General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Nothing new, heard it all before unfortunately. Too much weight for floor? - just spin. So they Store it offsite where the floor can take the weight?
Hope it has good electricity backup

Well there's the thing. When someone turned the lights off in SA a few weeks ago, generators failed at Flinders Medical Centre and frozen embryos readying for implantation thawed. Could not be saved. 13 families about to have Transfer were impacted. Not enough money spent on maintenance. The RAH phone system also crashed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes Thats why Im hoping you guys over there have good electricity backup.The ideological imperative is more important than the truth. Because of that no one is complaining. Nothing new. Oh your backup from Victorian coal (at least one) is being closed.

If this happened at a private IVF clinic the moral outrage would have been deafening.

 

[drron]

During my time in SA I have met a fellow who had a major role in planning for SA Health.He quit in frustration.Needless to say listening to him I am not surprised at what has happened.

 

[Pushka]

During my time in SA I have met a fellow who had a major role in planning for SA Health.He quit in frustration.Needless to say listening to him I am not surprised at what has happened.

And the discussions amongst specialists in the public system with the Health Minister with 'transforming health' are very worrying. Repat closing down - and closest PH aims to get people out within 3 days. That doesn't work for Hospice, cancer and stroke victims - major clients of the Repat.

 

[Quickstatus]

Free health care is surprisingly not free. Politicians keep bleating on about free and universal health care and then slough off the reality to the bureaucrats who try in vain to realise the fantasy.

 

[QF WP]

Was a very interesting chat my wife had with Prof Gole when she finally got through the gate-keepers. He knows my wife well and was appreciative of her forthright commentary about the couple of PO's who weren't following standard procedures. Not meeting Expectation

This afternoon, like sinophile, I'm off to the specialist (for my family member who has waited the required week for their appointment). Should be interesting to listen to his recommended course of action, we have our own thoughts as well that we will be sharing

 

[Bundy Bear]

Losing a second member of our Christmas carol singers will hurt. I just feel a bit gutted that another one of our champagne and red wine drinkers has passed away. We won't be as loud with our rendition of Jerusalem this year which may please the neighbours of course.
We really need to bank the good times with great food,great drinks and great company.

Liking the banking the good times, when someone dies it brings a few things into perspective,

What was the famous line, drink the good wine and order the dessert.

 

[Pushka]

Last night the EPAS (client records system) failed for 10 hours in several public hospitals.

 

[cove]

Bundy Bear my singing friend will have left this world leaving behind some of his greatest feats. For many years he delivered babies for thousands of Perth mothers so he made his mark for sure. I think leaving a place better than when you arrive is a thing we all aspire to accomplish. He came on a £10 pound ship.

 

[drron]

Hate relying on electronic records.one hospital I work at only has electronic records.Problem is the program they use isn't suited to their operating system and often the records are unobtainable.I just cancel the outpatients when it happens as I usually haven't seen even the returning patients so would be a waste of time.

 

[Pushka]

Hate relying on electronic records.one hospital I work at only has electronic records.Problem is the program they use isn't suited to their operating system and often the records are unobtainable.I just cancel the outpatients when it happens as I usually haven't seen even the returning patients so would be a waste of time.

And they don't have paper backup. A few months ago at the GP clinic their computers went down. I was in the middle of the consult. No access to any procedures or tests. Couldn't write a script. Couldn't order path or X-rays. Front desk couldn't check people in to the Doctor. Took about 45 minutes.

Plus GP's tend to spend time looking at the computer screen on their desk rather than sideways looking at the patient. Maybe that is more of an issue for my situation as I always have tests that need to be checked as opposed to the more normal runny nose stuff.

The RAH system doesn't 'talk' to private X-ray labs so they don't receive reports and the haematologist says films get lost so I have to wait a couple of hours for the films and then personally deliver to haematology. Gotta be a better way.

 

[drron]

No I have been told I am unusual for looking at the patient rather than the computer screen.Comes with age.

