CHF 21st birthday: Celebrate, challenge and change
Category: Consultation

CHF Submission on the National E-Health Transition Authority Privacy Blueprint for the Individual Electronic Health Record
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   August 2008  Pages: 9
The CHF submission on the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) Privacy Blueprint for the Individual Electronic Health Record considers a range of key issues including governance, audit functionality, sensitivity labels, what controls individuals have over information on the Individual EHR, and secondary uses.
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Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
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Author/Source: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care   July 2008  Pages: 1
Australian Health Ministers have endorsed the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in consultation with consumers and other stakeholders.
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Towards a seamless health system
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Author/Source: Tony Hobbs   July 2008  Pages: 1
The Australian General Practice Network calls for a health system that supports patients to access the care, resources and information they need, and encourages prevention of illness and management of chronic conditions.
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Nurse practitioners must be part of the reform
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Author/Source: Karen Cook, Denise Ryan, Rowena Robinson, Christine Ashley   July 2008  Pages: 2
Nurse practitioners have the potential to contribute to a reformed health system to make that system more flexible and more accessible. Reform must facilitate the entry of nurse practitioners into the health system.
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More focus needed on prevention and primary care
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Author/Source: Lesley Russell   July 2008  Pages: 2
Without a focus on prevention and primary care, there will be no real changes to health outcomes and equity of access to health care. Funding is only part of the answer.
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Safety and quality must involve consumers
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Author/Source: Chris Baggoley   July 2008  Pages: 3
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is already contributing to the reform process through its workplan's nine programs. The Commission works with consumers as a major stakeholder in improving safety and quality in health care.
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Reform must listen to seniors
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Author/Source: Ian Yates AM   July 2008  Pages: 3
Any health policy for older people must commit to fighting ageism. It must establish systems where older people continue to optimise their health and wellbeing as they age, preferably in their community but with access to specialist care in the community, hospitals and aged care facilities as necessary.
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Listen to consumers to avoid mistakes
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Author/Source: Jenni Howlett   July 2008  Pages: 2
Should a patient have to die before mistakes and near-misses are investigated? Mistakes are being made in our hospitals daily but most are not picked up by the current safety and quality system. We need to change that.
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E-medication saves lives and costs
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Author/Source: Prue Power   July 2008  Pages: 2
A national electronic medication system will improve safety and quality in the health system, with subsequent reductions in adverse events and efficiencies for hospitals.
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Remove the silos
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Author/Source: Paul Mackey   July 2008  Pages: 2
The Australian Private Hospitals Association calls for health care reforms to dismantle the silos around the provision of health care.
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Reform must meet special needs
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Author/Source: Merle Thompson   July 2008  Pages: 2
Many people with chronic conditions find the current health care system does not give them the best outcomes. Yet seemingly simple measures improve their quality of living. The Post Polio Network (NSW) story exemplifies this and calls for reforms that increase knowledge and support for people with Post-Polio Syndrome.
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Forum
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Author/Source: Janne D Graham AM, Frank Fisher, Clive Deverall   July 2008  Pages: 2
These short opinion pieces have been submitted by members and friends of CHF. We welcome feedback from readers on these Forum articles, as well as the other journal articles.
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Contents - Issue 2, July 2008
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Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   July 2008  Pages: 1
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Vale Christopher Newell AM
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Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   July 2008  Pages: 1
It is with great sadness that we farewell Governing Committee member Rev Dr Christopher Newell AM, who died in Hobart in June.
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E-health is a valuable tool
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Author/Source: Catherine Ellis   July 2008  Pages: 2
As the e-health movement continues to gain momentum across Australia, consumers are playing a greater part in driving the e-health direction to meet consumer needs.
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What consumers want from reform
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Author/Source: Helen Hopkins   July 2008  Pages: 3
The need for reform in health care is not new. What is new is the urgent imperative for reform. Consumers have an opportunity to join the reform discussions as the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission makes its deliberations and recommendations.
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Editorial - Reform in health care
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Author/Source: Penny Gibson   July 2003  Pages: 1
This issue of Health Voices presents a number of health reforms sought by different sectors of the health system. Each article looks at how the reform will impact on consumers.
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Health Voices, Issue 2, July 2008
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Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   July 2008  Pages: 28
Health Voices is published three times a year. Each issue has a theme that promotes debate on issues of interest to health consumers, government and industry.
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Submission on the Draft Operating Standards and Technical Design for Australian Clinical Quality Registries
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   July 2008  Pages: 7
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) made a submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's draft operating standards and technical design for Australian Clinical Registries.
