The Medical journal of Australia
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To document the types of, and mortality from, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Australia and New Zealand, and determine factors associated with mortality. ⋯ S. aureus bacteraemia is a common infection in both the community and hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, and is associated with appreciable mortality. Invasive MRSA infection may be more life-threatening, partly because of the inferior efficacy of the standard treatment, vancomycin. National web-based surveillance of S. aureus bacteraemia and its outcomes is not only important but also easily achievable.
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The Australian Government will provide $275 million over 4 years to general practice infrastructure across Australia with the rollout of 31 General Practice Super Clinics. One of the core objectives of these Super Clinics is to support medical education. Several studies have demonstrated that the major barriers to teaching in general practice are time, space and money. We argue that General Practice Super Clinics can provide a responsive, flexible work culture; and improved payment and targeted resources to support the need for increased teaching capacity, and to attract and retain workforce for general practice and primary care.
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To determine whether the availability of patients' own medications (POM) in emergency departments (EDs) results in decreased prescribing errors of patients' usual medications on admission. ⋯ When POM were brought to the ED by paramedics, significantly fewer errors occurred on admission medication charts. An intervention program to encourage paramedics to bring POM to the ED is indicated.
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After extensive community and health industry consultation, the final report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, A healthier future for all Australians, was presented to the Australian Government on 30 June 2009. The reform agenda aims to tackle major access and equity issues that affect health outcomes for people now; redesign our health system so that it is better positioned to respond to emerging challenges; and create an agile, responsive and self-improving health system for long-term sustainability. ⋯ Facing inequities: taking action to tackle the causes and impact of health inequities, focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in rural and remote areas, and access to mental health and dental services. Driving quality performance: having leadership and systems to achieve the best use of people, resources and knowledge, including "one health system" with national leadership and local delivery, revised funding arrangements, and changes to health workforce education, training and practice.