General Practice of the Year While some monikers are undoubtedly more creative than others, general practices are often furnished with names that are rather straightforward – banal, even. Melbourne’s Atticus Health Carrum, however, is not one of those practices.
General Practice Registrar of the Year Much like her fellow South Australian, Dr Bethell, general practice registrar Dr Adelaide Boylan has an immediate response when considering what she loves about general practice. ‘The diversity,’ she told Good Practice. ‘The opportunity to see different people at different stages of their lives, with different problems all day long.
GP of the Year South Australian GP Dr Amanda Bethell wasn’t expecting to learn she had been named the RACGP’s 2017 GP of the Year.
Honorary Membership Award Originally a psychologist, Dr Chris Harrison has contributed much to general practice. Receiving the RACGP’s 2017 Honorary Membership Award has helped him feel even more a part of the profession.
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.
Australians misusing painkillers Figures have shown that 75% of recent painkiller/opioid misusers in Australia reported misusing an over-the-counter codeine product in 2016. This follows recent news that drug-induced deaths in Australia are at their highest rates in almost two decades, with opioids killing more people than illicit drugs methamphetamines and heroin.
RACGP attracts Australia’s top decision-makers President Dr Bastian Seidel believes the RACGP’s position as the peak body and voice for Australian general practice has been further underlined by the fact that some of Australia’s most senior politicians will be speaking at its upcoming annual conference – GP17 – to be held at the new International Convention Centre Sydney 26–28 October.
Vaccine-hesitant patients The RACGP is firm in its belief that GPs, as the community’s first point of healthcare contact, are the most trusted source of advice on immunisations. As such, it is important that GPs understand all aspects of this vital aspect of healthcare, including common misinformation regarding perceived harms of childhood vaccination, as well as how to effectively deal with patients who are reluctant to have their child immunised.
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.
AIHW says 50% of women experience violence Almost half of Australian women have experienced violence since the age of 15, according to statistics released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).