Category Archives: e-health

The pros and cons of telehealth for people in rural and remote areas

April 16, 2012 – 10:06 am

Canadian researchers recently investigated the use of telehealth in delivering a self management program for stroke survivors and carers. The findings  – profiled below in the latest update from the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service ( PHC RIS) – will no doubt be of interest locally, given the increasing use of telehealth.  *** Telehealth: [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cardiovascular disease, chronic diseases, primary health care, rural and remote health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Ehealth records: too important to muck up

April 13, 2012 – 7:52 am

In 2009 the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission recommended that by 2012 every Australian should be able to have a personal electronic health record that they would own and control. The PCEHR (personally controlled electronic health records) system is due to launch on July 1.  The plan is for everyone to have the option [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Latest wrap of health and medical reading from The Conversation

February 7, 2012 – 9:44 am

Thanks to Fron Jackson-Webb for providing this latest wrap of reading from The Conversation (http://theconversation.edu.au/). It includes articles about universities teaching complementary medicine, the Medicare Safety Net, new research on caesarean sections, e-prescriptions and hospital errors, and urban development. You can also read an article from The Conversation’s editor, Andrew Jaspan, on mining magnate Gina [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in adverse events, childbirth and maternity services, complementary medicines, environmental health, health reform, Hospitals, Media-related issues, public health, road safety, The Conversation, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Introducing the National Campaign for Consumer-Centred Health Care

January 19, 2012 – 4:41 pm

The information below has been provided by a new group, the National Campaign for Consumer-Centred Health Care. It gives some background on the campaign’s aims, principles, membership and plans. It also includes a call for people interested in working with Medicare Locals on behalf of consumers. If you’ve any questions or comments for the new [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, consumer health information, health reform, Medicare Locals, mental health, quality and safety of health care | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

The Ministerial reshuffle and health: plus analysis of Roxon’s tenure and advice to Plibersek

December 13, 2011 – 1:18 pm

Much of the post-shuffle focus in health has been on the new Minister, Tanya Plibersek (The Australian has her prioritising dental reform, while the Sydney Morning Herald has her bedding down the health reform agenda). But let’s not forget that many portfolios are important for health (some of which are mentioned at the bottom of [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cancer, child health, childbirth and maternity services, dental care, disabilities, education, general practice, health reform, Indigenous health, Medicare Locals, mental health, NHMRC, pharmacy, prevention, primary health care, private health insurance, public health, social determinants of health, TGA, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

How can we ensure a sustainable health system? Plus recent articles on surgery waiting lists, e-health and gambling reform

November 21, 2011 – 4:11 pm

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Library’s FlagPost blog has published a number of articles recently that may be of interest to Croakey readers – on health expenditure, elective surgery waiting times, e-health and gambling reforms. More info below… What is the most effective and fairest way of keeping a lid on health expenditure? Anne-marie Boxall writes: The [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in dental care, gambling, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, Hospitals, public health, surgery | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Your thoughts on the good and bad of eHealth in primary health care?

October 25, 2011 – 5:56 pm

(Nov 23: see update at bottom of post) What are the strengths and limitations of eHealth technologies in primary health care? Olga Anikeeva at the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service is drafting a “research round-up”  about the use of eHealth technologies such as electronic health records, decision support systems and e-prescribing software by [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in primary health care | Tagged , | Comments (1)

How can technology be harnessed to help young people & “mental wealth”?

August 22, 2011 – 2:48 am

Here’s a thought: if you’re over 30, you belong to the last generation to know a world without computers. It’s not surprising that efforts to harness technology for youth health are using young people as the teachers and experts, as was outlined in an event at the National Press Club last week. Below is an [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health and medical research, Media-related issues, mental health, social determinants of health, Uncategorized, Web 2.0, Youth health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (7)

An invitation and a note of explanation to Croakey readers

July 12, 2011 – 1:02 pm

If you have read the funding arrangements for Croakey, you will understand that editing this blog is, by necessity, very much a part-time activity for me. I am usually writing and editing articles in haste around multiple other commitments. Often I am wanting to alert readers to new reports/research etc that may be of interest, [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in abortion, alcohol, cancer, chronic diseases, climate change, Cochrane Collaboration, complementary medicines, conflicts of interest, environmental health, evidence-based issues, Food, gambling, general practice, global health, Government 2.0, health and medical education, health and medical research, health ethics, health financing and costs, Health inequalities, health reform, health workforce, Indigenous health, Journal articles, Media Doctor Australia, Media-related issues, Medicare Locals, mental health, Nanny state, palliative care, pharmaceutical industry, physical activity, plain packaging, primary health care, private health insurance, public health, rural and remote health, SensaSlim, social determinants of health, TGA, The Conversation, tobacco control, Uncategorized, vaccination, vaccines, Web 2.0, weight loss products | Comments (0)

Social media: how it can help researchers and public debate

June 6, 2011 – 10:40 am

As Don Perlgut’s previous post on the digital divide illustrates, there are many barriers to realising the full potential of the digital revolution, including lack of capacity amongst those groups with potentially the most to gain. Other barriers include professional and organisational cultures, including suspicion of the challenging and sometimes confronting new ways of the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, Government 2.0, health and medical research, legal issues, public health | Tagged , , , | Comments (6)