Distance is no obstacle podcasts

Drug and alcohol misuse and mental health conditions

Paul Dessauer, Outreach Coordinator from Peer-Based Harm Reduction WA talks to us about the association between drug and alcohol misuse and mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression.

Paul shares information on how particular drug and alcohol use may impact on existing mental health conditions.

Peer-Based Harm Reduction WA provides non-judgmental, friendly, peer-based support, information and education, advocacy and harm reduction services, and services aimed at reducing the transmission of BBVs and STIs associated with drug use among the community in WA.

Diabetes education in rural WA

Gill Denny, Teleservices Manager and Alison Ilijovski, Credentialed Diabetes Educator from Diabetes WA chat to us about how rural medical practitioners and patients can access diabetes education from their own homes through the Diabetes Telehealth Service. Diabetes WA aims to support people living with or affected by diabetes and suffering from related chronic conditions.

Travel medicine - advice and resources for clinicians

WA Country Health Service Clinical Lead, Dr Andrew Jamieson discusses the principles of travel medicine.

Dr Jamieson discusses the need for doctors providing travel medicine to have a good understanding of geography, occupational health, the geopolitical work and tropical medicine. He also discusses the importance of understanding the context in which people are travelling and providing risk-based advice.

Travel Vaccines - advice for clinicians

WA Country Health Service Clinical Lead, Dr Andrew Jamieson discusses vaccinations for travellers.

Dr Jamieson discusses running vaccine clinics, the most important vaccines to have to hand, and the administration of multiple vaccines and live vaccines.
He discusses the risks of diseases such as measles, polio, rabies and malaria and the need to carry proof of immunisation when travelling to certain countries.

Drug reactions under anaesthesia

Anaesthetists Dr Paul Sadleir, Dr Peter Platt and Dr Russell Clarke from the WA Anaesthetic Drug Reaction Clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital discuss the cause, prevention and management of reactions to anaesthesia drugs.

While rare, drug reactions can and do occur. The WA Anaesthetic Drug Reaction Clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is responsible for investigating cases of suspected perioperative anaphylaxis and provide advice and guidance on how these patients might be managed in future surgeries.

Sleep apnea - signs and symptoms, clinical implications and treatment options

Senior Respiratory Scientist from Cardio Respiratory Sleep, Martin McPhilimey discusses sleep apnea, signs and symptoms a patient may have sleep apnea and the clinical implications for patients. He also discusses a range of treatment options for patients with sleep apnea.

Hepatitis C: A new era for treatment and cure

The past twenty years has seen huge breakthroughs in the treatment of patients with Hepatitis C. Once thought incurable, drug treatments now have high efficacy and few side effects.

In this podcast, Dr Marissa Gilles, Director Public Health Medicine with WA Country Health Services and Dr Olga Ward discuss managing patients with Hepatitis C. Dr Gilles and Dr Ward discuss screening, testing, diagnosis, treatment options and decision-making, managing complex and non-compliant patients, and Telehealth support for rural and remote patients.

Dr Gilles mentions a number of resources available to help clinicians treating patients with Hepatitis C.

- Clinical guidance for treating Hepatitis C tinyurl.com/yyac7sqy
- GP Management plan for HCV infection tinyurl.com/y3frjbmk-
- WA Department of Health Guideline tinyurl.com/yyp79ssj
- Gastroenterological Society of Australia statement tinyurl.com/yxweupa6
- Hepatitis drug interaction checker tinyurl.com/yyge9eal

This podcast features Dr Louise Farrell, Head of Colposcopy at King Edward Memorial Hospital discussing changes to cervical screening programs and the impact this has had on the detection and treatment of cervical cancer.

Dr Farrell discusses the rationale for the change from pap smears to cervical screening, including how the test is administered, self-collection and regularity of testing.

Interviewer: Dr Olga Ward 

Palliative care in the rural setting

Dr Alison White, Palliative Care Consultant at Royal Perth Hospital and visiting palliative care physician for the Kimberley region, and Grace Buchanan from Cancer Council WA talk about the challenges and importance of delivering quality end-of-life care in rural settings.

Dr White and Grace discuss decision-making about ongoing treatment, how to discuss quality care over cure with patients and families, and the consideration of medications and their availability in rural settings.

The palliative care service at Royal Perth Hospital provides a range of services such as inpatient care, outpatient clinics, education and research, and a bereavement service.

Cancer Council WA provides comprehensive information and education for health professionals to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.

With a 400% increase in Syphilis cases and 80% increase in Gonorrhea cases between 2014 and 2018, an increasing number of clinicians may be treating patients with STIs.

Dr Olga Ward talks to Dr Lewis Marshall, Public Health Physician and Head of Sexual Health Service for Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals about screening and treating patients with STIs.

Dr Marshall discusses the best ways to talk to patients about their risk profile, appropriate testing and treatment, and the support available from the Sexual Health Service for rural clinicians and patients.

Motivational interviewing

In this podcast, Stavroula Zandes, founder of Health and Wellbeing Training Consultants, talks about the role of motivational interviewing in encouraging patients to make positive changes to their lifestyle.

Stav discusses the importance of showing empathy, exploring ambivalence, listening reflectively and helping clients to reframe their perspective. She also provides advice on how to broach difficult conversations with clients.

With a background in psychology and counselling, Stav is committed to engaging, motivating and encouraging clients to find the inspiration they need to make positive behaviour changes that will improve and enrich their lives.

Stav mentions the following resources in this podcast:
- Introduction to Motivational Interviewing for the Clinical Setting tinyurl.com/y6238dg5
- Effective Communication in the Clinic tinyurl.com/y4rc9jb3
- 5 Tips for Difficult Conversations in the Clinic tinyurl.com/y4dp42en

Senior Clinical Psychologist with Child and Adolescent Health Service, Ivan Salmin discusses self-harm and suicide among adolescents.

Suicide is the second most common cause of death in young people worldwide. Prevention of suicide is therefore an important focus for health professionals and the community at large.

Mental health conditions among youth - Part 1

Mental health conditions among youth - Part 2

The importance of sleep on health and well-being

Senior Respiratory Scientist from Cardio Respiratory Sleep, Martin McPhilimey discusses the importance of sleep and the clinical impacts of poor sleep. Mr McPhilimey outlines the how to support patients to develop good sleeping habits and the process for referring patients for sleep studies.

Climate change and its impact on our EDs

Emergency physician Dr Mark Monaghan talks about climate change and the impact it is having on our emergency departments.

Extreme heat events, cyclones, floods, bushfires and thunderstorms are increasing in frequency and intensity, with each of these natural events placing pressure on hospitals.

Dr Monaghan talks about the potential threat of vector-borne illnesses in the Top End of Australia, Irukandji jellyfish moving south along our coastlines as the oceans warm, and new phenomenons such as the Thunderstorm Asthma event which saw 8,500 people present to hospitals with breathing difficulties in one day in Melbourne.

Dr Monaghan also shares what communities and health professionals can do in response to these increasing and emerging natural events.

Giants of Geriatrics - intellectual impairment, instability, immobility and incontinence

WA Country Health Service Lead Geriatrician, Dr Peter Goldswain speaks to Rural Health West Medical Advisor, Dr Olga Ward about the so-called Giants of Geriatrics - intellectual impairment, instability, immobility and incontinence.

Dr Goldswain and Dr Ward discuss assessing fitness to drive in older and cognitively impaired patients, falls prevention, medications and when to consider deprescribing, navigating community care and aged care packages.