|
Editorial
Healthcare bullying revelations multiplying
Whether by happenstance or dam-burst effect, it was very easy to find articles on bullying or allegations of bullying in healthcare this week.
Your editor therefore felt compelled to make the most analytical of the items this week’s ‘Top story’. Four other stories can be found in ‘Industrial relations and workforce’.
Healthcare is a high stress and fast-paced field dealing with life and death. The daily possibility of losing one’s composure in such circumstances is high. Accordingly, all players need to be hyper-vigilant in terms of respect for co-workers and behaviour control.
As NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says (and he is good with the one-liners), ‘There is absolutely not one millimetre of room for a culture of bullying or failure to provide respect to every staff member’.
If there IS a millimetre of room, that can quickly turn into many metres. If bad behaviour gets normalised and goes unpunished, or defended with yet more bullying, then toxicity and dysfunction set in and become part of an ongoing and entrenched culture that can take years to eradicate once somebody blows the whistle—often at great personal and professional cost.
‘Good staff’ vote with their feet and leave, corporate memory goes down the toilet, turnover is high, and efficiency plummets because a large proportion of the staff are always new, half-trained and constantly ‘stood over’. Fitting in with the prevailing culture by keeping your head down becomes all-important, to the detriment of professionalism and doing a great job.
The increasing incidence of people being called out for proven bullying behaviour is a positive move, though often confronting and costly for all involved.
The bare truth, however, is that effective and compassionate patient care in the face of stretched resources demands eradication of the corrosive effects of bullying in the workplace.
Peer review, national interest test—or pub test?
In the aftermath of the news on Tuesday that 11 Australian Research Council (ARC) grants had been vetoed by the previous Education Minister, a new ‘national interest test’ was announced yesterday—in concept, rather than in detail—by current Education Minister Dan Tehan.
Research sector organisations are worried that ‘national interest test’ means ‘political interest test’—but maybe it’s another way of saying ‘pub test’—which is not such a bad thing.
|
|
|
|
Top story
‘Tough leadership' and humiliation: why is workplace bullying still so prevalent?
Last Friday, the Intensive Care Unit at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital was stripped of its training accreditation after allegations of bullying by senior medical staff.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said medical specialists have to understand that this is the 21st century. ‘There is absolutely not one millimetre of room for a culture of bullying or failure to provide respect to every staff member’, he said.
A few days later, an independent review into Cricket Australia—following the ball tampering scandal—found that employees were reverting to ‘bullying tactics, or worse, ostracising’ to get their way.
Why should we care? Bullying victims can experience severe (and sometimes debilitating) distress. They take more sick leave, try to avoid the workplace and are less able to fulfil their duties. Bullying costs up to $36 billion annually due to lost productivity in Australia.
(Source: ABC)
|
|
Deeble scholarship applications now open
Are you interested in connecting with policy-makers and practitioners working in your field of research?
This is YOUR opportunity to stand out from the crowd!
Applications for the 2019 Deeble Institute Scholarship Program are now open.
It is a six-week program based in Canberra at the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, that gives recipients the opportunity to:
- build expertise in an area relevant to health services research
- contribute to the AHHA and its work
- interact with policy-makers and practitioners
- produce a health policy issues brief that engages health policy leaders in an area of national significance
- be guided by a mentor who will provide advice during the scholarship.
Deeble Scholars will have excellent writing skills and demonstrated sound research capability. Generally, they will have completed at least one year of a PhD program. Early career researchers (<5 years post-PhD) are also welcome to apply.
More information, including the Program Summary and answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research website.
Applications close Sunday 4 November 2018 at 11.55 pm (AEST).
To discuss the Scholarship Program further, please contact deebleadmin@ahha.asn.au or +61 2 6162 0780
|
|
Events and workshops
Third Women in Pharma and Medical Leadership Summit
28 November 2018, Sydney
Liquid Learning’s 3rd Women in Pharma and Medical Leadership Summit once again brings together many of the region’s most influential leaders who champion or embody women's leadership excellence in the industry.
Liquid Learning is excited to partner with the AHHA and offer all AHHA subscribers a 10% discount on standard booking rates. Click here to book now and reserve your seat!
#NextCare Health Conference
30–31 May 2019, Brisbane
Hear from global and world-class experts in leadership from a range of industries, connect with fellow health leaders at all levels, and inspired to leadership excellence.
Our engaging speakers include world-renowned futurist Phill Nosworthy, cultural change coach Amanda Gore, Chief Executive of Australia’s largest public health service Shaun Drummond, health digital transformation enthusiast Dr Clair Sullivan, and healthcare leadership expert Jan Phillips.
