Labour Day – Monday 11th March
We will be open from 9am – 12.30pm
My Health Record (MHR)
Definition
‘A secure, legislated, patient-controlled, electronic summary of an individual’s key health information, able to be accessed by authorised individuals and registered healthcare providers involved in a person’s care anywhere in Australia at any time.’
Some Facts
- Opt out period ended 31st of January, and if you haven’t already opted out you will automatically be set up with a MHR.
- MHR Amendment (strengthening privacy) Bill 2018.
a) Consumers can choose to have or cancel a MHR at any point in their life.
b) Cancelling a MHR will now permanently delete their record, including any backups.
c) All records that have previously been cancelled will also be permanently deleted from the system.
d) If a person changes their mind, they can choose to register for a record to enjoy the benefits of controlling their health information securely in one place so support their health care. - The use of MHR for insurance and employment purposes is not healthcare therefore is not authorised.
- No information within MHR can be released to law enforcement or government agencies without an order from a judicial officer. To date, the Agency has never received such a request and has never released information.
- Authorised representative no […]
We Welcome – Dr Min Teo
We are thrilled to introduce patients to our new doctor – Dr Min Teo.
Min graduated from the University of Auckland in 2007 and gained his Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s Fellowship in 2014.
Min has extensive academic experience and qualifications including a diploma of child health and a diploma of palliative care.
He enjoys all aspects of General Practice with special interests in child/adolescent health, chronic disease management, sexual health, gay men’s health and palliative care. Min is accredited to insert implanon contraceptive device.
Min will be working two full days Tuesday and Thursday, offering before and after work appointments to patients.
Dr Teo will commence Tuesday 5th March.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a strong, thick piece of connective tissue that joins the heel bone to the toes. Inflammation of this tissue is referred to as ‘plantar fasciitis’ and it can be quite painful and debilitating. It is the most common type of heel pain.
The pain associated with plantar fasciitis is usually worse in the morning and aggravated by standing and exercising. The pain the usually reduces after a bit of walking around but then returns on rest.
Common causes of plantar fasciitis include:
- Being flat footed or having high arches
- Sports that put stress on the heel, such as running
- Being overweight
- Pregnancy
- Spending a lot of time standing
- Wearing shoes with poor arch or heel support
- Gait (walking) abnormalities, such as foot pronation (rolling in) and weak calf muscles can also play a role.
Plantar fasciitis may present as dull or sharp pain and may also involve redness, swelling, aching, burning and/or tenderness of the affected foot. Sometimes, there is a bony outgrowth on the affected heel called a ‘spur’ which can add to the pain and discomfort.
Treatment options for plantar fasciitis may include:
- Rest from aggravating activities
- Muscle stretching (calf […]
Swimmer’s Ear
Clinically known as Otitis Externa, Swimmer’s Ear is an inflammatory condition/infection of the outer ear through to the ear drum.
It is a very common problem and can affect anyone at any age. It is usually linked to water exposure or excessive cleaning of the ear canal.
The ear canal is lined with skin, containing glands that produce wax. When bacteria or fungi find a means of entry (through a break or abrasion in the skin), the perfect environment exists for an infection to thrive. This can be caused by:
- Water entering the ear through swimming or showering, and not draining out
- Mechanical damage to the ear (such as from cleaning) that damages the skin and allows bacteria to enter.
- Chemical irritation of the skin caused by hair colours, hairspray or shampoo
- A blocked hair follicle in the ear skin
- Having narrow ear canals
- Skin conditions such as eczema and/or dermatitis
- A deeper infection in the middle-ear can trigger an infection in the outer ear
- Diabetes – believe it or not, diabetes can change the chemical makeup of earwax, making it a more hospitable environment for bacteria & fungi.
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear include:
- Redness and […]
Japanese Encephalitis – Warning for travellers
Travellers to countries in South East Asia, including Bali and Thailand are being encouraged to vaccinate themselves against Japanese Encephalitis in light of a recent spike in reported infections.
Japanese encephalitis is a rare viral illness spread by mosquitoes that causes brain inflammation. The mosquito can infect certain animals as well as humans. It does not transmit person to person, it can only be transmitted by a direct bite from an infected mosquito, bird, bat, cow or pig.
The disease infects around 30,000-50,000 people annually, with the vast majority of cases occurring in South East Asia. Most cases occur in rural agricultural areas such as rice fields and irrigated farming areas.
Most people who contract Japanese Encephalitis experience only mild symptoms of fever and headache. Symptoms usually appear between 5-15 days following the mosquito bite. However, in around 1 in 200 cases, the infection causes severe illness with symptoms including:
- High fevers and headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Confusion & disorientation
- Paralysis & tremors
- Coma
Around 30% of people who experience severe symptoms die from the infection and for those who survive, many will have long-lasting neurological damage. If a woman contracts the infection while pregnant, […]
Melbourne Cup 2018
Tuesday 6th November
Glen Iris Medical Group will be closed
Reminder – Thunderstorm Asthma
Although it does not happen every year, the events that unfolded in 2016 were a powerful reminder that it is best to be over prepared than under prepared.
So what should we do to prepare ourselves?
- If you have known asthma ensure you have an asthma action plan in place. Be sure you know how and when to take your preventer medications and that you have a valid prescription (including a repeat) at all times. Be vigilant in taking your medications every day and if you are sensitive to grass pollens, keep track of pollen counts via your State pollen count website and the Bureau of Meteorology website.
- If you suffer from seasonal hayfever, even midly, consider speaking with your Doctor about a preventer medication for the Spring months. Some Doctors may recommend using anti-histamine medications daily (as a preventative measure) even if you are not currently symptomatic.
- If you ever suffer from wheezing, shortness of breath, exercise or cold- induced respiratory symptoms, speak to your Doctor as you may have undiagnosed asthma. They can refer you for lung function testing and provide you with the best […]
Unsettled or Crying Babies – Colic
By Dr Lisa Prichard
Crying is a normal part of your baby’s development. We sometimes use the term ‘colic’ which suggests there is an illness causing your baby’s crying. We now understand that prolonged episodic crying in young babies is common and usually normal. Mostly we can’t find a medical cause for the crying. As parents we are often distressed and exhausted which is understandable! There is much confusing and conflicting advice on the internet which can add to the burden. Crying begins in early weeks and peaks around 6-8 weeks of age. Crying may last for several hours and is often worse in the late afternoon and evening. Thankfully crying usually improves after 3-4 months of age.
If your baby is acutely unwell and behaviour has changed then the crying is presumably not normal and you should consult with your GP.
If your baby is crying for prolonged periods in its first few months of life we appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you and to examine your baby. There are some indicators that may suggest there is a cause for your baby’s crying, e.g. poor feeding, poor weight gain, excessive […]
Whats on in Spring?
September is World Prostate Health Awareness Month
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia, affecting one in seven men. There are around 20,000 new diagnoses and sadly, close to 3500 deaths annually.
All men over 50 years (or over 40 years if you have a family history) should talk about prostate health with their GP. Prostate cancer is usually slow growing and many men can live without symptoms for many years. Later stage symptoms include urinary frequency, urinary difficulty, urinary discomfort, blood in urine or semen or pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs. The presence of any of these symptoms does not mean you have prostate cancer, but you should see and discuss with your Doctor. Early intervention and management is key.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is asking everyone to get involved and help create awareness through fundraising and using the social media hash tag #getchecked.
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World Mental Health Day – October 10th
Mental Health issues can affect anyone. In Australia, 45% of people aged 16 to 85 years will experience some form of mental illness at […]