Getting started with MyMedicare patient registration
MyMedicare is now open for voluntary registration to Australians with a valid Medicare card or a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Veteran card. A practice must be registered in MyMedicare before a patient can start their own registration. There are multiple ways...
Navigating MyMedicare: What you can do now to prepare
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner, and primary care teams. It zeroes in on a crucial aspect of our healthcare system, continuity of care –...
Is the quality of sleep more important than quantity
We have often heard that an adult needs between seven and nine hours sleep a night to feel properly refreshed and to function at their best the next day. A new international study led by researchers at Monash University has found that it’s the quality of sleep rather...
Is early childhood abuse linked to poor pregnancy outcomes?
According to the 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study nearly two in three Australians (62.2%) reported that they had experienced at least one form of child maltreatment (58.4% of males and 65.5% of females). We know that adverse experiences in childhood – such as...
Do alcohol apps help curb young drinking?
You probably have a general sense of how much you drink, if you drink – but we all know there can be a big difference between ballpark estimates and cold hard data. Do you think you’d change your drinking behaviour if you were receiving regular reminders about your...
Are exercise ‘weekend warriors’ at increased risk of heart disease?
For many, the working week leaves little time for exercise – it’s something you fit in as a “weekend warrior” on the courts, in the water, on the pavement or in the gym. Many physical activity guidelines recommend people space out their exercise, but is there evidence...
Can weight gain be driven by seasons and celebrations?
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 67% of adults aged 18 and over are overweight or obese. When broken done by gender, it’s slightly more common in men than women. Weight gain is obviously the core problem, and a particular area of focus is...
The Dose – Edition 4
Are sleep disorders underdiagnosed in young people?
Nearly half (48%) of all Australian adults report at least 2 sleep-related problems according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Sleep disorders (like sleep apnoea and insomnia) have knock on effects for a person’s health and work life. Now a new...
Can social isolation be linked to early death and heart disease?
People who are socially isolated don’t often have contact with other people and may live alone. It is estimated that around 1 in 5 (19%) older. Australians are socially isolated Loneliness impacts over five million Australians. Various countries around the world, most...
Does chess, puzzles and journaling protect against dementia?
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates there were 401,300 Australians living with dementia last year. With Australia’s ageing and growing population, it’s predicted dementia diagnoses will more than double in the next three decades. As the body of...
Menopause: Are we over-medicalising this inevitable transition?
Most women become menopausal naturally between the ages of 45 and 55 years according to Australasian Menopause Society. Women can also experience early menopause due to health conditions or after surgery. Menopause affects every woman differently. Some women deal with...
