AHA - e-healthcare brief

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e-healthcare brief

e-healthcare brief is the weekly e-mailed newsletter of the Australian Healthcare Association, the peak body representing the public and not-for-profit health sectors. We aim to give you a succinct and lively overview of the most topical issues of importance to members and other healthcare professionals. Find us on www.aushealthcare.com.au. Or ring Executive Director Prue Power on 02 6162 0780 to discuss your ideas and views.

We have selected this theme to provide a high level industry forum to discuss challenges experienced by health systems throughout the world in providing an integrated continuation of care for patients.

The Congress will be opened by QLD Premier, the Hon Peter Beattie MP. Our keynote speaker is 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer. All speakers are experts in this field.

This Congress is a must attend for all those working in healthcare: Senior executives, hospital managers and clinicians, community and primary health care providers, government policy makers and advisers as well as academics, will all profit from the event. Most importantly, the Congress also welcomes consumers to participate.

Early bird registration is now available – but only until 29 September! So don’t delay – go to: www.ahacongress.com.au.

NEW QLD CHILDRENS’ HOSPITAL

A re-elected Beattie government would build a new 400-bed Children's Hospital, costing $700 million, after an internal review this year found paediatric services in Queensland were rundown and understaffed. The hospital would be opened in stages between 2011 and 2014 on the grounds of the Mater Hospital, which would be closed.

HOSPITAL GOES DIGITAL

Royal Hobart Hospital has completed a $1 million conversion of patient records to a fully paperless Digital Medical Record system. Since July, all new patient information has been recorded on the DMR, which is capable of scanning 60,000 pages a day. The system stores and manages each patient's medical history, which is available to staff throughout the hospital.

BIRTHING PROGRAM TO GIVE CONTINUITY OF CARE

The Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide will introduce a new birthing program offering expectant mothers the continuity of a dedicated midwife. Health Minister John Hill says the new birthing model will give women the choice of one midwife during their stay in hospital, rather than a number of midwives. He says the service is for women whose pregnancy and labour has a low risk of complications.

NSW HEALTH PATHOLOGY REVIEW

NSW Health has admitted that a review of thousands of pathology tests in the state's north-west reveals patients have received unnecessary operations while others missed out on critical treatment. More than 7 000 pathology tests have been reviewed after concerns were raised about the accuracy of records kept by pathologist Farid Zaer, who worked for the Hunter New England Health Service between 1999 and 2001. Thirty-eight patients were found to have been treated based on inaccurate results, with the impact on 18 of those patients described as major. Hunter New England Health Chief Executive Terry Clout said authorities had contacted all but four of the surviving patients who were misdiagnosed.

OUT OF POCKET COSTS REACH TEN YEAR HIGH

According to data released by the Minister for Health, Australians are paying twice as much out of their own pockets for Medicare services as they did ten years ago. In 1996-97 the average annual out of pocket cost was $41.23 per person ($8.52 per visit). In 2005-06 the annual average out of pocket cost has reached $70.30 per person ($15.30 per visit). In 1996-97 the average annual out of pocket cost to see a specialist was $15.58. In 2005-06 the average annual out of pocket cost to see a specialist is $34.09.

BULK-BILLING REACHES FIVE YEAR HIGH

Figures for the June quarter 2006 show GP bulk-billing has increased to 76.6% - the highest level for five years and a rise for the 10th consecutive quarter. The rate of bulk-billing for children increased to 83.8% and the rate of bulk-billing in rural areas increased to 71.3%. These are the highest rates since Medicare began, more than 20 years ago.

IEMMA CONCERNED BY TEEN PLASTIC SURGERY

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says he is concerned about the level of plastic surgery among teenage girls. He says a recent Queensland report claims teenagers are using long-term credit arrangements to pay for breast implants and nose jobs. He says children are bombarded daily with airbrushed images and TV shows that promote plastic surgery. The Premier has called for a debate on the issue and for self-regulation in the plastic surgery industry, including parental consent, a cooling-off period and counselling.

STUDY FINDS INCREASE IN DIABETES HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

A new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows the rate of people being admitted to hospital with diabetes is increasing. The report looked at trends in diabetes-related hospitalisations using hospital statistics over the period 1996-07 to 2003-04. The report's author, Kathleen O'Brien, says the study shows that between 2000 and 2004, hospital admissions for diabetes increased by 20%. The rates of hospitalisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more than seven times that of other Australians.

ASTHMA PLATEAUS AS ALLERGY RATES RISE

Hayfever and the allergic skin condition eczema are becoming more common in young Australian children, even though the recent strong rise in asthma rates appears to have levelled off. New research published in the British medical journal The Lancet tracked rates of the three common allergic conditions in 37 countries, and found rates in children were continuing to rise strongly in many places.