Register now to connect, inspire and transform at the inaugural #NextCare Health Conference 2019.
|
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Young Indigenous Australians report being in good health, but challenges remain
About 1 in every 20 young people in Australia is Indigenous. This report provides a snapshot of their health and wellbeing in a range of areas including social and economic determinants, health risk factors, and health services. The report shows the majority (63%) of young Indigenous people aged 10–24 rated their health as either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ in 2014–15.
In the same year, more than 3 in 4 (76%) of those aged 15–24 said they felt happy all or most of the time in the previous month and nearly 7 in 10 (69%) were involved in cultural events in the previous 12 months. More than half (53%) identified with a clan, tribal or language group. For young Indigenous Australians aged 20–24, there was an increase in year 12 or equivalent attainment from 47% in 2006 to 65% in 2016.
(Source: AIHW)
|
|
Childbirth
Mothers should wait a year between giving birth and getting pregnant again, according to a new study
- Women have long been told to wait at least 18 months between giving birth and becoming pregnant again, but a new study suggested a year is long enough.
- Having an interpregnancy interval of under 12 months, however, can lead to complications for both mother and baby.
- Mothers older than 35 who become pregnant again after less than a year are more likely to put their own health at risk than younger women.
- Researchers said they hope the findings will provide hope for older mothers worrying about their ‘biological clock’.
(Source: Business Insider)
|
|
Communicable diseases
Rubella eliminated in Australia: WHO
Rubella, the contagious disease that can cause pregnant women to miscarry or result in serious birth defects or stillbirth, has officially been eliminated in Australia. The World Health Organization confirmed on Wednesday that the viral infection, also known as German measles, no longer exists in the nation.
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the elimination of rubella in Australia sends a powerful message that vaccinations work.
(Source: Western Advocate)
|
|
Digital health
ADHA to begin interoperability talks for ‘licence to operate’ in February
(Paywall)
The Australian Digital Health Agency plans to begin its public consultation on the road towards health sector interoperability in February 4 next year, with a draft set of standards scheduled for release at the end of the financial year.
The agency also plans to ramp up its work in getting the aged care sector connected to and using the My Health Record once the opt-out period finishes on November 15, with plans to work on device integration with the system as well as providing real-time access to clinical registries such as the rheumatic heart disease register for Indigenous health.
(Source: Pulse+IT)
|
|
Fitness and wellbeing
Canberrans warned after dangerous banned substances found in sport supplements
Canberrans using sports supplements for bodybuilding and weight loss are being warned of the health risks associated with the products after it was found certain supplements contained banned and dangerous substances. Sport supplement products that have been found as part of the investigation are labelled to contain substances such as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), cardarine, tadalafil, oxedrine, melatonin and phenibut.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Paul Kelly said the substances that claim to be fat burning or muscle building are either prescription-only medication or are ‘banned poisons’. Dr Kelly said even small doses of the chemicals they have seized can be harmful to long-term health, and some of the compounds have shown to cause cancer in animals, as well as heart and blood pressure issues.
(Source: Riot ACT)
|
|
Health administration
Nicola Roxon announced as new HESTA Independent Chair
HESTA today announced that the Hon. Nicola Roxon will become its new Independent Chair when Angela Emslie steps down from the position at the end of her term on 31 December 2018. The HESTA Board welcomed Ms Roxon, acknowledging the unique insights, skills and experience she would bring to the Fund and a deep understanding of the health and community services sector.
In the five years since leaving politics, Ms Roxon has brought her extensive public and commercial experience to a number of key Board appointments. She is currently Chair of Bupa Australia and New Zealand, and the Cancer Council Australia. She is also a Non-Executive Director at Dexus and Lifestyle Communities. Ms Roxon is the Chair of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board and an Adjunct Professor within the College of Law and Justice at Victoria University, but will be stepping down from both these roles to focus on the HESTA Chair position.
(Source: HESTA)
|
|
Health funding
ACT health system the most expensive in the country
A new report says the ACT’s health system is among the most expensive in the country but Canberrans have the lowest level of preventable deaths.
The Grattan Institute published a state-by-state analysis of policy agendas on Monday. The report urged all states and territories to look towards Victoria, where healthcare is cheaper and more efficient.
The report also suggested other states and territories take the ACT's lead and replace stamp duties with broad-based property taxes, finding the ACT had the country’s most efficient tax system. In the ACT each dollar of revenue raised costs the economy just 22 cents.
(Source: 2CA)
|
|
Health policy
Waiting for better care: why Australia’s hospitals and healthcare is failing
Australia has a good health system by international standards, but it has to get better. Half of all patients across Australia wait more than a month for an elective hospital procedure, such as a hip replacement. This is in addition to waiting for an outpatient visit so they can be added to the elective procedure wait list.
