reduce the Risk of Biopsy-Detectable Prostate Cancer (Study Number ARI40006)
2002- Clinical trial co-ordinator: A Multi-Centre, Multi-Nation Observational Study to Document Treatment and Standard of Care for Subjects with Metastatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
2002- Principal Investigator: The perspectives of public hospital patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, and their partners, on quality of life and impact of treatment.
2002-03 Clinical trial co-ordinator: M00-211. A Phase III, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of 10 mg Atrasentan in Men with Metastatic, Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer.
Clinical trial co-ordinator: M00-244. A Phase III, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Safety and Efficacy of 10 mg Atrasentan in Men with Non-Metastatic, Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
2002 - Clinical trial co-ordinator: M00-258. A Phase III Extension Study to Evaluate the Safety of 10 mg Atrasentan in Men with Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
2002 Clinical trial co-ordinator, data manager: Novel urine markers for Prostate Cancer.
2000-02 Clinical trial co-ordinator: A Phase I-II, Multi-Centre, Open-label Study of Intravesical Mycobacterial Cell Wall Complex (MCC) for the Treatment of Carcinoma In Situ of the Bladder Refractory to BCG.
Co-Investigator: TRIUMPH Survey: TransEuropean Research Into the Use of Management Policies for BPH in Primary Healthcare
1999-2003 Clinical trial co-ordinator, data manager: Effect of dietary selenium supplementation on prostate cancer and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
1999 Principal Investigator: The perspectives of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, and their partners, on quality of life and impact of treatment.
1997-99 Co-Investigator, data manager: Clinical evaluation holmium laser in surgical treatment of BPH
Co-ordinator, data manager: Multi-centre randomized trial, Indigo laser versus TURP.
Co-ordinator, data manager: Cost effectiveness of laser ablation of the prostate (in conjunction with NH&MRC National Centre for Health Program Evaluation).
1993-96 Principal Investigator: Randomized trial, Bleach versus soap and water for urinary catheter bag care at home.
Co-ordinator, data manager: Randomized control trial, Nd:YAG laser versus TURP treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy.
1992-94 Co-ordinator: Multi-centre, double-blinded, randomized control trial, Finasteride versus placebo for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
1989-91 Principal Investigator: Randomized trial, Midnight versus 6am removal of urinary catheters.

LECTURES/POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

2005 Erectile dysfunction treatment options. Prostate Nursing Care Education Day, Cancer Council Victoria.
2005 Advanced Nursing Practice in Victoria. Combined VUNS & NFC Meeting, Melbourne.
2004 Treatment options for erectile dysfunction post prostate cancer treatment. VUNS educational meeting, Melbourne.
2004 Erectile dysfunction treatment options. Prostate Nursing Care Education Day, Cancer Council Victoria.
2003 Treatment options for erectile dysfunction post prostate cancer treatment. Epworth  Hospital General Practitioners Seminar
2003 Sexual Dysfunction. Urology Nursing Course. The Royal Melbourne Hospital
2003 Administration of IV Zometa. Combined VUNS & NFC Meeting , Melbourne
2003 Quality of Life for Patients Treated for Prostate Cancer and their Partners in a Public Hospital Setting, AUNS 8th Annual Conference, Queenstown
2003 Nursing Research, AUNS 8th Annual Conference, Queenstown
2002 Sexual Dysfunction. Urology Nursing Course. The Royal Melbourne Hospital
2000 The Perspectives of Patients Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer and Their Partners on Quality of Life and Impact of Treatment. AUNS 5th Annual Meeting, Sydney
1996 Nursing Management Neobladders. Australian Stomal Therapists Annual Conference, Melbourne
1995 Nursing Management Laser Prostatectomy. Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Annual Conference, Melbourne.
1994 Nursing Role in Laser Prostatectomy. Nd:YAG Laser Surgical Course, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.
1993 Nursing Management: Laser Ablation of  the Prostate. Towards 2000: New Therapies in the Treatment of BPH. St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne.
1993 Nursing Management: Laser Ablation of the Prostate.
Advantages of Midnight Removal of Urinary Catheters.
Urology Seminar, St George's Hospital, Kew.
1992 Midnight vs. 6am Catheter Removal: a Comparative Study. American Urological Association, Allied, Inc. 23rd Annual Assembly, Washington. May 1992
A Randomized Study of the Effect of Midnight vs. 6am Removal of Urinary Catheters. Urological  Society of Australasia, 45th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide March 1992. Poster Presentation.
1991 A Randomized Study of the Effect of Midnight vs. 6am Removal of Urinary Catheters. Urological Society of Australasia, Vic. Section Scientific Program.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISATION:

