Gold Coast Private Hospital in the Home
https://goldcoastprivatehospital.com.au/services/hospital-home
Hospital In The Home (HITH) is a service that provides acute hospital-level care in a person’s residence, including a nursing home.
Operating for over 15 years, Gold Coast Private Hospital offers the first and only Hospital in the Home (HITH) service for the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Our team of specialised nurses, allied health professionals and doctors provide an on-call service for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What is Hospital in the Home?
Hospital in the Home (HITH) is an admitted acute care service provided to patients in their own home, or another suitable environment outside hospital. Patients are still regarded as ‘in-patients’ and remain under the care of a hospital doctor. Services are provided by members of the hospital team including nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.
People may be offered HITH if their healthcare team believes that their care can be delivered safely at home and by patient choice.
What services do we provide?
Hospital in the Home is a specific service attached to Gold Coast Private Hospital catering for the administration of:
• Post-surgical care
• Intravenous antibiotics
• Negative pressure therapy (VAC)
• Some physiotherapy programs
• Other wound management can be offered to Medibank Private and DVA patients.
Common HITH patient diagnoses are mild to severe infections, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, lung infection and wound breakdown with or without infection.
Is this service covered by private health insurance?
Our HITH service is covered by a ‘Gold Tier’ level of hospital cover as well as DVA policy holders. We can assist to find out if a patient is eligible.
How can I book a Hospital at Home visit?
It’s best to have a specialist or GP referral however in some instances this is not required. Contact our HITH team to see if you qualify.
For more information, including referral and patient eligibility, please contact:
Gold Coast Private Hospital
Hospital in the Home
Phone: 07 5530 0795
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Required for the management of YOUR health:
"I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!"
Steve Jobs died a billionaire at age 56. This is his final essay.
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Blood Pressure Meds Can Affect COVID-19 Care
High blood pressure is the most common chronic health condition among COVID-19 patients who require hospitalization, according to one of three studies presented at a virtual meeting of the American Heart Association on Thursday.
Latest High Blood Pressure News
https://goldcoastprivatehospital.com.au/services/hospital-home
What Heart Rate Is Too High?
Maximum heart rate and Target Heart Rate:
Going beyond your maximum heart rate is not healthy for you. Your maximum heart rate depends on your age. This is how you can calculate it:
Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack could be the difference between life and death.
The Heart Smart Pocket Guide is designed to fit in your wallet or pocket as a guide to heart attack symptoms and the recommended response in case of a possible emergency. By knowing and recognising the symptoms of a heart attack, you could help save someone’s life. Maybe even your own.
A heart attack occurs when the narrowing of the artery becomes completely blocked causing the heart muscle beyond the blockage to become starved of oxygen. And, despite terrific advances, heart disease is still the number one killer of Australians with:
ACTIVE INGREDIENT PRESCRIBING SUPPORTING KNOWLEDGE AND CHOICE:
What do pharmacists need to know?
What will active ingredient prescribing look like at the pharmacy?
The active ingredient prescribing initiative aims to increase community understanding of active ingredients, promote uptake of generic and biosimilar medicines and contribute to a financially sustainable PBS.
• From 1 February 2021, revised legislation will require medicines to be identified by active ingredient names on PBS/RPBS prescriptions.
• The revised legislation recognises that the inclusion of a brand name on a prescription, or the supply of a particular brand, may be deemed clinically appropriate by a prescriber in some cases, eg, to reduce risk of patient harm or minimize patient confusion. In these cases, the brand name will appear after the active ingredient name(s) on the prescription.
Opioid prescriptions double over the last 24 years
By: Conor Burke in Clinical Focus, Top Stories March 2, 2020
In the Australian context, data form the Australian Institute of health and welfare shows around 3.1 million people were dispensed opioid prescriptions in 2016–17 and between 2007–08 and 2016–17 there was a 25 per cent rise in the rate of hospitalisations due to opioid poisoning. The rate of opioid deaths also rose by 62 per cent from 2007 to 2016.
Previous research carried out by Sydney Uni has found that opioid prescription for muscle and joint pain in older people – aged 60 and older – may offer little benefit, and may in fact increase the risk of harmful side-effects. “Our findings show that in this group opioid painkillers have only a small effect on decreasing pain and improving function, whilst the risk of side effects is high,” said Associate Professor Manuela Ferreira, senior researcher at the Institute of Bone and Joint Research, “Patients experienced around a seven per cent decrease in pain compared to placebo pills, which is considered too small to be of clinical importance. Only small improvements on physical function was found.
“We also found that older people taking opioids for musculoskeletal pain are almost three times more likely to have an adverse event associated with treatment. The most common being nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, headache and dry mouth.
“The impact of these side effects on the older patient can be very significant, leading to more serious events such as falls and confusion.”
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Falls, confusion...is it my medicine?
Medicines can help you feel better, but they may also cause unwanted side effects.
You might put these symptoms down to getting older, or maybe you’re worried that one of your conditions is worsening. However, it is possible that the medicines you are taking might be causing certain symptoms.
Some medicines have what are known as anticholinergic (an-tee-koh-li-nur-jik) or sedative effects. These can cause symptoms such as falls, confusion, forgetfulness, or feeling unsteady.
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YOUR MEDICINE LIST:-
• Keep it up to date by crossing out any medicines you are no longer using and adding new medicines as you start using them.
• List all medicines currently used, including: prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal and natural medicines.
• Take it with you each time you visit the doctor, pharmacist or health professional, or if you go into hospital.
• Keep it with you at all times in case of emergency. Main causes of falls.
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Keep informed
It’s important to get accurate information from credible sources. You can access more information from:
24/7 healthdirect hotline
Contact type: Service
Telephone: 1800 022 222
Website: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
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Learn more about Your Body:- Illustrations and explanations.
· A GP (for general/referrals/other Health Services ) - go to the HealthShare.com.au
Make better health choices - Search for a health professional, specialty or health topic.
People in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 can see any eligible health provider through new telehealth items. Patients in vulnerable groups can additionally see a health provider via telehealth for a non-COVID-19 matter if they have seen that provider, or another provider within the same practice, face-to-face at least once in the previous 12 months. Additional guides to these services for providers are available via MBS Online. All services provided using the new MBS items must be bulk billed.
Contact your GP doctor, mental health practitioner or midwife by phone, especially if you have cold or flu symptoms and explain your situation.
On 10 July 2020, Minister Hunt announced stage seven of the telehealth reforms as part of the Australian Government COVID-19 response. Further information is available on the webpage - continuous care with telehealth stage seven release.
The extension of Telehealth until the end of the year (2021) includes services for general practitioners, medical practitioners, specialists, consultant physicians, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers and dental practitioners.
Pay more attention to depression as a side-effect of many medications, researchers say.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/second-opinion-depression-as-a-medication-side-effect-1.4710868
A new U.S. study serves as a "very important reminder" that depression is a possible side-effect of many common medications, especially when patients are taking more than one of them, the Canadian Pharmacists Association says. "I think it's something that we don't always think about," said Phil Emberley, the association's director of practice advancement and research, and a pharmacist in Ottawa.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia University in New York — including a pharmacist and and psychiatrist — looked at data gathered from more than 26,000 adults in a national health survey conducted from 2005-2006 and from 2013-2014.
The researchers catalogued what medications their subjects were taking at the time, as well as how many depressive symptoms they displayed (based on a self-reporting tool commonly used for diagnosing depression). They found about one-third of the people in the study were taking at least one medication for which depression is listed as a potential side-effect. Those drugs include some types of blood pressure medications, beta blockers, birth control pills, proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants, painkillers and corticosteroids. "People are taking a lot of drugs and a lot of these meds have depression as an adverse effect," Qato said. "One to two per cent risk of depression, perhaps, for most of these medications, but when they're taken together in a real-world setting, it really matters."
'It's something we don't always think about,' Canadian pharmacist says of U.S. study findings.
Nicole Ireland · CBC News · Posted: Jun 18, 2018 | Last Updated: June 19, 2018.
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Why do we go to the doctor?
According to the reason for encounter recorded in GP notes, the top five reasons that Australians went to see their GPs in 2016–17 were:
More than half a million Australians to benefit from new medicine listings: https://www.health.gov.au/news/more-than-half-a-million-australians-to-benefit-from-new-medicine-listings Cheaper medicine is on the way for more than 500,000 patients since January 1, 2020, with price reductions for common scripts and new medicines added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), in some cases saving more than $100,000 per patient.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/cheaper-medicine-for-over-500000-patients
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, is rock solid. This includes continuing to cut the cost of medicines for patients through the PBS safety net.
Since 1 January 2020 the threshold to receive free or further discounted medicines through the PBS will be lowered by 12 scripts for pensioners and concession card holders and the equivalent of 2 scripts for non-concession card holders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said it would cut the cost of medicines for more than 1.4 million Australians, with pensioners and families qualifying much sooner for free or further discounted PBS medicines.
Four new medicines will be added to the PBS. These include Verzenio (Abemaciclib) for patients with advanced breast cancer and APO-Primidone (Primidone) for patients with epilepsy.
Medicare gets a 'refresh'.
- What's covered by Medicare
- How to claim a Medicare benefit
- How your Medicare account and card work
- How to enrol and get started in Medicare
01 February 2020
PBS Website Update - 1 September 2021
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 September 2021 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, Amended and Deleted Items page.
Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
PBS Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to the PBS
What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
How is the PBS Schedule released?
Who is eligible to receive benefits under the PBS?
Can I collect PBS medicine from a pharmacy for someone else?
01 July 2021
PBS Safety Net thresholds
Once you or your family spend a certain amount on PBS medicine you’ll reach the PBS Safety Net threshold. We calculate the PBS Safety Net in a calendar year. It resets at the beginning of each year, 1 January.
The 2020 PBS Safety Net threshold is:
Before you meet the threshold, each medicine will cost:
Once you reach the threshold, you’ll need a PBS Safety Net card application to get cheaper medicines.
Your medicine will then either:
What's changed?
On 30 April 2020, four antibiotics listed on the PBS General Schedule (Section 85) had changes made to their listings and new listings added for the treatment of a range of infections, such as acute cystitis, streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis and periorbital cellulitis.
The antibiotics include:
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2020/06/pbs-website-update-1-june-2020
This website contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The PBS is part of Australia’s broader National Medicines Policy.
The PBS Safety Net protects patients and their families requiring a large number of PBS or RPBS items. For the purposes of the scheme, the family includes the person:
Fees, Patient Contributions and Safety Net Thresholds
We calculate the PBS Safety Net in a calendar year. It resets at the beginning of each year, 1 January 2021
.
The 2021 PBS Safety Net threshold is:
Your medicine will then either:
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Bulk Billed Telehealth: People in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 can see any eligible health provider through new telehealth items. Patients in vulnerable groups can additionally see a health provider via telehealth for a non-COVID-19 matter if they have seen that provider, or another provider within the same practice, face-to-face at least once in the previous 12 months. Additional guides to these services for providers are available via MBS Online. All services provided using the new MBS items must be bulk billed.
Contact your GP doctor, mental health practitioner or midwife by phone, especially if you have cold or flu symptoms and explain your situation.
National plan aims to halve unnecessary medicine use by seniors:
NPS MedicineWise has released the Choosing Wisely Australia Report: Conversations for change, which showcases the progress and achievements of the initiative to date.
As well as perspectives from key influencers engaged in the initiative, the report highlights the main drivers of unnecessary healthcare, including challenges facing healthcare providers in being able to access patient information, including test results from clinicians in other settings. It also details highlights in 2018, including the scale-up of Choosing Wisely in 11 Victorian health services funded by the State Government.
Challenges accessing patient records a driver of unnecessary healthcare
28 Feb 2019
GPs, specialists and hospital staff cite challenges in accessing patient information from other clinicians as a common reason for requesting unnecessary medical tests, treatments or procedures, according to a new report from Choosing Wisely Australia. Adj A/Prof Steve Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NPS MedicineWise, said it was a transformative time in the evolution of Choosing Wisely, with interest continuing to grow among the health profession and wider community, including new areas of healthcare research, education and advocacy. “Ultimately the goal is ensuring less people are undergoing healthcare they don’t need and improving the quality and safety of our healthcare system,” he said. He has recognised the significant efforts of Choosing Wisely’s committed members and supporters who are collaborating to influence a national culture change around low-value and unnecessary healthcare, while encouraging individuals and organisations to explore opportunities to become involved.
10 April 2019
Clinical consequences of adverse drug reactions:
• falls
• confusion
• frailty
• loss of independence
• reduced quality of life
• hospitalisation
• mortality
The guidelines were released on Thursday by Choosing Wisely Australia, an initiative of NPS MedicineWise. They come amid figures showing that some 230,000 Australians are admitted to hospital as a result of medication misadventure each year.
PSA guidelines
03 January 2019
Safe disposal of unwanted medicines
03 July 2019
Storage of expired and unwanted medicines in the home can be dangerous, and unsafe disposal of unwanted medicines can lead to environmental harm.
Your local community pharmacy provides a free and convenient way to dispose of your unwanted medicines responsibly. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or complementary supplements, gels, liquids, creams and pet medicines can all be returned to your community pharmacy for free, safe disposal.
Most medicines can be placed directly in the disposal bin provided by the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) Project, but certain medicines (such as strong pain relievers) may need to be separately stored or processed by the pharmacist. So please ensure you let the pharmacist know what type of medicines you are returning.
Children under five years old have the highest risk of accidental poisoning, so make sure potentially dangerous substances, including medicines, are locked away out of the sight and reach of your children.
Remember:
Should more medications be available over the counter?
28 March 2019 Expanding the role of pharmacists in Australia
Making more drugs available 'over the counter' would be a win for the public and the health care system write University of Sydney pharmacy experts.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently looking to expand the list of medicines available “over the counter” – that is, via a pharmacist without a prescription.
If these changes get off the ground, we could soon be able to head straight to the pharmacy for a range of medications including the contraceptive pill, Viagra®, and selected treatments for nausea and migraines. This approach may reduce the need for trips to the doctor, saving time and lowering costs both for the patient and the health care system. It could also result in people seeking help and advice for some conditions from their pharmacist, when they may not have otherwise sought medical help.
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Stopping preventive medicines linked to increased frailty
By Judy Skatssoon on July 10, 2019 in Community Care Review
Older people who stop taking preventive medicine, such as blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs, experience more frailty than those who keep taking the medication, a study shows.
Professor Libby Roughead
The study by the University of South Australia’s Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, says frailty has physical, psychological and social dimensions and is associated with an increased risk of falls, hospital admissions, disability, nursing home admission and death.
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Nurse’s Intuition Can Predict Patient Decline Within 24 Hours
By Caroline Egan. Oct 25, 2019
New research confirms what most of us may have intuitively already known – that nurses are able to accurately predict a patient’s decline, and are therefore a vital source of information when it comes to saving lives.
https://hellocaremail.com.au/nurses-intuition-can-predict-patient-decline-within-24-hours/
Building Nurse Capacity - improving patient outcomes - Nursing in Primary Health Care Program 2018 - 2022 https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/buildingnursecapacity
Applications for Group 2 was opened on Monday 3rd August 2020 On 8 May 2018, the Australian Government announced it will help strengthen the role of nurses in delivering primary health to meet the future health care needs of the Australian community. As part of this announcement, ongoing funding for the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) was included in the Budget - the "Nursing in Primary Health Care (NiPHC)" Program".
In what settings do primary health care nurses work? https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/what-is-primary-health-care-nursing
Primary health care nurses work in a range of settings, each sharing the characteristic that they are a part of the first level of contact with the health system.
In Australia, those settings can include:
Emergency Care Plan
https://www.carergateway.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019-04/emergency-care-plan.pdf
An emergency care plan makes it easy for someone to take over from you in a hurry. It has all the information about the person you care for in one place, so you can get it quickly and easily.
The emergency care plan has:
Search your medications by brand name or active ingredient – A-Z
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines
A CMI leaflet gives you information on how to use your medicine safely and properly. For example, it tells you:
CMIs are available for:
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http://www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/consumers/patient-guide-to-managing-pain-and-opioid-medicine
Every day in Australia, 3 people die, and 150 people are hospitalised because of harm from pharmaceutical opioids.
Opioids can be an effective component of the management of acute and cancer-related pain. However, recent evidence shows that for most patients with chronic non-cancer pain, opioids do not provide clinically important improvement in pain or function compared with placebo. Additionally, they carry significant risk of harm; opioid-related harms persist or increase with time and increasing doses.
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My Health Record system upgrade to make it easier to set security controls, make treatment needs known and help avoid issues related to medicines
13 March 2020:
The My Health Record System was upgraded on 13 and 14 March to improve usability for consumers and healthcare providers.
We have seen the important role My Health Record has played in large scale crises such as the Queensland floods and the recent bushfires, where pharmacists and hospital staff have relied on information in the My Health Record to provide care.
The changes in this new release improve the way a person’s medicines list appears in the My Health Record and will provide a better user experience for consumers logging into their own Record and setting security controls. We are confident these improvements will continue to build trust within the community for the My Health Record and provide crucial support to the health system and consumers over coming months.
Security controls: Security and safety of health information is the main concern for both patients and their healthcare providers. That’s why the latest My Health Record system upgrade has made it even easier for people to find where to set access codes, add emergency contacts and nominate representatives.
My Health Record brings together health information from you, your healthcare providers and Medicare.
https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/for-you-your-family/whats-in-my-health-record
This can include details of your medical conditions and treatments, medicine details, allergies, and test or scan results, all in one place.
Healthcare providers like doctors, specialists and hospital staff may also be able to see your My Health Record when they need to, including in an accident or emergency.
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MEDICATION SAFETY IN AUSTRALIA
Use of medications is the most common intervention we make in health care, which means that problems with medicine use are also common. Problems with medication can occur at any time during their use, including when the decision is made to use a medicine, during dispensing, and while using the medicine. In this report we detail the extent of harms in Australia as a result of medicine use.
The main types of harm include hospital admissions due to medicines and adverse events. We estimate the number of hospital admissions due to medicines, the number of emergency department attendances due to medicines, and present the extent of adverse events in the community setting. We also identify the extent of medication-related problems after discharge from hospital and for residents in aged care. We conclude by highlighting some of the opportunities where pharmacists can play a role in minimising these harms.
When you call 1300 MEDICINE from all states and territories in Australia (except Queensland and Victoria), you will speak with an experienced registered nurse. Your question may be answered on the spot, or you may be referred to your GP or pharmacist, or to another health professional. If you have a complex enquiry, you may be put through to an NPS MedicineWise pharmacist.
When you call 1300 MEDICINE from Queensland or Victoria, you will be connected directly with an NPS MedicineWise Pharmacist.
For consumers - getting information over the phone
Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia.
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST (excluding NSW public holidays).
This telephone service is not for emergencies, medical advice or second opinions. Medicines Line does not provide:
Learn more about My Health Record
The My Health Record system operator (Australian Digital Health Agency) has a range of factsheets and guidance available to assist patients with managing their My Health Record including:
The My Health Record system is underpinned by strong legislation and includes penalties for the unauthorised access, use and disclosure of patient health information. If you would like to provide feedback about Queensland Health’s handling of your My Health Record please contact your local Queensland Health facility.
For further information, including how patients can cancel their My Health Record, contact the My Health Record system operator on 1800 723 471, or go to the My Health Record website. 18 April 2019
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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is proud to have been selected to manage and release My Health Record data for secondary purposes. The announcement reinforces our position as trusted, experienced managers of and leaders in data.
