The Round Up: A Rural Health Podcast

An ever-increasing phenomenon, paediatric allergies can lead to unexpected considerations and challenges in primary care. Studies have shown around 10 per cent of children have an allergy, a figure that increases to 30 per cent in children with eczema. With incidence continuing to rise, the treatment of allergies and its complications is something every healthcare practitioner should feel comforta...

Choosing the best and most accessible contraception for patients isn't always straightforward, especially in rural and remote areas. Primary healthcare practitioners must balance patient expectations, safety, and other considerations to get the best outcome for their patients. In the first episode for season 3 of the Round Up, your host Dr Elissa Hatherly discusses contraception with Dr Kaylene Gi...

In our final episode for Season 2 and for 2023, we're discussing an issue that's on the rise in northern Queensland and across the world. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a largely preventable disease that is an ever-increasing presentation in primary healthcare settings and is often not caught until advanced stages. Join the Round Up host, Dr Elissa Hatherly as she chats with Dr Tahira Scott, a ne...

Today we're talking about an increasingly common and completely avoidable condition that is impacting close to half of the young Australians diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and life-threatening complication of diabetes that is growing in prevalence across Australia. For many children and young adults, DKA is leading to hospitalisation and a host of life-imp...

For many people, making decisions and a plan for future healthcare needs might feel uncomfortable or irrelevant. But, if a time comes when you're unable to make or communicate decisions about your care, an Advanced Care Plan could be crucial in ensuring your treatment is in line with your preferences, beliefs and values. For doctors and other health workers, successfully understanding and enacting...

At the start of this year, the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act was enacted to provide eligible Queenslanders the option to request medical assistance to end their lives in a manner that is safe, accessible and compassionate. So what has the new legislation meant for primary health care and the community? Join your host, Dr Elissa Hatherly for a follow-up conversation with FACRRM GP and JCU MBBS...

It might not be clinicians' favourite topic, but we need to talk about fibromyalgia; a misunderstood invisible illness that affects an estimated 2 to 5 people in every 100. This chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain is accompanied by other physical and psychological symptoms and has a delibating impact on quality of life. With no validated individual patient diagnostic criteria currently availab...

Those who suffer from migraines know just how debilitating it can be, and they often look to their GP in search of solutions. Migraines affect an estimated five million Australians and are an incredibly common presenting complaint in general practice. Join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly as she talks about migraines with Dr Kimberley Forrest, a Cairns-based general neurologist and JCU Medicine Senior...

Across most of Australia, rheumatic heart disease was all but eradicated midway through the twentieth century. And yet, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have some of the highest rates of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the world. It's a disease of social disadvantage that affects old and young alike and is having a long-term impact on the health of our communiti...

Rural Generalism offers a rewarding career with a broad scope of practice from the hospital to the clinic and continuity of care that makes a real difference to rural and remote communities. With such a diverse and important role, often in a low-resource environment, life as a rural generalist is full of both opportunities and challenges. Join your host, Dr Elissa Hatherly as she chats with rural...

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis in society and without intervention can have a long-lasting impact on quality of life. Primary healthcare providers, like GPs, will regularly see presentations of gout and need to be aware of the best treatments available for their patients. Join your host, Dr Elissa Hatherly as she chats all things gout with JCU Medicine Dr John Wood, a rheumatologis...

There are a lot of important considerations that go into ensuring our veterans get the care and support they deserve. Just as every veteran has their own story about military service, each will require a tailored approach to treatment from their primary healthcare providers. Join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly as she chats with Townsville GP and veteran, Dr Michael Clements about how to best care an...

Disc prolapses and their associated symptoms can have a debilitating impact on a patient's quality of life. Compounding the problem, patients may put off seeing their doctor for treatment or have a repeat prolapse. So when is surgery the best option for your patient? Join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly as she chats with Dr Deborah Lees from Cairns Hospital Orthopaedics. Dr Lees provides helpful advi...

Treating patients in residential aged-care facilities (RACF) is an important part of general practitioners' role in caring for North Queensland communities. Navigating RACF care can be a daunting prospect for GPs. There are plenty of considerations, like complex care needs, prescription processes, best practices on recording keeping, telehealth billing and communicating with patients, their famili...

Managing the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTOP) is not as difficult as we might imagine, but the care we provide must focus on what’s important to our patients. Join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly and learn how Mackay GP, Dr Jasmine Davis, navigates providing this service from her regional general practice. Dr Davis also works in Mackay's Sexual Health Clinic and is an advocate for access to Wo...

Sleep plays an important role in our overall health and well-being. For a variety of reasons, getting a good night's sleep can be difficult, and that's where more targeted treatment may come in. Join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly as she talks to local pharmacist Karalyn Huxhagan about commonly used medications to treat insomnia, and pharmacist Glen Clark who provides insight into melatonin metaboli...

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) will be available to eligible Queenslanders from 1 January 2023. VAD is an end-of-life choice that gives eligible people who are terminally ill the option to control the time and manner of their death through medical intervention. Join FACRRM GP and JCU MBBS Alumnus, Dr Max Ryder who chats to your host Dr. Elissa Hatherly about VAD legislation changes and how we can...

Want to know more about treating PTSD and trauma? Tune in to the latest episode of The Round Up: A Medical Podcast and join your host Dr Elissa Hatherly who talks to guest speaker Dr Paul Henderson about who is affected by trauma, tips on starting a conversation with those affected by trauma and how to get patients started on their treatment journey.

Take a look at how asthma is being managed in the post-COVID world. 🦠 Hear from Dr Pranav Kumar, who talks to Dr Elissa Hatherly about new treatments for asthma patients and provides his tips and tricks on how to manage asthma in this new era. Dr Pranav Kumar is a Consultant Respiratory Physician at Mackay Private Hospital and an expert with a broad array of experience in lung conditions. He has...

Dr Gopakumar Hariharan discusses the common causes of physiological neonatal jaundice, and how to manage this in the community or in the hospital setting.

Hear from Psychiatrist Dr Paul Henderson about his personal experiences and tips for recognising burnout in ourselves and our co-workers. Take the time to test your level of burnout, and learn about ways to manage psychological pressure.

Intrauterine Contraceptive devices: when to use them, common concerns and how to best manage our patients.