Aust Fam Physician
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Anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint is a common presentation to hospital emergency departments (EDs). ⋯ In this study group, the author's technique was successful in reducing anterior shoulder dislocation, without the need for sedation, and reduced length of ED stay when compared to TSR techniques.
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From April 2006 to March 2010 in BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health), for females aged 14-17 years, contraception was managed at a rate of 8.8 per 100 encounters, second only to acute upper respiratory infections (10.1 per 100 encounters) as the most common problem managed for this age group.
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Can children and young people consent to their own medical treatment? Consent issues involving children and young people are complex. This article examines the legal obligations of general practitioners when obtaining consent to medical treatment from patients who are less than 18 years of age.
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy gap is associated with lower primary care usage by Indigenous Australians. Many Indigenous Australians regard private general practitioners as their usual source of healthcare. However, a range of barriers results in relatively low access to primary care, with subsequent inadequate prevention and management of chronic disease. Indigenous primary care requires development of a set of attributes by the GP. Clinician autonomy may need to be tempered to be responsive to the needs of local indigenous communities. ⋯ Over a period of 1 year, registered indigenous patients at the private general practice clinic increased from 10 to 147; monthly attendance increased from five to 40 (p<0.001). Local engagement between private practices and indigenous communities may be implemented widely to reduce the primary care gap.
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Only 36% of sick Australians report being able to get an appointment on the day they need it, which is poor by international standards. This delay in care may impact on practice team morale, practice profitability and patient care. The Australian Primary Care Collaboratives Program aims to find better ways to provide primary healthcare services to patients through shared learning, peer support, training, education and support systems. ⋯ Demand for appointments is finite, predictable and can be shaped. Delay is waste and the enemy of good healthcare. Where delay can be eliminated it should be. By measuring practice demand and capacity, improvements can be designed which will result in reduction in measured delay and patient unmet needs, and increased patient satisfaction.