The Medical journal of Australia
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Towards a Safer Culture (TASC) aims to provide a safer culture in hospital departments by introducing clinical pathways for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes or stroke. Specific clinical pathways have been implemented for patients with different levels of risk to guide the most appropriate evidence-based medical care for each patient. Pathways facilitate continuity of care across different clinical departments by identifying gaps in care, and clarifying tasks and responsibilities. ⋯ A comprehensive range of educational/training strategies is used to facilitate multidisciplinary teamwork and promote clinical leadership. Phase 1 of TASC was successfully piloted at four hospitals in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. TASC is currently being rolled out to 29 hospitals in NSW and three hospitals in Western Australia.
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As part of the Clinical Support Systems Program, the Monash University Consortium conducted a project to identify factors influencing the implementation of clinical evidence into routine hospital practice, Australia. Training was required in the process of clinical practice improvement (CPI) and the nature of evidence. One of the most helpful instruments for change was to point to active models of quality assurance as exemplars. ⋯ CPI requires rapid feedback on the effectiveness of the implementation. Access to this information and the confluence of management skill, an ability to translate research evidence into routine clinical behaviour and an understanding of the process of quality assurance are central. Effective CPI is only possible when the larger hospital administrative culture is committed to providing the necessary resources.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Octreotide treatment for sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycaemia.
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Comparative Study
Long-term trends in cancer mortality for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory.
To examine long-term trends in cancer mortality in the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. ⋯ Cancer is an important and increasing health problem for Indigenous Australians. Cancers that affect Indigenous Australians to a greater extent than other Australians are largely preventable (eg, through smoking cessation, Pap smear programs and hepatitis B vaccination).