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The Australian
a day ago
- Health
- The Australian
How Australians rate chronic health management
By modern measures, Lesley Hoatson just might be a medical unicorn. In the past 40 years, she has been treated by only two general practitioners. Even then, she only switched doctors because one retired. She attributes it to her local clinic's knack for retaining staff. 'I think it's because the practice I go to is a community health centre and to work there you probably have to be pretty committed to that sort of service to the community,' she says. Ms Hoatson, 74, looks the picture of health. She leads an active lifestyle and is preparing to hike through the French Alps. She is also a frequent gym-goer, enjoys pilates and regularly volunteers in her local community. But what might not be as obvious is that, like half of all Australians aged over 65, Hoatson lives with multiple chronic health conditions. She has high blood pressure, high cholesterol and anxiety, all of which she says are managed effectively with the help of medication and a trip to the GP every six months. 'He monitors those medications each time I go, and that's fairly straightforward,' she says. Ms Hoatson feels her GP includes her in all conversations about her health and talks through her treatment options, and lets her decide the course of action. He supports whatever decision she makes. She says it is a relationship built around trust and respect, and that has filled her with confidence in the health system. 'Without him sort of breathing down my neck, I feel comfortable about having made decisions and managing what I'm doing with my own health,' she says. 'I've never known any different. Maybe it's a little bit of luck. I think if you were swapping to a different doctor every time, it would be a much more basic exchange of what's happening and that's it. 'Whereas this is actually about you, the person, and you should feel like (the doctor) is actually interested in you. Even though my doctor has a short amount of time to see me, he does it efficiently, and I come away feeling like I have been heard and he has responded to what I needed.' Ms Hoatson has documented her experience as part of the international Patient-Reported Indicator Survey. The survey focuses exclusively on the experiences of patients in primary care and compares how 19 OECD member nations perform. More than 100,000 patients who live with chronic illness took part globally, including 2392 from Australia. Respondents were patients aged 45 and over, had at least one chronic condition, and visited a GP in the six months prior to the survey. They were asked about their experience, outcomes, and how they accessed health information and services. Associate Professor Liz Marles is a spokeswoman for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, which conducted the study on behalf of the Health Department. She is also a former president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and says Australia held its own, performing better than or close to the OECD average across 10 health measures, and ranking in the top five in quality of care, co-ordination of care, person-centred care and physical health. However, there were three areas to improve, especially in mental health, wellbeing and social functioning – which considers how well someone can perform everyday activities and responsibilities. 'What we're looking at here is how people with chronic conditions, what their experience is in terms of healthcare delivery,' Dr Marles says. 'It's that in-depth perspective that allows us to see how well we're performing and probably gives us much greater insight, really, into what are the strengths in the system and what are the areas that we probably need to focus on.' One key finding was that patients with greater continuity of care had better outcomes than those without, and those who maintained the same GP had a greater level of trust in the system. 'As a GP, I know when I see a person that I'm familiar with, it's just a much easier consult,' Dr Marles says. 'I already know what their preferences are, so whether they're someone who is very anxious about their health and wants to have lots of investigations, or whether they're someone who maybe doesn't pay enough attention to their health, and I need to be a bit more proactive with that person. 'Knowing a person's preferences really helps, and that's what person-centred care is. And we rated really highly on person-centred care; Australia was 94 per cent versus 85 per cent for the OECD average.' The results further highlight the postcode lottery and other health inequalities, with patients in cities and those with higher levels of education and income reporting better experiences, which then led to improved health outcomes. David Fong is a general practitioner at Co Health, a multidisciplinary community health centre in the Melbourne suburb of Kensington. The clinic works closely with allied health professionals and was one of dozens nationally that had patients participate in the survey. A lot of Dr Fong's patients are from non-English-speaking backgrounds and include refugees, concession card holders and pensioners. Not all of them are familiar with how to navigate Australia's health system, which could lead to confusion and distrust if not managed appropriately. He says managing chronic conditions requires careful planning. 