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Australian Medical Association
Drowning is still a big killer in Australia – more research needed
MJA Media Release - Drowning is still a big killer in Australia – more research needed
Two hundred and ninety people on average die from drowning in Australia each year, according to the results of research published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Dr Richard Franklin, Manager of Research and Health Promotion at the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, and his co-authors conducted an audit of all unintentional drowning deaths in Australia from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2007.
Their study showed that children aged under five years still had the highest rate of drowning (2.63 per 100,000 people), although, significantly, the proportion of total drowning deaths accounted for by this age group decreased from 22 per cent in 1992-97 to 12 per cent in 2002-07.
Socio-Demographic factors put rural women at higher risk of obesity
MJA Media Release - Socio-Demographic factors put rural women at higher risk of obesity
Living in rural areas does not of itself put socio-economically disadvantaged rural women and children at higher risk of overweight and obesity, according to the authors of a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Rather, higher levels of obesity among women in rural areas may be attributed to individual-level socio-demographic characteristics more common in this group, such as higher age, lower levels of education, being Australian-born, being married and having more children, the study suggests.
Dr Verity Cleland, from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University, Melbourne, and her co-authors compared the weight status of women of childbearing age and their children living in socio-economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas of Victoria.
Hospitals report low compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines
MJA Media Release - Hospitals report low compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines
Many hospitals are not complying with national guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis in cardiac surgery, particularly those regarding the duration of antibiotic administration, according to the results of research published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Dr Timothy Haydon, an intensivist at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, and his co-authors conducted two point-prevalence surveys of intensive care units in 24 public and 27 private hospitals performing cardiac surgery in Australia in 2004 and 2008.
Cataract rebate agreement confirms importance of clinical input to health decision-making
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, today congratulated the Government and the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists on a mutually satisfactory outcome from their negotiations over changes to the Medicare rebate for cataract surgery.
Dr Pesce said that today’s resolution was, above all, a win for patients and a great relief for the thousands of people around the country who had faced uncertainty over their sight-saving operations.
“The successful outcome over this issue confirms the AMA view that there must be expert clinical input at the beginning of the process of making changes to Medicare rebates, not after the event,” Dr Pesce said.
Government study endorses AMA calls for greater investment in medical workforce training
The Australian Medical Education Study report – What makes for success in medical education? – endorses calls by the AMA for greater investment in medical education and training to produce a medical workforce capable of meeting the future health needs of a growing and ageing population.
The study undertook research between 2005 and 2007 involving all the major stakeholders, and included surveys of medical students, junior doctors, educators and employers.
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the report highlights the high international rating of an Australian medical education but advises that more needs to be done to properly fund and resource medical training in Australia.
GP Network News Issue 10, Number 2 - 29 January 2010
GP Network News Issue 10, Number 2 - 29 January 2010 Positive feedback on general practice nurses, AMA welcomes new body to combat rheumatic heart disease, Members recognised in Australia Day honours list.
AMA welcomes new body to combat rheumatic heart disease
AMA Vice President and Chair of the AMA Taskforce on Indigenous Health, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that RHDAustralia is an important first step towards eradicating rheumatic heart disease among Indigenous people.
The Government has provided RHDAustralia with $2.5 million over four years to combat rheumatic heart disease, which is a major killer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“For several years, the AMA has been calling for a coordinated national effort to eradicate rheumatic heart disease among Indigenous people,” Dr Hambleton said.
GP Network News Issue 10, Number 1 - 22 January 2010
GP Network News Issue 10, Number 1 - 22 January 2010, Strong focus on general practice in AMA Federal Budget Submission, AMA urges greater support for IMGs, Ask piercing questions about body piercing, ATAGI flu dosage recommendations for children.
E_Dit Issue 68 - 22 January 2010
In this issue: Develop your leadership skills: AMA Leadership Development Day – Leading Change; AMA Trainee Forum; Extra support for medical education & training urgently required: AMA budget submission; AMA urges greater support for IMGs and abolition of 10-year moratorium; Australian Curriculum Framework revised; New AMA doctors-in-training membership pack; ACRRM accreditation; AMACDT on Facebook and Twitter; and MJA Job Share.
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Ask piercing questions about Body Piercing
The AMA today urged Australians considering undergoing body piercing to ensure that they are aware of the health risks associated with the procedure and what they can do to reduce the chances of something going wrong.
