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From Clinics to Specialists: The Importance of Patient Referrals
A patient referral occurs when a healthcare provider directs a patient to another provider or specialist for additional care. This is a formal process with documentation that accompanies the patient and can also be preceded by a case discussion or communication between the referring and receiving clinician or hospital. This process is essential to ensure…
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Food safety
I walked into my local supermarket the other day hoping to buy something nice for dinner. What greeted me at the meat section of this fairly new Asian owned store was nothing short of astonishing. The protein that was displayed did not look or smell like they were meant for human beings to buy, take…
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Understanding Your Medicine Prescription: A Simple Guide
Prescriptions are an essential part of medical treatment, but they can often seem confusing if you’re not familiar with what they mean. A medical prescription is a formal document provided by a healthcare professional that outlines the medication you need, who is authorized to prescribe it, and the details of the treatment. What Is a…
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BONE CANCER: life or limb
A 5-year-old boy comes into the clinic with a swollen right forearm. His parents only villagers. We investigate and treat for an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis). Months go by with no improvement. The swelling has increased and x-rays are now highly suggestive of a bone cancer. Unable to do a biopsy as the parents…
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Getting Pregnant: When Is the Best Time to Try?
A patient asked me this question yesterday so I thought to write it up. “When is the best time for a woman to have sex if she wants to get pregnant?” Every month the uterus, especially its lining, undergoes changes in preparation to receive and support a fertilized egg. If sex and fertilization occur then…
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The burden of breast cancer in Papua New Guinea
In 2020, breast cancer was the number one cause of cancer deaths amongst women in Papua New Guinea. In the last 10 years, the incidence of breast cancer in PNG had doubled to more than 12 per 100,000 population. Infact, studies in PNG have shown that 40% of women with breast cancer are below the…
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Blood transfusions; strategies to get more blood donors. (part 4)
What are some reasons why people don’t donate blood? There are many reasons why people do not or cannot donate blood. These reasons may include; (1) What are some strategies that hospitals can do to encourage people to donate? USE THESE TIPS TO BRING IN MORE BLOOD DONATIONS. OUR PATIENTS NEED ALL THE HELP THEY…
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Blood transfusions; donating blood. (part 3)
What are the benefits of a blood transfusion? Blood transfusions save the lives of thousands of patients world-wide every day. Blood is a life-saving ‘drug’ that when correctly administered, relieves morbidity and reduces mortality.(1) These are some of the benefits your donated blood can provide for patients in need:(2) 1. Increase low haemoglobin levels: low haemoglobin…
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Blood transfusions; the facts. (part 2)
Global facts What is a blood transfusion? A blood transfusion is a common procedure in which donated blood or blood components are given to you through an intravenous line (IV).(2) Who needs a blood transfusion? A variety of patients will need blood at some stage of their illness. These patients will include:(3) Acute anaemia patients Chronic anaemia…
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Antimicrobial resistance; consequences and ways to combat AMR (part 4)
What are the consequences of AMR? AMR pathogens can have direct and indirect consequences which include: (1,2) What are ways to combat AMR? Interventions to control and combat AMR will be an investment for the future, saving on future health-care costs and protecting the workforce and economy. (3) The bottom line If we do not…
