GPs ‘horrified’ at latest pharmacy proposal The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has suggested ‘non-urgent’ emergency department presentations be directed to community pharmacy.
GPs in EDs reduce wait times, costs: study A study that co-located GPs in UK emergency departments resulted in a number of positive clinical outcomes, but what would happen in Australia?
Audit of compliance actions raises questions over efficacy of targeted letters Questions have emerged over whether Department of Health compliance activities recover enough money to justify the cost.
One in eight summer ED presentations relate to alcohol A nationwide ‘snapshot’ of emergency departments has laid bare the burden alcohol and methamphetamines place on Australian hospitals.
‘Great inclusion’ of GPs urged by bushfire royal commission Experts welcome the commission’s recommendations, but say they must be implemented urgently as Australia heads into another bushfire season.
Department of Health says ECG interpretation still allowed in ‘bizarre’ claim There is growing confusion over the recent DoH decision to effectively strip GPs of the ability to bill Medicare for the interpretation of ECGs.
ECG changes the latest in a string of questionable decisions Dr Edwin Kruys reflects on a number of Government-mandated changes to general practice.
EDs continue to be clogged with non-urgent presentations One-third of presentations classified as lower urgency could be managed by a GP – and the trend is persisting – a new report confirms.
Isolation silver lining? Drop in road trauma, assaults and injuries Australia’s lockdown has seen rates of trauma plummet, with road accidents, sports injuries and alcohol-linked assaults all falling.
Guilt, reflection, amends, recovery: What happens after an error? When Dr Casey Parker made an error, it sent him into a downwards spiral. Here’s how he got out.