Health is the largest single component of state government expenditure in every state of Australia and has been growing rapidly. About two-thirds of state government health spending—excluding transfers from the Commonwealth—is on public hospitals.
Just over half the population does not have health insurance and so relies on public hospitals for all their care. Even for people with private insurance, public hospitals are their principal source of emergency care. It’s bad enough half of all patients across Australia wait more than a month for an elective procedure from the time they were booked. What’s worse is that about 10% wait more than six months. In our smallest state, Tasmania, 10% of patients wait about a year. In the biggest state, NSW, the situation is almost as bad.
(Source: The Conversation)
|
|
Industrial relations and workforce
NSW public health workers bullied and harassed
More than 13,700 health workers—roughly one in five respondents—reported being bullied, according to the NSW Public Service Commission’s People Matter Employee Survey 2018.
More than 40% said they were bullied by an immediate or senior manager, according to the survey, which also found widespread lack of confidence in management's ability to resolve grievances, lead and manage change, listen to employees or take action as a result of the survey’s findings.
Former Mental Health Commissioner Professor Ian Hickie said NSW has a world-class health system with enviable patient outcomes, but the health service couldn’t afford to have such a high level of dysfunction.
(Source: Sydney Morning Herald)
Doctors accused of misconduct after making internal complaint (ACT)
Doctors who made public interest disclosures alleging maladministration and inappropriate recruitment processes in the medical imaging department at Canberra Hospital were subsequently accused of misconduct by ACT Health, with one doctor's contract discontinued, documents reveal.
More than 11 months after the first disclosure was made, ACT Health decided earlier in October that four of the complaints might amount to disclosable conduct and would be investigated further.
The disclosures came before a scathing report from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists in March. It dropped the Canberra Hospital's radiology training ranking from an A to a D.
(Source: Sydney Morning Herald)
Bullying of medical students has consequences—for future doctors and patients
There are many reasons why doctors have poorer mental health than non-doctors. But surely the way we treat each other is one reason.
Five years after that landmark study, it seems that many doctors still treat each other like crap.
- My own experience is not unusual. I know of a student who had their knowledge compared to that of a child, later turning away so no-one saw their tears.
- I've seen a senior doctor berate a fellow trainee for not performing a manoeuvre properly, barking ‘get out of the way’. I finally understood why the trainee always looked kind of broken.
- I saw firsthand a senior doctor rip a junior team member to shreds in a group phone chat, for all to read and see.
- I've lost track of the eye rolling when a question isn't answered correctly. And we've all become immune to ‘What do they even teach you these days?!’
(Source: ABC)
Townsville Hospital CEO ’defending myself very strongly’ against bullying allegations
(Paywall)
Townsville Hospital Chief Executive Kieran Keyes has been accused of bullying and is facing legal action from the Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland. NPAQ executive director Graeme Haycroft alleges nurse unit manager Kirsten McAllister was bullied by Mr Keyes in the past 12 months. An affidavit was lodged with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
Mr Keyes denied the allegations made against him and said he would respect the independence of the organisation. ‘I am looking forward to the opportunity to responding to the claims that have been made, and to defending myself very strongly against them’, he said.
(Source: Townsville Bulletin)
|
|
Mental health
Gillard defends mental health in NDIS
Ms Gillard said she was ‘immensely proud’ of what the scheme represents in a keynote address at an NDIS forum, describing it as ‘big and nation-changing’.
‘But let's be clear what the NDIS is not’, she said. ‘The NDIS was never intended to replace the mental health system. Some have contended that including psychosocial disability in the NDIS was a mistake. I don't believe it was.’
Ms Gillard said if it had not been included, there would still be talk of issues surrounding the scheme’s implementation and campaigners would be pushing for mental health to be addressed. ‘The real issue here isn't revisiting what the NDIS is meant to cover but taking the time and showing the flexibility, transparency and co-operation necessary to get it right’, she said.
(Source: 2NM)
|
|
My Health Record
AMA Submission—My Health Record—Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry
AMA advocated strongly to protect the confidentiality of information the patient discloses to their treating doctor. It is vital that sensitive patient health data uploaded to the My Health Record does not become a ‘honey-pot’ for law enforcement agencies. This would not only threaten the doctor-patient relationship, it would undermine community confidence in the My Health Record system.
The AMA welcomes the amendments in My Health Record (Strengthening Privacy) Bill 2018 (the Bill). If passed by the Parliament, it will prohibit the System Operator (the Australian Digital Health Agency) from disclosing My Health Record data to a law enforcement body without a warrant or judicial order and severely limit the circumstances in which a judicial order can be issued. In fact, because of the amendments in this Bill, it will be harder for law enforcement organizations to get a warrant for patient data from a My Health Record, than it would be to get a warrant to access information from the patient’s treating health practitioner.
