Latest News - Health Consumers' Alliance of South Australia

HCA has a Facebook page - please like us

Please take some time to like the new HCA Facebook page. All are welcome. www.facebook.com/pages/Health-Consumers-Alliance-of-SA-Inc/144504569051463?ref=ts&fref=ts

SAMRI Health Consumers and the Community Research Project

SAHMRI, Health Consumers and the Community Seeking consumers for reference group HCA is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) on a collaborative research project to develop an evidence-based consumer and community engagement framework for SAHMRI. The aim of the project is to identify the benefits, evidence and models of consumer participation in health and medical research and develop a consumer and community engagement framework…

HCA Health Issues Seminar

Health Literacy – More Than Just Words! Dr Anne Johnson Monday, 22 July 3.00 – 5.00 pm HCA, Level 1, 12 Pirie Street, Adelaide 5000 Health literacy is an integral part of patient-centred care. It was first mentioned in the literature in 1974, but it wasn’t until the late 1990’s and early 2000’s that it gained further attention and became the focus of researchers to further understand the concept and applications to policy and practice.…

Ten tips for protecting personal information in your eHealth record

You can opt-in to Australia’s personally controlled electronic health record (eHealth record) system from July 2012. Your eHealth record will contain an electronic summary of your key health information. Information about the eHealth record system can be found at www.ehealth.gov.au. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) regulates the privacy aspects of the eHealth record system. The OAIC’s role includes investigating complaints about the mishandling of health information in an individual’s eHealth record. It…

Bringing your medicines into hospital

SA Health Encourages Patients To Bring Their Own Medicines From Home Into Hospital. A New SA Health Policy On Patients’ Own Medications (Poms) Has Been Developed By The South Australian Medicines Advisory Committee (SAMAC) In Consultation With Key Stakeholders. The Policy Aims To Promote The Quality And Safety Of Medicines Use And Improve Continuity Of Patient Care Within SA Health, By: Promoting Access To Poms To Assist In Determining Comprehensive Details Of Patients’ Medications On…

Families At Heart Of Clarence Gardens Mum Dana Bell's Wish List

Valerina Changarathil Advertiser 11 May 2013 FULL-TIME Healthcare Professional And Mum-Of-Two Dana Bell Is Keeping A Closer Eye Than Ever On Tuesday's Federal Budget. Ms Bell, Of Clarence Gardens, Said She Wanted The Labor Government To Budget For Broader Access To Healthcare, An Improved Childcare Tax Rebate Regimen And Education Initiatives. Along With A Direct Impact On The Family, These Are Issues That Affect The Broader Community, She Said. "Health Should Be An Absolute Priority…

Young South Australian Women Shunning Regular Pap Smears

Jordanna Schriever Adelaidenow May 19, 2013 YOUNG South Australian Women Are Shunning Pap Smears, With Just 45.4 Per Cent Of 20 To 24-Year-Olds Undergoing The Cervical Cancer Screening Test. The Figure Has Been Declining In SA And Across The Country Since The Introduction In 2007 Of A National Immunisation Program Offering The Gardasil Vaccine Free To Women Aged 12 To 26. The Drop - From 48.8 Per Cent In 2007-08 - Has Prompted SA Health…

Here's A Respectful Way To Give Better Care To Cancer Patients

Amanda Vanstone Sydney Morning Herald 29 April, 2013 Australians Seem To Have Slipped Into Thinking That Every Improvement In Life Will Come From A New Government Policy With New Money Attached. Of Course There Are Needs That Only New Dollars Can Meet, But There Are Countless Examples Of Circumstances Where Things Can Be Made Much Better By Spending The Money More Wisely Or Simply Changing The Way We Do Something Within The Same Budget. One…

From God To Guide: Can Patient-Centred Care Become A Reality In The NHS?

Mark Britnell The Guardian UK , Tuesday 14 May Most Parts Of The NHS Are Only Paying Lip Service To Patient Engagement, Recently Hailed As The 'Next Blockbuster Drug' As Healthcare Systems The World Over Continue To Groan Under The Weight Of Rising Expectations, Ageing Populations And Squeezed Finances, The Search For Viable Long-Term Solutions Shows No Sign Of Slowing. For Many, The Focus Remains On System Reform – Finding New Ways To Make The…

Angelina Jolie's Pain Is A Gain For All Of Us

Michael Mullins Eureka Street.Com, May 19, 2013 The Recent News Of Actor Angelina Jolie's Pre-Emptive Double Mastectomy Has Shown That Science Can Improve Human Wellbeing With The Use Of Highly Specialised Surgical Techniques. Jolie Went Through The Operation In Order To Reduce Her Chances Of Contracting Breast Cancer From Around 87 Per Cent To 5 Per Cent. In Recent Days, We Also Heard That Scientists Have Proved It Is Possible To Increase Our Wellbeing By…