Using My Health Record for secondary purposes will open a range of possibilities to fill data gaps by allowing the health sector to better understand how Australia’s health system is used—as well as gaining valuable insights into the health outcomes for patients.
It is a significant new role for the AIHW, and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Health, the Australian Digital Health Agency and other stakeholders to build the evidence base and contribute to better health and wellbeing for all Australians, while upholding the strictest data quality and privacy standards.
For more information on the use of My Health Record data for secondary purposes: Framework to guide the secondary use of My Health Record system data.
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The individual’s coping style to psychosocial stress impacts the stress-induced pathological changes and the risk of psychological disorders such as depression.
For an in-depth understanding of Mental Health topics - A - Z.
and
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-services-in-australia/data
Download booklet beyondblue’s 'A guide to what works for anxiety'
http://mhr4c.com.au/about-this-program/
This program is designed to support carers of people who have a mental illness living in Queensland.
Carers are usually family members and friends who provide support to children or adults who have a mental illness such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses.
Carers commonly find mental illness and the mental health system confusing; want to hear how others are coping and often wonder if they are doing the right thing.
7 Carer Coping Skills and Planning tips for those Special Occasions
Those Special Occasions/Celebrations are a challenging time for Carers, for many it can be overwhelming, stressful with mixed emotions such as anxiety, love and sadness. Some family members that you don’t often see may find it difficult to understand the complexities of a mental illness, which could lead to loved ones feeling rejected.
17 February 2019
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Better connecting Queensland GPs and public hospitals
Since mid-2017, Queensland General Practitioners (GPs) have secure online access to patient healthcare information from Queensland’s public hospitals. This access will bridge the information gap between Queensland GPs and public hospitals to help ensure patients receive consistent, timely and better coordinated care.
03 December 2020
What information will my general practitioner be able to access?
You have the right to op-out - call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Learn about Your Gold Coast University Hospital:- https://www.goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au/
Address:
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport, Qld 4215
Phone 07 5687 0000
Learn about your local hospital
Search and compare performance information for more than 1,000 Australian public and private hospitals.
https://www.myhospitals.gov.au/
Patients and Visitors
We are anesthesiologists. We got you.
SASHA K. SHILLCUTT, MD | PHYSICIAN | SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/09/we-are-anesthesiologists-we-got-you.html
I am a cardiac anesthesiologist. I want to explain what anesthesiologists do, who we are, and why it is important for the public to know.
Anesthesiologists are physicians.
Anesthesiologists are the guardians of the operating room.
Anesthesiologists are leaders.
If you get in a car accident, we are there.
If you develop an infection and can’t breathe, we are there.
If you are having a heart attack, we are there.
If you need a new knee or hip, we are there.
If you have a seizure, we are there.
If you have cancer, we are there.
If you are having a baby, we are there.
If you need a new heart, we are there.
If you are in pain, we are there.
And if for some horrific reason your heart begins to fail, your lungs quit working, or you need CPR … guess who they call?
You got it; we are there.
Whether you are one day old or celebrating your 90th birthday, you are our patient. Which means we have to know a lot about diseases. We have to know about how drugs work, as we have to make sure the therapies we give you do not interact with the medicines other physicians have prescribed to you. No disease exists that we do not have to know something about, because you all are in our care.
We are highly skilled physicians. We attended undergraduate colleges and graduated with bachelor’s degrees, where we studied biology and chemistry. We then attended another four years of rigorous medical school, where we graduated with medical doctorate degrees (MD/DO). After those eight years, we underwent another four years in anesthesiology residency, where we learned all about diseases, techniques, and drugs specific to anesthesia. After completing our training and taking several sets of board certifications, many of us underwent an extra 1 to 2 years of fellowship training to become board certified in obstetrical, cardiothoracic, pediatrics, pain management or critical care anesthesiology. We take several sets of board exams, after an extra 8 to 10 years of training, to best take care of you.
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/i-dont-care-what-your-cardiologist-says.html
Anesthesiologists spend the entirety of our training learning how to develop the best and safest anesthetic plans for our patients. Please spare us your best guess recommendation on anesthesia type. We will typically ignore it, and it only leads to confusion when we have to explain to a patient why we are going to do something different than what his or her cardiologist (who they may have known for 20 years) recommends.
Anesthesiologists are your protector
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/5-reasons-why-your-anesthesiologist-is-a-medical-ninja.html
You are not “asleep” under anesthesia
EDWARD R. MARIANO, MD AUGUST 5, 2021
Natural sleep vs. general anesthesia
Natural sleep represents an active though resting brain state. Every 90 minutes, the brain cycles between rapid eye movement or “REM” sleep and non-REM sleep. During each of these REM cycles, the brain is active, and dreams can take place. The rest and rejuvenation that result from getting a good night’s sleep are essential for overall health and wellbeing.
On the other hand, general anesthesia produces a brain wave pattern known as “burst-suppression,” where brief clusters of fast waves alternate with periods of minimal activity. In a recent article published in Frontiers in Psychology, Drs. Akshay Shanker and Emery Brown explain brain wave patterns found in patients under general anesthesia. They are similar to those of critically ill patients who fall into a coma, have a dangerously low body temperature, or suffer from other serious diseases. Under anesthesia, patients do not dream.
Confusing general anesthesia and natural sleep can be dangerous. A person who falls into natural sleep doesn’t require constant monitoring or observation. A patient under anesthesia, like an intensive care unit patient in a coma, may appear peaceful and relaxed, but anesthetic drugs don’t produce natural sleep and may cause breathing to stop or have other serious side effects. Legendary performing artist Michael Jackson died at home while receiving the anesthetic drug propofol in his veins without an anesthesiologist nearby to protect him.
For patients with chronic health problems, having surgery and anesthesia can put significant stress on the body. Anesthesia gases and medications can temporarily decrease the heart’s pumping ability and affect blood flow to the liver and kidneys. Patients under general anesthesia often need a breathing tube and a ventilator to breathe for them and support their lungs with oxygen.
Respect anesthesia, but don’t fear it
While having anesthesia and surgery should never be taken lightly, anesthesia care today is very safe as long as it is directed by a physician specializing in anesthesiology: an anesthesiologist. Anesthesiology is a medical specialty just like cardiology, surgery, or pediatrics. Research by anesthesiologists has led to the development of better monitors, better training using simulation methods inspired by the aviation industry, and new medications and techniques to give safer pain relief.
As a specialty, anesthesiology focuses on improving patient safety, outcomes and experiences. Anesthesiologists work with surgeons and other specialists to get you or your family member ready for surgery, designing an anesthesia care and pain management plan specific to the type of operation you need. The anesthesia plan will guide your care during your procedure and throughout your recovery. While general anesthesia is far different from natural sleep, our job is to make sure that you wake up just the same.
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Free interpreting service for GPs and medical specialists
General Practitioners and approved Medical Specialists can access the Free Interpreting Service through TIS National when delivering Medicare‑rebateable services in private practice to anyone with a Medicare card. Nurses, reception or other practice support staff can also access the Free Interpreting Service when working under the guidance of the registered Medical Practitioner.
The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. GP's and medical specialists access this free service complete the client registration form.
For more information contact TIS National Language Policy Liaison team by emailing [email protected] or phoning 1300 575 847.
· A Specialist Consultant (Neurology/movement disorders)
· A Speech Therapist – who will also evaluate swallowing.
To find a Speech Pathologist in Your Area, go to https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/
and
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/All_Searches.aspx
Speech pathologists study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering and using voice. They work with people who have difficulty communicating because of developmental delays, stroke, brain injuries, learning disability, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, dementia and hearing loss, as well as other problems that can affect speech and language. People who experience difficulties swallowing food and drink safely can also be helped by a speech pathologist.
What does a 'typical' Australian speech pathologist look like (View a snapshot of Australia's speechies)?
Speech Pathology Australia (the Association) has a range of fact sheets on a number of important topics including the role of a speech pathologist and the specific communication difficulties they treat.
http://www.parkinsonsresource.org/news/articles/having-difficulty-with-swallowing-food-or-liquids/
According to Speech Pathology Australia, 50 percent of stroke survivors and 84 percent of people with dementia experience dysphagia. Chewing and swallowing problems affect 30-50 percent of residents in aged-care facilities, with choking being the second-highest cause of preventable death.
Since 1 May 2019, new guidelines were introduced in Australia to standardise the names and descriptions of food and drink used in medical and community settings to reduce choking risk. The new guidelines include easily accessible testing methods that allow consumers, health professionals, nursing homes and hospitals to check that the food or drink they are serving is suitable for older Australians with swallowing difficulties. The guidelines have been developed by The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), which Speech Pathology Australia is actively supporting.
· A Dietitian for management of your diet
· A specialist nurse or Physiotherapist, and if management of bowel or bladder problems (incontinence) is required
Type of Nurse
An enrolled nurse is a person who provides nursing care under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse. They have completed the prescribed education preparation, and demonstrated competence to practice under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as an enrolled nurse in Australia. Enrolled nurses are accountable for their own practice and remain responsible to a registered nurse for the delegated care.
A registered nurse is a person who has completed the prescribed education preparation, demonstrates competence to practice, and is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as a registered nurse in Australia.
Registered nurses are often given the role and duties of a unit manager, team leaders, or administrator. Their responsibilities may include, but aren’t exclusive to, medication administration, assessment and management of patients and complex or specialised nursing care.
The national competency standards allow registered nurses more responsibilities and autonomy in their practice than other kinds of nurses.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses are regulated by the Nurses and Midwives Board and are registered and licensed under the appropriate Nursing Act. They hold a higher level of responsibility and accountability than other nursing roles.
Registered nurses are often given the role and duties of a unit manager, team leaders, or administrator. Their responsibilities may include, but aren’t exclusive to, medication administration, assessment and management of patients and complex or specialised nursing care.
The national competency standards allow registered nurses more responsibilities and autonomy in their practice than other kinds of nurses.
A clinical nurse is a more experienced and skilled registered nurse. Duties of a clinical nurse will substantially include, but are not confined to, delivering direct and comprehensive nursing care and individual case management to a specific group of patients or clients in a particular area of nursing practice.
Assistant In Nursing
An assistant in nursing are technically not nurses. However, AINs perform nursing duties under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse.
AINs tasks, depending on where they work, can include duties such as assisting with personal hygiene, showering and toileting, repositioning them in bed or assistance in mobility.
Assistants in Nursing go by other names, such as aged care worker, personal care assistant, care support employees or health services assistance, depending on where and which sector they work.
AINs normally have a TAFE qualification – Assistant in Nursing Certificate III Acute Care or Certificate III in Aged Care – or some proof of current studies towards becoming an enrolled or registered nurse. Registered nurses are regulated by the Nurses and Midwives Board and are registered and licensed under the appropriate Nursing Act. They hold a higher level of responsibility and accountability than other nursing roles.
. Enrolled Nurse
Enrolled nurses are a second level nurse who works under the supervision of a registered nurse. However, this supervision may can be either direct or indirect – depending on the enrolled nurse’s responsibilities.
However, despite this supervision, enrolled nurses are responsible for their actions and are fully accountable for providing nursing care.
The tasks that are delegated to enrolled nurses can vary depending on where they work. However, they may include observing, measuring and recording patients’ temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and blood sugar levels – and report changes in patient’s condition to doctors, assisting in hygiene and comfort, assisting in first aid and emergency situations.
An enrolled nurse has typically trained in Diploma in Enrolled Nursing – which is achieved during an 18 month or 2 year course at TAFE.
. A Community Nurse is a vital part of your Care Team when you are in your own Home. It's also Very Handy to have a Nurse on call 24/7. Someone who knows you, and can come to your own home. There are huge benefits for not only aged patients, but also patients of all ages receiving care within their own home. You are in a familiar environment - Your Own Home, which can make you more comfortable and relaxed while receiving treatment, and a relaxed patient generally recovers quicker than a stressed patient. Often, patients find it easier to rest at home in their own bed with familiar surroundings; and when a patient is well rested, their body is likely to heal faster, allowing them to be back up on their feet and enjoying their independence sooner rather than later.
Many patients will also feel like they have greater control over their care as well, and they are often more involved in their treatment and ongoing care, as they feel like they are maintaining a sense of independence by staying within their own home for treatment.
With community nursing, a patient will, in most cases, see the same nurse regularly. This can make it easier for the nurse to build a rapport with the patient and to notice subtle changes in the patient’s condition. Your community nurse can also liaison with your Doctor, and, if you want, come with you on your Doctor appointments. This is extremely valuable as often when you come out of the Doctor's, you just don't remember all of the points which were covered. This is when a community nurse who comes into your home regularly, comes into their own = Better Care for YOU.
Community nurses also liaise with the patient’s family and other healthcare providers, such as GPs and specialists, to ensure everyone is on the same page with regard to the patient’s care.
When assessing a patient for community nursing, the RN doing the assessment will also take into consideration other factors,
The nurse will also assess the patient’s ability to perform daily tasks, as well as review other needs such as that for Occupational Therapist, ACAT or even counselling services.
Each patient is assessed based on their situation and needs, and the nurse will make the appropriate referrals so the patient receives the best care possible whether it be ongoing or temporary.
There are various providers of in-home nursing care, and most offer the same services.
These include things like:
Often any service that can be provided by a nurse within a hospital setting can be done in a community setting. Community nurses and other staff within their organisations are bound by the same privacy and record keeping laws/requirements found in the hospital setting. So, the patient’s information, privacy and confidentiality are protected in the same way they would be if the patient was being treated in a hospital.
Community nurses vary between RNs, ENs and AINs, and which one a patient will see depends on the type of care and services required. This is similar to how patients are treated in hospital: if they require more than one type of care classification, or if their condition changes, then they may have a few different nurses seeing them regularly.
A Clinical Nurse Consultant
Clinical nurses are registered nurses, holding all the same responsibilities.
However the difference is that they have undertaken additional studies in a specialised areas and have worked in that field for a number of years.
Because of the extra education – as well as leadership, portfolio work and quality activities, the clinical nurse is often the resource person for other registered nurses in their workplace.
Clinical nurses use of advanced knowledge when planning patient care, perform of advanced clinical skills and can act as a role model and takes an active role in teaching less experienced staff.
Is a nurse practicing in the advanced practice role?
Advanced practice nursing is a qualitatively different level of advanced nursing practice to that of the registered nurse due to the additional legislative functions and the regulatory requirements. The requirements include a prescribed educational level, a specified advanced nursing practice experience, and continuing professional development. Nurses practicing at an advanced level incorporate professional leadership, education and research into their clinically based practice. Their practice is effective and safe. They work within a generalist or specialist context and they are responsible and accountable in managing people who have complex health care requirements.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have been authorised to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role. A nurse practitioner requires further education, typically 1.5-2 years of additional study, as well as other qualification, such as a current practising certificate, a minimum of 3 years post-registration experience in a specialty area, and a completed and signed ‘Clinical Support’ form as evidence that their employer is willing to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace.
The nurse practitioner role is based on the nursing profession’s values, knowledge, theories and practise and provides innovative and flexible health care delivery that complements other health care providers.
Nurse practitioners also have the unique role of direct referral of patients to other healthcare professionals, prescribing medications, and ordering diagnostic investigations.
Nurse navigator–a new model of care
As part of the Nursing Guarantee policy, Queensland Health has introduced a new nurse navigator model of care that has additional 400 senior nursing and midwifery roles added to the state’s Hospital and Health Services over the next four years.
The nurse navigator roles are clinical roles held by experienced nurses and midwives with expert clinical knowledge and in-depth understanding of the health system, whose focus is to support patients with complex health care needs. These nurses and midwives have the breadth and depth of clinical skills required to identify and monitor the health care requirements of high needs patients, identify the appropriate action required and to facilitate timely access to appropriate services.
Nurse navigators play a key role in supporting and coordinating a patient’s entire health care journey, rather than focusing on just a specific disease or condition. This role is underpinned by the principles of delivering coordinated and patient-centred care, creating partnerships across different health providers and sectors, improving patient outcomes and enabling improvements across the system. Research shows that a large number of patients find it difficult to successfully access, understand, evaluate and communicate health information to improve their health. Through their knowledge of the treatment of health conditions nurse navigators will also help educate patients about self-management of their health needs and empower them to make decisions on their own health care.
This integrated and proactive approach to health care service delivery will help ensure patients receive the most appropriate service when and where they need it. In some cases, this may even reduce their need for hospital admission. Benefits Patients, particularly those with complex health care needs requiring services from numerous care providers, or those who have presented multiple times to a health service, stand to benefit from the nurse navigator service. Through a clinical focus and understanding, these nurses ensure a patient is treated in the correct place, at the correct time, by the correct health care professional.
https://hellocare.com.au/6-kinds-nurses-australia/
HONE NURSE LISTENING SKILLS FOR BETTER PATIENT EXPERIENCE
BY JENNIFER THEW RN | JUNE 28, 2019
https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/hone-nurse-listening-skills-better-patient-experience
When patients feel nurses are listening to them, they self-report better care outcomes and a happier healthcare experience.
Nonverbal and verbal behaviors influence patients' perceptions of whether nurses have listened to them.
Patients who don't feel listened to report they are less likely to follow their care plan.
Making a personal connection with a patient doesn't take much time, technology, or investment, but it can pay off big when it comes to improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Nurse’s Intuition Can Predict Patient Decline Within 24 Hours
By Caroline Egan. Oct 25, 2019
New research confirms what most of us may have intuitively already known – that nurses are able to accurately predict a patient’s decline, and are therefore a vital source of information when it comes to saving lives.
https://hellocaremail.com.au/nurses-intuition-can-predict-patient-decline-within-24-hours/
The Legal Toolkit provides practical information about the law at end of life for the aged care sector. It contains useful resources on end of life legal issues commonly encountered in aged care to help you to know the law and to support your practice. To find out more, read our Legal factsheet (701kb pdf).
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https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2021/09/pbs-website-update-1-september-2021
1st September 2021 Up-date - PBS Website update.
Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 September 2021 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, Amended and Deleted Items page.
What's changed?
On 1 April 2020, four antibiotics listed on the PBS General Schedule (Section 85) had changes made to their listings and new listings added for the treatment of a range of infections, such as acute cystitis, streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis and periorbital cellulitis.
The antibiotics include:
· A GP (for general/referrals/other Health Services ) - go to the HealthShare.com.au
Make better health choices - Search for a health professional, specialty or health topic.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) http://www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/home
This website contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The PBS is part of Australia’s broader National Medicines Policy.
19 June 2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Green Book uses real-life case studies and ideas to help illustrate processes, strategies and tools to implement and sustain preventive activities.The Green book resources page highlights some practical case studies and stories that Australian general practices have undertaken to successfully implement preventive activities for their practice population.
© 2019 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) ABN 34 000 223 807
It often falls on Carers, with the help and understanding of the medical profession, to 'Make a Difference' in our loved one's lives. It's not easy, and no-one said that it was, BUT it is the main reason many Carers are worn-out, worried beyond belief, and neglectful of their own health, that we look to our loved one's Doctors to inspire, direct, and develop that close relationship that is just SO vital in the continuing care of our loved one.
So, Thank you... Carers could not do this work without you.
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And of course, now that the Residential Care Home you have used for Respite care can now apply to be a Home Care provider in their own right, YOU can have a chat with them and ask, "Can you be my loved one's Home Care Provider?"
It may be something they have not thought about before BUT, if you bring it up, they may take a serious look at entering into this expanding marketplace.