(Source: AMA)
International review puts Australia ahead in personal control of electronic health records
An international comparison review of digital health record systems shows My Health Record consumers in Australia have more ability to personally control their digital health information than in similar countries worldwide.
The Digital Health Evidence Review, released by the Australian Digital Health Agency, brings together studies comparing My Health Record with similar systems across the world, including those in France, the UK, the USA and New Zealand.
Out of the 50 countries surveyed, the Digital Health Evidence Review found:
- Only Australia and France allow individuals to edit or author parts of their record
- Only 32% of surveyed countries have legislation in place that allow individuals to request corrections to their data.
- Only 28% of surveyed countries have legislation that allows individuals to specify which healthcare providers can access their data.
(Source: ADHA)
|
|
Parkinson's
Cooling ‘brains on fire’ to treat Parkinson’s
UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience researcher Professor Matt Cooper said drug companies had traditionally tried to treat neurodegenerative disorders by blocking neurotoxic proteins that build up in the brain and cause disease.
‘We have taken an alternative approach by focusing on immune cells in the brain called microglia that can clear these toxic proteins’, he said. ‘With diseases of ageing such as Parkinson’s, our immune system can become over-activated, with microglia causing inflammation and damage to the brain. MCC950 effectively “cooled the brains on fire”, turning down microglial inflammatory activity, and allowing neurons to function normally.’
(Source: University of Queensland)
|
|
Pharmacy
‘This is purely about money making from a pharmacist perspective’
The new RACGP Chair has criticised expanded pharmacy vaccinations in NSW, but the Guild NSW president says pulling the ‘money making’ card is hypocrisy
New Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Associate Professor Charlotte Hespe, has criticised the NSW Government’s decision to let pharmacists provide more vaccines over fears it will fragment primary care.
(Source: Australian Journal of Pharmacy)
|
|
Reproductive health
New test predicts a man's capacity to generate a pregnancy (and may save money)
A new test that can predict how likely a man is to generate a pregnancy is causing considerable excitement in the world of reproductive medicine. Using breakthrough technology, the test goes beyond semen analysis which has been the gold standard for about 50 years. Semen analysis is descriptive. It counts sperm and assesses their concentration, shape and ability to swim. Sperm that look brilliant in a semen analysis can fail to function at the crucial time.
This new test looks instead at their ability to function—to get close up to an egg and penetrate it. Called Cap-Score, it is designed to be used together with a semen analysis.
(Source: Australian Financial Review)
|
|
Research
Kirsty’s success going viral (links between obesity, the immune system and influenza)
The University of Queensland virologist has been awarded one of this year’s L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Australia & New Zealand Fellowships, supporting outstanding early career female scientists. Dr Short said she would use the funding to investigate links between obesity and the influenza virus, as it appeared the obesity epidemic had created a more vulnerable patient group.
‘We’re discovering that obesity is definitely a factor when determining who is most susceptible to contracting the virus, even after they’ve returned to a healthy weight’, she said. ‘It seems that obesity leaves behind a legacy effect, due to the fact that it alters the function of the alveolar macrophages—white blood cells—which play a critical role within the immune system.
(Source: University of Queensland)
|
|
Announcements
Have your say! Get involved in the global survey focused on improving cancer care
Australians who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer have the opportunity to share their experiences with the world as part of a global research project spearheaded by All.Can, an initiative committed to improving cancer care.
The All.Can survey is open to all Australians who have experienced cancer care and are willing to share their thoughts on their care and the efficiency of the Australian health system. The insights gathered from the survey will be used to shape recommendations to improve cancer care in Australia.
To participate in the survey, visit http://www.myonlinesurvey.co.uk/allcan_ENAU/
(Source: All.Can)
|
|
Jobs
To advertise vacancies in the Healthcare in Brief, please contact the AHHA at admin@ahha.asn.au.
AHHA's online jobs section provides up-to-date information about vacancies across the health sector.
To visit the AHHA online jobs section, click here.
Project Director (Choosing Wisely) (Hervey Bay), Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service; PhD Scholarships, annual stipend of $27,596 per year for three years full-time study, Faculty of Business and Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI) at the University of Wollongong; and Clinical/Physician Executive at Intersystems, Sydney.
|
|
Australian Health Review
The AHHA is pleased to offer you early access to articles in our peer reviewed journal The Australian Health Review. If you have trouble viewing these in your browser, they can be accessed via the AHHA homepage.
|
Volume 42(5) 2018
|
|
Healthcare in Brief is brought to you by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, the independent peak membership body and advocate for the Australian healthcare system and a national voice for universally accessible, high quality healthcare in Australia.
You can self-subscribe to Healthcare in Brief for free at this link.
|
Our Sponsor:
|
|
|
|
