How the ‘human factor’ affects compliance
As medical knowledge expands exponentially it becomes increasingly apparent how little we actually know about the miracle that is the human body. In medical school we are taught by a formula - Diagnosis + evidence based management= patient cured.
Just as simple and straight-forward as that!
Alas, this formula is inherently flawed as we very rarely cure disease, more often only managing to halt progression through continuing treatment.
How different if were car mechanics working on ‘patients’ that do not need to have mechanical literacy for a cure to work, nor are they influenced by belief systems and past experience. Yet while cars are exceedingly simple compared to the human body, the major factor affecting their “wellness” is the same one that makes the simplistic medical formula flawed - the human factor, a term popularised decades ago by the title of one of Graham Greene’s best known novels, yet too often ignored..
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- Written by: Dr Jane Barker
Dr Amy Scott
Dr Amy Scott has joined Drs Adam Boyce and James Bull at Oncology North Coast (ONC).
Dr Scott completed her medical oncology training in Lismore last year. Prior to that she worked at Sydney’s Prince of Wales Hospital, St George Hospital and Sutherland Hospital. She is a graduate of the University of Leeds.
Dr Scott consults at Lismore Base and St Vincent's Private hospitals where she also provides inpatient care. She will consult at the Grafton Outreach Clinic on a monthly basis. She supervises chemotherapy treatment at all these facilities and also at the Clinical Trials Clinic in Lismore.
New referrals are currently being accepted for February 2016 at Oncology North Coast for all three doctors. ONC's new website is scheduled to go live in February.
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- Written by: David Guest
LHD to host free quit smoking program
The Northern NSW Local Health District will host a free quit smoking program in Lismore from Thursday, 18 February 2016.
“Helping U 2 Quit is a free quit smoking program run by trained Quit Facilitators, with programs available over three or six weeks,” NNSW LHD Health Promotion Manager Jillian Adams said.
“The Helping U 2 Quit program will help people who smoke develop their own skills and knowledge about smoking, how to quit, and how to stay a non-smoker in a supportive environment. It is a community health initiative being delivered by CHEGS Inc, in partnership with NNSW LHD Health Promotion.”
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- Written by: Robin Osborne
MBS review advises scrapping 23 ‘lower volume’ items
The first stage of the federal government’s review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule has recommended the removal of 23 MBS items (of 5,700 in total) from a handful of specialities
These include -
- Diagnostic imaging – 7 items
- Ear, nose, and throat surgery – 9 items
- Gastroenterology – 5 items
- Obstetrics – 1 item
- Thoracic medicine – 1 item
These MBS items were used a combined total of 52,500 times in 2014-15, and were worth $6.8 million in Medicare benefits paid, according to Health Minister Sussan Ley.
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- Written by: Robin Osborne
Read more: MBS review advises scrapping 23 ‘lower volume’ items
“Another co-payment by stealth” - AMA slams MYEFO statement
Before the ink was dry on the proposal - and well in advance of a possibly hostile Senate considering the measures next year - the Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) statement had drawn considerable flak from key health industry bodies.
Changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for diagnostic imaging and pathology bulk-billing incentives would save more than $650 million over four years. The pathology incentive is currently paid at $1.40 to $3.40 per patient, with bulk-billing currently at 87.6 per cent.
Health Minister Sussan Ley said the incentive, which had cost taxpayers half a billion dollars since 2009-10, did not work, with bulk billing rates increasing just 1 per cent during that time.
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- Written by: Staff
Read more: “Another co-payment by stealth” - AMA slams MYEFO statement
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