. A Psychologist
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. This means that they are able to assist not only those who have mental health problems, but also those who need help in adjusting to a chronic, or complex illness. Often chronic or complex illnesses require a number of lifestyle changes such as changes to health behaviours like diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol intake, or scheduling regular treatments or medications, as well as changes to work, family and living arrangements. Psychologists can often assist with better managing these changes. Being confronted with a long-term or complex illness can also be a very emotional time, and may cause many people to feel anxious or depressed, angry, helpless or confused. Psychologists can also often help to deal with these feelings so that you can better cope with your illness.
Be aware: Science News from research organizations
Can over-the-counter pain meds influence thoughts and emotions?
Date: February 6, 2018
Source: SAGE
Summary: Over-the-counter pain medicine such as Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may influence how people process information, experience hurt feelings, and react to emotionally evocative images, according to recent studies.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180206090700.htm
Medicare-subsidised psychologist services:
Medicare-subsidised psychologist services are services provided by psychologists that are rebatable by Medicare through psychological therapy services, focussed psychological strategies and enhanced primary care items. For these items to be eligible for Medicare rebates, the provider must meet the following eligibility requirements and be registered with Medicare Australia.
Medicare rebates for psychological therapy services are only available for services provided by clinical psychologists who are fully registered in the relevant jurisdiction and are members of, or eligible for membership with, the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists. Clinical membership is only available for registered psychologists who have completed the standard 4 years of study in psychology and attained an accredited doctorate degree in clinical psychology or master’s degree in clinical psychology with 1 year of supervised post-masters clinical psychology experience.
Medicare rebates for focused psychological strategies and enhanced primary care are available for services provided by psychologists who are fully registered in the relevant jurisdiction regardless of any specialist clinical training. Registered psychologists must complete the standard 4 years of study in psychology with an additional 2 years of supervised practice, postgraduate coursework or a research degree, and meet any other jurisdiction-specific requirement for registration.
Can I access any psychologist?
Under the Medicare scheme you can only see a registered psychologist who has a Medicare Provider Number and who you have been referred to by your GP under a particular management plan. Do note the government's recent moves to allow Medicare-funded psychology sessions to be conducted by telehealth. This move is aimed predominantly at psychologists and other mental health professionals to use in conjunction with their patients and clients, but which is also suitable for allied health professionals and medical practitioners.
https://www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/Medicare-rebates-psychological-services/FAQ-chronic-disease-management-psych-services
. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is expert in mental health. They specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illnesses.
To become a psychiatrist in Australia, a doctor must train for at least another 6 years after finishing medical school. Their medical training means that they understand both physical illnesses and mental illnesses.
. Medicare‑subsidised psychiatrist services
Medicare‑subsidised psychiatrist services are services provided by a psychiatrist (or, for electroconvulsive therapy, by either a psychiatrist or another medical practitioner together with an anaesthetist) on a fee‑for‑service basis that are partially or fully funded under the Australian Government’s Medicare program. These services cover patient attendances (or consultations) provided in different settings as well as services such as group psychotherapy, telepsychiatry, case conferences and electroconvulsive therapy. These item groups along with the relevant MBS item numbers are listed in the data source section. Note that for items in the range 291 to 370 (MBS Group A8) and 855 to 866 (Case conference—consultant psychiatrist) only medical practitioners who are recognised as psychiatrists for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973 are eligible to provide services attracting an MBS subsidy.
. Specialised Mental Health Care explained: http://mhsa.aihw.gov.au/services/
Emergencies, Hospitals and State information...
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Advance Health Directives and ‘Less Restrictive Way’ of Treatment
ADVANCE HEALTH DIRECTIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The new Mental Health Act took effect in Queensland from March 2017. It enables you to express your views, wishes, and treatment preferences formally in a new document called an Advance Health Directive for mental health. This allows you to have your say and plan for future health care treatment should you become unwell. Consumer, Family and Carer workshops are free and for individuals who experience mental health concerns, their family and carers.
With the new advance health directive for mental health you can:
ƒ discuss future treatment preferences with your doctor and have a formal document to reflect your wishes
ƒ inform your treating team about your recovery journey plans
ƒ choose support people you trust to assist in making healthcare decisions for you, should you become unwell. You can also set limits on the decisions they can make.
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To find a Psychiatrist: Directory of consultant psychiatrists in private practice in Australia
How do I arrange to see a psychiatrist?
In a mental health emergency, you should:
. A Pharmacist for regular Home Medicines Review
The role of community pharmacists in palliative care
Pharmacists play an important role in the delivery of care for people receiving aged-care services.
The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) team are conducting a study looking at the role of community pharmacists providing palliative care for older Australians living in residential dwellings and community-based aged-care facilities. If you are currently working as a pharmacist in a community setting, please click on this link which has more information in the Participant Information Sheet.
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If you are using multiple medications, have difficulty managing your medication, or have been recently discharged from hospital or other care facility, or are having an adverse reaction to a medication. This involves your medical practitioner and pharmacist working together to review all the medicines you are taking, including prescription medicine, over-the-counter and complementary medicines.
People taking nine or more medications have an 89 per cent higher risk of hospitalisation than those who take less than nine, the authors of a new study have said. Conducted by Monash University researchers and staff from Resthaven, the study set out to investigate whether there was an association between taking nine or more regular medications and admission to hospital.
The research team looked at residents’ time to first hospitalisation, the number of hospitalisations, and the number of days spent in hospital over a 12-month period. Tina Cooper (née Emery), executive manager of residential services at Resthaven, said the study has important implications for aged care and hospitals alike. She said: “The research adds to the increasing body of evidence that suggests reducing the number of unnecessary or low-benefit medications, referred to as deprescribing, may be a valuable way to reduce unwanted, expensive hospital stays.”
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Prescription drug abuse prevention starts with you.
Pharmacist review, home checks part of medication strategy for people with dementia
By: Dallas Bastian in News,
Australian researchers are hoping to improve outcomes for people with dementia after they are discharged from hospital through a medication strategy that starts in the lead-up to discharge and continues into the home.
Associate professor Ashley Kable, from the University of Newcastle, said medication generally changes for people once they’ve been treated in hospital, which makes self-administration even harder for people with dementia, and added the responsibility often falls back on carers.
Kable said currently, home medication reviews can be requested by a general practitioner following a patient’s discharge from hospital, but are not always done. She said the safe medication strategy will include clinical pharmacist review of medications and communication with the carer, training in hospital to use medication dose administration aids and provision of a discharge medication plan and explanation.
The discharge summary will include a note for general practitioners to request a home medicines review. These will be conducted by community pharmacists who will aim to identify any prescribed medications that may be a risk for people with dementia, such as those that may cause confusion or result in falls, any potential drug interactions or contraindicated medications, any adjuvant medications being used in addition to prescribed medications that may be a risk, and any modifications to medications that may be required for a person with dementia.
SO, when your loved one is discharged from hospital, do make sure to go to your usual Pharmacist and ask for a Home Medicines Review. Many of the usual medications may have been changed, upped in dosage, or Brand altered in the hospital.
YOU need to know as the result can mean that they are taking the 'old' medication and the 'new' medication as well; when the NEW prescription just written by the Doctor is to REPLACE the 'old' medication. Most serious for your loved one. Sometimes the person takes the New medication without checking with the Pharmacist that it actually Replaces your 'old' medication.
YOU, as a Carer, can do this. Alternatively, have a chat with your loved one's GP and have him write a note to your Pharmacist to do this.
How the pharmacist can simplify a dosing schedule during an Home Medicines Review:
• Reduce dosing frequency and recommend long-acting dosage forms where possible
• Recommend a higher strength to reduce the number of dosage units for a specific medicine where two tablets of the same medicine are taken at different times in a day
• Recommend a lower strength product where the person is cutting tablets in half or into quarters
• Consolidate dosing times to fit in with the patient’s lifestyle
• Recommend a combination product if suitable to reduce the number of medicines being used
• Recommend a suitable adherence aid for the patient with cognitive or dexterity issues
for a closer look:
https://www.veteransmates.net.au/documents/10184/38810/Nov_2016_GP_Insert.pdf/e9b3126e-bf0e-4238-bd74-8cdd617458d0
"With the focus on medicines and older Australians in these lists, we urge people to consider if they are on the right medicine, or whether they could be taking too many medicines and if you are due for a review. It’s always timely to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any medicines are unnecessary and if they could cause harm if taken together."
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Prescription drug abuse prevention starts with you.
https://vimeo.com/124597870
A 90 second online video showing what happens behind the scenes after your Pathology sample is taken - by your Doctor, or in the hospital setting.
Your doctor will use the results of this review to develop a medication management plan for you.
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PBS Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
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PBS listings are published on the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits which is available through the PBS website
PBS News https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/pricing/price-disclosure-spd/drugs-subject-to-price-disclosure
01 June 2021
More than half a million Australians to benefit from new medicine listings: https://www.health.gov.au/news/more-than-half-a-million-australians-to-benefit-from-new-medicine-listings Cheaper medicine is on the way for more than 500,000 patients since October 1, with price reductions for common scripts and new medicines added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), in some cases saving more than $100,000 per patient.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/cheaper-medicine-for-over-500000-patients
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, is rock solid. This includes continuing to cut the cost of medicines for patients through the PBS safety net.
From 1 January 2020 the threshold to receive free or further discounted medicines through the PBS will be lowered by 12 scripts for pensioners and concession card holders and the equivalent of 2 scripts for non-concession card holders.
Millions of Australians set to benefit from new and cheaper medicines
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - going to the pharmacy is set to be cheaper, with the cost of more than 1100 medicine brands being reduced and with vital new drugs being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
From 1 April, millions of Australians suffering from a range of health conditions will benefit when more than 1,100 medicine brands listed on the PBS drop in price. People with conditions including high cholesterol, Parkinson's disease, depression, breast cancer, eczema and psoriasis will pay less for their medicines.
As an example, 467,000 Australians using rosuvastatin for high cholesterol will save 22% per script. For the many Australians who take multiple medications daily, the savings will be considerable.
This means that drugs which may otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars will be available for no more than $38.80 per script – or just $6.30 for concession card holders. From 1 April, new treatments for two rare cancers, Hodgkin Lymphoma, and an advanced type of skin cancer, will be available through the PBS. Some of the other listings include treatments for psoriasis, arthritis, schizophrenia and iron deficiency.
About our New health.gov.au website ********
Our new health.gov.au is easier to understand and use. Find out how we have transformed our website, how it works and how we will continually improve.
- 17 July 2019 Health released a new version of health.gov.au
Reorganised information
We have moved from a website that was structured around how the Department works, to one that's structured to make sense to you - our website visitors.
Information is now organised into the following areas:
Organising our content in this way will help you to find it more easily. It also helps us remove duplications and display content consistently, so you know what to expect.
The 1 July 2019 MBS files (XML, DOC, PDF and ZIP) are now available to download
http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/news-2019-07-01-latest-news-July
Page last updated: 23 November 2020
Changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule Urgent After-Hours GP Services 1 March 2018 General Questions and Answers:
for additional searches:
Search for a health professional, specialty, or health topic https://www.healthshare.com.au/ constantly updated through HealthShare
Search for a health topic - over 370+ health topics www.healthshare.com.au/all-health-topics A - Z
Search for Fact Sheets that you can print out www.healthshare.com.au/factsheets/
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agedcareguide.com.au/acats/qeensland Gold Coast ACAT
The ACAT assess people’s eligibility for Home Care Packages and other residential care services. They are professional health and community care clinicians who visit you at home to assess your needs. They do a comprehensive assessment for your eligibility for a Home Care Package, residential respite care or permanent residential care.
Comprehensive Assessment (ACAT only)
A Comprehensive Assessment, undertaken by the ACATs, builds on the information collected in the contact centre screening and Home Support Assessment (if applicable) and in a suitable face-to-face context (preferably in the client’s usual accommodation setting) to determine a client’s eligibility for care types under the Act. It encompasses the same client information as the Home Support Assessment at a deeper level.
The assessor will comprehensively assess:
The assessor and client will work together to establish a support plan that reflects the client’s strengths and abilities, areas of difficulty, and the support that will best meet their needs and goals. This will include the consideration of formal and informal services as well as reablement and/or restorative pathways.
Where a care type under the Act is identified as the most appropriate type of support to meet the client’s needs, and the client meets the eligibility criteria, the assessor will make a recommendation for approval. A client may be approved for a Home Care Package, Residential Care, Residential Respite Care or Flexible Care (Transition Care Program [TCP] or Short-Term Restorative Care [STRC]). Clients may also be referred to Commonwealth Home Support Program services where appropriate.
Aged Care Services - those aged 65 or older & their Carers
Need help to stay living in your own home and community? Everyday tasks difficult and need support?
First you need an Assessment, an ACAT - someone comes in person to see you in your own home
Phone 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm).
https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/acat-acas
What is the Aged Care Assessment (ACAT) Team?
agedcareguide.com.au/acats/qeensland Gold Coast ACAT
Key points:
What is an aged care assessment and how does it work
Last Updated at February 23rd 2022
When sorting out your aged care service and facility options for yourself or an older loved one, your first point of call is registering yourself with My Aged Care.
A member of an ACAT/S can help you, and your carer, determine what kind of care will best suit your needs. [Source: Shutterstock] From there, you can organise an assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S). This is an important step to get the ball rolling for your aged care journey with Government subsidised aged care services.
When you are no longer able to manage at home without assistance, an ACAT/S will determine what kind of Government assistance will best suit your needs.
ACAT/S assessors will take the information you have provided and analyse whether you require support or if you're already receiving care whether you require a higher level of care.
What are ACATs/ACAS'?
An ACAT/S assessor will work with you, and your carer, to determine what your current difficulties are and what kind of care would provide you the most benefit. That could be extra help around the home or making a move into an aged care facility.
What happens during an assessment?
During the assessment visit, the ACAT clinician (usually a nurse, social worker or other health care professional) will ask questions about how well you are managing in your day-to-day life. They will also explain the assessment process and give you advice about on the types of care services that may help you to stay at home. Your assessed needs will determine which level of Home Care Package you are eligible for. You will also be asked about whether you want approvals to use residential respite care in the future. In some instances, when staying at home is no longer possible, the assessment can also help to determine your eligibility for care in a residential aged care facility.
My Aged Care Assessment Manual June 2018
Page last updated: 25 June 2018
The My Aged Care Assessment Manual for Regional Assessment Services and Aged Care Assessment Teams (the Manual) is designed to drive good practices in the assessment of older people’s support needs and eligibility for Commonwealth - subsidised aged care services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and/or types of care under the Aged Care Act 1997. The Manual replaces the Aged Care Assessment Program Guidelines May 2015 and the My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service Guidelines June 2015.
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Q. Can I have someone with me during the ACAT assessment?
A. Yes – It’s a good idea to have someone you trust and who knows you well at the assessment home visit. You can have a friend, family member, partner, carer or advocate with you during the assessment. To find a local advocate, contact the National Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600.
Q. How can I prepare for my ACAT assessment?
A. During the assessment, you will be asked about what you can still do for yourself and what you want assistance with. It helps if you have already thought about what your needs are, and about what you help you think you will want in the foreseeable future.
Q. When should I agree to have an assessment of my needs?
A. Having an assessment worries me! Some older people are worried that having an assessment means a fast-track into a nursing home. The truth is that most people will be linked into community care services that help them stay living in their own home. Many people get extra help at home. If you think you might benefit from some assistance, it’s a good idea to have an assessment. Over the phone, My Aged Care will help work out what type of assessment you need and will start the process for you.
Once you’ve had an assessment, you make up your own mind about whether you want to accept the outcome. It’s your life and your choice.
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ACATs are teams of medical, nursing and allied health professionals who assess the physical, psychological, medical, restorative, cultural and social needs of frail older people and help them and their carers to access appropriate levels of support. residential aged care services. ...
Arranging an ACAT assessment
Arranging an ACAT assessment is as simple as getting in touch with My Aged Care’s customer service centre, which you can call on 1800-200-422. However, you can also have your doctor, social worker, and other health professionals make this call on your behalf. Your family, friends, hospital social workers, community service providers and others with an interest in the health and safety of an older person can also supply a referral in support of the ACAT assessment.
What are you going to be asked during the assessment?
What to expect in the ACAT assessment. Click here to find out more.
When an individual is no longer able to live independently and safely in their home without assistance, the ACAT is there to work with them and their carer to discover the kind of care can help them maintain a high quality of life. As a result, they may be eligible for a Home Care Package for their own home, respite care, or transition care services following a hospital stay.
ACAT assessments are required if you want to have respite care in an aged care home or receive aged care services through a Home Care Package. Aged Care Assessment Teams are local groups, comprised of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. One of these people will be present for the assessment, and the other members of the team will help them look over the results and finalize any recommendations and outcomes of the assessment.
Do you need an ACAT assessment for respite care?
If you need any type of government-funded services or residential respite care (a short stay in an aged-care home), then you will need an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT, or ACAS in Victoria) assessment. You first need to register with My Aged Care.
How many days of respite care are you allowed? 63 days
How much residential respite care can I receive?
You can access up to 63 days of subsidised care in a financial year. This includes both planned and emergency residential respite care. It is possible to extend this by 21 days at a time, with further approval from your aged care assessor.
Alternative route to accessing My Aged Care
Older Australians about to start their aged care services journey can now apply for an ACAT - aged care assessment through the My Aged Care website.
30 January 2020 by Liz Alderslade
People will be able to access a new online form to register for their first assessment on the My Aged Care website. [Source: Shutterstock] People will be able to access a new online form to register for their first assessment and can be completed in their own time as an alternative to calling the My Aged Care contact centre.
The Federal Government is aiming to improve the functionality of the My Aged Care website with this additional contact form.
A family member, friend or carer can help an older person manage the online application, or someone can do it on their behalf, however, they will need to be registered as your representative on My Aged Care.
To register a regular representative, you can either call My Aged Care, ask an assessor at your face-to-face assessment, or fill out the Appointment of a Representative Form available on the My Aged Care website here.
All Guides to Aged Care - just click on what YOU want to know NOW:-
https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/all
Approval for Home Care packages
Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) approvals for Home Care:
ACAT Guidance Framework for Home Care Package Level - 18 December 2019
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/user-guide-for-the-guidance-framework
How is YOUR Level assessed?
What Questions are being asked?
High Priority is defined as: Client is considered at urgent and immediate risk in terms of their personal safety or at immediate risk of admission into residential care. The client may have a carer and the carer arrangements are unsustainable or the carer is at crisis point.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019/12/acat-guidance-for-home-care-package-high-priority.pdf
This guide has been developed for Aged Care Assessment Teams to inform and support their decision making when recommending a specific Home Care Package level.
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/07_2017/guidance_on_priority_for_home_care_services.pdf
There are only two priority for home care service categories – medium and high. The primary goal is to quickly identify and facilitate access for those clients with a relatively urgent need for access to care, i.e. 'high' priority. Including all other clients in the 'medium' category recognises that all clients assessed for and seeking a Home Care Package have a need for care and would benefit from timely package assignment. There is no ‘low’ priority for home care service. Clients who do not want to access a package should be identified as ‘not seeking services’ following assessment so they are not placed on the queue. Clients will not be disadvantaged by choosing this option as if they decide to join the queue at a later date; they will be assigned a package based on their original approval date and priority for service.
The Government will be going out to tender this year to both the private sector and current industry organisations to fill a single Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) force, which was implemented in April 2021.
by Liz Alderslade April 2021
The Department of Health held a webinar on 11 December about the new assessment arrangements. It is available here.
