As time goes on, I’ve become increasingly aware that the delivery of good medical care, particularly in a crisis is not so much about knowing facts (although this is important!). Rather other factors come into play. Recent events are illustrative. Our small rural ED deals with critical illness relatively infrequently. However “critical illness does not …
Category: CHSA
Avoiding Burnout
An interesting week this week, with several stories coming together for me. First up, a discussion on doctors.net.uk / ausdoctors.net (the members only service for UK and Australian doctors) on ‘tips for new consultants’. Covered the sort of things that don;t get taught at medical school or in postgraduate training. Also tips on setting up …
SA Health Budget Waste – Jack Snelling take note!
There has been a change in SA Health his year as outgoing Health Minister John Hill retires and Jack Snelling steps into place. I don’t envy whoever has this portfolio – the cost of health continues to rise, as does demand – and yet available health budgets are shrinking. This week the ABC reported $1 …
Contract Negotiations (again!)
Well it seems that some country doctors in SA remain embroiled in dispute over on call contracts with Country Health SA. The last contract expired in Nov 2011 and was supposed to be replaced by a contract offering improved terms for rural doctors who offer on call VMO services to public hospitals in addition to …
Obfuscation & the ‘Blame Game’
Well, I was not expecting that the letter in my last post would be referred to in ‘The Weekend Australian‘ in follow-up to a previous report. Thanks to Dr Scott Lewis of Wudinna for telling me. Oh dear. There seems to be confusion about the issue of ED patients being charged fees in rural SA hospitals. …