2007 Conference Organiser 8th National Prostate Cancer Symposium, RMH, Melbourne
2006 Conference Organiser 7th National Prostate Cancer Symposium, RMH, Melbourne
2005 Conference Organiser 6th National Prostate Cancer Symposium, RMH, Melbourne
2005 Conference Organiser 10th Australasian Urological Nurses Society Scientific meeting, Melbourne
2004 Conference Organiser 5th National Prostate Cancer Symposium, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne
2003 Conference Organiser Prostate Cancer General Practitioners Seminar, Epworth Hospital, Melbourne
2003 Conference Organiser 4th National Prostate Cancer Symposium, 5th Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration Meeting, RMH, Melbourne
2002 Conference Organiser 3rd National Prostate Cancer Symposium, RMH, Melbourne
2001 Conference Organiser 2nd National Prostate Cancer Symposium, WEHI, Melbourne
Conference Organiser 1st National Prostate Cancer Symposium, WEHI, Melbourne
1997 Conference Organiser International Laser Symposium, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Melbourne.
1996 Conference Organiser Incontinence Symposium, Western Hospital, Melbourne

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  Victorian Urological Nurses Society
Australasian Urological Nurses Society
Australian Nursing Federation
Member Royal College of Nursing Australia
Society of Urological Nurses and Associates
British Association of Urological Nurses
Australian Nurse Practitioners Association
Victorian Association of Research Nurses
Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

2006 American Urological Association, Allied Inc. 37th Annual Assembly, Atlanta Urological Society of Australasia, 58th Annual Scientific Meeting, Brisbane Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 11th Annual Conference, Brisbane
2005 American Urological Association, Allied Inc. 36th Annual Assembly, San Antonio Urological Society of Australasia, 57th Annual Scientific Meeting Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 10th Annual Conference, Melbourne
2004 American Urological Association, Allied Inc. 35th Annual Assembly, San Francisco Urological Society of Australasia, 56th Annual Scientific Meeting Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 9th Annual Conference, Newcastle
2003 American Urological Association, Allied Inc. 34th Annual Assembly, Chicago Urological Society of Australasia, 55th Annual Scientific Meeting Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 8th Annual Conference, Queenstown
2002 Society of Urological Nurses and Associates 33rd Annual Conference, Orlando, USA. Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration Symposium, Adelaide. Urological Society of Australasia, 54th Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 7th Annual Conference, Perth
2001 Society of Urological Nurses and Associates 32nd Annual Conference, Anaheim. American Urological Association Allied 32nd Annual Assembly, Anaheim Urological Society of Australasia, 54th Annual Scientific Meeting, Coolum Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 6th Annual Conference, Coolum Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration Symposium, Sydney
2000 Society of Urological Nurses and Associates 31st Annual Conference, Atlanta American Urological Association Allied 31st Annual Assembly Urological Society of Australasia, 53rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 5th Annual Conference, Sydney Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration Symposium, Adelaide.
1999 Urinary Catheter Management Conference, Melbourne Urological Society of Australasia, 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 4th Annual Conference, Adelaide
1998 Urological Society of Australasia, 51st Annual Scientific Meeting Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 3rd Annual Conference, Melbourne
1997 Urological Society of Australasia, 50th Annual Scientific Meeting, Port Douglas Australasian Urological Nurses Society, 2nd Annual Conference, Port Douglas
1996 Urological Society of Australasia, 49th Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra Australasian Urological Nurses Inaugural Conference, Canberra Society of Urological Nurses and Associates 27th Annual Assembly, Florida
1995 American Urological Association Allied 26th Annual Assembly, Las Vegas Société Internationale d’Urologie 23rd Conference, Sydney
1995 Urological Society of Australasia, 48th Annual Scientific Meeting, Broome American Urological Association, Allied Inc. 24th Annual Assembly, San Antonio
1993 Urological Society of Australasia, 46th Annual Scientific Meeting, Hobart. Urological Society of Australasia, Victorian Section, Country Meeting.
1992 American Urological Association, Allied. Inc. 23rd Annual Assembly, Washington Urological Society of Australasia, 45th Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide.
1991 Laparoscopic Surgery Symposium, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. The Assessment and Management of Erectile Impotence. St Vincent's Hospital Impotence Clinic, Sydney. American Urological Association, Inc. 85th Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada. Urological Society of Australasia, 44th Annual Scientific Meeting, Southport.
1990 American Urological Association Allied., Monterey, Ca. USA.
1989 Urological Society of Australasia, 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne.
1988 Clinical Education in Nursing. La Trobe University, Lincoln School of Health Science. Third Nursing Research Forum. La Trobe University, Lincoln School of Health Science.