'Many patients do recognise the value of seeing the same doctor or the same clinicians, or nurses they're familiar with as well, who have learned this story,' he says. 'But it's also a supply problem … sometimes one particular doctor is not available. For chronic conditions, though, if you plan ahead you can always see your doctor, you just might have to wait.' Australia has a high burden of chronic disease, which is growing as the population ages. It's a trend that adds pressure to the broader health system, care providers and the community. According to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in 2022, half of Australians had at least one chronic condition, and in that year alone $82bn was spent on treating chronic disease. 'Chronic conditions were recorded as an underlying or associated cause of 90 per cent of all deaths, and were responsible for 91 per cent of the non-fatal burden of disease,' the report states. Further, chronic conditions represent the fastest-growing segment of healthcare users in Australia. The most common chronic condition reported in this country was high blood pressure, followed by arthritis or joint pain, depression or other mood disorder, breathing conditions, and cardiovascular or other heart conditions. The survey found patients with multiple chronic conditions were less confident of managing their own care but also had less trust in the health system and doctors. People living with chronic conditions including liver disease, neurological or mental health conditions reported having the worst experiences of all chronic care patients. The survey also revealed a breakdown in communication between doctors and patients when it came to explaining care, finding that while many doctors were completing personalised GP Management Plans for patients, they were not always informing or involving the actual patient at the centre of the plan. 'In about 50 per cent of cases, people are not even aware that they've had one done,' Dr Marles says. 'We need to create those plans in partnership with our patients so that they actually understand what the tasks are for them in terms of self-management; what are the goals that we're hoping to achieve? Who are the other people involved in their care? It's a really important plan and I think it's an area that we need to focus on a bit more.' Dr Fong suspects that will change following amendments introduced on July 1 that replace the existing GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements with a single GP Chronic Conditions Management Plan. As part of the change, GPs may have access to additional Medicare billing benefits if they develop a plan for a patient with chronic conditions. 'As of July 1, there's much more emphasis on reviewing the plan periodically, approximately only three, four to six months,' Dr Fong says. The report also found men were far more likely to trust the healthcare system than women, a trend that was not influenced by the gender of the healthcare provider. Dr Marles says the cause of the distrust was not obvious from the findings, speculating it could be the result of more women seeking medical help for complex conditions including psychological issues. 'That's not to say that they have more psychological issues, it's just that they may seek help for mental health complaints more than men,' she says. 'Maybe there's some element of that medical misogyny, where they may feel dismissed around their concerns. It's very hard to drill down and find out exactly why that statistic is there based on the results.' Dietitians Australia president Dr Fiona Willer believes the findings show the need for allied health professionals to be better embedded into primary care. 'We're failing at best practice here, it makes no sense for Australians at risk of, or living with, diet-related chronic diseases, like type-2 diabetes, not to be getting adequate access to dietitians,' she says. 'We can't expect GPs to be managing complex chronic conditions alone, for patients with multiple chronic conditions, comprehensive multidisciplinary team care is absolutely essential – and not the reality in Australia yet.' It is hoped the findings will be used by policymakers and doctors to help fill national healthcare gaps. Lesley Hoatson hopes that happens. 'This is really about social justice issues, because not everyone gets access to those sorts of services like continuity of care,' she says. 'It's made a big difference to my life, and I reckon there'd be very few people who wouldn't want that. It's just that they can't necessarily get access to it.'
