Youth health literacy #2

Explain what a general practitioner does

A doctor who has a wide range of skills and knowledge to provide broad healthcare for all age groups from infants to elderly

Services of a General practitioner

• First point of contact for illness, injuries and preventative care

• Offer advice on lifestyle issues such as body weight

• Prescribe medications such as asthma preventers to treat asthma

Health literacy

relates to how people access, understand and use health information and services in ways that promote or maintain health and wellbeing

Allied health services

health professionals outside the medical, dental and nursing professions who are university qualified with expertise in areas such as injury recovery, nutrition, mental health

Examples of allied health services

Physiotherapist

Nutrition

Optometry

Psychologist

Alternative health services

Healthcare that can be sed instead of or alongside traditional health services 

Private health insurance

Youth with parents who have will be able to access allied health services 

Examples of alternative health services

Acupuncture

naturopathy

massage

Explain what Medicare is

• Australia’s universal health insurance scheme

• Funded by the Australian Federal Government

• Aims to provide access to affordable basic healthcare in the public sector

• Gives all Australian’s, permanent residents and people from countries with reciprocal agreements such as New Zealand access to subsidised healthcare

• Children are listed on their parents card and can register for their own at 15

Services provided by Medicare

• Most procedures performed by a GP

• All treatment and accomodation as a public patient in a public hospital

• Child Dental Benefits Scheme

• Up to 10 consultations with a psychologist if referred by a GP who creates a Mental Health Treatment Plan

• 75% of the schedule fee for treatment by doctors or specialists as a private patient

• Eye tests, other tests and examinations such as x-rays required to treat illness

Services not provided by Medicare

• Cosmetic of unnecessary procedures

• Accomodation and other costs in private hospitals

• Most dental examinations and treatment

• Ambulance services

• Home nursing care or treatment

• Allied health services

Advantages of Medicare

• Reduces cost for essential medicare services

• Choice of doctor for out of hospital services

• Available to all Australian citizens

• Reciprocal agreement between Australia and other countries allows Australian to access free healthcare in selected countries

• Medicare safety net

Disadvantages of Medicare

• No choice of doctor for in hospital treatments

• waiting lists for many treatments

• Does not cover alternative therapies or allied health services

• often does not cover the full amount of a doctor’s visit

How is medicare funded

• Medicare Levy

• Medicare levy surcharge 

• General taxation

what is the medicare levy

An additional 2% tax placed on the taxable income of most taxpayers

what is the medicare levy surcharge

people without private health insurance earning more than a certain amount pay an extra tax of 1-1.5% which increases as income increases 

what is General taxation

The revenue collected from the medicare levy and medicare levy surcharge does not meet the full operating costs of medicare and as a results income collected from general taxation is also used to help fund it

Schedule fee

What the government deems to be a fair amount for various services and what Medicare will contribute

Bulk billing

Where only the schedule fee amount is charged and so there is no out of pocket cost by the patient

patient co-payment

where the doctor charges more than the schedule fee so patients pay the costs that medicare does not cover

medicare safety net

Ensures that people who require frequent services covered by Medicare, such as doctor’s visits and tests, receive additional financial support

Explain what the PBS is

• Funded by the Australian federal government

• Subsidy scheme for essential medications

• Medicines on the list are subsidised and patients make a co-payment

How does the PBS safety net work

Reduces cost for individuals and families spending over a certain amount in a calendar year on PBS listed medications so patients will pay a concessional rate for the rest of the calendar year

How are the medications on the PBS list decided on

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee which are an independent panel of health professionals, that review medicines three times a year and new medicines can only be listed in the PBAC finds them clinically effective, safe and cost-effective

Advantages of the PBS

• essential life saving medications that are on the PBC are made more affordable

• The medications on the PBS are regularly reviewed and new medications that may be more effective can be added to the list

• The medications on the PBS are regularly reviewed are those not being utilised are removed

• The PBS safety net means those with high medication cost are not financially disadvantaged

Disadvantages of the PBS

• Not all medications are on the PBS list and so consumers would have to pay the full cost of those medications 

Explain what the NDIS does

• Funded by the Federal and state/territory governments

• Provides support for Australians with permanent and significant disabilities and their families

• Support provided is based on personal goals and support needs with people creating individualised plan to meet their requirements

• Helps them to lead an ordinary life

Examples of services and supports the NDIS provides

• daily personal activities requiring in home care

• transport

• workplace assistance or assistive technology

• Teacher aid in classroom

Local community services

• doctor

• dentist

• hospital

• sports and recreational facilities

• headspace

• places of worship

• volunteer organisations

• secondary school immunisation program

Factors affecting access to health services or information

• Cost

• Confidentiality

• Schedule/time constraints

• Geographic location

• Complicated health system

• low health literacy

• Cultural factors

What is a right

a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something

What is the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

Outlines the rights of patients and consumers using the Australian Healthcare system

Who created the Australian Charter of Healthcare rights

Australian commission of safety and quality in Health which is a federal government organisation

Where does the Australian Charter of healthcare right apply

In all healthcare settings in Australian in public and private hospitals, general practitioners and community environments

How is the Australian Charter of healthcare rights made accessible 

It is available in 17 different languages, braille and audio format 

Guiding principle 1 of the Australian charter of healthcare rights

Everyone has the right to be able to access healthcare and the right is essential for the charter to be meaningful

Guiding principle 2 of the Australian charter of healthcare rights

The Australian Government commits to international agreements about human rights, which recognise everyone’s right to have the highest possible standard of physical and mental health and wellbeing

Guiding principle 3 of the Australian charter of healthcare rights

Australia is a society made up of people with different cultures and ways of life, and the charter acknowledges and respects these differences

Basic healthcare rights

Access

Safety 

Respect

Partnership

Information

Privacy

Give feedback

Outline examples of patient responsibilities

• Provide information about their past and present illnesses, hospitalisations, medications and other matters relating to their health history

• Ask questions when they do not understand explanations given about the risks and benefits of the proposed healthcare

• Follow the instructions and medical orders of their doctors, nurses and medical staff

• Treat medical staff with respect

• Ask questions about cost before treatment

Medical confidentiality

A set of rules that means anything discussed between a doctor and patient must be kept private

Privacy

What a patient tells their doctor, any information the doctor stores, medications prescribed and any other information is kept private

Exceptions to the healthcare privacy laws

• When the patient is under the care of a parent or caregiver

• If the patient or someone else’s health and wellbeing is seriously threatened

• When information will reduce or prevent a serious threat to public health or safety