PUBLICATIONS:

1 Costello A J, Haxhimolla H, Crowe H, Peters J S. Installation of telerobotic surgery and initial experience with telerobotic radical prostatectomy. BJU. 96, 34 – 38, 2005.
2 Crowe H, Costello A J. The perspectives of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners, on quality of life and impact of treatment. Urol Nurs. 23:4, 279-285 2003.
3 Crowe H. A guide to clean intermittent self-catheterisation. ANJ Clinical Update April, 1-2 2003
4 Eds Costello AJ, Sikharis K, Crowe H, Michelangeli V. Proceedings from 1st National Prostate Cancer Symposium: Current and emerging strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The Australian Association Clin Biochemists Inc, Perth WA.2001
5 Agarwal D K, Costello A J, Peters J, Sikaris K, Crowe H. Differential response of prostate specific antigen to testosterone surge after luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. B J Urol. 85, 690-695. 2000.
6 Costello A J, Crowe H, Lynch W. Evaluation of interstitial diode laser therapy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Tech Urol 5:4, 202-206. 1999
7 Costello A J, Crowe H R, Agarwal D K. Supratrigonal cystectomy and ileocystoplasty in management of interstitial cystitis. ANZ J Surg. 70. 34-38.2000.
8 Crowe H. Laser prostatectomy: surgical advances for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Nurs Review. Oct. 1999.
9 Costello T G, Crowe H R, Costello A J. Laser prostatectomy versus transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hypertrophy: comparative changes in haemoglobin and serum sodium. Anaesth Int Care. 25 493-496 1997.
10 Jackson T, Street A, Costello A J, Crowe H. Cost effectiveness of laser ablation of the prostate: premature evaluation. Int J Tech Assess Health Care. 11, 595-619. 1995.
11 Costello A J, Lusaya D G, Crowe H R. Non-contact side-fire laser ablation of the prostate. J Endourol. 9:2, 107-111. 1995.
12 Costello A J, Lusaya D G, Crowe H R. Transurethral laser ablation of the prostate: long term results. World J Urol. 13, 119-122. 1995
13 Costello A J, Jackson T, Crowe H, Street A. Transurethral resection of the prostate. ANZ J Surg. 64, 795. 1994.
14 Kingston T E, Nonnenmacher A K, Crowe H, Costello A J, Street A. Further evaluation of transurethral laser ablation of the prostate in patients treated with anticoagulant therapy. ANZ J Surg. 65, 40-43. 1995.
15 Crowe H, Costello A J. Laser ablation of the prostate: nursing management. Urol Nurs. 14:2, 38-40. 1994
16 Costello A J, Crowe H R, Jackson T, Street A. A randomised single institution study comparing laser prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate. Annals Acad Med Singapore. 24, 700-704. 1995.
17 Crowe H R, Clift R, Duggan G, Bolton D, Costello A J. Randomised study of the effect of midnight removal of urinary catheters. Urol Nurs. 14:1, 18-20. 1994
18 Costello A J, Jackson T, Crowe H, Street A. Transurethral resection of the prostate. ANZ J Surg. 64, 795. 1994.
19 Costello A J, Bolton D M, Ellis D, Crowe H. Histopathological changes in human prostatic adenoma following Neodymium:YAG laser ablation therapy. J Urol. 152, 1526-1529. 1994.
20 Costello A J, Shaffer B S, Crowe H R. Second generation delivery systems for laser prostatic ablation. Urol. 43:2, 262-266. 1994.
21 Crowe H R, Clift R , Duggan G, Bolton D M, Costello A J. A randomised study of the effect of midnight vs. 6 am removal of urinary catheters. B J Urol. 71, 306-308. 1993.
22 Braslis KG, Woods R, Crowe H, Costello A J. Continent ileal neobladder urinary diversion: an alternative to ileal conduit diversion. ANZ J Surg.62, 887-891.1992.