CANCER VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE

The world's first vaccine to protect against cancer, Gardasil, went on sale in Australia this week as Federal health experts continue to assess an application from its makers to include it in the free national immunisation program for all girls. The inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine, Australian of the Year Ian Frazer, attended launches in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Gardasil is available for vaccination at a cost of $465 for the course of three needles over six months. It is expected the drug will be listed on the PBS by November which will significantly reduce this cost.

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE ROLL-OUT

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has welcomed the NT’s decision to roll out a vaccination program for rotavirus. The NT Government will spend $500 000 to ensure all newborns born after 1 August this year are vaccinated for the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea. The decision comes after the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee knocked back plans to mass immunise against the disease.

LANTUS AND LEVEMIR TO BE LISTED ON PBS

Lantus (insulin glargine) and Levemir (insulin detemir) will be available on the PBS from 1 October 2006 for the treatment of patients with diabetes. Lantus and Levemir will be used to maintain a basic insulin level and are expected to reduce the incidence of episodes of low blood-sugar levels compared with current therapy. Both drugs have been recommended for type 1 diabetes. Lantus has also been recommended for type 2 diabetes.

CALL TO COVER EXPENSES OF LIVE ORGAN DONORS

Kidney Health Australia renewed its call for the Australian Government to consider compensating live organ donors with access to sickness benefits for the work up and rehabilitation periods during which they are unable to work.

WHO GUIDELINES ON SAFE LEAD LEVELS 'TOO HIGH' FOR CHILDREN

World Health Organisation guidelines for safe levels of lead in blood could be too high to protect children. Adelaide University scientist Peter Baghurst, who has a Federal grant to study the brain development of children in the industrial cities of Port Pirie and Broken Hill, said the "safe" level of 10 micrograms per decilitre of blood had been set because it was seen as an achievable target. However, he warned there was evidence to prove that exposure to smaller concentrations of lead could also be harmful.

STRICT NEW MARKETING GUIDELINES ON SOFT DRINK SELLING

The Australian Beverage Council, representing soft drink manufacturers, has announced strict marketing guidelines in response to increasing pressure to alleviate childhood obesity, involving removal of sugared drinks from school canteens and cessation of advertising directly to children. The policy was signed by almost all major bottlers of non-alcoholic carbonated, non-carbonated, juice and water-based drinks, and will be introduced over two years.

CANCER SPECIALIST TO HEAD CANCER AUSTRALIA

Australian Health Minister, Tony Abbot, announced Professor David Currow has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the new statutory agency, Cancer Australia. Professor Currow is a medical oncologist who holds the Chair of Palliative and Supportive Services at Flinders University, Adelaide and is the director of Southern Adelaide Palliative Services. Cancer Australia is a key component of the Government's Strengthening Cancer Care initiative, which is providing $189.4 million over five years to help reduce the burden of cancer.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CLINICAL STUDIES TO JOIN NHMRC

The National Institute of Clinical Studies will be incorporated into the National Health and Medical Research Council. The move should strengthen the translation of research findings into improvements to health care practice. It follows a review of the objectives and operation of the NICS against the principles for governance in the Uhrig Report.

VIC RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE CERTIFIED AND SAFE: JENNINGS

VIC Auditor-General Wayne Cameron released a scathing report last week, which found that half the aged care centres inspected did not meet federal fire safety standards. The VIC Minister for Aged Care, Gavin Jennings, rejected the assessment. He reassured older Victorians and their families that all Victorian public-sector aged care centres have passed Commonwealth safety assessments and meet fire safety standards. Mr Jennings said the Bracks Government has invested $396 million in improving aged-care facilities since 2000.

SOFTWARE FIRM TROUBLES MAY IMPACT AUSTRALIAN PROJECTS

Health software developer iSoft's loss of almost £400 million last year has destabilised Britain's £10 billion ($24.9 billion) Connecting for Health IT program and may impact on local projects, including Victoria's $323 million HealthSmart project. The company faces investigations by financial regulators, problems with current implementation and questions over its promised Lorenzo web-based product.

UN AGREES ON RIGHTS FOR DISABLED TREATY

The United Nations has reached agreement on an international treaty to improve the rights of disabled people. The treaty is expected to benefit as many as 650 million people, if it is ratified by countries around the world. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was approved at the organisation’s headquarters in New York on 25 August after five years of negotiations. Negotiations went beyond the agreed deadline set by Ambassador Don McKay of New Zealand. Talks became deadlocked over access to sexual and reproductive health services as well as the situation of disabled people in what the treaty referred to as "situations of risk". Countries that sign up to the convention must abolish laws, regulations, customs and practices that discriminate against disabled people. They must also guarantee that disabled people “enjoy their inherent right to life on an equal basis with others”. The convention states that disabled children must not be separated from their parents against their will, except when authorities determine it is in a child’s best interests.

