Aust Fam Physician
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Like the featured authors, we have spent most of our working lives in remote, mostly Aboriginal communities. A common theme in these papers is the need to link clinical practice, prevention and appropriate policy to improve health outcomes. We need to consider our patients and their wider social context.
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I recently participated in a registrar education discussion about 'heartsink' patients. What is a heartsink patient? O'Dowd appears to have coined the phrase and refers to patients who 'exasperate, defeat and overwhelm their doctors by their behaviour'. He implemented a plan to identify, discuss and actively manage the heartsink patients at his practice and his definition has led to a classification of typical trigger patients and guidelines on how to best manage these patients
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Welcome to an issue of Australian Family Physician that is particularly close to my heart. My son has an intellectual disability, and I understand firsthand the importance and challenges of maintaining optimal health in this group of patients.
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An invitation to discuss the role of the doctor begs the question, 'What is wrong with the status quo?' Given the guild nature of the medical profession, any reform will need to be well substantiated.
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I am writing this quest editorial for this 'Indigenous health' issue of Australian Family Physician because i have reached an important goal - one that many times i thought i would not achieve. I would like to share my story with others, particularly my Aboriginal brothers and sisters, so that they may be encouraged to keep doing and to reach their goals too.