The Government says the aim of the change to the ACAT/S arrangement is to help older Australians receive the services they require sooner. [Source: Shutterstock]
In late December, the Federal Government announced they will be amalgamating the ACAT/S with the Regional Assessment Service (RAS), to streamline consumer assessments and access to aged care pathways. This decision has followed a legislated review of the aged care system by David Tune in 2016-2017, suggesting that the ACAT/S and RAS needed to become a single assessment system, which received principal support from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Government says the aim of the change to the ACAT/S arrangement is to help older Australians receive the services they require sooner.
You will also need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) Phone 1300 130 143 to find out if you are Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment
If you’ve had a face-to-face assessment in the past, there may come a time when you need to be reassessed.
The assessment you had would have been based on the needs that you had at that time. However, circumstances can change.
You may find that since your last assessment, your needs have changed. Perhaps some other daily tasks have become more difficult for you.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment
If you’ve had a look to see what services might be available and you want to know more about how to apply and what’s involved in the assessment process, this section is for you.
The first stage is to find out if you are eligible for subsidised aged care. This involves a two-part assessment process that understands your needs and what services could help you. It starts with a simple phone call followed by an in-person assessment.
The first step to access government-funded aged care services is to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Our friendly and knowledgeable contact centre staff will talk with you about your needs and circumstances. If we think My Aged Care services can help, we’ll refer you for a face-to-face assessment.
All our staff are trained to talk to people in a range of situations and are ready to answer your questions to help find the best options for you.
What happens on the call?
Our priority is getting you the help you need. To do this, we’ll ask about:
We can keep a record of this discussion, so you won’t have to provide the same information again at your assessment.
Who can support me?
A family member, friend, or carer can be with you during the call. With your permission, they can also talk on your behalf.
If you want someone to speak and act on your behalf on an ongoing basis, you can appoint them as your representative with My Aged Care. This will allow My Aged Care to talk to them about your aged care.
If you’re receiving a comprehensive assessment for some services such as residential care, home care, and flexible care, the assessor will ask you to complete an Application for Care Form.
What happens after I call?
With the information you give us, we’ll let you know if you are eligible for a face-to-face assessment. A face-to-face assessment can determine exactly what you need, and can even let you know about services you may not have thought about.
How should I prepare for my assessment?
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment/prepare-your-assessment
For any face-to-face assessment, you should have:
There may be a form to fill out
If you’re receiving a comprehensive assessment for some services such as residential care, home care, and flexible care, the assessor will ask you to complete an Application for Care Form.
Your assessor will talk to you about your needs
The assessor will have a copy of the information you gave to the My Aged Care contact centre. This gives them an idea of what support you might need to help you return to, or keep the level of independence needed to manage your day-to-day life. They’ll also ask about:
Your assessor will work with you to develop your support plan
The support plan records what you discussed and agreed during your assessment such as:
Questions to ask the assessor
You may also like to prepare any questions that you have, for example:
Can I have someone with me?
Yes. You never have to be alone in this process. If you choose, a family member, friend or carer can be with you during your assessment.
An ACAT assessment and approval is required before people can access residential aged care, Community Aged Care Packages or Extended Aged Care at Home packages. Assessment teams are located around Australia and are usually based at a hospital, geriatric centre or community centre and can see people in their own home or in hospital.
ACATs help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance. ACATs provide information on suitable care options and can help arrange access or referral to appropriate residential or home care services (including HACC, Short Term Restorative Care and Transition Care). An ACAT assessment and approval is required before people can access residential aged care or a home care package.
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Finding a Provider...
To find latest vacancies, have a look here. then click on different Providers to learn more. Please note the once given a Package, you have 56 days (with the option of an extension of 28 days) to take up a package with your chosen Provider before it is withdrawn, and goes back into the national 'prioritization queue’ . All is not lost though, an older person can 'opt out' if they are not ready to take up a package but still retain their place in the queue, should they choose to rejoin later.
Since the beginning of March 2018, the department is notifying older people on the queue when they are likely to be assigned a package within 90 days.
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
Areas of no change to program arrangements:
SOCIAL DOMAIN - A gauge of social isolation/loneliness and a typical measure of perceived support from family, friends and neighbours.
MEDICAL DOMAIN - Addresses overall health and wellbeing including health and mental health conditions, disability, nutrition, and oral health.
PHYSICAL DOMAIN - A key determinant of independence in activities of daily living and a contributing factor to overall health status and quality of life. It includes mobility, i.e. the ability to stand, sit, walk, turn, transfer and climb.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DOMAIN - This domain includes:
o Cognitive impairment
o Capacity for decision-making
o Depression
o Dementia
o Behaviour
o Delirium, and
o Judgement and insight
COMPLEXITY/VULNERABILTY DOMAIN - This domain refers to measurable characteristics of a client’s circumstances that may relate to service provision and the urgency of any interventions. Complexity and vulnerability includes factors such as homelessness, risk of abuse, emotional/mental health issues, difficulty communicating, and/or certain demographic indicators e.g. veterans, Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, living in rural/remote areas etc.
ACATs might include a doctor, nurse, social worker, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. ACATs help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs, provide information on suitable care options and can help arrange access or referral to appropriate residential or community care services such as Home and Community Care.
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If you have fallen in the last year and you are afraid of falling again, your doctor can review your medicines and assess your chance of falling. Your doctor may refer you to:
· A Geriatrician who is a specialist doctor for older people. Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health, as well as prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults.
· A Physiotherapist for leg strengthening, gait, walking exercises, balance- also Management of Bowel or Bladder problems.
Click here to find a Physiotherapist in your Area
And now to R E L A X ... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...
Choose for Yourself :-)
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm
and
B R E A T H E ... Quick and Easy Breathing Exercises to Cope with Stress, Anxiety and Emotions:
https://hubpages.com/health/Breathing-Exercises-for-the-High-Stressed-Individual
An Occupational Therapist -
click on the video "Sharing the Care: getting to know your Team https://bsphn.org.au/primary-care-support/allied-health-professionals/
- for advice on home modifications & to reduce your chance of falling at home and more.
Ask your current Provider or you can search for yourself.
An Occupational Therapist assesses a person's ability to gain access to a particular environment. Assessments may be specific to your individual situation or general for a public environment or to the technique and equipment used to access it.
Occupational therapists can help make the most of a person’s mobility with any number of daily activities—whether it’s writing, typing, cooking, driving, bathing, dressing, or grooming. Modifications for work and to the workplace environment also fall under the expertise of the occupational therapist.
An OT works in the areas of -
the Role of the social worker. Call them when you want a Broker, Advocate, Case Manager, Educator, Facilitator, Organizer, or Manager. They are the ones who know Where to look, make Referrals, Follow up to be sure you received the help you and your loved one needed. And most of all, Do understand what YOU and your loved one are going through. A Vital Contact in the hospital setting, or in your own home.
. A Social Worker:
Some of the many professional roles in Social Work are:
Broker
The social worker is involved in the process of making referrals to link a family or person to needed resources. Social work professionals do not simply provide information. They also follow up to be sure the needed resources are attained. This requires knowing resources, eligibility requirements, fees and the location of services.
Advocate
In this role, social workers fight for the rights of others and work to obtain needed resources by convincing others of the legitimate needs and rights of members of society. Social workers are particularly concerned for those who are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for themselves. Advocacy can occur on the local, county, state or national level. Some social workers are involved in international human rights and advocacy for those in need.
Case Manager
Case managers are involved in locating services and assisting their clients to access those services. Case management is especially important for complex situations and for those who are homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or mental health issues, are disabled, victims of domestic or other violent crimes, or are vulnerable children.
Educator
Social Workers are often involved in teaching people about resources and how to develop particular skills such as budgeting, the caring discipline of children, effective communication, the meaning of a medical diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
Facilitator
In this role, social workers are involved in gathering groups of people together for a variety of purposes including community development, self advocacy, political organization, and policy change. Social workers are involved as group therapists and task group leaders.
Organizer
Social Workers are involved in many levels of community organization and action including economic development, union organization, and research and policy specialists.
Manager
Social Workers, because of their expertise in a wide variety of applications, are well suited to work as managers and supervisors in almost any setting. As managers, they are better able to influence policy change and/or development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all underprivileged people.
Do ask your Provider to speak to their Social Worker. When in the hospital and feeling 'Overwhelmed' about What is Going On, and All that Paperwork... do ask to speak to the hospital's Social Worker.
https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/347003/Social-Work-Clinic-Flyer-WEB.pdf
Social Work Clinic Social workers can assist when a person’s health is impacted by complex social, psychological, family and environmental factors. We offer a supportive counselling and case management service available to assist you with:
• Mental health and your general wellbeing
• Supporting parents, children and families
• Emotion regulation and behavioural concerns
• Social connections and building stronger relationships
• Grief and loss
Concession rates available. Phone 1800 188 295
· A Podiatrist for feet and footwear management
Australian Podiatry Association to Find a Podiatrist. - a Podiatrist is concerned with podiatry, podiatrist, feet, foot, foot pain, podiatrist, foot doctor, foot treatment, heel, toe, toes, toenail, toenails, ingrown toenail, corn, callous, callus, orthotic, orthotics, diabetes.
The conditions Podiatrists treat include:
A Specialist falls prevention team - The Falls and Balance Clinic at Robina Health Precinct – a 6-7 week program. Gives medical assessments, undergo comprehensive medication reviews conducted by a pharmacist in conjunction with a geriatrician, a senior physiotherapist with expertise in aged care rehabilitation and vestibular physiotherapy and with a clinical nurse consultant or nurse practioner.
Central Intake Unit 1300 668 936 No Charge
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You can also access the Free Beyond the Basics (English) patient content in UpToDate by simply typing a term or phrase in the search box. Look up your specific question — anything from a symptom you're concerned about to a condition or treatment you've been discussing with your healthcare provider.
After you read the information in UpToDate, you will have the tools and the confidence to ask the right questions and have important conversations with your healthcare provider.
Remember to print the information you find in UpToDate so you can discuss it with your healthcare provider.
UpToDate® is the premier evidence-based clinical decision support resource, trusted worldwide by healthcare practitioners to help them make the right decisions at the point of care. It is proven to change the way clinicians practice medicine, and is the only resource of its kind associated with improved outcomes.
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and don't forget to make that all important Will. And of course you have decided WHO will speak on your behalf if you cannot... Yes :-)
In Queensland:
https://www.dementia.org.au/planning-ahead/planning-tools/QLD/how-do-i-make-a-will
Guides you through:
that Advance Care Planning and Standing in a Person's Shoes as a Substitute Decision Maker, is just SO Important, particularly for those with dementia.
and now that YOU have taken that first step; do have a think about talking about and setting up your own Advance Care Planning - click on Qld
Advanced illness or serious injury can sometimes mean that people cannot make their own decisions about healthcare treatment. This can happen to people of all ages, and especially towards end of life. Writing an Advance Care Plan lets you say what you would want, if you are ever unable to communicate for yourself. Making healthcare decisions for others can be difficult. An advance care plan can give peace of mind and comfort as preferences are clear, understood and respected.
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Brochures from the Public Trustee in Qld to help explain Enduring Power of Attorney for Financial, Personal and Health Matters...
Download the appropriate Brochures from this site:
https://www.flipsnack.com/publictrusteeqld/lets-talk-about-enduring-powers-of-attorney.html
To find out more:
http://www.pt.qld.gov.au/enduring-powers-of-attorney/about-enduring-powers-of-attorney/
CALL US: 1300 360 044
or Make An Enquiry: [email protected]
20 April 2022
https://goldcoastprivatehospital.com.au/services/hospital-home
Hospital In The Home (HITH) is a service that provides acute hospital-level care in a person’s residence, including a nursing home.
Operating for over 15 years, Gold Coast Private Hospital offers the first and only Hospital in the Home (HITH) service for the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Our team of specialised nurses, allied health professionals and doctors provide an on-call service for patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What is Hospital in the Home?
Hospital in the Home (HITH) is an admitted acute care service provided to patients in their own home, or another suitable environment outside hospital. Patients are still regarded as ‘in-patients’ and remain under the care of a hospital doctor. Services are provided by members of the hospital team including nurses, doctors and allied health professionals.
People may be offered HITH if their healthcare team believes that their care can be delivered safely at home and by patient choice.
What services do we provide?
Hospital in the Home is a specific service attached to Gold Coast Private Hospital catering for the administration of:
• Post-surgical care
• Intravenous antibiotics
• Negative pressure therapy (VAC)
• Some physiotherapy programs
• Other wound management can be offered to Medibank Private and DVA patients.
Common HITH patient diagnoses are mild to severe infections, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, lung infection and wound breakdown with or without infection.
Is this service covered by private health insurance?
Our HITH service is covered by a ‘Gold Tier’ level of hospital cover as well as DVA policy holders. We can assist to find out if a patient is eligible.
How can I book a Hospital at Home visit?
It’s best to have a specialist or GP referral however in some instances this is not required. Contact our HITH team to see if you qualify.
For more information, including referral and patient eligibility, please contact:
Gold Coast Private Hospital
Hospital in the Home
Phone: 07 5530 0795
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Required for the management of YOUR health:
"I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!"
Steve Jobs died a billionaire at age 56. This is his final essay.
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Blood Pressure Meds Can Affect COVID-19 Care
High blood pressure is the most common chronic health condition among COVID-19 patients who require hospitalization, according to one of three studies presented at a virtual meeting of the American Heart Association on Thursday.
Latest High Blood Pressure News
- Which BP Number Matters Most Depends on Age
- Lower Your Sodium, and Blood Pressure Will Follow
- Hypertension Mistaken for Menopausal Symptoms
- Do Blood Pressure Meds Up Risk for COVID Patients?
- Blood Pressure Differs Widely Between Arms
https://goldcoastprivatehospital.com.au/services/hospital-home
What Heart Rate Is Too High?
Maximum heart rate and Target Heart Rate:
Going beyond your maximum heart rate is not healthy for you. Your maximum heart rate depends on your age. This is how you can calculate it:
- Subtracting your age from the number 220 will give you your maximum heart rate. Suppose your age is 35 years, your maximum heart rate is 185 beats per minute. If your heart rate exceeds 185 beats per minute during exercise, it is dangerous for you.
- Your target heart rate zone is the range of heart rate that you should aim for if you want to become physically fit. It is calculated as 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate.
- Your target heart rate helps you to know if you are exercising at the right intensity.
- It is always better to consult your doctor before starting any vigorous exercise. This is especially important if you have diabetes, heart disease, or you are a smoker. Your doctor might advise you to lower your target heart rate by 50 percent or more.
Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack could be the difference between life and death.
The Heart Smart Pocket Guide is designed to fit in your wallet or pocket as a guide to heart attack symptoms and the recommended response in case of a possible emergency. By knowing and recognising the symptoms of a heart attack, you could help save someone’s life. Maybe even your own.
A heart attack occurs when the narrowing of the artery becomes completely blocked causing the heart muscle beyond the blockage to become starved of oxygen. And, despite terrific advances, heart disease is still the number one killer of Australians with:
- One Australian having a heart attack every 9 minutes, and
- The number of healthy and fit people having unexplained heart attacks is on the rise – from 11% to 27%* in the last decade. (Royal North Shore Hospital*)
ACTIVE INGREDIENT PRESCRIBING SUPPORTING KNOWLEDGE AND CHOICE:
What do pharmacists need to know?
What will active ingredient prescribing look like at the pharmacy?
The active ingredient prescribing initiative aims to increase community understanding of active ingredients, promote uptake of generic and biosimilar medicines and contribute to a financially sustainable PBS.
• From 1 February 2021, revised legislation will require medicines to be identified by active ingredient names on PBS/RPBS prescriptions.
• The revised legislation recognises that the inclusion of a brand name on a prescription, or the supply of a particular brand, may be deemed clinically appropriate by a prescriber in some cases, eg, to reduce risk of patient harm or minimize patient confusion. In these cases, the brand name will appear after the active ingredient name(s) on the prescription.
Opioid prescriptions double over the last 24 years
By: Conor Burke in Clinical Focus, Top Stories March 2, 2020
In the Australian context, data form the Australian Institute of health and welfare shows around 3.1 million people were dispensed opioid prescriptions in 2016–17 and between 2007–08 and 2016–17 there was a 25 per cent rise in the rate of hospitalisations due to opioid poisoning. The rate of opioid deaths also rose by 62 per cent from 2007 to 2016.
Previous research carried out by Sydney Uni has found that opioid prescription for muscle and joint pain in older people – aged 60 and older – may offer little benefit, and may in fact increase the risk of harmful side-effects. “Our findings show that in this group opioid painkillers have only a small effect on decreasing pain and improving function, whilst the risk of side effects is high,” said Associate Professor Manuela Ferreira, senior researcher at the Institute of Bone and Joint Research, “Patients experienced around a seven per cent decrease in pain compared to placebo pills, which is considered too small to be of clinical importance. Only small improvements on physical function was found.
“We also found that older people taking opioids for musculoskeletal pain are almost three times more likely to have an adverse event associated with treatment. The most common being nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, headache and dry mouth.
“The impact of these side effects on the older patient can be very significant, leading to more serious events such as falls and confusion.”
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Falls, confusion...is it my medicine?
Medicines can help you feel better, but they may also cause unwanted side effects.
You might put these symptoms down to getting older, or maybe you’re worried that one of your conditions is worsening. However, it is possible that the medicines you are taking might be causing certain symptoms.
Some medicines have what are known as anticholinergic (an-tee-koh-li-nur-jik) or sedative effects. These can cause symptoms such as falls, confusion, forgetfulness, or feeling unsteady.
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YOUR MEDICINE LIST:-
• Keep it up to date by crossing out any medicines you are no longer using and adding new medicines as you start using them.
• List all medicines currently used, including: prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal and natural medicines.
• Take it with you each time you visit the doctor, pharmacist or health professional, or if you go into hospital.
• Keep it with you at all times in case of emergency. Main causes of falls.
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Keep informed
It’s important to get accurate information from credible sources. You can access more information from:
24/7 healthdirect hotline
Contact type: Service
Telephone: 1800 022 222
Website: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
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Learn more about Your Body:- Illustrations and explanations.
· A GP (for general/referrals/other Health Services ) - go to the HealthShare.com.au
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People in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 can see any eligible health provider through new telehealth items. Patients in vulnerable groups can additionally see a health provider via telehealth for a non-COVID-19 matter if they have seen that provider, or another provider within the same practice, face-to-face at least once in the previous 12 months. Additional guides to these services for providers are available via MBS Online. All services provided using the new MBS items must be bulk billed.
Contact your GP doctor, mental health practitioner or midwife by phone, especially if you have cold or flu symptoms and explain your situation.
On 10 July 2020, Minister Hunt announced stage seven of the telehealth reforms as part of the Australian Government COVID-19 response. Further information is available on the webpage - continuous care with telehealth stage seven release.
The extension of Telehealth until the end of the year (2021) includes services for general practitioners, medical practitioners, specialists, consultant physicians, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers and dental practitioners.
Pay more attention to depression as a side-effect of many medications, researchers say.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/second-opinion-depression-as-a-medication-side-effect-1.4710868
A new U.S. study serves as a "very important reminder" that depression is a possible side-effect of many common medications, especially when patients are taking more than one of them, the Canadian Pharmacists Association says. "I think it's something that we don't always think about," said Phil Emberley, the association's director of practice advancement and research, and a pharmacist in Ottawa.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia University in New York — including a pharmacist and and psychiatrist — looked at data gathered from more than 26,000 adults in a national health survey conducted from 2005-2006 and from 2013-2014.
