10 essential first aid items for medicos

You may think of first aid kits as being purely for the layperson. But nobody is immune to the possibility of unforeseen medical emergencies and for healthcare workers, a workplace first aid kit should always be available and kept up to date.

Major norovirus epidemic wreaking havoc

UNSW scientists have identified three new strains of highly contagious norovirus that are responsible for a major new epidemic of viral gastroenteritis that has affected hundreds of thousands of Australians over winter.

Trachoma still blinding aboriginal children

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

New clinical care standard for hip fracture

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.

Can health care be harm free?

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.

Choosing antibiotics wisely

The Future of Healthcare – Why technology is key to improving patient outcomes

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

Textiles play a key role in healthcare design

A well-designed therapeutic environment contributes greatly to how patients and families perceive their quality of care and overall experience.

Metformin shortage worsens

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

Wireless ultrasound pairs with smartphone

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.

Can earplugs cause side effects?

“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 day

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.

Do you have the #MissingType?

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.

Ethics and the Internet - Going to the source

Torrens sets career path to human services