PEOPLE USING DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES ALSO SUPPORTED BY UNPAID CARERS

A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows a diverse range of people with varied needs use Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) funded services, but that many of those people also receive care from unpaid relatives. The report, Disability support services 2004-05: national data on services provided under the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement, was compiled using information from the 2004-05 CSTDA National Minimum Data Set collection, and includes information about the characteristics of people accessing CSTDA-funded services and the services they receive.

CROWN IMMUNITY SHIELDS BAXTER HEALTHCARE

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is considering an appeal to the High Court following this week's decision of the Full Federal Court dismissing its appeal against a decision by Justice Allsop that Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd was protected by Crown immunity. Justice Allsop had found that Baxter was protected by Crown immunity in dealing with various state government departments and that without that protection Baxter would have breached the exclusive dealing and misuse of market power provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

STUDY FINDS INFANT HEARING AIDS PREVENT LEARNING PROBLEMS

Research by Federal Government agency Australian Hearing, involving more than 200 newborn babies with hearing deficiencies, has found that infants with hearing loss do not have problems with speech development if they are treated early. The children are being monitored for five years and will have their speech and communication skills tested every six months. Senior researcher Teresa Ching says the results from the study's first 12 months show newborns that have had hearing aids fitted do not have any learning problems.

PANTOTHENOL MAY HOLD KEY

Kevin Saliba from the Australian National University said the chemical in shampoo that keeps hair shiny and moist, called pantothenol, could hold the key to combating malaria. Research published in Australasian Science magazine claims Pantothenol is similar in shape to vitamin B5 and the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria needs to extract B5 from its host to reproduce because it was unable to make the vitamin. If pantothenol was present it absorbed that instead of B5, stopping it from multiplying.

ONE IN 10 FATHERS EXPERIENCE POST-NATAL DEPRESSION

A national study of new fathers in the US, published in this month's Pediatrics journal [Paulson et al PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 2 August 2006, pp. 659-668] found 10% of men showed symptoms of depression after birth, compared with 14% of women. According to national depression initiative Beyondblue, figures in Australia were likely to be similar.

WOUND INFECTIONS CHEAPER THAN EXPECTED

The cost of infections post surgery and those first appearing after a patient's discharge from hospital is 50 times less than previously estimated, according to a study by Queensland University of Technology. Dr Nicholas Graves, from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said the true cost of surgical infections post hospital discharge was just $74 - not the thousands other studies have suggested. The findings of his study titled Costs of Surgical Site Infections that appear after hospital discharge were published in the US journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

RESEARCH HOPE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

VIC Premier, Steve Bracks, announced Victorian Government funding for an Australian-first research that could revolutionise the lives of people living with spinal cord injury. During a visit to the Australian Stem Cell Centre, Mr Bracks announced $413 000 grant for researchers to develop a bridge-like structure across a damaged spinal cord that delivers stem cells, which could develop into and function like the spinal cord cells. The grant is part of the State Government’s $63 million Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative with the Spinal Cord Society of Australia also contributing $100 000.

BRAIN DAMAGE RESEARCH

Proteins that protect the brain after it has been damaged by lack of oxygen have been identified at Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute. The find could help scientists develop preventive and regenerative treatments for brain damage that occurs in conditions such as stroke, lack of oxygen at birth, near-drowning and injury. Dr Nicole Jones said the proteins regulated processes including production of red blood cells and new blood vessels, and the flow of glucose to the brain - the processes that help prevent further brain damage and repair damage from the initial injury.

AUSTRALIAN DISCOVERY PROVIDES NEW HOPE FOR ARTHRITIS SUFFERERS

Australian researchers believe they have discovered a significant new anti-inflammatory compound which could provide new hope for arthritis sufferers. By contrast with recently developed arthritis treatments such as the anti-TNFs, chaperonin 10 is a natural protein normally found in the body. It acts to limit overproduction of a broad range of inflammatory proteins, including TNF. The researchers, from a multi-centre study group including the University of Queensland, Monash University in Melbourne, and Royal Perth Hospital used a compound developed by Brisbane-based bio-pharmaceutical development company, CBio Ltd, funded in part by the Australian Federal Government.

AHA BAXTER HEALTHCARE NATIONAL INNOVATION AWARDS 2006

Every year, Baxter Healthcare Pty Limited presents the AHA Baxter Healthcare National Innovation Awards. Applications are now being called for the 2006 Awards. Prizes of $1000 in three categories will be presented to the winners at the prestigious AHA-Congress Dinner in Brisbane on 9 November. AHA and Baxter will fly the winners to Brisbane for the presentation. Applicants are required to present evidence of improvements in quality and health outcomes that result from an innovative approach to service delivery. Independent judges nominated by the AHA National Council will assess and select the applicants against the criteria below. The three categories of innovative healthcare service delivery are: health outcomes; safety and quality; consumer involvement. Closing date is COB Monday 11 September 2006.

For more information please refer to our website or email us on admin@aushealthcare.com.au.