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OMNS- Preventing Falls- A serious matter: One in four falls in the elderly proves fatal.
Preventing Falls – A serious matter: One in four falls in the elderly proves fatal. Being a physician doesn’t qualify me as an expert on falling. But because I am 91 years old, I have mighty good motivation to keep learning. In my experience, many geriatrists (specialists in the problems of older people) seem to lack…
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Statin Therapy – A new Low?
I have a 90 year-old female patient who is physically OK but starting to face the reality of dementia. She showed me the “lovely” invitation from her GP to enroll in the StaREE trial. StaREE is the acronym (don’t you love them!) for “Statins in Reducing Events in the Elderly”. A quaint idea, brilliantly conceived…
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Do we follow our own advice?
As we become more experienced in patient care, we learn to treat not only the conditions a patient presents with, but also enquire about their overall health, and give then suggestions on ways to improve it. Pharmacists are qualified in what we know as “good” health, and in ways to attain it. How closely do…
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Retail Disruption Coming – Around the Corner and Around the World
I2P has always given direction for community pharmacy well in advance of the actual events liable to be disruptive or transformative. About four years ago we set out to define a “new paradigm pharmacy” that would cater for the needs of a community pharmacy and to include an emphasis on clinical services and the smart…
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Throw The Map Away And Just Use The Compass
One of my hobbies is genealogy and I find it deeply satisfying when I can apply some areas of this discipline to my professional activities. For example, the origin of surnames for when I am involved in a formal interview, I will often use the patient’s surname as a conversation starter by asking the patient…
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Digital Nomads – Providing Clinical Services That Appeal
There’s a growing opportunity that is emerging among professionals who are adapting to a nomadic lifestyle. You don’t have to be “grey” to qualify for the lifestyle – and it can accommodate any age. It does however, require a full confidence in your knowledge base and have some tech-savvy skills in addition. Welcome to the…
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Pineapple Express – A Retail Store Concept for the Sale of Marijuana
Editor’s Note: The Pineapple Express has engaged design firm, The McBride Company, to envision the future of cannabis culture (and consumerism). While the laws in the US are completely different to Australia (some states in the US allow recreational use of marijuana) it is not beyond expectation that a similar culture will emerge in Australia.…
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Special Olympics change the world
First Lady Michelle Obama has had the pleasure of attending many spectacular events, but I would venture to guess that opening the 14th Special Olympics World Games at the end of July had to rank with the most inspirational. It wasn’t because of the musical performances, fireworks, or even the flaming torch that was carried from…
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The Gap Report & Its Opportunities
Self Care has been a platform of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for as long as I can remember. It is good that it is at last receiving government recognition, particularly as it so easily fits a platform of patients taking responsibility for their own care and that the education required for patients is a…
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Reinventing the Condom with a range of useful benefits
A group of scientists in Australia is developing a series of condoms which it claims could feel even better than wearing nothing at all. A team at the University of Wollongong (UOW) have been experimenting with hydrogel materials, which they say have a range of benefits over latex. Ultra-strong and flexible, hydrogels have been around…