In the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
Others have stated their priorities directly with Federal Government. Through these interviews, AHJ gives a final opportunity to communicate to all health stakeholders, the funding needs for a range of priorities. These range from new models of care to pilots and wholesale, system improvements to building more sustainable workforces to help grow certain sectors of the health system
The Chief Executive Officer of The Australasian College of Paramedicine, John Bruning spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
- New models of care proposed for paramedics
- Paramedicine pilot program in the pre-budget submission
- Scope of how paramedics can support General Practice, and guidelines on safety and quality
- Current limitations experienced by paramedics needing to be addressed by Government
Lastly John talks about other priorities he hopes are included in the Federal Budget. These include a longer term, widespread reform view of the health system. There has been an approach where things have been “added on, gaps filled, issues identified” in 3-4 year cycles. John hopes there is a direction taken where health is completely reformed, including in access for regional, remote and 1st nations people. John sees the public needing further guidance and awareness on the health system to support public health literacy.
Finally cultural training is needed to deliver safe and appropriate health care to the range of diverse populations that clinicians serve. This can lead to fulfilling and purposeful workforce, which in itself needs the Government to consider the wellbeing aspects of clinicians during very challenging times in the pandemic.
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Health-Tech Connections
Challenges in health care delivery have compounded, with clinical staff being exposed to the Omicron COVID variant. Reduced staffing has brought on its challenges to most already-strained state health care systems and the people working in them.
However, over the past 2 years of the pandemic, technology has played an increasing role on the front end for patients and consumers at home and clinicians in the medical setting. Much more is planned in technology that will deliver efficiency, reduce risk and make available new models of care. This has the potential to touch the working lives of all stakeholders and
recipients of care. -
Trends report identifies prototyping targets for breakthroughs in digital and hybrid futures
Vishaal Kishore, a Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at RMIT in Melbourne, serves as the Executive Chair of the RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab and RMIT’s Director of Impact. Led by the RMIT-Cisco Health Transformation Lab, the National Industry Innovation Network (NIIN) Health Alliance combines the best minds, technologists, industry capabilities and academic resources to solve pressing industry and social challenges through technology-driven innovation. The NIIN aims to pool insights and expertise to address national health challenges, marking its first vertical focus on health.
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Specialist emergency care clinics in rollout
Unlike Emergency Departments that operate within public hospitals and some private hospitals, a Walk-in Specialist Emergency Clinic is located in the community and designed to provide comprehensive, coordinated acute care – from initial consultation and diagnostic services, to treatment and specialist referral if required – without the patient having to visit a hospital.
Australian Health Journal spoke to the visionary, founder and CEO behind this WiSE Specialist Emergency clinic, Dr Pankaj Arora.
