To demonstrate a commitment to quality design and construction of health buildings, the design professional community has established the Australian Health Design Council. Inaugural chair Jane Carthey explains the council’s focus and aspirations. [ + ]

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) said the Health Minister’s approval of The Health Professionals Prescribing Pathway (HPPP) this week is a step in the right direction to forming a nationally consistent approach to best practice prescribing models. [ + ]

Over 28,000 students will descend on the Gold Coast for the start of schoolies this week, and while the party may be pandemonium, emergency departments on the Gold Coast are using the CSIRO's Patient Admission Predition Tool (PAPT) to help deal with the expected chaos. [ + ]

The President and Board of Aged and Community Services Australia have been reappointed unopposed at the Annual General Meeting of ACSA in Melbourne. [ + ]

[caption id="attachment_5565" align="alignleft" width="200"] Melbourne Town Hall lit up for World Diabetes Day[/caption] [ + ]

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA)  has announced Dr David Chessor will take up the position of GPRA Chair, effective 8 January 2014. “I would like to extend an extremely warm welcome to Dr David Chessor. "He is a remarkable registrar who will strongly build on the foundations of GPRA," Dr Edward Vergara, Chair of GPRA said. [ + ]

What does your role entail? [ + ]

Stigma associated with lung cancer contributes to increased levels of distress, anxiety and depression, resulting in poorer quality of life for Australians diagnosed with the disease, according to new research being presented today ( 13 November) by Cancer Australia to the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s (COSA’s) Annual Scientific Meeting. [ + ]

Meals on Wheels SA (MoWSA) is collaborating with major research institutes to conduct research on how best to assist older people achieve dietary targets and improve their nutritional health and wellbeing. [ + ]

Two new cancer clinical practice guidelines will be launched this week at national cancer meetings in Adelaide. [ + ]

The inaugural National Aged Care Hospitality Award for Catering Innovation of the Year has been presented to Victorian  Aged Care contract caterers United Hospitality, along with NSW Aged Care provider the Whiddon Group. [ + ]

Over the last few months I have been hearing that a range of stakeholders have and are being consulted as to their views on what will be the best way forward for e-Health in Australia, recognising that we need e-Health to work well as a part of the larger strategic health reform response to addressing the rising cost of healthcare in the context of the ageing society. [ + ]

Jamie Stanistreet, Managing Director of Medtronic Australasia, has been awarded the inaugural medical technology industry Outstanding Achievement Award. [ + ]

The Australian Cancer Research Foundation  has granted The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute $2 million to establish a new cancer treatment centre in Brisbane. [ + ]

A new Graduate Diploma of Mammography program being offered by Charles Sturt University (CSU) aims to ease the pressures from a radiographer workforce shortage and increased demand for BreastScreen services. [ + ]