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Media Release - National Primary Health Care Partnership Launch
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   26 June 2008  Pages: 1
CHF welcomed the launch of the National Primary Health Care Partnership (NPHCP) at Parliament House today. The NPHCP is a partnership of 19 peak health provider and consumer organisations which aims to strengthen the primary health care sector and improve the health of Australians by increasing team-based care.
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Media Release - Safety and quality of health care to improve
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   21 May 2008  Pages: 1
Health service accreditation processes being developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care will improve safety and quality in health services.
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Delivering e-health for consumers - CHF 2006-08 E-health for Consumers Project - Information Paper
Category: Consultation
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   May 2008  Pages: 5
The 2006-08 E-health for Consumers Project aimed to inform and influence government investment in the e-health agenda by encouraging appropriate demand from consumers for various e-health initiatives that enable them as active partners in their own health. The Project will finish on 30 June 2008. CHF wants to find out about the value of this Project to its members and identify future directions for CHF advocacy by building on key achievements of the Project. Your feedback will also complement the CHF E-Health National Information Workshop to be held on 12-13 June to consider these issues further.
Please read the paper and respond to CHF by Monday 16 June 2008.
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Albany E-health Consumer Discussion Session
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   May 2008  Pages: 5
CHF and the Arthritis Foundation of WA held a free e-health consumer discussion session in Albany on Thursday 1 May 2008.
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Perth E-health Consumer Discussion Session Report
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 5
CHF and the Health Consumers Council of WA (HCCWA) held a free e-health consumer discussion session in Perth on Tuesday 29 April 2008.
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Implementing private health reforms: Consumers have a say - Discussion session with the Health Consumers' Council WA - Perth, April 2008
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 5
CHF and the Health Consumers Council WA held a free consumer discussion session on consumer issues to do with reforms to private health insurance on Wednesday 30 April 2008 in Perth, Western Australia.
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Talk with me, not to me
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Author/Source: Jonathon Marshall   April 2008  Pages: 2
Health care professionals have an ethical responsibility to include people in the management of their own health care. Good communication is essential to this, particularly for people with chronic conditions.
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Keeping consumer e-health transparent
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Author/Source: Bernard Kealey   April 2008  Pages: 2
Ethics is central to the culture of health provision in Australia; however, when it comes to looking at e-health things can get a bit clouded. This article looks at just one aspect of e-health, consumer sponsored and run websites.
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Ethics around organ donation
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Author/Source: Chris Thomas   April 2008  Pages: 2
As donations remain stagnant and need increases, what are the ethical issues that we, as a society, face around organ transplants.
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Keep quality improvement ethical
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Author/Source: Dea Thiele and Dr Sophie Couzos   April 2008  Pages: 2
As the line between quality improvement activities and research blur, do we need to change the guidelines about ethics committee approval? Aboriginal community controlled health services provide a case in point.
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Post-coma unresponsiveness
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Author/Source: Michele Kosky   April 2008  Pages: 2
Consumer involvement in the development of guidelines for caring for people in post-coma unresponsiveness has led to a clear document that addresses the ethical issues associated with making decisions for people unable to make them for themselves.
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Health Voices, Issue 1, April 2008
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Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 20
Health Voices is published three times a year. Each issue has a theme that promotes debate on issues of interest to health consumers, government and industry.
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Too young for aged care
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Author/Source: Joy Mallett   April 2008  Pages: 2
People with Younger Onset Dementia have special needs. In particular, it's wrong at many levels for them to be housed in aged care residences.
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Privacy and genetic information
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Author/Source: Sharon Van der Laan   April 2008  Pages: 2
When a person is diagnosed with a genetic condition, where does their right to privacy and their family's right to know begin?
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The unfolding adventure
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Author/Source: Martin Robinson   April 2008  Pages: 3
As we continue to unravel the human genome, the potential for ethical - and unethical - uses of the resulting discoveries increases. How do we harness this knowledge?
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Australian Health Ethics Committee
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Author/Source: Sharon Caris   April 2008  Pages: 2
As scientific research expands its horizons, the ethical challenges are wide ranging and complex for all stakeholders,particularly where research involves people. The Australian Health Ethics Committee has an important role to guide research to protect individuals and the greater populace.
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Consumer participation in research
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Author/Source: Helen Hopkins   April 2008  Pages: 2
Many health consumers and health professionals think about ethics in terms of ethics committees and clinical trials. This first issue of Health Voices takes us far beyond this narrow scope. However, it is also important to look at the role of health consumers in research, and the CHF role.
