Medical Assistants … developing a role in primary care
Abbe Anderson discusses the role and training of Medical Assistants in primary care. Medical assistants undertake a variety of administrative, reception and clinical duties in a primary care setting work under the supervision of doctors, nurses or practice managers. A 12 month TAFE course has been developed to train staff for this role. The clinical tasks that can be undertaken by medical assistants include wound dressings; venepuncture; and vision, hearing, height, weight and blood pressure checks. This role potentially provides flexibility of staffing in medical practices, with medical assistants undertaking administrati...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
HIV …chronic disease management
Justin Denholm discusses the current issues in long term management of patients living with HIV. Patients with HIV treated with combination antiviral therapy (cART) now often have rapid and sustained control of HIV viraemia (often to undetectable levels) and a sustained increase in CD4+ T-cell counts. This has resulted in decreased opportunistic infections and increased longevity. Management has therefore shifted more to a chronic disease management model, in which GPs are able to provide an important role. Management focuses on the effects of HIV and its treatment on long term health, the psychosocial impact of living wit...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Medical Assistants… developing a role in primary care
Abbe Anderson discusses the role and training of Medical Assistants in primary care. Medical assistants undertake a variety of administrative, reception and clinical duties in a primary care setting work under the supervision of doctors, nurses or practice managers. A 12 month TAFE course has been developed to train staff for this role. The clinical tasks that can be undertaken by medical assistants include wound dressings; venepuncture; and vision, hearing, height, weight and blood pressure checks. This role potentially provides flexibility of staffing in medical practices, with medical assistants undertaking administrati...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Dementia - community needs versus primary care services
Dr Fiona Millard discusses research on what patients with dementia and their carers required from primary care providers, and the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of health providers about dementia. Important themes from patients and carers include the need for timely investigation of symptoms, early and accurate diagnosis, explanation and support in the home. Up to 35% of GPs in the postal survey component said they preferred not to look after patients with dementia and about 15% of primary health providers indicated they thought early diagnosis may be harmful. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
TB... what's new, what's not?
Dr Anna Ralph discusses whats new in diagnosis and management of the very old disease of TB. Despite lower incidence of TB in Australia compared to other places in the world, TB remains a significant problem in a number of at risk groups including migrants from sub Saharan Africa, India, Vietnam, the Phillipines, China and Indonesia; patients with HIV; and Indigenous Australians. While newer diagnostic tests (interferon gamma release assays) are available, they have some limitations and in Australia sputum microscopic examination and cuture remains the main method of diagnosis in symptomatic individuals. Developments in ph...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
HIV…chronic disease management
Justin Denholm discusses the current issues in long term management of patients living with HIV. Patients with HIV treated with combination antiviral therapy (cART) now often have rapid and sustained control of HIV viraemia (often to undetectable levels) and a sustained increase in CD4+ T-cell counts. This has resulted in decreased opportunistic infections and increased longevity. Management has therefore shifted more to a chronic disease management model, in which GPs are able to provide an important role. Management focuses on the effects of HIV and its treatment on long term health, the psychosocial impact of living wit...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - July 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Difficult to diagnose and aggressive BCCs
Dr Steven Tomas discusses the features and management of subtypes of BCCs that have a more aggressive course.‘Infiltrative’ , ‘micronodular’ and ‘morphoeic’ BCCs can infiltrate widely and deeply with relatively little change in the overlying skin surface. Assessing the margins of the lesion histologically can bedifficult increases the chance of incomplete resection and recurrence. Recurrent or residual disease is more difficult to treat, and itself has higher recurrence and incomplete removal rates. These tumours require carefully planned, aggressive treatment to cure. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - June 30, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Skin and systemic disease
Dr Adriene Lee discusses the association between skin problems and systemic disease. Adrienne discusses skin conditions such as generalised pruritis, cutaneous vasculitis and erythema that may be an indicator of an underlying systemic condition; skin conditions that are much more rare but have an association with occult malignancy; and typical skin manifestations of connective tissue disorders. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - June 30, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Blistering skin
Dr Belinda Welsh discusses the causes and clinical features of a variety of bullous skin rashes. Belinda discusses distinguishing features such as blister location, presence of mucosal involvement or whether the blisters are tense and intact (indicating dermal blistering) or fragile (indicating superficial blistering). Most presentations to GPs will be the result of infection, topical contact reaction, insect bites or drug reactions. However, if common conditions such as these are excluded, then often histology and immunofluoresence is required for diagnosis. (Belinda discussed the techniques for biopsy for both histology ...
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - June 30, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Bacterial Vaginosis: More questions than answers
Dr Catriona Bradshaw talks about what GPs need to know about Bacterial Vaginosis. Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common cause of abnormal discharge in women of reproductive age and yet the precise pathophysiology is contraversial. Research is continuing into the cause of this disease, whether or not it is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) and to establish effective evidence based treatments. BV is diagnosed with the Amsel or Nugent methods and treatment is with oral metronidazole or vaginal clindamycin with the aim to reduce symptoms and/or prevent complications (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - May 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Lesbian and bisexual women's sexual health
Dr Ruth McNair talks about what GPs need to know about lesbian and bisexual women's sexual health and the kinds of sexual health issues faced by this group of patients. In particular, it is important that GPs make their practice welcoming to lesbian and bisexual women. This can include providing signs and pamphlets in the waiting room, encouraging reception staff to use inclusive language and taking a non judgemental social and sexual history from patients. Ruth outlines important sexual health messages for lesbian and bisexual women including the need for pap smears and discussion of safer sex. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - May 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Sleep and depression
Professor Michael Berk discusses the relationship between sleep and depression and the clinical implications (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - April 30, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Heart health: CHD management gaps in general practice
Dr Nancy Huang, National Manager – Clinical Programs, Heart Foundation, talks about the article “Heart health: CHD management gaps in general practice.” She discusses the concept of assessing absolute risk for all people over 45 years of age, and also the 3 key management gaps identified in CHD management relevant to general practice. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - March 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Bowel cancer screening – a role for general practice
Dr Linda Foreman talks about the bowel cancer screening, including the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. She discusses the role of the GP in the program and also reminds us to consider patients who may not be in the program. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - March 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
Cancer Screening – pros, cons, choice, and the patient
Dr Lyndal Trevena discusses some of the principles and controversies in cancer screening. (Source: Australian Family Physician audio)
Source: Australian Family Physician audio - March 31, 2009 Category: Primary Care Authors: The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners Tags: Podcasts Source Type: podcasts
