This article is the first in our three-part series on the blinding, deafening and sometimes deadly conditions in Indigenous Australian children that have little to no impact on their non-Indigenous counterparts. The next two articles will look at rheumatic heart fever and disease; and otitis media. The articles are written by Hugh Taylor, University of Melbourne; Emma Stanford, University of Melbourne, and Fiona Lange, University of Melbourne [ + ]

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in collaboration with the Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand has released the Hip Fracture Care Clinical Care Standard and accompanying resources. The resources provide guidance to consumers, clinicians and health services on delivering appropriate care to people with a hip fracture. [ + ]

The theme of the 2016 Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) Conference this year is “Harm Free Health Care”. Clinical governance is core to the practice of the speciality of medical administration and the key feature of clinical governance is patient safety. The challenge for all of us is whether Harm Free Health Care can be provided to patients. In itself, posing this question is controversial. This conference is designed to challenge us, and debate whether health care can be Harm Free and what practical approaches can be considered. [ + ]

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The Internet of Things (IoT) has radical importance for the future of medical technology. [ + ]

The TGA has announced that all extended release Metformin products are now classified as having limited availability. [ + ]

An ultrasound system that’s no bigger than the transducer itself, weighs only 360 grams, has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and WiFi connectivity has been developed by Healcerion in South Korea. The SONON 300C uses a paired tablet or smartphone as the display, wirelessly transmitting the data to the smart device from where images can be analysed and shared with others. [ + ]

“Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear” is something we’ve been wisely cautioned against at some stage or another. But more of us are ignoring this advice, according to Dominic Peter Power, from the University of Melbourne. [ + ]

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. [ + ]

The letters A, B and O are disappearing from signs, landmarks and company logos as part of the #MissingType campaign by the Australian Red Cross blood service. #MissingType, a global initiative to encourage people to donate blood, is being supported by well known Australian brands - including Qantas, Coles, NAB, the Sydney Opera House, the TV show Neighbours and Lifesaving New South Wales. [ + ]

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Laser pointers bought legally for less than $30 are a threat to eyesight – with one pointer found to be 127 times over the legal limit. [ + ]