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Contents - Issue 1, April 2008
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Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 1
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Health Voices helps consumers shape health in Australia
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Author/Source: Penny Gibson   April 2008  Pages: 1
This first issue of Health Voices seeks to raise some of the ethical issues that exist in Australia today for health consumers.
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Making decisions for end of life
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Author/Source: Professor Margaret O'Connor AM and Bruce Shaw   April 2008  Pages: 2
If we want control over how we die, we need advance directives and open communication with our family and health practitioners.
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Forum
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Author/Source: Melissa Sweet, Antonio Russo, Sally Crossing AM, Sue Lockwood   April 2008  Pages: 4
These short opinion pieces have been submitted by members and friends of CHF. We welcome feedback from readers on these Forum articles, as well as the other journal articles. We also welcome Forum articles on health reform for our next issue.
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Implementing private health reforms: Consumers have a say - Discussion session with Kidney Health Australia - Melbourne, April 2008
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 6
CHF and Kidney Health Australia held a free consumer discussion session on hospital substitute care under both the public and private health systems on Friday 18 April 2008 in Melbourne, Victoria.
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Information Paper: Reforms influence broader health cover
Category: Consultation
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 10
CHF requests your input to this information paper, which seeks to help consumers understand and navigate the health system. Your response will help CHF provide informed input to current health reforms to private and public health arrangements.
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CHF e-health industry and consumer workshop: 'What's next in e-health' Workshop Report
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 12
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) held an e-health industry and consumer workshop, 'What's next in e-health' in central Sydney on 27 November 2007. The workshop was attended by a small group of industry, government, consumer and health provider representatives. During the workshop, participants discussed e-health success stories and sticking points and identified practical steps for making e-health work for consumers.
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Australia 2020 Summit Submission
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 2
The CHF submission to the health topic at the Australia 2020 Summit in April 2008.
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Implementing private health reforms: Consumers have a say - Discussion session with Health Consumers Alliance South Australia - Adelaide, April 2008
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   April 2008  Pages: 6
CHF and Health Consumers Alliance South Australia held a free consumer discussion session about health care provided out of hospital such as home care and chronic conditions management programs on 9 April 2008 in Adelaide.

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Submission to the Exposure Draft of the Private Health Insurance (Accreditation) Rules
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   March 2008  Pages: 7
CHF response to the draft PHI (Accreditation) Rules. From July 2008, private health funds will be prohibited from paying benefits for services provided by facilities or by providers that do not meet these Rules.
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Media Release - Health consumers welcome transparency as a first step
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   28 March 2008  Pages: 1
CHF welcomes the transparency around the publication by Medicines Australia of educational events and hospitality for health professionals.
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Media Release - Health consumers want national registration of health professionals
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   25 March 2008  Pages: 1
National registration for health professionals offer an excellent opportunity to improve safety and quality in health care for health consumers.
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Implementing private health reforms: Consumers have a say - Discussion session with Heart Support Australia, Ipswich and West Moreton Branch - Ipswich, Qld, March 2008
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   March 2008  Pages: 6
CHF and Heart Support Australia, Ipswich and West Moreton Branch, held a free consumer discussion session on prostheses and informed financial consent arrangements under private health insurance on Tuesday 4 March 2008 in Ipswich, Queensland.
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Media Release - National dialogue needed on health rights
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   4 March 2008  Pages: 1
The proposed national charter on health rights will only work if all stakeholders join the consultations and take ownership of the document.
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Submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Draft National Patient of Rights
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   March 2008  Pages: 9
CHF submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Draft National Patient of Rights
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Safety and Quality: It's all about communication - Broome Community Workshop
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   February 2008  Pages: 6
In February 2008, CHF held a community workshop in Broome, as part of the 2007-08 Safety and Quality Project 'Its all about communication'. The aim of the project is to engage health consumers across Australia in safety and quality improvements in health care being introduced by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
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Safety and Quality: It's all about communication - Perth Community Workshop
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   February 2008  Pages: 6
In February 2008, CHF held a community workshop in Perth, as part of the 2007-08 Safety and Quality Project 'It's all about communication'. The aim of the project is to engage health consumers across Australia in safety and quality improvements in health care being introduced by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
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Information Paper: The role of health rights charters in improving safety and quality in health care
Category: Consultation
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   February 2008  Pages: 7
CHF has developed this information paper to ensure consumer networks know about the draft Charter and consider the potential role of a health rights charter in improving safety and quality in health care.
