CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN PRIMARY CARE HANDBOOK REFRESHED FOR HCPs
Breonny Robson, GM Clinical and Research
Kidney Health Australia
Dr Chris Bollen GP, Oakden Medical Centre &
PEAK Committee Member, Kidney Health Australia
Professor Shilpa Jesudason, Nephrologist
Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide,
Director of Dialysis, Royal Adelaide Hospital &
PEAK Committee Member, Kidney Health Australia
Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing
Government of South Australia
Kidney Health Australia’s latest kidney disease guide for primary care practitioners is expected to be pivotal in slowing down the rates of kidney failure, which have doubled in the past 20 years and if left unchecked will grow by a further 42% by 2030, according to the health charity.
With specific reference to new kidney treatments and culturally safe kidney care for First Nations Australians, the 5th edition of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care handbook, known as the ‘kidney bible’, is a significant step-up in enabling earlier diagnosis of kidney disease for GPs and other front-line healthcare professionals.
The number of Australians treated for kidney failure has doubled in the last two decades, causing widespread treatment shortages, increasing costs, and plunging thousands of Australians into highly invasive and life-altering dialysis. With 1.8 million people currently unaware they have kidney disease, this number will only continue to grow.
Breonny Robson, General Manager, Clinical and Research at Kidney Health Australia, said: “The new edition of the GP handbook helps health professionals working in primary care to identify people at risk of CKD in their practice and proactively diagnose CKD. It outlines key strategies to slow the progression of CKD and reduce cardiovascular risk, including simple colour-coded action plans for different stages of the disease.”
Ms Robson added, “It’s an exciting time in CKD care, with new treatments now available that have been shown to slow the progression of CKD to kidney failure by 15 years or more. The handbook contains significant new information on using these medications in people with CKD so that their health outcomes and quality of life can be extended for many years to come.”
The handbook is endorsed by Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), the Renal Society of Australasia (RSA) and the Australian Primary Healthcare Nurses Association (APNA) and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). It has been approved as an Acceptable Clinical Resource by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
South Australian Minister of Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton launched the handbook at an event on World Kidney Day, 14th March, at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The handbook is available from Kidney Health Australia in hardcopy or free download here https://kidney.org.au/health-professionals/ckd-management-handbook
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Scott Willis, talks Physiotherapy
Health Executive Leadership Insights (HELI)
Scott Willis, the National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association talks Physiotherapy -
Primary care remodelled
Tracey Johnson is the CEO of Inala Primary Care, a not-for-profit general practice located in Inala serving approximately 7000 patients; 4400 of whom attend clinic regularly. Inala is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland and has a population of great cultural and linguistic diversity, with just under 40% of residents speaking English at home. It is also one of Queensland’s most socioeconomically marginalised urban areas.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Tracey on the role of Inala Primary care in reducing hospital admissions.
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Australia’s Nursing Crisis Snapshot
“Nursing, already under pressure, is reaching breaking point due to the pressures of COVID-19 and a disjointed healthcare system, including the acute, primary and aged care sectors”, says Kylie Ward, Australian College of Nursing CEO adding, “We must act now to protect our nurses and healthcare; the time has come for a national reckoning on nursing in Australia.”
Australian nurses cannot continue to work under the extreme pressure they are currently operating under – the impacts are mounting.
The almost 400,000 Australian nurses are a constant presence in every one of our major life milestones, national emergencies and global crises. The nurse of today holds a science degree, possesses highly technical training, valuable medical opinions, front-row expertise, is an effective trainer, and is skilled in population and systemic thinking. But the pandemic is inflicting a major emotional and physical toll on nurses.
In this “Perspectives” special, Australian Health Journal spoke with 4 nurses on the challenges they or nurses in their circle have experienced, the key issues as well some of the opportunities. These nurses come from national leadership & policy, large scale workforce management, a final year student completing over a year on placement across 6 Melbourne Hospitals and a NSW based ICU nurse stranded in Mexico, unable to return to a critical role in nursing to an already strained team due to incoming quotas.
While the issues are challenging, there are strategies that can be put into place to ease the pressure, to support nurses, and nursing care in Australia. These are discussed by the the 4 nurses.
– Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN CEO, Australian College of Nursing
– Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary FACN ACN Chair of Workforce Sustainability Policy Chapter & Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Metro North Health
– Natalie Reyes, NSW based ICU Nurse Currently stranded in Mexico
– Hayley Pollock, Final Year Bachelor of Nursing Student & ACN Emerging Nurse Leader