 

[suze2000]

One of the things I loved about an allergy specialist I saw recently. The reason I was referred to her was work-related, and too ridiculous for everyone's time here, but I spent three minutes explaining that to her, and she said, well I agree with you on that, let's get that out of the way. Now, I'm MUCH more interested in this other thing you mentioned briefly, let's talk about that. Something that's been a problem for ten years and I've been at my wit's end with at points in the past, and she wants to find a way to help me with it! Plus she was lively and interested and listened to me ramble on about my health for a good ten minutes before asking for more detail. I've a follow-up appointment in a couple of days, where I expect her to freak out because my ESR at the time was 62 or something. ESR is another one of those "yep, you're sick" tests, which I've actually refused to let my Dr order when I was younger. I saw it and also that the CRP was 23 and am still wondering whether the terrible hayfever/URTI symptoms I was suffering at the time is enough to explain it away. I'm sure she'll order a repeat, so we'll see.

 

[Quickstatus]

ESR, CaRP test are non specific tests just to say there is some inflammatory process going on. You may actually feel normal. Your numbers are very low and are neither here nor there. Often used as a response to therapy. I suspect CaRP is a better test than ESR. Dont need to do both. But the cost differential of doing one is negligible or zero in the scheme of things depending on what other tests are done.

 

[QF WP]

Well here is the offending gallstone:



Been to the Director of Surgery at PCH, but he won't be taking that gallbladder. Both the patient and I didn't like some of his crude jokes, one in particular was inappropriate for a person of his station.

Back to the GP for a referral to a more appropriate specialist

 

[sinophile888]

I am delighted to report that I now unbanned from cruising again. My specialist is very happy and doesn't want to see me for another 6 months. He said that if the symptoms reappear, then I should be able to be treated at any decent sized hospital. He thought that Albany, Burnie, Port Lincoln and even Kangaroo Island could be correctly equipped. And, of course, Adelaide and Melbourne.

I am so pleased. I hate being restricted wrt travelling. Still baby steps as I'm not venturing overseas just yet.

 

[drron]

I am delighted to report that I now unbanned from cruising again. My specialist is very happy and doesn't want to see me for another 6 months. He said that if the symptoms reappear, then I should be able to be treated at any decent sized hospital. He thought that Albany, Burnie, Port Lincoln and even Kangaroo Island could be correctly equipped. And, of course, Adelaide and Melbourne.

I am so pleased. I hate being restricted wrt travelling. Still baby steps as I'm not venturing overseas just yet.

But,but,I am at Whyalla.Though frequently work at Burnie.

 

[bosox76]

And the discussions amongst specialists in the public system with the Health Minister with 'transforming health' are very worrying. Repat closing down - and closest PH aims to get people out within 3 days. That doesn't work for Hospice, cancer and stroke victims - major clients of the Repat.

As a former employee who has wandered the wards of the repat I was saddened to hear it was closing. Quite enjoyed my time training there.

As for the RAH, not the least bit surprised to hear that it is already undersized. This seems to be an ongoing issue with new public hospitals. Governments don't seem to have any forward planning for population growth.

Hate relying on electronic records.one hospital I work at only has electronic records.Problem is the program they use isn't suited to their operating system and often the records are unobtainable.I just cancel the outpatients when it happens as I usually haven't seen even the returning patients so would be a waste of time.

There are some Heath networks where it works very well though. You get access to all specialty clinic letters and results in real time so you don't have to "rely" on the patient giving accurate information on what the other doctor have said.

 

[sinophile888]

But,but,I am at Whyalla. Though frequently work at Burnie.

I am very pleased to hear that you are frequently at Burnie. Makes me more confident that all will be well at all our ports. I hope not to have to avail myself of your professional services, but would be very happy to meet both you and mrs.dr.ron whilst travelling.

 

[Pushka]

As for the RAH, not the least bit surprised to hear that it is already undersized. This seems to be an ongoing issue with new public hospitals. Governments don't seem to have any forward planning for population growth.

Or that we are an ageing population with increasing health issues. Let alone the diabetes epidemic.