The budget sets the foundation for a new approach to community-based mental health care, eases cost-of-living pressures and aims to keep people out of hospital. Will they work? And what’s missing?
Greater payroll taxes for GP clinics means lower profits. Clinics will seek to make up the shortfall in revenue by other means – and this could include reducing the number of patients they bulk bill.
Every year, more than 12 million Americans have suicidal thoughts.
Djavan Rodriguez/Moment via Getty Images
The shortage of family doctors affects not only patients, but the entire health-care system. A strong primary care foundation increases average lifespan, improves overall health and reduces costs.
A program offers training and education specifically on family medicine from the start of medical school, while bypassing administrative hurdles to residency.
(Shutterstock)
Education has a role to play in addressing the shortage of family doctors. A new program is designed specifically for comprehensive, community-based family practice.
Retirement homes might seem like less of a lifestyle choice and more like relocation imposed upon older adults by fragmented and under-resourced primary and community care services.
(Shutterstock)
A new review of Australian health care workers’ scope of practice should focus on expanding pharmacists prescribing for stable conditions and long-term medications, under the direction of a GP.
MyMedicare is a new voluntary scheme that allows patients to register with their usual GP. How will it work? And how might it benefit patients? Here’s what we know so far.
Body positivity advocate Taryn Brumfitt is the 2023 Australian of the Year.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Australian of the year Taryn Brumfitt has called for doctors to avoid raising the issue of weight in consultations about other matters. We asked the experts if they should – or not.
For many GPs, having fewer opportunities to engage directly with patients has led to a loss of professional satisfaction.
A.B. Putra/Shutterstock
The new NHS workforce plan for England promises a 50% increase in GP training places by 2031. But the challenges GPs are wrestling with go much deeper.
Trans and gender-diverse people in Saskatchewan face challenges accessing primary care.
(Shutterstock)
Improving the health of people who are trans and gender diverse means improving access to family doctors who are supportive, competent and confident in providing access to gender-affirming care.
The big news on budget night was a tripling of the bulk-billing incentive. It’s hoped to stem the decline in bulk billing – but it’s unclear if it will increase it.
Impacted earwax that blocks the ear canal is a major reason for GP consultations.
Former Saskatchewan Premier and national New Democratic Party leader T.C. (Tommy) Douglas in 1965. Douglas was instrumental in the creation of Medicare.
The Canadian Press
At the dawn of Medicare, Saskatchewan’s community co-op clinics pioneered team-based, holistic care. Now, with the health system in crisis 60 years later, it may be time to return to that care model.
Online and phone consultations might ease pressure on local clinics and mean you can access paperwork when visiting a GP isn’t possible. But there are downsides to be aware of too.
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Thomas Barwick/Stone via Getty Images
Maria Garcia, University of California, San Francisco
Men, older adults, people with language barriers and racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to be screened for depression.
Building safer workplaces requires leaders who understand how years of resource constraints, unhealthy work environments, abuse from patients and a pandemic have contributed to overwhelming burnout and job dissatisfaction among workers.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The future of our health system depends on recruiting and retaining passionate and highly skilled health-care workers. It’s essential to build work environments where they feel supported and safe.
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne