AMAV VICDOC SUMMER 2023 - Magazine - Page 35
THE PO L ICY DESK
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VIDEO
McKELL ROUNDTABLE
PANEL EXAMINES POSTPANDEMIC HEALTHCARE
IN VICTORIA
—
A recent McKell Institute-hosted
policy roundtable featuring
AMA Victoria President, Dr
Roderick McRae, examined the
key post-pandemic issues facing
the Victorian healthcare system
and the possible policies that
Government could adopt to
address the urgent concerns of
healthcare worker fatigue, the
backlog of non-pandemic related
surgeries, and the need for new
financial models to assure the
system’s economic sustainability.
The panel’s discussion
highlighted the interconnection
between healthcare worker
well-being, enhanced patient
care, overall system performance,
financial sustainability,
and technology.
There was considerable panel
discussion about the impact of
the pandemic upon healthcare
workers and how government
can best support those on the
frontline of healthcare going
forward. This led to a review of
a wide array of issues, including
the collection and use of patient
data and how a combination of
data and technology can help
relieve overworked healthcare
professionals while fostering
improved patient outcomes and
better managing the overall
healthcare supply chain.
Dr McRae stated that “one
thing I want to say (coming) out
of this crisis, we have got to do
stuff differently… I can’t overstate
(how) stressful it is it because
it’s a crisis and it seems such
a shame to waste it”. He noted
that while vaccination efforts
have been good and vaccination
efforts must continue, better
efforts are needed to make
sure that “healthcare workers,
medical, nursing people going
into people’s homes” have
the required personal
protective equipment to
safeguard themselves.
VI CD O C SPRI N G 2022
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