The chances are you have already had the experience of an endoscopic procedure. The most commonly reported procedure group for the private sector in 2007-2008 was procedures on the digestive system (673,000), with 87.9% of these being for fibreoptic colonoscopy, panendoscopy with excision and fibreoptic colonoscopy with excision. Other commonly reported procedures across both sectors were diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy (626,000 separations). [ + ]

Doctors' communications with patients have improved due to concerns about the medicolegal consequences of poor communication, Dr Louise Nash and her colleagues report. [ + ]

The Australian Aged Care Bulletin speaks exclusively to Professor Hal Kendig, head of the Ageing, Work, and Health Research Unit in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. [ + ]

Incontinence is a prevalent and costly problem in aged care, and poor management of incontinence impacts on the health and quality of life of the individual and the environment of the aged care home, writes Jacinta Miller. [ + ]

The College of Nursing is a professional body that represents, assists, educates and supports nursing professionals throughout Australia. [ + ]

For any meal to be successful in the aged care environment it needs to be eaten ensuring that residents are receiving the nutrients they need Karen Abbey reports. [ + ]

When the summer heat is over, at the emergency department of the highly reputed Clínica Sagrado Corazón, Seville, the staff is ready to take the healthcare heat: Agfa HealthCare’s DX-D 300 Direct Radiography (DR) system can handle the workload peaks flawlessly, offering both staff and patients unprecedented comfort and diagnostic quality. [ + ]

Catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIS) and life-threatening hospital acquired infections (HAIS) present a patient well-being challenge for healthcare professionals and an economic burden for healthcare facilities across the world, yet with the right strategies they are also the most preventable. The Australian Hospital and Healthcare Bulletin spoke with leading UK IV nurse consultant, Andrew Jackson, on his recent education tour of Australia, sponsored by 3M. [ + ]

In this issue we speak with Council of the Ageing (COTA) Chief Executive, Ian Yates, about the anticipated overhaul of Australia's aged care sector. [ + ]

Health Reform Opportunities for All in the Sector [ + ]