The researchers catalogued what medications their subjects were taking at the time, as well as how many depressive symptoms they displayed (based on a self-reporting tool commonly used for diagnosing depression). They found about one-third of the people in the study were taking at least one medication for which depression is listed as a potential side-effect. Those drugs include some types of blood pressure medications, beta blockers, birth control pills, proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants, painkillers and corticosteroids. "People are taking a lot of drugs and a lot of these meds have depression as an adverse effect," Qato said. "One to two per cent risk of depression, perhaps, for most of these medications, but when they're taken together in a real-world setting, it really matters."
'It's something we don't always think about,' Canadian pharmacist says of U.S. study findings.
Nicole Ireland · CBC News · Posted: Jun 18, 2018 | Last Updated: June 19, 2018.
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Why do we go to the doctor?
According to the reason for encounter recorded in GP notes, the top five reasons that Australians went to see their GPs in 2016–17 were:
- to obtain a prescription
- for review/follow-up purposes
- for an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)
- for immunisation, and
- to discuss results.
More than half a million Australians to benefit from new medicine listings: https://www.health.gov.au/news/more-than-half-a-million-australians-to-benefit-from-new-medicine-listings Cheaper medicine is on the way for more than 500,000 patients since January 1, 2020, with price reductions for common scripts and new medicines added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), in some cases saving more than $100,000 per patient.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/cheaper-medicine-for-over-500000-patients
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, is rock solid. This includes continuing to cut the cost of medicines for patients through the PBS safety net.
Since 1 January 2020 the threshold to receive free or further discounted medicines through the PBS will be lowered by 12 scripts for pensioners and concession card holders and the equivalent of 2 scripts for non-concession card holders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said it would cut the cost of medicines for more than 1.4 million Australians, with pensioners and families qualifying much sooner for free or further discounted PBS medicines.
Four new medicines will be added to the PBS. These include Verzenio (Abemaciclib) for patients with advanced breast cancer and APO-Primidone (Primidone) for patients with epilepsy.
Medicare gets a 'refresh'.
- What's covered by Medicare
- How to claim a Medicare benefit
- How your Medicare account and card work
- How to enrol and get started in Medicare
01 February 2020
PBS Website Update - 1 September 2021
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 September 2021 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, Amended and Deleted Items page.
Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
PBS Frequently Asked Questions
- See also:
- About the PBS
- PBS Safety Net early supply rule FAQ
- Cost Recovery, Fees and charges - Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to the PBS
What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
How is the PBS Schedule released?
Who is eligible to receive benefits under the PBS?
Can I collect PBS medicine from a pharmacy for someone else?
01 July 2021
PBS Safety Net thresholds
Once you or your family spend a certain amount on PBS medicine you’ll reach the PBS Safety Net threshold. We calculate the PBS Safety Net in a calendar year. It resets at the beginning of each year, 1 January.
The 2020 PBS Safety Net threshold is:
- $316.80 for concession card holders
- $1,486.80 for general patients.
Before you meet the threshold, each medicine will cost:
- up to $6.60 for concession card holders
- up to $41.00 for general patients.
Once you reach the threshold, you’ll need a PBS Safety Net card application to get cheaper medicines.
Your medicine will then either:
- be free for concession card holders
- cost up to $6.60 for general patients.
What's changed?
On 30 April 2020, four antibiotics listed on the PBS General Schedule (Section 85) had changes made to their listings and new listings added for the treatment of a range of infections, such as acute cystitis, streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis and periorbital cellulitis.
The antibiotics include:
- amoxicillin
- amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
- cefalexin
- roxithromycin.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2020/06/pbs-website-update-1-june-2020
This website contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The PBS is part of Australia’s broader National Medicines Policy.
The PBS Safety Net protects patients and their families requiring a large number of PBS or RPBS items. For the purposes of the scheme, the family includes the person:
- the partner or de facto partner;
- children under the age of 16 who are in the care and control of the person; or
- dependent full-time students under the age of 25.
Fees, Patient Contributions and Safety Net Thresholds
We calculate the PBS Safety Net in a calendar year. It resets at the beginning of each year, 1 January 2021
.
The 2021 PBS Safety Net threshold is:
- $316.80 for concession card holders
- $1,497.20 for general patients.
- up to $6.60 for concession card holders
- up to $41.30 for general patients.
Your medicine will then either:
- be free for concession card holders
- cost up to $6.60 for general patients.
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Bulk Billed Telehealth: People in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 can see any eligible health provider through new telehealth items. Patients in vulnerable groups can additionally see a health provider via telehealth for a non-COVID-19 matter if they have seen that provider, or another provider within the same practice, face-to-face at least once in the previous 12 months. Additional guides to these services for providers are available via MBS Online. All services provided using the new MBS items must be bulk billed.
Contact your GP doctor, mental health practitioner or midwife by phone, especially if you have cold or flu symptoms and explain your situation.
National plan aims to halve unnecessary medicine use by seniors:
NPS MedicineWise has released the Choosing Wisely Australia Report: Conversations for change, which showcases the progress and achievements of the initiative to date.
As well as perspectives from key influencers engaged in the initiative, the report highlights the main drivers of unnecessary healthcare, including challenges facing healthcare providers in being able to access patient information, including test results from clinicians in other settings. It also details highlights in 2018, including the scale-up of Choosing Wisely in 11 Victorian health services funded by the State Government.
Challenges accessing patient records a driver of unnecessary healthcare
28 Feb 2019
GPs, specialists and hospital staff cite challenges in accessing patient information from other clinicians as a common reason for requesting unnecessary medical tests, treatments or procedures, according to a new report from Choosing Wisely Australia. Adj A/Prof Steve Morris, Chief Executive Officer of NPS MedicineWise, said it was a transformative time in the evolution of Choosing Wisely, with interest continuing to grow among the health profession and wider community, including new areas of healthcare research, education and advocacy. “Ultimately the goal is ensuring less people are undergoing healthcare they don’t need and improving the quality and safety of our healthcare system,” he said. He has recognised the significant efforts of Choosing Wisely’s committed members and supporters who are collaborating to influence a national culture change around low-value and unnecessary healthcare, while encouraging individuals and organisations to explore opportunities to become involved.
10 April 2019
Clinical consequences of adverse drug reactions:
• falls
• confusion
• frailty
• loss of independence
• reduced quality of life
• hospitalisation
• mortality
The guidelines were released on Thursday by Choosing Wisely Australia, an initiative of NPS MedicineWise. They come amid figures showing that some 230,000 Australians are admitted to hospital as a result of medication misadventure each year.
PSA guidelines
- Don’t medicate to treat side effects and adverse effects without investigating to see if current treatment is being properly used
- Don’t promote or provide homeopathic products
- Don’t dispense a repeat antibiotic prescription without clarifying clinical appropriateness
- Don’t prescribe for patients on five or more medications without a review of existing medications
- Don’t continue benzodiazepines or antipsychotics in older adults for insomnia, agitation or delirium for more than three months without review
- Don’t recommend complementary medicines or therapies without credible evidence of efficacy
03 January 2019
Safe disposal of unwanted medicines
03 July 2019
Storage of expired and unwanted medicines in the home can be dangerous, and unsafe disposal of unwanted medicines can lead to environmental harm.
Your local community pharmacy provides a free and convenient way to dispose of your unwanted medicines responsibly. Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or complementary supplements, gels, liquids, creams and pet medicines can all be returned to your community pharmacy for free, safe disposal.
Most medicines can be placed directly in the disposal bin provided by the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) Project, but certain medicines (such as strong pain relievers) may need to be separately stored or processed by the pharmacist. So please ensure you let the pharmacist know what type of medicines you are returning.
Children under five years old have the highest risk of accidental poisoning, so make sure potentially dangerous substances, including medicines, are locked away out of the sight and reach of your children.
Remember:
- Don't keep unused strong pain relievers 'just in case' as this can lead to inappropriate use.
- Strong pain relievers left easily accessible around the home are dangerous for children and pets. They can also be stolen and diverted for misuse.
- Improper disposal of strong pain relievers such as binning or flushing is dangerous to others and harmful to the environment.
Should more medications be available over the counter?
28 March 2019 Expanding the role of pharmacists in Australia
Making more drugs available 'over the counter' would be a win for the public and the health care system write University of Sydney pharmacy experts.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently looking to expand the list of medicines available “over the counter” – that is, via a pharmacist without a prescription.
If these changes get off the ground, we could soon be able to head straight to the pharmacy for a range of medications including the contraceptive pill, Viagra®, and selected treatments for nausea and migraines. This approach may reduce the need for trips to the doctor, saving time and lowering costs both for the patient and the health care system. It could also result in people seeking help and advice for some conditions from their pharmacist, when they may not have otherwise sought medical help.
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Stopping preventive medicines linked to increased frailty
By Judy Skatssoon on July 10, 2019 in Community Care Review
Older people who stop taking preventive medicine, such as blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs, experience more frailty than those who keep taking the medication, a study shows.
Professor Libby Roughead
The study by the University of South Australia’s Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, says frailty has physical, psychological and social dimensions and is associated with an increased risk of falls, hospital admissions, disability, nursing home admission and death.
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Nurse’s Intuition Can Predict Patient Decline Within 24 Hours
By Caroline Egan. Oct 25, 2019
New research confirms what most of us may have intuitively already known – that nurses are able to accurately predict a patient’s decline, and are therefore a vital source of information when it comes to saving lives.
https://hellocaremail.com.au/nurses-intuition-can-predict-patient-decline-within-24-hours/
Building Nurse Capacity - improving patient outcomes - Nursing in Primary Health Care Program 2018 - 2022 https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/buildingnursecapacity
Applications for Group 2 was opened on Monday 3rd August 2020 On 8 May 2018, the Australian Government announced it will help strengthen the role of nurses in delivering primary health to meet the future health care needs of the Australian community. As part of this announcement, ongoing funding for the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) was included in the Budget - the "Nursing in Primary Health Care (NiPHC)" Program".
In what settings do primary health care nurses work? https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/what-is-primary-health-care-nursing
Primary health care nurses work in a range of settings, each sharing the characteristic that they are a part of the first level of contact with the health system.
In Australia, those settings can include:
- Community settings including the community controlled health services, the community health sector and roles within social service settings
- General practice
- Residential aged care
- Domiciliary settings in the home, custodial/detention settings, boarding houses and outreach to homeless people
- Educational settings including preschool, primary and secondary school, vocational and tertiary education settings
- Occupational settings, occupational health and safety and workplace nursing
- Informal and unstructured settings including ad hoc and Good Samaritan roles in daily life, like sports settings and community groups.
Emergency Care Plan
https://www.carergateway.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019-04/emergency-care-plan.pdf
An emergency care plan makes it easy for someone to take over from you in a hurry. It has all the information about the person you care for in one place, so you can get it quickly and easily.
The emergency care plan has:
- emergency contacts
- the care needs of the person you care for
- medical information and contacts
- a medicine list
- Carer emergency cards
Search your medications by brand name or active ingredient – A-Z
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines
A CMI leaflet gives you information on how to use your medicine safely and properly. For example, it tells you:
- how to take the medicine
- why it may have been prescribed for you
- potential side effects
- other medicines it may interact with.
CMIs are available for:
- all prescription medicines
- all pharmacist-only medicines
- some non-prescription medicines.
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http://www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/consumers/patient-guide-to-managing-pain-and-opioid-medicine
Every day in Australia, 3 people die, and 150 people are hospitalised because of harm from pharmaceutical opioids.
Opioids can be an effective component of the management of acute and cancer-related pain. However, recent evidence shows that for most patients with chronic non-cancer pain, opioids do not provide clinically important improvement in pain or function compared with placebo. Additionally, they carry significant risk of harm; opioid-related harms persist or increase with time and increasing doses.
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My Health Record system upgrade to make it easier to set security controls, make treatment needs known and help avoid issues related to medicines
13 March 2020:
The My Health Record System was upgraded on 13 and 14 March to improve usability for consumers and healthcare providers.
We have seen the important role My Health Record has played in large scale crises such as the Queensland floods and the recent bushfires, where pharmacists and hospital staff have relied on information in the My Health Record to provide care.
The changes in this new release improve the way a person’s medicines list appears in the My Health Record and will provide a better user experience for consumers logging into their own Record and setting security controls. We are confident these improvements will continue to build trust within the community for the My Health Record and provide crucial support to the health system and consumers over coming months.
Security controls: Security and safety of health information is the main concern for both patients and their healthcare providers. That’s why the latest My Health Record system upgrade has made it even easier for people to find where to set access codes, add emergency contacts and nominate representatives.
My Health Record brings together health information from you, your healthcare providers and Medicare.
https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/for-you-your-family/whats-in-my-health-record
This can include details of your medical conditions and treatments, medicine details, allergies, and test or scan results, all in one place.
Healthcare providers like doctors, specialists and hospital staff may also be able to see your My Health Record when they need to, including in an accident or emergency.
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MEDICATION SAFETY IN AUSTRALIA
Use of medications is the most common intervention we make in health care, which means that problems with medicine use are also common. Problems with medication can occur at any time during their use, including when the decision is made to use a medicine, during dispensing, and while using the medicine. In this report we detail the extent of harms in Australia as a result of medicine use.
The main types of harm include hospital admissions due to medicines and adverse events. We estimate the number of hospital admissions due to medicines, the number of emergency department attendances due to medicines, and present the extent of adverse events in the community setting. We also identify the extent of medication-related problems after discharge from hospital and for residents in aged care. We conclude by highlighting some of the opportunities where pharmacists can play a role in minimising these harms.
When you call 1300 MEDICINE from all states and territories in Australia (except Queensland and Victoria), you will speak with an experienced registered nurse. Your question may be answered on the spot, or you may be referred to your GP or pharmacist, or to another health professional. If you have a complex enquiry, you may be put through to an NPS MedicineWise pharmacist.
When you call 1300 MEDICINE from Queensland or Victoria, you will be connected directly with an NPS MedicineWise Pharmacist.
For consumers - getting information over the phone
Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia.
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST (excluding NSW public holidays).
This telephone service is not for emergencies, medical advice or second opinions. Medicines Line does not provide:
- emergency services. If you have concerns about an overdose or suspected poisoning, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 any time. For general emergencies call 000
- medical advice or second opinions on the medicines recommended by your health professional.
Learn more about My Health Record
The My Health Record system operator (Australian Digital Health Agency) has a range of factsheets and guidance available to assist patients with managing their My Health Record including:
- What's in a My Health Record?
- How is a patient's record used in an emergency?
- Who can see a patient's My Health Record?
- What privacy and security access controls can be set?
- How secure is the My Health Record system?
The My Health Record system is underpinned by strong legislation and includes penalties for the unauthorised access, use and disclosure of patient health information. If you would like to provide feedback about Queensland Health’s handling of your My Health Record please contact your local Queensland Health facility.
For further information, including how patients can cancel their My Health Record, contact the My Health Record system operator on 1800 723 471, or go to the My Health Record website. 18 April 2019
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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is proud to have been selected to manage and release My Health Record data for secondary purposes. The announcement reinforces our position as trusted, experienced managers of and leaders in data.
Using My Health Record for secondary purposes will open a range of possibilities to fill data gaps by allowing the health sector to better understand how Australia’s health system is used—as well as gaining valuable insights into the health outcomes for patients.
It is a significant new role for the AIHW, and we look forward to working closely with the Department of Health, the Australian Digital Health Agency and other stakeholders to build the evidence base and contribute to better health and wellbeing for all Australians, while upholding the strictest data quality and privacy standards.
For more information on the use of My Health Record data for secondary purposes: Framework to guide the secondary use of My Health Record system data.
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The individual’s coping style to psychosocial stress impacts the stress-induced pathological changes and the risk of psychological disorders such as depression.
For an in-depth understanding of Mental Health topics - A - Z.
and
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services/mental-health-services-in-australia/data
Download booklet beyondblue’s 'A guide to what works for anxiety'
http://mhr4c.com.au/about-this-program/
This program is designed to support carers of people who have a mental illness living in Queensland.
Carers are usually family members and friends who provide support to children or adults who have a mental illness such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses.
Carers commonly find mental illness and the mental health system confusing; want to hear how others are coping and often wonder if they are doing the right thing.
7 Carer Coping Skills and Planning tips for those Special Occasions
Those Special Occasions/Celebrations are a challenging time for Carers, for many it can be overwhelming, stressful with mixed emotions such as anxiety, love and sadness. Some family members that you don’t often see may find it difficult to understand the complexities of a mental illness, which could lead to loved ones feeling rejected.
17 February 2019
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Better connecting Queensland GPs and public hospitals
Since mid-2017, Queensland General Practitioners (GPs) have secure online access to patient healthcare information from Queensland’s public hospitals. This access will bridge the information gap between Queensland GPs and public hospitals to help ensure patients receive consistent, timely and better coordinated care.
03 December 2020
What information will my general practitioner be able to access?
- blood tests results
- medical imaging results
- details of medications you received and have been prescribed
- details of your diagnosis.
You have the right to op-out - call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
- My Hospitals - Learn about your local hospital with this handy website. Search and compare performance information for more than 1,000 Australian public and private hospitals.
- Healthdirect - Free health and medical advice website you can count on.
- the National Health Service is changing
Learn about Your Gold Coast University Hospital:- https://www.goldcoast.health.qld.gov.au/
Address:
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport, Qld 4215
Phone 07 5687 0000
Learn about your local hospital
Search and compare performance information for more than 1,000 Australian public and private hospitals.
https://www.myhospitals.gov.au/
Patients and Visitors
- Coming to hospital
- Your time in hospital
- Leaving hospital
- Support Services
- Rights and Responsiblities
- Referrals and Bookings
We are anesthesiologists. We got you.
SASHA K. SHILLCUTT, MD | PHYSICIAN | SEPTEMBER 2, 2019
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2019/09/we-are-anesthesiologists-we-got-you.html
I am a cardiac anesthesiologist. I want to explain what anesthesiologists do, who we are, and why it is important for the public to know.
Anesthesiologists are physicians.
Anesthesiologists are the guardians of the operating room.
Anesthesiologists are leaders.
If you get in a car accident, we are there.
If you develop an infection and can’t breathe, we are there.
If you are having a heart attack, we are there.
If you need a new knee or hip, we are there.
If you have a seizure, we are there.
If you have cancer, we are there.
If you are having a baby, we are there.
If you need a new heart, we are there.
If you are in pain, we are there.
And if for some horrific reason your heart begins to fail, your lungs quit working, or you need CPR … guess who they call?
You got it; we are there.
Whether you are one day old or celebrating your 90th birthday, you are our patient. Which means we have to know a lot about diseases. We have to know about how drugs work, as we have to make sure the therapies we give you do not interact with the medicines other physicians have prescribed to you. No disease exists that we do not have to know something about, because you all are in our care.
We are highly skilled physicians. We attended undergraduate colleges and graduated with bachelor’s degrees, where we studied biology and chemistry. We then attended another four years of rigorous medical school, where we graduated with medical doctorate degrees (MD/DO). After those eight years, we underwent another four years in anesthesiology residency, where we learned all about diseases, techniques, and drugs specific to anesthesia. After completing our training and taking several sets of board certifications, many of us underwent an extra 1 to 2 years of fellowship training to become board certified in obstetrical, cardiothoracic, pediatrics, pain management or critical care anesthesiology. We take several sets of board exams, after an extra 8 to 10 years of training, to best take care of you.
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/i-dont-care-what-your-cardiologist-says.html
Anesthesiologists spend the entirety of our training learning how to develop the best and safest anesthetic plans for our patients. Please spare us your best guess recommendation on anesthesia type. We will typically ignore it, and it only leads to confusion when we have to explain to a patient why we are going to do something different than what his or her cardiologist (who they may have known for 20 years) recommends.
