Category Archives: primary health care

For patients to play a more active role in managing chronic health problems, some changes are needed…

May 11, 2012 – 4:01 pm

Patients with chronic diseases could benefit if there were better systems in primary care to help them develop their capacity to manage their own conditions. That is the suggestion from a recent Queensland study investigating some of the barriers to and enablers of self-management support (or SMS) for patients with chronic conditions. The study is [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in general practice, health and medical research | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Health experts support calls for increase to unemployment benefits

May 8, 2012 – 12:39 pm

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, the Deputy CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, suggested at Croakey yesterday that the low level of income support payments, particularly for unemployed people relying on the Newstart allowance, is an important health issue. She wrote: “It’s important that health groups and medical professionals join their voices to the call [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, childbirth and maternity services, Federal Budget 2012-2013, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Some tips re digging for useful health policy information on the web

April 27, 2012 – 11:35 am

If you want to influence health policy, it helps to be abreast of the latest relevant evidence (in all its forms). But this can be difficult to achieve as so much of the evidence never sees the light of day through publication in journals or other public places (hence the Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents - [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents, evidence-based issues, health and medical research, health reform, nurses and nursing | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

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, e-health, rural and remote health, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Primary health care: when and where did it all begin?

April 5, 2012 – 2:44 pm

Continuing the primary health care theme of the previous post, health policy expert Professor Philip Davies investigates the history of the terms “primary care” and “primary health care” – a topical matter given the legal action recently dropped by Primary Health Care Ltd. *** Tracking the long history of primary health care Philip Davies writes: After [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in general practice, Hospitals, Journal articles, legal issues, Medicare Locals | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Who is doing what in primary health care reform? And what can we learn from the most promising Medicare Locals?

April 5, 2012 – 12:18 pm

With so much expectation being placed upon primary health care reform and Medicare Locals, what can we learn from those of the new organisations that are expected to be pack-leaders? That was the question I was asking when researching this piece just published by the online publication Inside Story (which also recently appeared as part [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in general practice, Health inequalities, health reform, Hospitals, Indigenous health, Medicare Locals, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

What helps GPs provide better care to patients with mental disorders? And what doesn’t?

March 30, 2012 – 3:59 pm

A Canadian study investigating the factors that help and hinder GPs in providing care to patients with mental disorders also rings many bells locally. Facilitators included being paid a salary or hourly fees, having longer time slots for consultations, having psychosocial mental health care teams based on site, and having access to multidisciplinary assessment, meetings and [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in general practice, health and medical research, Medicare Locals, mental health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Unpicking some of the barriers to better collaboration between health professionals involved in diabetes care

March 23, 2012 – 2:43 pm

There is so much rhetoric in the health sector about the importance of collaboration, multidisciplinary approaches and teamwork. But there are many barriers to translating the rhetoric into reality. In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on a study that makes timely and relevant [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in chronic diseases, diabetes, general practice, health and medical research, Medicare Locals | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The next Queensland Government has some heavy lifting to do in health

March 21, 2012 – 10:20 am

A major challenge for the next Queensland Government will be to address systemic problems within the health sector, says Professor Andrew Wilson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health at Queensland University of Technology (and who has previously held senior positions within the Queensland and NSW health departments). In the article below (cross-posted from The [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, Hospitals, rural and remote health | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Improving the management of dementia in general practice

March 21, 2012 – 9:52 am

In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) reports on a new trial focused on improving management of patients with dementia in general practice. *** Early diagnosis of dementia offers a window of control in a disintegrating world Christina Hagger writes: Dementia carries many burdens. There [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, general practice, health and medical research | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)