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New health technologies and medical devices consumer representatives workshop report
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   December 2007  Pages: 18
CHF held this workshop for consumer representatives and interested members to increase awareness of and consider issues around approval, funding and monitoring processes of new technologies such as medical devices and prostheses.
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Safety and Quality: It's all about communication - Mackay community workshops
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   December 2007  Pages: 5
In December 2007, CHF held community workshops in Mackay, Queensland, as part of the 2007-08 Safety and Quality Project 'It's all about communication'. The aim of the project is to engage health consumers across Australia in safety and quality improvements in health care being introduced by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
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Implementing private health reforms: consumers have a say - Discussion session with Multiple Sclerosis Society NSW/Vic - Sydney November 2007
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   November 2007  Pages: 5
CHF has undertaken a series of engagements around Australia in partnership with CHF member organisations as part of the '2007-08 Implementing Private Health Reforms: Consumers have a say' project. The project aims to ensure health consumer involvement in the implementation of Australian Government private health insurance reforms which took effect from April 2007.
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Implementing private health reforms: consumers have a say - Discussion session with Multiple Sclerosis Society NSW/Vic - Melbourne November 2007
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   November 2007  Pages: 4
CHF has undertaken a series of engagements around Australia in partnership with CHF member organisations as part of the '2007-08 Implementing Private Health Reforms: Consumers have a say' project. The project aims to ensure health consumer involvement in the implementation of Australian Government private health insurance reforms which took effect from April 2007.
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Information paper: New technologies, medical devices and prostheses
Category: Consultation
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   November 2007  Pages: 12
As part of CHF work on health care for people with chronic conditions, CHF is looking at how new technologies, medical devices and prostheses are approved for marketing, funded and monitored in use in Australia.
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Media Release - Practice nurses and superclinics - why not both?
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   2 November 2007  Pages: 1
CHF calls for better care in the community after the election, with the best of all election promises being delivered to create a better health system.
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Canberra E-health Consumer Discussion Session Report
Category: Report
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   November 2007  Pages: 3
CHF and Health Care Consumers Association of the ACT held an e-health consumer consultation session in Canberra on Friday 23 November 2007.
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Submission to the ACCC to inform 9th report to Senate on health insurance and related issues
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers' Health Forum of Australia   October 2007  Pages: 6
CHF input to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission development of its 9th report to the Australian Senate on anti-competitive and other practices by health funds and providers in relation to private health insurance.
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Media Release - Stop the bickering and solve the problems, health consumers say
Category: Media Release
Author/Source: Consumers' Health Forum of Australia   October 2007  Pages: 1
Health consumers are fed up with the bickering between federal and state governments about health funding and hospital administration.
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Safety and Quality in Health Care National Safety and Quality Accreditation Standards Review
Category: Submission
Author/Source: Consumers' Health Forum of Australia   October 2007  Pages: 12
CHF submission to the Safety and Quality Commission accreditation standards review and alternative model for accreditation of health care raises overarching issues for consumers and comments on key components of the alternative model.
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Health Workforce Education and Training - Consumers seek influence
Category: The Australian Health Consumer
Author/Source: Antonio Russo   October 2007  Pages: 2
If consumers are to shape health, they need to be where the decisions are made. Involvement in health workforce education and training is particularly important to steer more health professionals towards consumer-oriented healing.
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CHF policy statement - Accreditation of health services
Category: The Australian Health Consumer
Author/Source: Consumers Health Forum of Australia   October 2007  Pages: 1
Through involvement in the accreditation of health services, consumers are influencing the delivery of health services to better meet the need for safe, good quality health care.
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Safety and quality - What it means to CHF
Category: The Australian Health Consumer
Author/Source: Sarah Jones   October 2007  Pages: 2
Consumers have a legitimate role in decisions about safety and quality in health care. CHF is bringing consumer perspectives to the safety and quality debate.
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Open disclosure - Our right to know
Category: The Australian Health Consumer
Author/Source: Fiona Tito Wheatland   October 2007  Pages: 2
The battle to get health professionals to accept open disclosure has been going for 2,000 years. Even now there continues to be a failure to embed open disclosure in the rights of consumers to know about their own health.
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Communication - For one and all
Category: The Australian Health Consumer
Author/Source: Christopher Newell   October 2007  Pages: 2
People seeking to bring about reform and the enactment of safety and quality in health care have to base all initiatives upon good and effective communication. There must be mutual respect of and between providers and consumers.
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Member Organisation Report - Hepatitis C Council of South Australia
Category: The Australian Health Consumer