Prime Minister announces Medicare Levy Increases to Cover the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced planned increases to the Medicare levy to fund DisabilityCare Australia, the renamed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Falls Prevention Guidelines

Falls are a significant cause of harm to older people. The rate, intensity and cost of falls identify them as a national safety and quality issue. Following are some of the most important guidelines summarised as produced by The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) which relate to the hospitals and residential aged care settings.

Monitoring Heart Rates can Help Treat People Dependent on Alcohol

Monitoring heart rate patterns can help identify risk and treat people who are dependent on alcohol by predicting their craving levels, researchers at the University of Sydney have shown.

Exercise may Increase Success of Flu Vaccine

Exercise at the time of having a flu shot may increase the success of vaccination according to a University of Sydney researcher.

Design Phase begins at New University of Canberra Public Hospital

Canberra’s Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher has announced expressions of interest will be called from suitably qualified consultants to design the new northside sub-acute hospital, to be located on the University of Canberra campus.

Patient Safety - Australian landmark research project reveals shortfalls

Community Care Takes Strides With Telehealth In Rural Area

Three Queensland aged care services are a driving force behind introducing Telehealth to rural communities, and helping to relieve the stress of older Australians travelling distances for specialist appointments, explains Lara Caughey.

Australian Diabetes Society Publishes New Guidance On Insulin

Australian Diabetes Society (ADS) Publishes New Guidance On Insulin Glargine (Lantus®), Amy Sanders reports.

Off Duty - Dr Stephen Davies BMed. FANZCA

Dr Stephen Davies was born in Newcastle in New South Wales, Dr Davies studied Medicine at Newcastle University as a mature age student. He completed his Anaesthesia training in Canberra (ACT) and Retrieval Medicine training at Careflight (NSW).

The Phoney War Regarding the PCEHR is Almost Over

The Rubber Hits the Road in the Next Few Months

Continence, Care and Ethics

A central ethical value in relationships between health professionals and their patients is respect for human beings, more often called respect for autonomy or, simply, autonomy. The expression has become very familiar in medical ethics, prominently because it was instrumental as an ethical foundation for patient led responses that gradually overturned a prevailing professional paternalism (“doctor knows best”) of later decades of the last century.

Speaking to Aged Care Food Services Expert Karen Abbey

In speaking with you Karen, it is clear that you have a genuine passion to improve the delivery of food services and nutritional content to aged care communities throughout Australia. Tell us, how did this come about?

National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards

From 1st January 2013 hospitals and day procedure services across Australia will be required to participate in accreditation against the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, writes Amy Winter.

Compression Therapy

The value of compression therapy in treating lower leg ulcers is clinically proven, but until government subsidised funding is approved, many patients will continue to suffer unnecessarily, as The Australian Wound Management Association’s (AWMA) Robin Osborne explains.

The Economic Impact of Incontinence in Australia

Earlier this year The Continence Foundation of Australia was pleased to announce the launch of the Deloitte Access Economics report ‘The economic impact of incontinence in Australia’, which reveals an unspoken emotional impact as well.