Anesthesiologists are your protector
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/5-reasons-why-your-anesthesiologist-is-a-medical-ninja.html
You are not “asleep” under anesthesia
EDWARD R. MARIANO, MD AUGUST 5, 2021
Natural sleep vs. general anesthesia
Natural sleep represents an active though resting brain state. Every 90 minutes, the brain cycles between rapid eye movement or “REM” sleep and non-REM sleep. During each of these REM cycles, the brain is active, and dreams can take place. The rest and rejuvenation that result from getting a good night’s sleep are essential for overall health and wellbeing.
On the other hand, general anesthesia produces a brain wave pattern known as “burst-suppression,” where brief clusters of fast waves alternate with periods of minimal activity. In a recent article published in Frontiers in Psychology, Drs. Akshay Shanker and Emery Brown explain brain wave patterns found in patients under general anesthesia. They are similar to those of critically ill patients who fall into a coma, have a dangerously low body temperature, or suffer from other serious diseases. Under anesthesia, patients do not dream.
Confusing general anesthesia and natural sleep can be dangerous. A person who falls into natural sleep doesn’t require constant monitoring or observation. A patient under anesthesia, like an intensive care unit patient in a coma, may appear peaceful and relaxed, but anesthetic drugs don’t produce natural sleep and may cause breathing to stop or have other serious side effects. Legendary performing artist Michael Jackson died at home while receiving the anesthetic drug propofol in his veins without an anesthesiologist nearby to protect him.
For patients with chronic health problems, having surgery and anesthesia can put significant stress on the body. Anesthesia gases and medications can temporarily decrease the heart’s pumping ability and affect blood flow to the liver and kidneys. Patients under general anesthesia often need a breathing tube and a ventilator to breathe for them and support their lungs with oxygen.
Respect anesthesia, but don’t fear it
While having anesthesia and surgery should never be taken lightly, anesthesia care today is very safe as long as it is directed by a physician specializing in anesthesiology: an anesthesiologist. Anesthesiology is a medical specialty just like cardiology, surgery, or pediatrics. Research by anesthesiologists has led to the development of better monitors, better training using simulation methods inspired by the aviation industry, and new medications and techniques to give safer pain relief.
As a specialty, anesthesiology focuses on improving patient safety, outcomes and experiences. Anesthesiologists work with surgeons and other specialists to get you or your family member ready for surgery, designing an anesthesia care and pain management plan specific to the type of operation you need. The anesthesia plan will guide your care during your procedure and throughout your recovery. While general anesthesia is far different from natural sleep, our job is to make sure that you wake up just the same.
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Free interpreting service for GPs and medical specialists
General Practitioners and approved Medical Specialists can access the Free Interpreting Service through TIS National when delivering Medicare‑rebateable services in private practice to anyone with a Medicare card. Nurses, reception or other practice support staff can also access the Free Interpreting Service when working under the guidance of the registered Medical Practitioner.
The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. GP's and medical specialists access this free service complete the client registration form.
For more information contact TIS National Language Policy Liaison team by emailing [email protected] or phoning 1300 575 847.
· A Specialist Consultant (Neurology/movement disorders)
· A Speech Therapist – who will also evaluate swallowing.
To find a Speech Pathologist in Your Area, go to https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/
and
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/All_Searches.aspx
Speech pathologists study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering and using voice. They work with people who have difficulty communicating because of developmental delays, stroke, brain injuries, learning disability, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, dementia and hearing loss, as well as other problems that can affect speech and language. People who experience difficulties swallowing food and drink safely can also be helped by a speech pathologist.
What does a 'typical' Australian speech pathologist look like (View a snapshot of Australia's speechies)?
Speech Pathology Australia (the Association) has a range of fact sheets on a number of important topics including the role of a speech pathologist and the specific communication difficulties they treat.
http://www.parkinsonsresource.org/news/articles/having-difficulty-with-swallowing-food-or-liquids/
According to Speech Pathology Australia, 50 percent of stroke survivors and 84 percent of people with dementia experience dysphagia. Chewing and swallowing problems affect 30-50 percent of residents in aged-care facilities, with choking being the second-highest cause of preventable death.
Since 1 May 2019, new guidelines were introduced in Australia to standardise the names and descriptions of food and drink used in medical and community settings to reduce choking risk. The new guidelines include easily accessible testing methods that allow consumers, health professionals, nursing homes and hospitals to check that the food or drink they are serving is suitable for older Australians with swallowing difficulties. The guidelines have been developed by The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), which Speech Pathology Australia is actively supporting.
· A Dietitian for management of your diet
· A specialist nurse or Physiotherapist, and if management of bowel or bladder problems (incontinence) is required
Type of Nurse
An enrolled nurse is a person who provides nursing care under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse. They have completed the prescribed education preparation, and demonstrated competence to practice under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as an enrolled nurse in Australia. Enrolled nurses are accountable for their own practice and remain responsible to a registered nurse for the delegated care.
A registered nurse is a person who has completed the prescribed education preparation, demonstrates competence to practice, and is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law as a registered nurse in Australia.
Registered nurses are often given the role and duties of a unit manager, team leaders, or administrator. Their responsibilities may include, but aren’t exclusive to, medication administration, assessment and management of patients and complex or specialised nursing care.
The national competency standards allow registered nurses more responsibilities and autonomy in their practice than other kinds of nurses.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses are regulated by the Nurses and Midwives Board and are registered and licensed under the appropriate Nursing Act. They hold a higher level of responsibility and accountability than other nursing roles.
Registered nurses are often given the role and duties of a unit manager, team leaders, or administrator. Their responsibilities may include, but aren’t exclusive to, medication administration, assessment and management of patients and complex or specialised nursing care.
The national competency standards allow registered nurses more responsibilities and autonomy in their practice than other kinds of nurses.
A clinical nurse is a more experienced and skilled registered nurse. Duties of a clinical nurse will substantially include, but are not confined to, delivering direct and comprehensive nursing care and individual case management to a specific group of patients or clients in a particular area of nursing practice.
Assistant In Nursing
An assistant in nursing are technically not nurses. However, AINs perform nursing duties under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse.
AINs tasks, depending on where they work, can include duties such as assisting with personal hygiene, showering and toileting, repositioning them in bed or assistance in mobility.
Assistants in Nursing go by other names, such as aged care worker, personal care assistant, care support employees or health services assistance, depending on where and which sector they work.
AINs normally have a TAFE qualification – Assistant in Nursing Certificate III Acute Care or Certificate III in Aged Care – or some proof of current studies towards becoming an enrolled or registered nurse. Registered nurses are regulated by the Nurses and Midwives Board and are registered and licensed under the appropriate Nursing Act. They hold a higher level of responsibility and accountability than other nursing roles.
. Enrolled Nurse
Enrolled nurses are a second level nurse who works under the supervision of a registered nurse. However, this supervision may can be either direct or indirect – depending on the enrolled nurse’s responsibilities.
However, despite this supervision, enrolled nurses are responsible for their actions and are fully accountable for providing nursing care.
The tasks that are delegated to enrolled nurses can vary depending on where they work. However, they may include observing, measuring and recording patients’ temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and blood sugar levels – and report changes in patient’s condition to doctors, assisting in hygiene and comfort, assisting in first aid and emergency situations.
An enrolled nurse has typically trained in Diploma in Enrolled Nursing – which is achieved during an 18 month or 2 year course at TAFE.
. A Community Nurse is a vital part of your Care Team when you are in your own Home. It's also Very Handy to have a Nurse on call 24/7. Someone who knows you, and can come to your own home. There are huge benefits for not only aged patients, but also patients of all ages receiving care within their own home. You are in a familiar environment - Your Own Home, which can make you more comfortable and relaxed while receiving treatment, and a relaxed patient generally recovers quicker than a stressed patient. Often, patients find it easier to rest at home in their own bed with familiar surroundings; and when a patient is well rested, their body is likely to heal faster, allowing them to be back up on their feet and enjoying their independence sooner rather than later.
Many patients will also feel like they have greater control over their care as well, and they are often more involved in their treatment and ongoing care, as they feel like they are maintaining a sense of independence by staying within their own home for treatment.
With community nursing, a patient will, in most cases, see the same nurse regularly. This can make it easier for the nurse to build a rapport with the patient and to notice subtle changes in the patient’s condition. Your community nurse can also liaison with your Doctor, and, if you want, come with you on your Doctor appointments. This is extremely valuable as often when you come out of the Doctor's, you just don't remember all of the points which were covered. This is when a community nurse who comes into your home regularly, comes into their own = Better Care for YOU.
Community nurses also liaise with the patient’s family and other healthcare providers, such as GPs and specialists, to ensure everyone is on the same page with regard to the patient’s care.
When assessing a patient for community nursing, the RN doing the assessment will also take into consideration other factors,
- often doing assessments around the home,
- checking for things such as trip hazards,
- unsafe stairs,
- lack of adequate lighting and
- access points.
The nurse will also assess the patient’s ability to perform daily tasks, as well as review other needs such as that for Occupational Therapist, ACAT or even counselling services.
Each patient is assessed based on their situation and needs, and the nurse will make the appropriate referrals so the patient receives the best care possible whether it be ongoing or temporary.
There are various providers of in-home nursing care, and most offer the same services.
These include things like:
- nursing assessments,
- psychogeriatric assessment scales (PAS) and
- dementia assessments,
- continence care assessments,
- pressure injuries,
- wound care management,
- drains management (including removal),
- vac dressings,
- general hygiene and
- personal care within the home, and
- continuous hospital care (post discharge/early discharge from hospital, for example, after a total knee or hip replacement).
- administration of medication: oral, subcutaneous IM and IVI medications,
- cannulation,
- supra pubic catheter management,
- urethral indwelling catheter management (including insertion and removal).
Often any service that can be provided by a nurse within a hospital setting can be done in a community setting. Community nurses and other staff within their organisations are bound by the same privacy and record keeping laws/requirements found in the hospital setting. So, the patient’s information, privacy and confidentiality are protected in the same way they would be if the patient was being treated in a hospital.
Community nurses vary between RNs, ENs and AINs, and which one a patient will see depends on the type of care and services required. This is similar to how patients are treated in hospital: if they require more than one type of care classification, or if their condition changes, then they may have a few different nurses seeing them regularly.
A Clinical Nurse Consultant
Clinical nurses are registered nurses, holding all the same responsibilities.
However the difference is that they have undertaken additional studies in a specialised areas and have worked in that field for a number of years.
Because of the extra education – as well as leadership, portfolio work and quality activities, the clinical nurse is often the resource person for other registered nurses in their workplace.
Clinical nurses use of advanced knowledge when planning patient care, perform of advanced clinical skills and can act as a role model and takes an active role in teaching less experienced staff.
Is a nurse practicing in the advanced practice role?
Advanced practice nursing is a qualitatively different level of advanced nursing practice to that of the registered nurse due to the additional legislative functions and the regulatory requirements. The requirements include a prescribed educational level, a specified advanced nursing practice experience, and continuing professional development. Nurses practicing at an advanced level incorporate professional leadership, education and research into their clinically based practice. Their practice is effective and safe. They work within a generalist or specialist context and they are responsible and accountable in managing people who have complex health care requirements.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have been authorised to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role. A nurse practitioner requires further education, typically 1.5-2 years of additional study, as well as other qualification, such as a current practising certificate, a minimum of 3 years post-registration experience in a specialty area, and a completed and signed ‘Clinical Support’ form as evidence that their employer is willing to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace.
The nurse practitioner role is based on the nursing profession’s values, knowledge, theories and practise and provides innovative and flexible health care delivery that complements other health care providers.
Nurse practitioners also have the unique role of direct referral of patients to other healthcare professionals, prescribing medications, and ordering diagnostic investigations.
Nurse navigator–a new model of care
As part of the Nursing Guarantee policy, Queensland Health has introduced a new nurse navigator model of care that has additional 400 senior nursing and midwifery roles added to the state’s Hospital and Health Services over the next four years.
The nurse navigator roles are clinical roles held by experienced nurses and midwives with expert clinical knowledge and in-depth understanding of the health system, whose focus is to support patients with complex health care needs. These nurses and midwives have the breadth and depth of clinical skills required to identify and monitor the health care requirements of high needs patients, identify the appropriate action required and to facilitate timely access to appropriate services.
Nurse navigators play a key role in supporting and coordinating a patient’s entire health care journey, rather than focusing on just a specific disease or condition. This role is underpinned by the principles of delivering coordinated and patient-centred care, creating partnerships across different health providers and sectors, improving patient outcomes and enabling improvements across the system. Research shows that a large number of patients find it difficult to successfully access, understand, evaluate and communicate health information to improve their health. Through their knowledge of the treatment of health conditions nurse navigators will also help educate patients about self-management of their health needs and empower them to make decisions on their own health care.
This integrated and proactive approach to health care service delivery will help ensure patients receive the most appropriate service when and where they need it. In some cases, this may even reduce their need for hospital admission. Benefits Patients, particularly those with complex health care needs requiring services from numerous care providers, or those who have presented multiple times to a health service, stand to benefit from the nurse navigator service. Through a clinical focus and understanding, these nurses ensure a patient is treated in the correct place, at the correct time, by the correct health care professional.
https://hellocare.com.au/6-kinds-nurses-australia/
HONE NURSE LISTENING SKILLS FOR BETTER PATIENT EXPERIENCE
BY JENNIFER THEW RN | JUNE 28, 2019
https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/hone-nurse-listening-skills-better-patient-experience
When patients feel nurses are listening to them, they self-report better care outcomes and a happier healthcare experience.
Nonverbal and verbal behaviors influence patients' perceptions of whether nurses have listened to them.
Patients who don't feel listened to report they are less likely to follow their care plan.
Making a personal connection with a patient doesn't take much time, technology, or investment, but it can pay off big when it comes to improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Nurse’s Intuition Can Predict Patient Decline Within 24 Hours
By Caroline Egan. Oct 25, 2019
New research confirms what most of us may have intuitively already known – that nurses are able to accurately predict a patient’s decline, and are therefore a vital source of information when it comes to saving lives.
https://hellocaremail.com.au/nurses-intuition-can-predict-patient-decline-within-24-hours/
The Legal Toolkit provides practical information about the law at end of life for the aged care sector. It contains useful resources on end of life legal issues commonly encountered in aged care to help you to know the law and to support your practice. To find out more, read our Legal factsheet (701kb pdf).
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https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2021/09/pbs-website-update-1-september-2021
1st September 2021 Up-date - PBS Website update.
Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 September 2021 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, Amended and Deleted Items page.
What's changed?
On 1 April 2020, four antibiotics listed on the PBS General Schedule (Section 85) had changes made to their listings and new listings added for the treatment of a range of infections, such as acute cystitis, streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis and periorbital cellulitis.
The antibiotics include:
- amoxicillin
- amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
- cefalexin
- roxithromycin.
· A GP (for general/referrals/other Health Services ) - go to the HealthShare.com.au
Make better health choices - Search for a health professional, specialty or health topic.
- Choose from 92,000 Australian health professionals FIND A PROFESSIONAL
- Search over 370+ health topics SEARCH HEALTH TOPICS
- Get free answers to your health questions ASK A QUESTION
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) http://www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/home
This website contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The PBS is part of Australia’s broader National Medicines Policy.
19 June 2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Green Book uses real-life case studies and ideas to help illustrate processes, strategies and tools to implement and sustain preventive activities.The Green book resources page highlights some practical case studies and stories that Australian general practices have undertaken to successfully implement preventive activities for their practice population.
© 2019 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) ABN 34 000 223 807
It often falls on Carers, with the help and understanding of the medical profession, to 'Make a Difference' in our loved one's lives. It's not easy, and no-one said that it was, BUT it is the main reason many Carers are worn-out, worried beyond belief, and neglectful of their own health, that we look to our loved one's Doctors to inspire, direct, and develop that close relationship that is just SO vital in the continuing care of our loved one.
So, Thank you... Carers could not do this work without you.
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And of course, now that the Residential Care Home you have used for Respite care can now apply to be a Home Care provider in their own right, YOU can have a chat with them and ask, "Can you be my loved one's Home Care Provider?"
It may be something they have not thought about before BUT, if you bring it up, they may take a serious look at entering into this expanding marketplace.
. A Psychologist
Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. This means that they are able to assist not only those who have mental health problems, but also those who need help in adjusting to a chronic, or complex illness. Often chronic or complex illnesses require a number of lifestyle changes such as changes to health behaviours like diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol intake, or scheduling regular treatments or medications, as well as changes to work, family and living arrangements. Psychologists can often assist with better managing these changes. Being confronted with a long-term or complex illness can also be a very emotional time, and may cause many people to feel anxious or depressed, angry, helpless or confused. Psychologists can also often help to deal with these feelings so that you can better cope with your illness.
Be aware: Science News from research organizations
Can over-the-counter pain meds influence thoughts and emotions?
Date: February 6, 2018
Source: SAGE
Summary: Over-the-counter pain medicine such as Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may influence how people process information, experience hurt feelings, and react to emotionally evocative images, according to recent studies.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180206090700.htm
Medicare-subsidised psychologist services:
Medicare-subsidised psychologist services are services provided by psychologists that are rebatable by Medicare through psychological therapy services, focussed psychological strategies and enhanced primary care items. For these items to be eligible for Medicare rebates, the provider must meet the following eligibility requirements and be registered with Medicare Australia.
Medicare rebates for psychological therapy services are only available for services provided by clinical psychologists who are fully registered in the relevant jurisdiction and are members of, or eligible for membership with, the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists. Clinical membership is only available for registered psychologists who have completed the standard 4 years of study in psychology and attained an accredited doctorate degree in clinical psychology or master’s degree in clinical psychology with 1 year of supervised post-masters clinical psychology experience.
Medicare rebates for focused psychological strategies and enhanced primary care are available for services provided by psychologists who are fully registered in the relevant jurisdiction regardless of any specialist clinical training. Registered psychologists must complete the standard 4 years of study in psychology with an additional 2 years of supervised practice, postgraduate coursework or a research degree, and meet any other jurisdiction-specific requirement for registration.
Can I access any psychologist?
Under the Medicare scheme you can only see a registered psychologist who has a Medicare Provider Number and who you have been referred to by your GP under a particular management plan. Do note the government's recent moves to allow Medicare-funded psychology sessions to be conducted by telehealth. This move is aimed predominantly at psychologists and other mental health professionals to use in conjunction with their patients and clients, but which is also suitable for allied health professionals and medical practitioners.
https://www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/Medicare-rebates-psychological-services/FAQ-chronic-disease-management-psych-services
- Medicare Rebates for chronic disease management items provided by psychologists: information for clients:
- https://www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/believe-in-change
. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is expert in mental health. They specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illnesses.
To become a psychiatrist in Australia, a doctor must train for at least another 6 years after finishing medical school. Their medical training means that they understand both physical illnesses and mental illnesses.
. Medicare‑subsidised psychiatrist services
Medicare‑subsidised psychiatrist services are services provided by a psychiatrist (or, for electroconvulsive therapy, by either a psychiatrist or another medical practitioner together with an anaesthetist) on a fee‑for‑service basis that are partially or fully funded under the Australian Government’s Medicare program. These services cover patient attendances (or consultations) provided in different settings as well as services such as group psychotherapy, telepsychiatry, case conferences and electroconvulsive therapy. These item groups along with the relevant MBS item numbers are listed in the data source section. Note that for items in the range 291 to 370 (MBS Group A8) and 855 to 866 (Case conference—consultant psychiatrist) only medical practitioners who are recognised as psychiatrists for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973 are eligible to provide services attracting an MBS subsidy.