PUBLISHED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS:

1 Crowe H, Costello A J. Genito-urinary malignancies: prostate, testis & penis. CADEU Urology Nursing Program, La Trobe University, Melbourne. 2002
2 Crowe H, McKinnon S. Erectile Dysfunction. CADEU Urology Nursing Program La Trobe University, Melbourne. 2002
3 Costello A J, Crowe H. Treatment options in benign prostatic hyperplasia. 2000. Sponsored by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:

1 Bouchier-Hayes DM, Van Appeldorn S, Crowe H, Peters JS, Costelo A. J. Robotic laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for non-laparoscopic surgeons – what is the learning curve? BJU Int. Proc Urol Soc Aust. Brisbane, 97. supp 1, A58, 2006.
2 McKinnon S, Crowe H, Costello AJ. Quality of life for patients treated for prostate cancer and their partners in a public hospital setting. Proc 4th National Prostate Cancer Symposium Aust NZ J Surg 74, A13: 2004
3 Crowe H, Perspectives of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners on quality of life and impact of treatment. Proc AUNS. Sydney 2000.
4 Williams E D, Bills M M, Ruangapit N, Slavin J, Crowe H, Thompson E W, Costello A J. Gene array analysis of selenium effects on PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Proc Urol Soc Aust. Sydney. 2000
5 Williams, E D, Moseley J M, Slavin J L, Crowe H, Costello A J, Thompson E W. Prostate cancer under the micro(array)scope. Proc Urol Soc Aust. Sydney 2000.
6 Williams, E D, Crowe H, Slavin J, Thompson E. W, Costello A. J. Growth inhibition of prostate cancer cell lines by the chemoprevention agents vitamin E and selenium. Aust N Z J Surg. 70, A10:36, 2000.
7 Costello A J, Crowe H. Clinical experience with holmium laser resection of the prostate. Asian J Surg. 22:3 S1. 1999.
8 Costello A J, Lynch W, Agarwal D K, Crowe H. Indigo interstitial laser thermotherapy for benign prostatic obstruction. Asian J Surg. 22:3 S1. 1999
9 Costello A J, Crowe H R, Asopa R. Long term results of randomised laser prostatectomy vs. TURP: modification of laser prostatectomy technique with biodegradable stent insertion. J Urol. 22, 316a. 1996
10 Kingston T E, Nonnenmacher A K, Crowe H R, Costello A J. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by transurethral laser ablation in patients with large prostate glands. Proc SIU. 732, 272. 1994.
11 Nonnenmacher A K, Costello A J, Kingston T E, Crowe H R. Laser ablation of the prostate as day-case surgery using the Prolase II laser delivery system compared to standard TURP: a clinical and economic evaluation. Proc SIU. 314, 159. 1994.
12 Costello A J, Crowe H. A single institution experience of reflecting laser fibre prostatectomy over four years. J Urol. 151. 6, 229a. 1994.
13 Crowe H, Clift R, Duggan G, Bolton D, Costello A. Randomised study of the effect of midnight vs. 6am removal of urinary catheters. Proc Urol Soc Aust. B J Urol 71, 72. 1993