80% of Australians have a regular GP: The importance of continuity of care Long considered a core component of general practice, continuity of care is becoming increasingly complex in the world of modern general practice.
Shining a light on perinatal depression and anxiety The statistics on late maternal mortality in Australia are stark.
New clinical standard to help address variation in care for heavy menstrual bleeding The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) recently launched its Heavy menstrual bleeding clinical care standard (the Standard), with the goals of informing best practice for healthcare providers and empowering the 25% of women of reproductive age who experience the condition.
Why pay-for-performance schemes are destined to fail Australia has a track record of flirting with healthcare reform ideas that have failed overseas. The latest hype seems to be about performance indicators, targets and pay-for-performance.
How to write effective referral letters – three useful examples Referral letters are a vital, if time-consuming, aspect of a GP’s life. A well-written referral can make all the difference when a patient visits a specialist, and show a level of care and expertise on the part of the referring clinician.
Productivity Commission report recognises importance of general practice in Australian healthcare The Productivity Commission’s latest report, released to the public yesterday, contains detailed recommendations for a significant overhaul of Australia’s health system, including strong recognition of the importance of preventive and primary care.
Closing the smoking gap for pregnant women With as many as 45% of pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women smoking during pregnancy, compared to 13% of non-Indigenous women, it is vital that healthcare professionals are equipped with the best available tools to aid in their smoking cessation.
GP17: Foundation of patient-centred care GP17 is set to offer GPs from all over Australia what they most want at the annual RACGP conference
Dementia death rates rising Dementia is now the leading cause of death among women in Australia, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This is a significant development given ischemic heart disease has previously been the leading cause of death for both sexes in Australia since the early part of last century.
The conversation around death and dying With Victorian Government’s proposed ‘Voluntary assisted dying’ bill set to be debated in parliament this week, prominent GP and past President of AMA Victoria, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, argues that safeguards in the bill may not be adequate to protect a vulnerable patient population.