. Specialised Mental Health Care explained: http://mhsa.aihw.gov.au/services/
Emergencies, Hospitals and State information...
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Advance Health Directives and ‘Less Restrictive Way’ of Treatment
ADVANCE HEALTH DIRECTIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The new Mental Health Act took effect in Queensland from March 2017. It enables you to express your views, wishes, and treatment preferences formally in a new document called an Advance Health Directive for mental health. This allows you to have your say and plan for future health care treatment should you become unwell. Consumer, Family and Carer workshops are free and for individuals who experience mental health concerns, their family and carers.
With the new advance health directive for mental health you can:
ƒ discuss future treatment preferences with your doctor and have a formal document to reflect your wishes
ƒ inform your treating team about your recovery journey plans
ƒ choose support people you trust to assist in making healthcare decisions for you, should you become unwell. You can also set limits on the decisions they can make.
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To find a Psychiatrist: Directory of consultant psychiatrists in private practice in Australia
How do I arrange to see a psychiatrist?
In a mental health emergency, you should:
- call 000 in Australia
- visit the emergency department at your nearest hospital.
. A Pharmacist for regular Home Medicines Review
The role of community pharmacists in palliative care
Pharmacists play an important role in the delivery of care for people receiving aged-care services.
The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) team are conducting a study looking at the role of community pharmacists providing palliative care for older Australians living in residential dwellings and community-based aged-care facilities. If you are currently working as a pharmacist in a community setting, please click on this link which has more information in the Participant Information Sheet.
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If you are using multiple medications, have difficulty managing your medication, or have been recently discharged from hospital or other care facility, or are having an adverse reaction to a medication. This involves your medical practitioner and pharmacist working together to review all the medicines you are taking, including prescription medicine, over-the-counter and complementary medicines.
People taking nine or more medications have an 89 per cent higher risk of hospitalisation than those who take less than nine, the authors of a new study have said. Conducted by Monash University researchers and staff from Resthaven, the study set out to investigate whether there was an association between taking nine or more regular medications and admission to hospital.
The research team looked at residents’ time to first hospitalisation, the number of hospitalisations, and the number of days spent in hospital over a 12-month period. Tina Cooper (née Emery), executive manager of residential services at Resthaven, said the study has important implications for aged care and hospitals alike. She said: “The research adds to the increasing body of evidence that suggests reducing the number of unnecessary or low-benefit medications, referred to as deprescribing, may be a valuable way to reduce unwanted, expensive hospital stays.”
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Prescription drug abuse prevention starts with you.
- Only take prescriptions medications as directed by your doctor.
- Never give your prescription medications to anyone else.
- Never take a medication that has been prescribed for someone else.
- Talk to children and teens about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and safeguard medications in your home.
- Ask your pharmacy if they participate in take-back programs to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications.
- Be aware too of the impact of those 'normal' medications - https://www.medicinenet.com/prescription_drug_abuse_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
Pharmacist review, home checks part of medication strategy for people with dementia
By: Dallas Bastian in News,
Australian researchers are hoping to improve outcomes for people with dementia after they are discharged from hospital through a medication strategy that starts in the lead-up to discharge and continues into the home.
Associate professor Ashley Kable, from the University of Newcastle, said medication generally changes for people once they’ve been treated in hospital, which makes self-administration even harder for people with dementia, and added the responsibility often falls back on carers.
Kable said currently, home medication reviews can be requested by a general practitioner following a patient’s discharge from hospital, but are not always done. She said the safe medication strategy will include clinical pharmacist review of medications and communication with the carer, training in hospital to use medication dose administration aids and provision of a discharge medication plan and explanation.
The discharge summary will include a note for general practitioners to request a home medicines review. These will be conducted by community pharmacists who will aim to identify any prescribed medications that may be a risk for people with dementia, such as those that may cause confusion or result in falls, any potential drug interactions or contraindicated medications, any adjuvant medications being used in addition to prescribed medications that may be a risk, and any modifications to medications that may be required for a person with dementia.
SO, when your loved one is discharged from hospital, do make sure to go to your usual Pharmacist and ask for a Home Medicines Review. Many of the usual medications may have been changed, upped in dosage, or Brand altered in the hospital.
YOU need to know as the result can mean that they are taking the 'old' medication and the 'new' medication as well; when the NEW prescription just written by the Doctor is to REPLACE the 'old' medication. Most serious for your loved one. Sometimes the person takes the New medication without checking with the Pharmacist that it actually Replaces your 'old' medication.
YOU, as a Carer, can do this. Alternatively, have a chat with your loved one's GP and have him write a note to your Pharmacist to do this.
How the pharmacist can simplify a dosing schedule during an Home Medicines Review:
• Reduce dosing frequency and recommend long-acting dosage forms where possible
• Recommend a higher strength to reduce the number of dosage units for a specific medicine where two tablets of the same medicine are taken at different times in a day
• Recommend a lower strength product where the person is cutting tablets in half or into quarters
• Consolidate dosing times to fit in with the patient’s lifestyle
• Recommend a combination product if suitable to reduce the number of medicines being used
• Recommend a suitable adherence aid for the patient with cognitive or dexterity issues
for a closer look:
https://www.veteransmates.net.au/documents/10184/38810/Nov_2016_GP_Insert.pdf/e9b3126e-bf0e-4238-bd74-8cdd617458d0
"With the focus on medicines and older Australians in these lists, we urge people to consider if they are on the right medicine, or whether they could be taking too many medicines and if you are due for a review. It’s always timely to check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any medicines are unnecessary and if they could cause harm if taken together."
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Prescription drug abuse prevention starts with you.
- Only take prescriptions medications as directed by your doctor.
- Never give your prescription medications to anyone else.
- Never take a medication that has been prescribed for someone else.
- Talk to children and teens about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and safeguard medications in your home.
- Ask your pharmacy if they participate in take-back programs to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications.
- Be aware too of the impact of those 'normal' medications.
https://vimeo.com/124597870
A 90 second online video showing what happens behind the scenes after your Pathology sample is taken - by your Doctor, or in the hospital setting.
Your doctor will use the results of this review to develop a medication management plan for you.
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PBS Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/faq
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PBS listings are published on the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits which is available through the PBS website
PBS News https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/pricing/price-disclosure-spd/drugs-subject-to-price-disclosure
01 June 2021
More than half a million Australians to benefit from new medicine listings: https://www.health.gov.au/news/more-than-half-a-million-australians-to-benefit-from-new-medicine-listings Cheaper medicine is on the way for more than 500,000 patients since October 1, with price reductions for common scripts and new medicines added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), in some cases saving more than $100,000 per patient.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/cheaper-medicine-for-over-500000-patients
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, is rock solid. This includes continuing to cut the cost of medicines for patients through the PBS safety net.
From 1 January 2020 the threshold to receive free or further discounted medicines through the PBS will be lowered by 12 scripts for pensioners and concession card holders and the equivalent of 2 scripts for non-concession card holders.
Millions of Australians set to benefit from new and cheaper medicines
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - going to the pharmacy is set to be cheaper, with the cost of more than 1100 medicine brands being reduced and with vital new drugs being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
From 1 April, millions of Australians suffering from a range of health conditions will benefit when more than 1,100 medicine brands listed on the PBS drop in price. People with conditions including high cholesterol, Parkinson's disease, depression, breast cancer, eczema and psoriasis will pay less for their medicines.
As an example, 467,000 Australians using rosuvastatin for high cholesterol will save 22% per script. For the many Australians who take multiple medications daily, the savings will be considerable.
This means that drugs which may otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars will be available for no more than $38.80 per script – or just $6.30 for concession card holders. From 1 April, new treatments for two rare cancers, Hodgkin Lymphoma, and an advanced type of skin cancer, will be available through the PBS. Some of the other listings include treatments for psoriasis, arthritis, schizophrenia and iron deficiency.
About our New health.gov.au website ********
Our new health.gov.au is easier to understand and use. Find out how we have transformed our website, how it works and how we will continually improve.
- 17 July 2019 Health released a new version of health.gov.au
Reorganised information
We have moved from a website that was structured around how the Department works, to one that's structured to make sense to you - our website visitors.
Information is now organised into the following areas:
- health topics - all our information, organised by topic listed alphabetically or you can use the search box to find what you need.
- initiatives and programs - all of our initiatives, programs and campaigns
- news - our news and media
- resources - all of our publications, tools, videos in one place
- corporate content - information about us
- contacts - contact for us and support
Organising our content in this way will help you to find it more easily. It also helps us remove duplications and display content consistently, so you know what to expect.
The 1 July 2019 MBS files (XML, DOC, PDF and ZIP) are now available to download
http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/news-2019-07-01-latest-news-July
Page last updated: 23 November 2020
Changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule Urgent After-Hours GP Services 1 March 2018 General Questions and Answers:
for additional searches:
Search for a health professional, specialty, or health topic https://www.healthshare.com.au/ constantly updated through HealthShare
Search for a health topic - over 370+ health topics www.healthshare.com.au/all-health-topics A - Z
Search for Fact Sheets that you can print out www.healthshare.com.au/factsheets/
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- an ACAT
agedcareguide.com.au/acats/qeensland Gold Coast ACAT
- Phone: 1800 200 422 Fax: 1800 728 174 Local government areas covered: Gold Coast, Logan (part), Scenic Rim (part)
The ACAT assess people’s eligibility for Home Care Packages and other residential care services. They are professional health and community care clinicians who visit you at home to assess your needs. They do a comprehensive assessment for your eligibility for a Home Care Package, residential respite care or permanent residential care.
Comprehensive Assessment (ACAT only)
A Comprehensive Assessment, undertaken by the ACATs, builds on the information collected in the contact centre screening and Home Support Assessment (if applicable) and in a suitable face-to-face context (preferably in the client’s usual accommodation setting) to determine a client’s eligibility for care types under the Act. It encompasses the same client information as the Home Support Assessment at a deeper level.
The assessor will comprehensively assess:
- the client’s physical capability,
- medical condition,
- psychosocial factors,
- cognitive and behavioral factors,
- physical environmental factors
- and restorative needs.
The assessor and client will work together to establish a support plan that reflects the client’s strengths and abilities, areas of difficulty, and the support that will best meet their needs and goals. This will include the consideration of formal and informal services as well as reablement and/or restorative pathways.
Where a care type under the Act is identified as the most appropriate type of support to meet the client’s needs, and the client meets the eligibility criteria, the assessor will make a recommendation for approval. A client may be approved for a Home Care Package, Residential Care, Residential Respite Care or Flexible Care (Transition Care Program [TCP] or Short-Term Restorative Care [STRC]). Clients may also be referred to Commonwealth Home Support Program services where appropriate.
Aged Care Services - those aged 65 or older & their Carers
Need help to stay living in your own home and community? Everyday tasks difficult and need support?
First you need an Assessment, an ACAT - someone comes in person to see you in your own home
Phone 1800 200 422 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm).
https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/acat-acas
What is the Aged Care Assessment (ACAT) Team?
agedcareguide.com.au/acats/qeensland Gold Coast ACAT
- Phone: 1800 200 422 Fax: 1800 728 174 Local government areas covered: Gold Coast, Logan (part), Scenic Rim (part)
Key points:
- Getting an assessment is the first step towards getting access to Government funded services
- Assessments are undertaken by the Aged Care Assessment Team across Australia, or the Aged Care Assessment Service in Victoria
- You can have your assessment reviewed if you don't agree with the outcome
What is an aged care assessment and how does it work
Last Updated at February 23rd 2022
When sorting out your aged care service and facility options for yourself or an older loved one, your first point of call is registering yourself with My Aged Care.
A member of an ACAT/S can help you, and your carer, determine what kind of care will best suit your needs. [Source: Shutterstock] From there, you can organise an assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S). This is an important step to get the ball rolling for your aged care journey with Government subsidised aged care services.
When you are no longer able to manage at home without assistance, an ACAT/S will determine what kind of Government assistance will best suit your needs.
ACAT/S assessors will take the information you have provided and analyse whether you require support or if you're already receiving care whether you require a higher level of care.
What are ACATs/ACAS'?
An ACAT/S assessor will work with you, and your carer, to determine what your current difficulties are and what kind of care would provide you the most benefit. That could be extra help around the home or making a move into an aged care facility.
What happens during an assessment?
During the assessment visit, the ACAT clinician (usually a nurse, social worker or other health care professional) will ask questions about how well you are managing in your day-to-day life. They will also explain the assessment process and give you advice about on the types of care services that may help you to stay at home. Your assessed needs will determine which level of Home Care Package you are eligible for. You will also be asked about whether you want approvals to use residential respite care in the future. In some instances, when staying at home is no longer possible, the assessment can also help to determine your eligibility for care in a residential aged care facility.
My Aged Care Assessment Manual June 2018
Page last updated: 25 June 2018
The My Aged Care Assessment Manual for Regional Assessment Services and Aged Care Assessment Teams (the Manual) is designed to drive good practices in the assessment of older people’s support needs and eligibility for Commonwealth - subsidised aged care services under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and/or types of care under the Aged Care Act 1997. The Manual replaces the Aged Care Assessment Program Guidelines May 2015 and the My Aged Care Regional Assessment Service Guidelines June 2015.
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Q. Can I have someone with me during the ACAT assessment?
A. Yes – It’s a good idea to have someone you trust and who knows you well at the assessment home visit. You can have a friend, family member, partner, carer or advocate with you during the assessment. To find a local advocate, contact the National Aged Care Advocacy Line on 1800 700 600.
Q. How can I prepare for my ACAT assessment?
A. During the assessment, you will be asked about what you can still do for yourself and what you want assistance with. It helps if you have already thought about what your needs are, and about what you help you think you will want in the foreseeable future.
Q. When should I agree to have an assessment of my needs?
A. Having an assessment worries me! Some older people are worried that having an assessment means a fast-track into a nursing home. The truth is that most people will be linked into community care services that help them stay living in their own home. Many people get extra help at home. If you think you might benefit from some assistance, it’s a good idea to have an assessment. Over the phone, My Aged Care will help work out what type of assessment you need and will start the process for you.
Once you’ve had an assessment, you make up your own mind about whether you want to accept the outcome. It’s your life and your choice.
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ACATs are teams of medical, nursing and allied health professionals who assess the physical, psychological, medical, restorative, cultural and social needs of frail older people and help them and their carers to access appropriate levels of support. residential aged care services. ...
Arranging an ACAT assessment
Arranging an ACAT assessment is as simple as getting in touch with My Aged Care’s customer service centre, which you can call on 1800-200-422. However, you can also have your doctor, social worker, and other health professionals make this call on your behalf. Your family, friends, hospital social workers, community service providers and others with an interest in the health and safety of an older person can also supply a referral in support of the ACAT assessment.
What are you going to be asked during the assessment?
- Your health and medical needs. ...
- Your physical and mobility needs. ...
- Your psychological needs. ...
- Your social needs. ...
- Other concerns.
What to expect in the ACAT assessment. Click here to find out more.
When an individual is no longer able to live independently and safely in their home without assistance, the ACAT is there to work with them and their carer to discover the kind of care can help them maintain a high quality of life. As a result, they may be eligible for a Home Care Package for their own home, respite care, or transition care services following a hospital stay.
ACAT assessments are required if you want to have respite care in an aged care home or receive aged care services through a Home Care Package. Aged Care Assessment Teams are local groups, comprised of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. One of these people will be present for the assessment, and the other members of the team will help them look over the results and finalize any recommendations and outcomes of the assessment.
Do you need an ACAT assessment for respite care?
If you need any type of government-funded services or residential respite care (a short stay in an aged-care home), then you will need an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT, or ACAS in Victoria) assessment. You first need to register with My Aged Care.
How many days of respite care are you allowed? 63 days
How much residential respite care can I receive?
You can access up to 63 days of subsidised care in a financial year. This includes both planned and emergency residential respite care. It is possible to extend this by 21 days at a time, with further approval from your aged care assessor.
Alternative route to accessing My Aged Care
Older Australians about to start their aged care services journey can now apply for an ACAT - aged care assessment through the My Aged Care website.
30 January 2020 by Liz Alderslade
People will be able to access a new online form to register for their first assessment on the My Aged Care website. [Source: Shutterstock] People will be able to access a new online form to register for their first assessment and can be completed in their own time as an alternative to calling the My Aged Care contact centre.
The Federal Government is aiming to improve the functionality of the My Aged Care website with this additional contact form.
A family member, friend or carer can help an older person manage the online application, or someone can do it on their behalf, however, they will need to be registered as your representative on My Aged Care.
To register a regular representative, you can either call My Aged Care, ask an assessor at your face-to-face assessment, or fill out the Appointment of a Representative Form available on the My Aged Care website here.
All Guides to Aged Care - just click on what YOU want to know NOW:-
https://www.agedcareguide.com.au/information/all
Approval for Home Care packages
Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) approvals for Home Care:
ACAT Guidance Framework for Home Care Package Level - 18 December 2019
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/user-guide-for-the-guidance-framework
How is YOUR Level assessed?
What Questions are being asked?
High Priority is defined as: Client is considered at urgent and immediate risk in terms of their personal safety or at immediate risk of admission into residential care. The client may have a carer and the carer arrangements are unsustainable or the carer is at crisis point.
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2019/12/acat-guidance-for-home-care-package-high-priority.pdf
This guide has been developed for Aged Care Assessment Teams to inform and support their decision making when recommending a specific Home Care Package level.
https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/07_2017/guidance_on_priority_for_home_care_services.pdf
There are only two priority for home care service categories – medium and high. The primary goal is to quickly identify and facilitate access for those clients with a relatively urgent need for access to care, i.e. 'high' priority. Including all other clients in the 'medium' category recognises that all clients assessed for and seeking a Home Care Package have a need for care and would benefit from timely package assignment. There is no ‘low’ priority for home care service. Clients who do not want to access a package should be identified as ‘not seeking services’ following assessment so they are not placed on the queue. Clients will not be disadvantaged by choosing this option as if they decide to join the queue at a later date; they will be assigned a package based on their original approval date and priority for service.
- an ACAT
The Government will be going out to tender this year to both the private sector and current industry organisations to fill a single Aged Care Assessment Team/Service (ACAT/S) force, which was implemented in April 2021.
by Liz Alderslade April 2021
The Department of Health held a webinar on 11 December about the new assessment arrangements. It is available here.
The Government says the aim of the change to the ACAT/S arrangement is to help older Australians receive the services they require sooner. [Source: Shutterstock]
In late December, the Federal Government announced they will be amalgamating the ACAT/S with the Regional Assessment Service (RAS), to streamline consumer assessments and access to aged care pathways. This decision has followed a legislated review of the aged care system by David Tune in 2016-2017, suggesting that the ACAT/S and RAS needed to become a single assessment system, which received principal support from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Government says the aim of the change to the ACAT/S arrangement is to help older Australians receive the services they require sooner.
You will also need to be assessed by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) Phone 1300 130 143 to find out if you are Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment
If you’ve had a face-to-face assessment in the past, there may come a time when you need to be reassessed.
The assessment you had would have been based on the needs that you had at that time. However, circumstances can change.
You may find that since your last assessment, your needs have changed. Perhaps some other daily tasks have become more difficult for you.
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment
If you’ve had a look to see what services might be available and you want to know more about how to apply and what’s involved in the assessment process, this section is for you.
