Top 6 causes of preventable death and injury

Every code blue deserves a figurative autopsy to bolster prevention of the next. We are pretty good at the prevention of deep vein thrombosis [DVT], pulmonary embolism [PE], and line infections. We do some things well like faithfully reciting our "time-outs"; maybe that keeps us from operating on the wrong limb or the wrong patient, but there are old complications emerging that can spell disaster for some. Here are Melissa Walton-Shirley's top six easily preventable causes of patient death and demise in 2016.

Compassion Fatigue: The Cost Of Caring

Health and social workers often choose their profession because they want to help people. But, according to Amanda Lambros, from Curtin University, seeing trauma and suffering on a regular basis can have a deep impact on these workers. “Compassion fatigue” is a response to the stress of caring for people at times of crisis and is often referred to as the cost of caring.

Dealing with Drug-seeking

Doctors need to be aware of behaviours that may indicate patients are drug seeking, such as doctor shopping or asking for drugs by name, and should have practice policies in place to help them say 'no', according to an Australian expert. The authors say there is strong evidence in Australia of increasing harms from prescription drugs of dependence including deaths from overdose. The authors highlight signs of drug-seeking to watch for and point out that dependency on prescription drugs may occur at any age, within any cultural group, and across any educational class.

20% Of Australians Take More Than 10 Medicines

Modular Construction – The Way Forward For Healthcare

With Ausco Modular’s extensive network across Australia and longstanding history of providing quality made-to-order modular buildings, it’s worthwhile considering Ausco Modular for your next healthcare build.

Mental Health and Epilepsy - What Do We Know?

Simply Better Solutions: Reliable, Consistent And Versatile.

NESTLÉ Docello® Protein Enriched Dessert Mixes have been specifically developed to meet menu standards for hospitals and aged care1, offering a versatile and easy to prepare, great-tasting addition to your menu range. But more importantly, they are packed with benefits to provide a vital source of protein and calcium in every serve when prepared as directed.

60% of road trauma patients have a history

An Australian-first study from Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) has found a link between poor traffic records and road trauma.

Today is Fatality Free Friday!!

That’s our aim. Not a single road death in Australia for just one day. Just one Fatality Free Friday. Fatality Free Friday continues to resonate with the Australian community and the efforts of this year’s campaign has reflected this. As we know road safety is a complex issue and it is impossible to find one single key to reduce road trauma.

Big Data – A surgeon’s perspective

Research finds opioids are pain in the back

New research from The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney has found that opioid painkillers, a common treatment for low back pain, provide minimal benefit.

Nursing documentation: defence or downfall

Your documentation can be your defense or your downfall. You didn’t become a nurse to spend hours of time writing in your notes or to have them scrutinised by people trying to find fault in the care you provided. But the reality is that documentation is a necessary part of safe clinical care.

Face masks fail in helmet ventilation trial

A new study shows that using a transparent air-tight helmet instead of a face mask helps critically ill patients breathe better and can prevent them from needing a ventilator. Patients with helmet ventilation also spent less time in the intensive care unit and had better survival.

From Document Management To DICOM - The evolution Of Enterprise Content Management

RNs to go from aged care in NSW - nurses appeal

TODAY, Tuesday, 17 May, members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) and community supporters will gather outside the Minister for Health’s office to demand the state government repeal its decision to remove registered nurses from nursing homes throughout NSW.   NSWNMA Assistant General Secretary, Judith Kiejda, local aged care nurses and a community aged care advocate will address the crowd to highlight the important role registered nurses have in these care settings.   A few weeks ago, NSW Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, advised of her decision to remove the legal requirement for a registered nurse on site at all times in aged care facilities where there are people with high care needs.