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EducationHealth Care

Sterile nursing schools limit research

Earlier this year, nursing celebrated its twentieth anniversary as part of the university system. Although there are nursing schools in most universities, the focus is on vocational education, not scholarship. Without a commitment to scholarship, it may be more appropriate for nursing schools to be located in technical colleges. My…
Sarah Russell
November 24, 2004
Health Care

Life after life support

Data collected by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society shows that 4% of patients are readmitted to intensive care. This readmission rate is currently being used to lobby for more beds in intensive care. It is argued that more beds will prevent readmissions. It is true that readmissions…
Sarah Russell
August 26, 2004
Health Care

Doctors, patients must speak out

Politicians, health bureaucrats and medical managers sit in comfortable offices doing deals about the future funding arrangements for our health care system. Meanwhile practitioners are forced to manage patients' blood, sputum and vomit with fewer and fewer resources. In the debate about the future of medicare, there is a noticeable…
Sarah Russell
March 12, 2004
Health Care

If you really need care, public is the way to go

The recent reporting of "adverse incidents" in Victoria's public hospitals is welcome. It suggests a significant change in the culture within public hospitals. Rather than cover up mistakes, health-care professionals are being encouraged to report adverse incidents. Such reporting allows us to monitor the types of mistakes that occasionally occur…
Sarah Russell
October 12, 2003
Health Care

Patient counsel

Professors Barton and Olver have examined ways of improving elements of cancer treatment in Victoria. A copy of their report has been circulated among the state's leading cancer specialists. Has it also been circulated to people who are currently being treated for cancer and their families? Surely people with cancer…
Sarah Russell
July 20, 2003
Health Care

Hysterical ‘Pandemic’

Amid the hysteria over Pan Pharmaceuticals, Australians are being warned to avoid taking all herbal and vitamin preparations. Would Australians be warned about avoiding driving all cars after the recall of a Commodore? Somehow, the spotlight shifted from poor quality control of pharmaceutical preparations to all complementary therapies being discredited.…
Sarah Russell
May 2, 2003
Health Care

Nurses are simply setting a market price

In the public health system, demand for nurses far exceeds supply. This is a business person's dream. So why blame nursing agencies for taking advantage of these market forces to make some money? Those who manage nursing agencies understand how a healthcare 'market-place' works. In particular, they recognise that there…
Sarah Russell
October 11, 2002
Health Care

Nurses shouldn’t have to fight alone

In their present industrial dispute, nurses are seeking the right to care for patients properly. The issues that underpinned this industrial action affect all healthcare professionals, not only nurses. A shortage of experienced and qualified nurses makes it difficult for all healthcare professionals to do their jobs affectively. It also…
Sarah Russell
October 11, 2001
Health Care

Why drugs aren’t always administered

Research by pharmacists has shown people suffering from cancer may not receive certain drugs that are in prescribed by doctors. This research, however, fails to acknowledge legitimate reasons for this omission. Some people admitted to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute will require regular doses of analgesia, anti emetics and laxatives,…
Sarah Russell
November 27, 1999