New treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to be listed on the PBS Australians with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will soon be able to more easily access a new triple-combination inhaler designed to boost lung capacity and reduce attacks of breathlessness.
GPs can help patients manage chronic non-cancer pain – with fewer opioids Opioids are no longer a front-line treatment for chronic non-cancer pain.
Pharmacists’ codeine fears overstated, GP says While pharmacists have raised concerns about a shortage of low-dose codeine, Dr Evan Ackermann, a GP with a special interest in drugs of dependence, says the evidence supports up-scheduling.
Can we deliver high value care with one eye on the clock and the other on the screen? Given longer consultations are associated with better health outcomes, the Medicare Benefits Schedule should be restructured to incentivise appropriate consultation time in general practice, Dr Edwin Kruys writes for newsGP.
Fragmented approach to multimorbidity leaving patients further out of pocket New research that shows a fragmented approach to treating multimorbidity is resulting in greater out-of-pocket costs for patients is evidence of a need for a greater focus on preventive medicine, RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel told newsGP.
Chronic disease, multimorbidity and GPs’ role in team-based care GPs should play a central role on a healthcare team within the system of chronic disease management, Professor Mark Harris, GP and Professor of General Practice at the University of New South Wales told newsGP.
Managing hyperkalemia with dietary changes GPs and dietitians can work together to better manage hyperkalemia in general practice.
One of the many faces of codeine addiction Jessica Khachan lives in Sydney with her husband and two kids, who are 14 and 12, in what she describes as ‘a normal suburban household’. She is also one of the increasing number of Australians with a history of codeine addiction.
RACGP President wants states to consider patient safety in codeine up-scheduling RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel has called on Australian health ministers to consider patients before making any decisions that will soften codeine regulations.
RACGP 12-point opioid challenge With the issue of pain management becoming increasingly prevalent in Australian healthcare, GPs are often at the forefront of dealing with patients experiencing chronic non-cancer pain. However, the role of opioids in treating these patients has raised increasing concerns about safety. ‘For many people, good pain management can transform their quality of life,’ RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel said. ‘Unfortunately, what we have been seeing is an exploitation of painkilling medications.’