December 2014
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eHealth technologies Providing new training and information-sharing opportunties Caring for our most vulnerable Innovative projects reaching out to at-risk groups Integrated healthcare Promoting partnerships Revolutionising between and within public dental health our health sectors An overview of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule Future challenges Health and reform of the Federation The official magazine of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association ISSUE 27 / December 2014 PRINT POST APPROVED PP:100009739 2014 winners, left to right: Zoe Sabri, Stephen Brown and Jeanine Young representing the Pepi-pod® Program. Know someone in nursing who deserves an award? Recognise their outstanding leadership and innovation by nominating them in one of three categories: NOMI Nurse of the Year NATE Team Innovation NOW! Outstanding Graduate $ *Generously provided by: 30,000 * in prizes to be won! Proudly presented by: Follow us: Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps @HESTANurseAwds /HESTAAustralianNursingAwards hestaawards.com.au Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249 Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. Terms and conditions apply. See hestanursingawards.com for details. 1400.HANA2015 AD_210x297.indd 1 22/10/14 10:19 AM Contents In depth Issue 27 / December 2014 10. Reform of the Federation of Australia A re-examination of inter-governmental relations and how taxes are raised and distributed 13. Future solutions in Australian healthcare A new White Paper for public review 14. A woman of influence Henrietta Marrie’s work in combating institutional racism 18. Reaching out to the streets A helping hand for young people doing it tough 20. Revolutionising public dental health An overview of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule 32. Map of medicine 14 Supporting medical training through a new online tool 36. Exercising body and mind Little steps to improving health and wellbeing on a daily basis Briefing 17. Giving life through music and dance Building resilience in Indigenous communities 22. Australian Health Review goes live Authors gather in QLD to discuss their research 24. 1800RESPECT Supporting health professionals to respond to sexual assault, 18 family and domestic violence 25. Making the right connections Embracing eHealth technologies 27. Understanding the importance of integrated care Promoting private/primary care partnerships 29. Simulating integrated care 85 health leaders gather to discuss major health policy initiatives 31. A public/private partnership with huge potential Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local’s Chronic Disease Portal 34. High-risk patients to benefit from hospital redesign 22 A state-of-the-art makeover for one of Melbourne’s busiest public hospitals 39. Putting end-of-life care at the forefront AHHA’s palliative care online training package delivers positive results From the AHHA desk 05. View from the Chair 06. AHHA in the news 08. Chief Executive update 41. Who’s moving 42. Become an AHHA member 43. AHHA Council and supporters 27 Getting your hands on The Health Advocate just got a whole lot easier... The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association’s health service magazine is now available as an ePub. To get the latest healthcare stories and analysis at the tip of your finger, visit www.ahha.asn.au/publication/health-advocate and pick up your free download now. 4 The Health Advocate December 2014 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR paUL DUGDALE Towards a better Chair of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) connected future Federalism, integrated care and eHealth leading the way ollowing on from our call for Australia health, wellbeing and general autonomy of Dooland with regards to the Child Dental to step up its response to the growing Indigenous Australians. The second is an Benefits Schedule), environment (as Louisa Ebola crisis in West Africa, the AHHA overview of the Life Giving Music and Dance Deasey shows with regards to hospital design) has commended the Government DVD initiative of the Northern Territory and lifestyle (demonstrated by walk-at-work Fon its decision to commit increased funds, Medicare Local and the importance of ANU academic, Amelia Simpson). technical capacity and staffing to the developing culturally-relevant resources to Fundamental to better health care are development and management of treatment build resilience and maintain positive mental the connections established and maintained facilities. Australia has an excellent medical health throughout the community. through the collection and sharing of health workforce, willing and capable to assist in Understanding the need for targeted information. The value of online technologies times of need. International efforts should be approaches to healthcare comes from greater for information sharing has been emphasised no exception, especially in today’s globalised awareness of the issues each patient faces, throughout this magazine. Steve Hambleton and highly mobile world, where disease is not the types of services that they need and have — former President of the Australian Medical so easily confined. access to. An integrated primary care sector Association and current Chair of the National While Ebola presents an immediate and is critical to achieving such a patient-centred E-Health Transition Authority — writes about specific health concern — and one that healthcare system. The AHHA has long the need to capitalise on IT infrastructure dominates media headlines — we must not advocated for a more integrated approach to connect points of care. Greater Metro forget broader issues facing the future of to care, and has recently sought to put these Brisbane Medicare Locals discuss their healthcare in this country. Australia’s health ideas into practice with some of the leading use of online information portals to train system requires a ‘big picture’ perspective health experts in the country at its Integrated and support doctors in the diagnosis and with regard to the growing and ageing Care Simulation at Old Parliament House in treatment of patients, as well as to track the population, and the increased burden of October. The event was a ‘test environment’ prevalence of chronic disease. chronic disease that will inevitably follow. for how current policy In showcasing How Australia’s states and territories work considerations might these topics together with the Commonwealth to manage impact on health services Australia’s health system and more, The these challenges is something that Linc and system integration. requires a ‘big picture’ Health Advocate Thurecht looks at in his article on federalism The recommendations perspective with regard continues to and health. It is also the emphasis of the from various stakeholders to the growing and stand as a Future Solutions in Australian Healthcare across public, private ageing population, and testament to White Paper, which Avnesh Ratnanesan and not-for-profit sectors the increased burden of the value of discusses on page 12 in this edition of The provide valuable insights the AHHA as an Health Advocate. for future integrated care chronic disease that will organisation that No plan for the future of Australian initiatives. inevitably follow. brings together healthcare would be complete without a As other authors of the a wide variety commitment to improving Indigenous health. magazine have shown, a holistic and long- of health stakeholders’ perspectives. With Two articles in this edition comment on term approach to healthcare is vital if there 2014 drawing to a close, and on behalf of the this issue specifically. The first details the is to be real and lasting reform. This includes AHHA, I would like to wish all of our readers a work of Henrietta Marrie — named in the acknowledging the importance of things happy and safe holiday period. I look forward Australian Financial Review and Westpac list integral — though not always at the forefront to welcoming you back in 2015 and continuing of the 100 Women of Influence for 2014 — to of discussion — to health and wellbeing: to celebrate the important work of our abolish institutional racism and improve the things like oral health (as discussed by Martin diverse membership. ha The Health Advocate December 2014 5 HAVE YOUR SAY... We would like to hear your opinion AHHA in on these or any other healthcare issues. Send your comments and article pitches to our media inbox: the news [email protected] AHHA welcomes action Co-payments for on Ebola crisis healthcare: What is On 5 November, the AHHA welcomed the their real cost? announcement by the Prime Minister and The Federal Government’s recent Budget Health Minister of the expansion of Australia’s proposal to introduce a $7 co-payment for contribution to international efforts to doctor visits, pathology tests and diagnostic address the Ebola crisis in West Africa. The imagining will have the most significant decision to commit increased funds, technical impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable capacity and staffing to the development and Australians. This is the finding of research management of a 100-bed treatment centre, published in the AHHA’s academic journal, was applauded. the Australian Health Review. The AHHA was also pleased that Australia In the study, evidence is provided on how will be contributing to the development out of pocket expenses disproportionately Working together for of the World Health Organisation regional impact people of lower socioeconomic positive