AMA Vice President, Dr Steve Hambleton, today launched an AMA youth health brochure that provides advice about the risks associated with piercing including the factors and questions people should consider before having a body piercing.
“Summer is a popular time for some young people to undergo piercing. However, doctors sometimes see some serious negative health effects from body piercing,” Dr Hambleton said.
“Piercing is not a simple procedure, and it is also not always a safe procedure.
Budget must provide 'stimulus package' for health
AMA Federal Budget Submission 2010-11
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the May Federal Budget must provide a significant ‘stimulus package’ for the Australian health system.
Releasing the AMA’s Federal Budget Submission, Dr Pesce said the health system is in desperate need of strategic investment across the whole range of programs and services – from primary care to hospitals to mental health and Indigenous health.
Dr Pesce said the AMA has identified the elements of the health system in most urgent need of reform and is offering the Government real solutions to real problems.
Body Piercing and Health
Many people make the decision to have a part of their body pierced. Body piercing can have potential health consequences, some of them quite serious. This new brochure in the AMA youth health series, outlines some of the potential health problems of piercing, and provides advice on important questions to ask in order to avoid those problems.
AMA Federal Budget Submission 2010-11
On 16 November 2009, the AMA released its Priority Investment Plan for Australia's Health System.
The Plan sets out the initiatives that the AMA believes require immediate implementation to improve productivity in the health system, place a greater focus on people and their health needs, and improve the quality and safety of health care.
The AMA has re-endorsed the Plan for formal submission to the Government as the AMA’s 2010-11 Budget Submission.
The Plan includes a range of high priority initiatives focussing on key areas of the health system.
The Plan sets out the initiatives that the AMA believes require immediate implementation to improve productivity in the health system, place a greater focus on people and their health needs, and improve the quality and safety of health care.
The AMA has re-endorsed the Plan for formal submission to the Government as the AMA’s 2010-11 Budget Submission.
The Plan includes a range of high priority initiatives focussing on key areas of the health system.
AMA urges greater support for international medical graduates (IMGs)
The AMA has written to Health Minister Nicola Roxon urging greater support for international medical graduates (IMGs) working in Australia, highlighting the problems they face in accessing basic community services such as Medicare and public education.
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said the AMA has always been a strong supporter of the role played by IMGs in providing health services in the Australian community and wants them to continue as respected and valued members of the Australian medical workforce.
“Along with better access to health and education services for IMGs, we would like the Government to abandon the current 10-year moratorium, which effectively forces many IMGs to work exclusively in rural and remote areas for 10 years or more,” Dr Pesce said.
New study confirms high risks of home births
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that a new Australian study confirms the high safety risks and higher death rates associated with home births in Australia compared to hospital births.
The study of home and hospital births in South Australia between 1991 and 2006, published in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia, shows that planned home births had a sevenfold higher risk of intrapartum death (occurring during delivery) and a 27-fold higher risk of death from intrapartum asphyxia than planned hospital births.
Dr Pesce said the study sends a strong signal to the Government that
any policy decisions around maternity care must be evidence-based, not
politically motivated.
“The AMA supports women having choice when it comes to labour and childbirth, but they must also have access to all the evidence to ensure that their choice is an informed choice."
PLANNED HOME BIRTHS LINKED TO A HIGHER RISK OF PERINATAL DEATHS IN CHILDBIRTH
MJA Media Release - PLANNED HOME BIRTHS LINKED TO A HIGHER RISK OF PERINATAL DEATHS IN CHILDBIRTH
A retrospective population-based study has added to previously published evidence showing that planned home birth in Australia is associated with a higher risk of intrapartum related perinatal mortality (death during labour or after birth owing to problems occurring during labour).
TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN DYING OF CANCER IS INADEQUATE
MJA Media Release - TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN DYING OF CANCER IS INADEQUATE
Greater attention to palliative care for children with cancer is needed to prevent them from suffering unresolved symptoms at the end of life, according to the authors of a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
PROLONGED IMMIGRATION DETENTION PUTS DETAINEES AT HIGHER RISK OF MENTAL ILLNESS
MJA Media Release - PROLONGED IMMIGRATION DETENTION PUTS DETAINEES AT HIGHER RISK OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Asylum seekers and other detainees who are held in Australian immigration detention centres for long periods of time are more likely to require medical attention for mental health problems than those detained for a shorter time, according to the results of research published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
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Copyright 2010 Australian Medical Students' Association.