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
15 Smart Ways Business Developers Are Supporting Community Health
Business developers are uniquely positioned to drive positive change in both the workplace and the communities they serve. By applying strategic thinking and relationship-building skills beyond traditional sales and growth goals, they can help close critical gaps in physical and mental healthcare. From launching community-centered wellness programs to embedding health-focused technology into everyday platforms, today's leaders are finding creative ways to meet local needs. Below, 15 Forbes Business Development Council members share these and other smart approaches to making a meaningful impact on community health and well-being. 1. Turn Health Engagement Into Leadership Development Launch business-to-wellness bridge programs to deploy professional expertise that tackles community health challenges via sustained partnerships, not one-time volunteering. This transforms health engagement into leadership development, with organizations recognizing that contributing business skills to nonprofits significantly enhances employees' leadership and professional capabilities. - Arun Rasika Karunakaran, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd 2. Establish 'Wellness Ecosystems' In Community Spaces Business developers can create "wellness ecosystems" by partnering with local healthcare providers to embed services directly into community spaces where people already gather, like workplaces, schools and retail centers. This removes traditional barriers like transportation and stigma while generating sustainable revenue streams through corporate wellness contracts and insurance partnerships. - Vivek Vishal, Honeywell 3. Provide Pro Bono Strategy To Health Organizations Leverage your unique skill sets—including negotiation, strategic planning, relationship building and market analysis—to provide pro bono support to community health organizations. This could involve helping a local mental health clinic develop a sustainable fundraising strategy, assisting a community sports program with marketing or even providing business planning advice to a wellness startup. - William DeCourcy, AmeriLife 4. Seek Partners For Mutual Support Partner with groups already making a difference, then add value where it counts: better systems, smarter outreach or funding support. Bring your business tools as a force multiplier. When business development leaders treat community wellness as a shared mission, not a side effort, they create impact that lasts. - Michael Fritsch, SavvyCOO 5. Co-Create Scalable Local Wellness Programs Business developers can drive real impact by co-creating wellness initiatives with local clinics, fitness centers and digital health startups. Go beyond sponsorship—design scalable programs that blend technology, behavioral health and cultural relevance to support both physical and mental well-being in underserved communities. - Rahul Saluja, Cognizant Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify? 6. Share Health Resources And Build A Supportive Culture It's vital to share resources about health and wellness, including mental health, which is often overlooked. In addition, companies and leaders can create partnerships with discounts and incentives for gyms, mental health organizations and resources or wellness businesses. It's also vital to support team members when needed because it sets the culture. - Wayne Elsey, Funds2Orgs 7. Take A Community-Minded Approach Business developers can make a real impact by shifting from selling to the system to designing with the community. That means co-creating solutions that support both physical and mental wellness, prioritizing behavioral change over short-term fixes and embedding purpose, progress and connection into every layer of care. - Angelica Kopec, She Knows Business 8. Crowdfund Gym Passes For Underserved Groups One idea I came across that I thought was so unique is crowdfunding community gym passes. The concept is simple yet powerful: use your platform to raise small donations that go toward covering memberships for people who might not otherwise afford them, like seniors, teens or single parents. It's a creative way to support both physical wellness and local businesses at the same time. - Bryce Welker, The CPA Exam Guy 9. Make Wellness A Part Of The Business Treat wellness like a core business metric. Make community health part of how you define success. Sales teams should champion local partnerships and advocate for mental and physical well-being with the same energy they bring to quarterly goals. That's real impact. - Umang Modi, TIAG, Inc. 10. Design Accessible, Data-Driven Care Solutions Business developers can impact community healthcare by partnering locally to create accessible wellness solutions, such as mobile clinics or telehealth hubs. Using data to identify care gaps, repurposing spaces for wellness and co-designing services with the community ensures relevance, trust and impact—blending innovation with purpose for physical and mental well-being. - Shay Solomon, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 11. Streamline Care With Human-Centered Technology To truly move the needle in community health, we need to bring patients and providers closer together, with no friction. That means using AI and backend automation to