National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards: Governance, partnering with consumers and healthcare associated infection

As of January 1 this year, all Australian hospitals and day procedure services began accreditation against ten new National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, writes the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s Amy Winter.

Clinical Care Threatened by Education Expense Reforms

Tax deductions for work-related self-education expenses will be limited to $2000 per person from 1 July 2014 under reforms recently announced by the Federal Government.

Agreement on medical countermeasures Signed

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon and Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek announced in November last year an agreement which would enable the Department of Defence and the Department of Health and Ageing to prepare for the establishment of a Medical Countermeasures Consortium involving Australia, USA, UK and Canada.

Twitter is Good for the Heart

Twitter, the new social trend, can be a powerful tool to help prevent heart disease and improve health practices, according to a group of researchers affiliated with the University of Sydney.

New Centre for Research in Paediatric Food Allergy and Food-related Immune Disorders

In response to the dramatic rise in allergies and public health concern, researchers and clinicians from across Australia have developed a collaborative research centre to tackle the growing allergy epidemic.

McKeon Review Released for Public Access

The report of the McKeon Review – Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research – Better Health through Research has been released by Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek.

Sign The Global Parkison's Pledge

Today is World Parkinson’s Day and there is no better day to sign the Global Parkinson’s Pledge. Launched in 2010, the Global Parkinson's Pledge seeks 1 million signatures to give a clear, strong message to governments, health agencies of the United Nations system, and patient-oriented non-governmental organizations throughout the world to improve resources, education and investment into Parkinson's disease . Click here for more information.

Health Leaders Meet in Melbourne to Tackle Issues Associated with Hypertension

Health experts and policy makers from overseas and Australia will gather at the 7th Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP) World Health Day Forum this week to find ways to tackle the variety of health issues associated with hypertension, currently affecting an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. 

Speaking with GC Health Chief Mr Ron Calvert

The future of Australian Healthcare

National Live Organ Donor Leave Scheme Announced

The Australian Government has announced a new two-year pilot of a national Live Organ Donor Leave Scheme.

Health Bodies Unite to Call for Stronger Leadership in Public Dental Health

Four national health bodies have come together to support the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association’s call for the establishment of a Commonwealth Chief Dental Officer (CCDO) position in Canberra and a permanent Oral Health Advisory Council.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is campaigning for April No Falls.

To highlight the issue of falls management and awareness, the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is campaigning for April No Falls. The association is using the month of April to embrace the no falls message to highlight the issue of falls risk and promote prevention opportunities.

Warning issued by infectious diseases experts to stay away from bats

The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) has sent out a warning from infectious diseases experts for people to stay away from bats in the wake of details released at a major international infectious diseases conference.  

The Great Debate Triumphs at Australian Gastroenterology Week

This year’s annual Australian Gastroenterology Week (AGW) meeting had over 1200 people in attendance, well above the expected level, says the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA).