A path to better Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare The RACGP’s Five steps towards excellent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare has been developed to provide a clear and concise summary of the programs and funding options available to support better care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
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.
Understanding transgender healthcare The CSIRO’s Sexual Health journal has a special issue focusing on transgender health, an increasingly important – but potentially underserved – area of modern 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.
New Cancer Australia guide for GPs on investigation of breast symptoms Cancer Australia’s new Investigation of a new breast symptom: A guide for general practitioners has been developed in recognition of the vital role GPs play in the assessment of possible breast cancer symptoms.
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.’
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.
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.