Michael Wright

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Authors

Michael Wright

MBBS, MSC, PhD, FRACGP, Chief Medical Officer, Avant Mutual Group Limited, Sydney, NSW; Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW; AJGP Editorial Advisory Committee member, RACGP, Melbourne, Vic

Balancing care and responsibility: The role of the general practitioner in specialist referrals

This article explores GP referrals to other health professionals and aims to describe a doctor’s medicolegal obligations and responsibilities when making a referral.

Can continuity of care in primary care be sustained in the modern health system?

The benefits of a strong doctor–patient relationship obtained through continuity of care should not be lost as our health system becomes more complex.

Continuity of care

Continuity of care is an integral part of quality healthcare. Focus articles this month discuss issues and challenges for continuity of care in the current health system.

Continuity of care is in the eye of the beholder

Strategies to support continuity of care between patients and GPs should be encouraged.

Guest Editorial: Prevention is better than cure for medicolegal matters

The adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ resonates strongly with medicolegal issues. Failing to recognise or manage problems early is likely to lead to worse outcomes and increased costs.

How much of Australia’s health expenditure is allocated to general practice and primary healthcare?

International evidence suggests that systems with a focus on primary healthcare have better health outcomes and lower health costs.

How common is multiple general practice attendance in Australia?

With more than 25% of patients attending more than one general practice in the previous year, the quality and continuity of care for multiple practice attenders requires further investigation.

Managing patient complaints to improve your practice

This article explores the benefits of having a system to accept and deal with patient feedback within a practice and identifies barriers preventing patients from raising their concerns directly.

Medicolegal

The adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ resonates strongly with medicolegal issues. Failing to recognise or manage problems early is likely to lead to worse outcomes and increased costs.

What strategies have been effective in optimising COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Australia and internationally?

Strategies that have successfully increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake may also be effective in enhancing uptake across a range of vaccine-preventable diseases.