The first stage is to find out if you are eligible for subsidised aged care. This involves a two-part assessment process that understands your needs and what services could help you. It starts with a simple phone call followed by an in-person assessment.
The first step to access government-funded aged care services is to call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Our friendly and knowledgeable contact centre staff will talk with you about your needs and circumstances. If we think My Aged Care services can help, we’ll refer you for a face-to-face assessment.
All our staff are trained to talk to people in a range of situations and are ready to answer your questions to help find the best options for you.
What happens on the call?
Our priority is getting you the help you need. To do this, we’ll ask about:
- your health
- how you’re managing at home
- any support you’re currently receiving.
We can keep a record of this discussion, so you won’t have to provide the same information again at your assessment.
Who can support me?
A family member, friend, or carer can be with you during the call. With your permission, they can also talk on your behalf.
If you want someone to speak and act on your behalf on an ongoing basis, you can appoint them as your representative with My Aged Care. This will allow My Aged Care to talk to them about your aged care.
If you’re receiving a comprehensive assessment for some services such as residential care, home care, and flexible care, the assessor will ask you to complete an Application for Care Form.
What happens after I call?
With the information you give us, we’ll let you know if you are eligible for a face-to-face assessment. A face-to-face assessment can determine exactly what you need, and can even let you know about services you may not have thought about.
How should I prepare for my assessment?
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment/prepare-your-assessment
For any face-to-face assessment, you should have:
- your Medicare card and one other form of ID proof - such as DVA card, driver's license, healthcare card, or passport
- have a copy of any referrals from your doctor
- consider if you would like a support person present
- have any information you already have about aged care services that you may want to discuss
- have contact details for your GP or other health professionals
- consider if you need special assistance to communicate, such as a translator, Auslan interpreter, guide dog, etc.
- have information on any support you receive.
There may be a form to fill out
If you’re receiving a comprehensive assessment for some services such as residential care, home care, and flexible care, the assessor will ask you to complete an Application for Care Form.
Your assessor will talk to you about your needs
The assessor will have a copy of the information you gave to the My Aged Care contact centre. This gives them an idea of what support you might need to help you return to, or keep the level of independence needed to manage your day-to-day life. They’ll also ask about:
- what support you already have, and if it will continue
- your health, lifestyle and any health concerns
- how you’re going with completing daily tasks and activities around the home
- if you have problems with your memory
- any issues relating to home and personal safety
- family and community activities
- speaking to your GP or other health professionals.
Your assessor will work with you to develop your support plan
The support plan records what you discussed and agreed during your assessment such as:
- your strengths
- your difficulties
- your goals
- what you would like to achieve
- what preferences you have for your services
Questions to ask the assessor
You may also like to prepare any questions that you have, for example:
- What services are available to help me reach my goals?
- What services are available locally, and what are the waiting times?
- What supports are there for my carer?
- Are there service providers that speak my language or represent my religious or cultural beliefs?
- How can I contact the assessor if I have any questions after the assessment?
Can I have someone with me?
Yes. You never have to be alone in this process. If you choose, a family member, friend or carer can be with you during your assessment.
An ACAT assessment and approval is required before people can access residential aged care, Community Aged Care Packages or Extended Aged Care at Home packages. Assessment teams are located around Australia and are usually based at a hospital, geriatric centre or community centre and can see people in their own home or in hospital.
ACATs help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs when they are no longer able to manage at home without assistance. ACATs provide information on suitable care options and can help arrange access or referral to appropriate residential or home care services (including HACC, Short Term Restorative Care and Transition Care). An ACAT assessment and approval is required before people can access residential aged care or a home care package.
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Finding a Provider...
To find latest vacancies, have a look here. then click on different Providers to learn more. Please note the once given a Package, you have 56 days (with the option of an extension of 28 days) to take up a package with your chosen Provider before it is withdrawn, and goes back into the national 'prioritization queue’ . All is not lost though, an older person can 'opt out' if they are not ready to take up a package but still retain their place in the queue, should they choose to rejoin later.
Since the beginning of March 2018, the department is notifying older people on the queue when they are likely to be assigned a package within 90 days.
Home care services priority – either medium or high priority with the priority indicating how quickly the client requires the package. The default priority will be medium priority with only a small percentage of clients who are at immediate risk* being approved as high priority. Care level and priority for home care service are not necessarily linked – a level 4 client will not always have a 'high' priority for home care service – they may need a high level of care, but not be at immediate risk* for a range of reasons.
• The priority for home care service is a delegate decision similar to the package level decision, and can be appealed by a client if they disagree with the decision. You will be told what your priority for home care service is, in the same letter that will inform you which level of package you have been
approved for.
* Immediate Risk:
- A 'high' priority for home care service should generally indicate that a client is considered at risk in terms of rapid physical, mental or cognitive decline, or in terms of their personal safety.
- A client may have a carer at risk of/ or at a crisis point.
- Clients with special needs should not be automatically be considered to have a 'high' priority, as they may not have an Urgent Need to assess a package quickly.
Areas of no change to program arrangements:
- Existing home care consumers will continue to receive care and services.
- No changes to the current fee arrangements in home care.
- All home care packages will continue to be delivered on a CDC basis, but with greater choice for the consumer as to who provides their care.
- The total number of home care packages will continue to be capped in line with the aged care planning ratio and the forward estimates.
- Funding will continue to be paid to an approved provider.
- No changes to the claiming process for providers through the Department of Human Services.
SOCIAL DOMAIN - A gauge of social isolation/loneliness and a typical measure of perceived support from family, friends and neighbours.
- Informal support network / carers
- Community access
- Social isolation
- Financial support
MEDICAL DOMAIN - Addresses overall health and wellbeing including health and mental health conditions, disability, nutrition, and oral health.
- Medical conditions
- Medication management
- Nutrition
- Skin integrity
- Continence
PHYSICAL DOMAIN - A key determinant of independence in activities of daily living and a contributing factor to overall health status and quality of life. It includes mobility, i.e. the ability to stand, sit, walk, turn, transfer and climb.
- ADL - includes activities such as:
- o Toileting
- o Dressing
- o Bathing
- o Eating, and/or
- o Ability to transfer and mobilise with/without an aid.
- IADL - includes instrumental activities of daily living such as:
- o Shopping
- o Preparing meals
- o Travel in the community
- o Housework, and
- o Managing finances.
- Falls risk
- Pain
- Sensory - Consistent with the NSAF, sensory refers particularly to issues with:
- Vision
- Hearing,
- and Speech.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DOMAIN - This domain includes:
o Cognitive impairment
o Capacity for decision-making
o Depression
o Dementia
o Behaviour
o Delirium, and
o Judgement and insight
- Cognition
- Behavioural management issues
COMPLEXITY/VULNERABILTY DOMAIN - This domain refers to measurable characteristics of a client’s circumstances that may relate to service provision and the urgency of any interventions. Complexity and vulnerability includes factors such as homelessness, risk of abuse, emotional/mental health issues, difficulty communicating, and/or certain demographic indicators e.g. veterans, Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, living in rural/remote areas etc.
- Case management
- Elder abuse
- Drug and alcohol
- Mental health
- Accommodation
ACATs might include a doctor, nurse, social worker, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. ACATs help older people and their carers work out what kind of care will best meet their needs, provide information on suitable care options and can help arrange access or referral to appropriate residential or community care services such as Home and Community Care.
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If you have fallen in the last year and you are afraid of falling again, your doctor can review your medicines and assess your chance of falling. Your doctor may refer you to:
· A Geriatrician who is a specialist doctor for older people. Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of medicine that focuses on health care of the elderly. It aims to promote health, as well as prevent and treat diseases and disabilities in older adults.
· A Physiotherapist for leg strengthening, gait, walking exercises, balance- also Management of Bowel or Bladder problems.
Click here to find a Physiotherapist in your Area
And now to R E L A X ... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...
Choose for Yourself :-)
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm
and
B R E A T H E ... Quick and Easy Breathing Exercises to Cope with Stress, Anxiety and Emotions:
https://hubpages.com/health/Breathing-Exercises-for-the-High-Stressed-Individual
An Occupational Therapist -
click on the video "Sharing the Care: getting to know your Team https://bsphn.org.au/primary-care-support/allied-health-professionals/
- for advice on home modifications & to reduce your chance of falling at home and more.
Ask your current Provider or you can search for yourself.
An Occupational Therapist assesses a person's ability to gain access to a particular environment. Assessments may be specific to your individual situation or general for a public environment or to the technique and equipment used to access it.
Occupational therapists can help make the most of a person’s mobility with any number of daily activities—whether it’s writing, typing, cooking, driving, bathing, dressing, or grooming. Modifications for work and to the workplace environment also fall under the expertise of the occupational therapist.
- can assess homes for safety risks and can create home modifications reports for handymen/builders (e.g. install grab rails, fix up stair handrails, widen doorways, install doorway ramps, lower microwaves and kitchen benches, and install tailored bathroom safety equipment).
- can assess people in their homes and identify areas of concern.
- observes the mobility performance of a person and identifies solutions for priority concerns; orders, installs, and trains participant in the use of adaptive, mobility and rehabilitation aids and devices.
- can train a person in fall recovery.
- Occupational Therapists and Nurses can reinforce strength and balance strategies during each home visit.
An OT works in the areas of -
- Acquired Brain Injury and their families to consider their physical and cognitive-behavioural impairments to work towards activities and achieving their personal goals
- Adaptive Technology is the adaptive equipment and technology, hardware and software to assist people to use the item and to therefore have greater access to a range of activities. eg. visually impaired people may include a signature guide, large button phone, magnifier, and screen magnification software.
- Activity of Daily Living is where the OT assess the way you do your everyday tasks and make recommendations about better and safer ways to manage. This can mean ANY task that is important to you and/or necessary for you to do.
- Aged Care where OT's assess a person's ability to manage daily task/s or a living situation that is currently difficult. They can recommend safer and easier ways to manage a task, equipment and/or alterations required, and/or support required in a living environment. OT's can also develop a treatment plan aimed toward you achieving a desired goal.
- Attendant Care Reviews is where an OT specifically assesses a person's management of their everyday tasks, thus providing a funding provider regarding the level and type of assistance required by an attendant carer.
- Counselling can also be provided to clients in areas such as psychological counselling, relationship counselling and vocational counselling.
- Driving Assessments are conducted by OT's who have specific training to do so.
- Equipment Prescription is to assess a person's ability to carry out a particular task, or to access a particular environment, and who recommends assistive equipment to improve your abilities.
- Ergonomics is where an OT will focus on recommendations such as proper use of posture and body movement, good placement of computer equipment, comfortable handles and grips, or an efficient layout of kitchen appliances.
- Functional Capacity Evaluations where an OT can carry out specific assessment to determine your general work tolerances, providing clear information about their client's maximum functional abilities (eg lifting, carrying, sitting, standing) and can lead to recommendations regarding suitable/non-suitable work duties.
- Hand Therapy/Splinting/Scar Management where an OT can specifically assist people who are having difficulty using their hands as a result of injury, a disease process or deformity.
- Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills where an OT can work with people to develop the fine hand skills required for handwriting and other daily living tasks which require a degree of dexterity - like opening a jar...
- Home Modification Assessments is where an OT can assess a person's ability to manage the physical environment in their own home. They can make recommendations about assistive equipment and home modifications which aim to improve your ability to access and move about your own home as you choose/require.
- Medico-legal assessment and reporting where OT's are engaged in personal injury matters and who are contracted by insurance companies or solicitors to provide medico-legal reports. These reports can be provided to the courts as evidence in cases of negligence.
- Mental Health to work with people who experience social or emotional distress, or mental illness, to assist them to participate in their chosen activities and/or occupations.
- Neurological Rehabilitation where an OT uses activities, assistive equipment and techniques to enable people who are having difficulty carrying out every day activities due to a neurological deficit or disease process, an acquired head injury or stroke to manage these tasks.
- Nursing Home Consultations where an OT can assess the residents and make recommendations re positioning, support and strategies to encourage participation in daily living tasks and valued activities.
- Palliative Care is where an OT can assist you adapt to your changing needs caused by the symptoms of cancer and/or its treatments. OT's aim to support people so that they may carry out the tasks that are most important to them. To YOU.
- Pain Management where OT's work with people who have chronic pain (lasting more than 3 - 6 months) to manage daily activities and participate in their continuing valued roles.
- Seating & Wheelchair consultations to assess a person's individual positioning and seating needs and recommend appropriate chairs, wheelchairs and cushions.
- Vision Impairment is an OT who specialises in the assessment and treatment of low vision, vision impairment, hemianopia, quadrantinopia, glaucoma/peripheral vision loss, cerebral blindness, diabetes related retinopathy, monocular vision, cataracts, retinal detachment related to trauma, Leber's optic neuropathy, glare sensitivity and migraine.
- Wellbeing & Psychotherapy where an OT will provide specialist services in a range of clinical areas related to the wellbeing of clients in such areas as Stress Management, Life Enhancement, Family Therapy, Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Sexuality.
the Role of the social worker. Call them when you want a Broker, Advocate, Case Manager, Educator, Facilitator, Organizer, or Manager. They are the ones who know Where to look, make Referrals, Follow up to be sure you received the help you and your loved one needed. And most of all, Do understand what YOU and your loved one are going through. A Vital Contact in the hospital setting, or in your own home.
. A Social Worker:
Some of the many professional roles in Social Work are:
Broker
The social worker is involved in the process of making referrals to link a family or person to needed resources. Social work professionals do not simply provide information. They also follow up to be sure the needed resources are attained. This requires knowing resources, eligibility requirements, fees and the location of services.
Advocate
In this role, social workers fight for the rights of others and work to obtain needed resources by convincing others of the legitimate needs and rights of members of society. Social workers are particularly concerned for those who are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for themselves. Advocacy can occur on the local, county, state or national level. Some social workers are involved in international human rights and advocacy for those in need.
Case Manager
Case managers are involved in locating services and assisting their clients to access those services. Case management is especially important for complex situations and for those who are homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or mental health issues, are disabled, victims of domestic or other violent crimes, or are vulnerable children.
Educator
Social Workers are often involved in teaching people about resources and how to develop particular skills such as budgeting, the caring discipline of children, effective communication, the meaning of a medical diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
Facilitator
In this role, social workers are involved in gathering groups of people together for a variety of purposes including community development, self advocacy, political organization, and policy change. Social workers are involved as group therapists and task group leaders.
Organizer
Social Workers are involved in many levels of community organization and action including economic development, union organization, and research and policy specialists.
Manager
Social Workers, because of their expertise in a wide variety of applications, are well suited to work as managers and supervisors in almost any setting. As managers, they are better able to influence policy change and/or development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all underprivileged people.
Do ask your Provider to speak to their Social Worker. When in the hospital and feeling 'Overwhelmed' about What is Going On, and All that Paperwork... do ask to speak to the hospital's Social Worker.
https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/347003/Social-Work-Clinic-Flyer-WEB.pdf
Social Work Clinic Social workers can assist when a person’s health is impacted by complex social, psychological, family and environmental factors. We offer a supportive counselling and case management service available to assist you with:
• Mental health and your general wellbeing
• Supporting parents, children and families
• Emotion regulation and behavioural concerns
• Social connections and building stronger relationships
• Grief and loss
Concession rates available. Phone 1800 188 295
· A Podiatrist for feet and footwear management
Australian Podiatry Association to Find a Podiatrist. - a Podiatrist is concerned with podiatry, podiatrist, feet, foot, foot pain, podiatrist, foot doctor, foot treatment, heel, toe, toes, toenail, toenails, ingrown toenail, corn, callous, callus, orthotic, orthotics, diabetes.
The conditions Podiatrists treat include:
- Those resulting from bone and joint disorders e.g.arthritis
- Soft-tissue and muscular pathologies
- Neurological and circulatory diseases
- Sports injuries
- Biomechanical abnormalities
- Diabetes
- Skin and nail disorders
- Corns
- Calluses
- In-growing toenails. If you have diabetes, Podiatrists are especially important to you. With diabetes, you have an increased risk of lower limb complications because you are more likely to experience reduced blood circulation and nerve degeneration in your feet and legs, which can decrease your ability to fight infection
- Podiatrists manage pressure areas and prevent ulceration to keep you mobile.
- Diabetes Australia recommends that people with diabetes have foot checks at least annually.
A Specialist falls prevention team - The Falls and Balance Clinic at Robina Health Precinct – a 6-7 week program. Gives medical assessments, undergo comprehensive medication reviews conducted by a pharmacist in conjunction with a geriatrician, a senior physiotherapist with expertise in aged care rehabilitation and vestibular physiotherapy and with a clinical nurse consultant or nurse practioner.
Central Intake Unit 1300 668 936 No Charge
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You can also access the Free Beyond the Basics (English) patient content in UpToDate by simply typing a term or phrase in the search box. Look up your specific question — anything from a symptom you're concerned about to a condition or treatment you've been discussing with your healthcare provider.
After you read the information in UpToDate, you will have the tools and the confidence to ask the right questions and have important conversations with your healthcare provider.
Remember to print the information you find in UpToDate so you can discuss it with your healthcare provider.
UpToDate® is the premier evidence-based clinical decision support resource, trusted worldwide by healthcare practitioners to help them make the right decisions at the point of care. It is proven to change the way clinicians practice medicine, and is the only resource of its kind associated with improved outcomes.
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and don't forget to make that all important Will. And of course you have decided WHO will speak on your behalf if you cannot... Yes :-)
In Queensland:
https://www.dementia.org.au/planning-ahead/planning-tools/QLD/how-do-i-make-a-will
Guides you through:
- Making a Will
- How to legally appoint someone to make Financial Decisions on my behalf?
- Who will the Doctor ask to give consent for my Medical Treatment if I am not able to give my own consent?
- How do I legally appoint someone of my choice to make Health and Lifestyle decisions for me if I lose capacity to make my own decisions in the future?
- Apart from appointing a substitute Decision-maker, how else can I document my wishes?
- Will my Advance Directive and other legal documents relating to planning ahead from other part of Australia be accepted in Queensland, and will documents written here be accepted in other State and Territories?
- Are there programs, websites or documents of interest related to an Advanced Health Directive in Queensland?
that Advance Care Planning and Standing in a Person's Shoes as a Substitute Decision Maker, is just SO Important, particularly for those with dementia.
and now that YOU have taken that first step; do have a think about talking about and setting up your own Advance Care Planning - click on Qld
- Ask yourself, what if YOU were very unwell, and not able to communicate your wishes to others,
- Who would you want to speak for you?
- What would you want them to say?
Advanced illness or serious injury can sometimes mean that people cannot make their own decisions about healthcare treatment. This can happen to people of all ages, and especially towards end of life. Writing an Advance Care Plan lets you say what you would want, if you are ever unable to communicate for yourself. Making healthcare decisions for others can be difficult. An advance care plan can give peace of mind and comfort as preferences are clear, understood and respected.
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Brochures from the Public Trustee in Qld to help explain Enduring Power of Attorney for Financial, Personal and Health Matters...
Download the appropriate Brochures from this site:
- Let's Talk About Elder Abuse
- A Guide for Financial Management Clients
- A Guide for Beneficiaries
- Let's Talk About Bereavement
- Let's Talk About Intestacy
- Let's Talk About Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Let's Talk About Executor Services
- Let's Talk About Wills
https://www.flipsnack.com/publictrusteeqld/lets-talk-about-enduring-powers-of-attorney.html
To find out more:
http://www.pt.qld.gov.au/enduring-powers-of-attorney/about-enduring-powers-of-attorney/
CALL US: 1300 360 044
or Make An Enquiry: [email protected]
20 April 2022