RANZCOG Mourns Tragic Loss of a Colleague in MH17 Disaster
22 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithFellows, members and staff of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) were extremely saddened to hear of the death of their friend and colleague, Liam Davison and his wife Frankie.
Study Shows Antibiotics are Overused in Aged Care Facilities
21 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithAntibiotics are being overused in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), and more integrated efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing practices need to be introduced, researchers say.
Governments Urged to Support Pain Sufferers in National Pain Week
21 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithAt the start of National Pain Week 2014 (21–27 July), the Australian Pain Management Association (APMA), is calling on state governments and health representatives to support and promote APMA’s national network of pain-support groups, which provide hope, education and practical strategies to thousands of pain sufferers.
Standard 7: Blood and Blood Products
21 July, 2014 by ahhbNSQHS Standard 7: Blood and Blood Products describes actions for ensuring safe and appropriate use of blood and blood products in health services.
Standard 5 - Patient Identification and Procedure Matching
21 July, 2014 by ahhbNSQHS Standard 5: Patient Identification and Procedure Matching describes the systems and processes which need to be in place to correctly identify individual patients, to transfer their care using the correct identification processes and to ensure they are accurately matched to their intended care. Although patient identification and procedure matching are routine processes, risks to patient safety can arise when there is a mismatch between a given patient and components of their care (i.e. diagnostic, therapeutic or supportive). Errors which involve the wrong patient or wrong procedure can result in death or major permanent loss of function.1,2
Health Bodies Unite in Mourning Those who Died in Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17
20 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithProfessor Heather Yeatman, President of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), has expressed deep sorrow at the huge loss to the public health community - and specifically to the international AIDS community – resulting from the tragedy of Malaysian Air Flight MH17.
Scientists Crack the Code of the Asian Liver Fluke
16 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithScientists have sequenced the genome and characterised the genes of the Asian liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, which causes diseases that affect millions of people in Asia and is associated with a fatal bile duct cancer.
Candidates Announced for the 2014 GPRA Board
15 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithGeneral Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) has announced the candidates for the 2014 Board elections.
Investigation into Gold Coast X-ray Reporting
14 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithNews of a long-running failure in the routine x-ray reporting of Gold Coast patients’ will be the centre of an independent investigation, ordered by Queensland Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg.
New President of RACGP
14 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithWestern Australian GP, Adjunct Associate Professor Frank Jones was today announced President-elect of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and has vowed to place general practice at the heart of public dialogue.
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Recognised with Two Global Healthcare Design Awards
14 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithChris O'Brien Lifehouse, the first integrated Cancer Centre in Australia, has been recognised with two significant global healthcare design awards, and is one of four shortlisted health projects at the 2014 World Architecture Festival.
RCPA Warns of Errors with HIV Self-tests
14 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithFollowing this week’s announcement by Health Minister, The Hon Peter Dutton, regarding the legalisation of HIV self-tests in Australia, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) calls for a cautious introduction of these tests and a comprehensive education campaign for potential users.
Better patient pathways in medical radiation sciences
14 July, 2014 by ahhbToday the use of ionising radiation for medical imaging and radiation therapy is such a core part of both diagnosis and treatment that much is taken for granted. It is commonly seen as a small part of the total hospital experience and yet there has been an extraordinary evolution both in the technology available and the techniques used by trained practitioners. The impact of these advances is significant, with new imaging techniques being constantly applied across the medical specialties, writes David Collier.
Scientists Identify Mutations in Pancreatic and Ovarian Cancers
09 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithScientists have succeeded in identifying the major underlying mutations in pancreatic and ovarian cancers, two of Australia’s most ruthless cancers.
Healthcare Infrastructure Boost in WA
08 July, 2014 by Petrina SmithTwenty-six small hospitals and nursing posts in the Central Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions of Western Australia will be upgraded as part of a major $325.8million healthcare infrastructure boost. Health Minister Kim Hames and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman today announced $108.8million of funding for a range of health projects as part of the State Government’s Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI). Dr Hames said work on the hospital upgrades and nursing posts was expected to start before the end of the year and be complete late in 2016. “Community consultations and planning will continue to be undertaken to determine what works will be carried out to the small hospitals and nursing posts,” he said. “In some cases the works may involve infrastructure upgrades and may include an upgrade to the existing facility, this will be determined during the planning and consultation phase.” Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said planning for health reform has been under way since 2011 and a number of milestones had been reached to date. “These include the installation of Telehealth strategy across the region, an attraction strategy to increase the number of General Practitioners in regional towns, a 24/7 roster in larger emergency departments and an Emergency Telehealth Service,” Mr Redman said. The $325.8million SIHI investment will involve $173.7million worth of upgrades to six district hospitals, $108.8million for upgrades and refurbishment of small hospitals and nursing posts and a further $43.3million towards the Primary Health Care Demonstration Site program, with the first two sites in Pingelly and Cunderdin under way. The towns to benefit from the small hospital and nursing post refurbishment are: Wheatbelt Lake Grace; Wagin; Dalwallinu; Jurien Bay; Moora; York; Southern Cross; Boddington; Dumbleyung; Beverley; Wundowie; Wyalkatchem; Goomalling; Wongan Hills; Bruce Rock; Kellerberrin; Kununoppin; Quairading; Corrigin; Narembeen; Kondinin; Mukinbudin and Williams Great Southern Kojonup; Gnowangerup and Tambellup