streamline care, while keeping the patient-facing experience simple and human. When technology works behind the scenes, people can focus on what matters: connection, care and outcomes. - Scott Hozebin, Better Health 12. Focus On Real Problems Before Adding Tech Any approach, conventional or unconventional, should always be centered on solving a real problem that affects people's lives. Once that is at the core, the rest is incorporating tools like apps or AI, thereby shortening the time from identification to resolution. At the end of the day, your business exists because of the community you serve, without which your survival will be impacted. - Mustansir Paliwala, Zomara Group 13. Create Inclusive, Culturally Aware Wellness Spaces Create inclusive wellness spaces where individuals from all backgrounds feel welcomed, respected and supported in their physical and mental well-being journey. These spaces should be designed to reflect the cultural and social diversity of the communities they serve. By involving local voices in service design and delivery, these spaces can foster trust and engagement, making wellness more equitable for all. - Salice Thomas, Wipro Limited 14. Add Wellness Features To Digital Products Embed wellness-focused features, such as step-based rewards or in-app reminders for breaks and mindfulness. SaaS and app providers can boost user well-being while enhancing engagement. It's a win-win: tech that supports healthier habits creates more loyal, balanced and productive users. - Alexey Kachalov, UniOne 15. Start With Wellness In The Workplace Businesses often look outward, but real impact starts internally. View your workforce and their families as your first community. Partner with HR and providers to expand access to mental and physical health resources where your people live and work. When wellness is embedded into the business environment, the impact is both personal and reputational, and it scales naturally outward. - Alexander Masters, MBA, BIDA, Siemens
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ScottsMiracle-Gro Believes in the Power of Green Spaces - Partners With U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Captain Tyler Adams and Every Kid Sports
NORTHAMPTON, MA / / July 24, 2025 / Our Scotts brand is proud to announce a new partnership with U.S. Men's National Soccer Team captain Tyler Adams and Every Kid Sports. This partnership is dedicated to increasing youth access to natural turf sports fields, as we believe in the power of green spaces to foster healthier, happier and stronger communities. For the official kick-off, Tyler hosted a field day at his childhood playing field in Wappingers Falls, New York, teaching soccer skills to local youth. He attributes his early success to his experiences as a youth athlete. And as a new father, he is adamant about spending time with his family outside. Tyler will help give back to local communities by working with Scotts to launch a nationwide Keep It Real sweepstakes, offering five youth sports nonprofit organizations the chance to win a natural turf field refurbishment and soccer balls signed by Adams. Learn more about the Keep It Real Movement and sweepstakes: View original content here. About ScottsMiracle-GroWith approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from ScottsMiracle-Gro on Contact Info:Spokesperson: ScottsMiracle-GroWebsite: Email: info@ SOURCE: ScottsMiracle-Gro View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New wellbeing hub launched at leisure centre
RiversMeet Active in Gillingham has launched a community-first wellbeing hub. The facility aims to support the physical, mental and social health of the community. The hub is part of a growing national trend toward community-based health solutions. These initiatives aim to ease the pressure on the NHS. RiversMeet Active's general manager, Jake, said: "We are very excited to be building on this impressive scheme whilst working in partnership with vital local resources. We are on a mission to improve the health of our community, watch this space." The hub is integrated with RiversMeet's GP referral programme. It offers low-impact classes for those recovering from illness or injury, living with long-term health conditions or looking to improve their overall wellbeing. The sessions are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all community members. Dorset Mind, a local charity supporting mental health, will operate from the hub every Monday. They will provide a drop-in mental health service, working in conjunction with the existing GP referral pathways. READ: Gym shuts suddenly as 'new partner' sought to take over existing brand Integrated with RiversMeet's GP referral programme, the Hub offers low-impact classes for people recovering from illness or injury. (Image: Plans for additional services at the hub include physiotherapy, sports massage, counselling, nutrition groups, anxiety and parent support sessions and discreet contraception services for students. The hub is a collaborative effort, with support from Gillingham-based company, Dextra Group. They hope the hub will be a valuable resource for their employees, their families and the wider community. The hub is designed to be an inclusive and accessible space for everyone, including those with long-term health conditions, students, carers and older adults. It aims to be more than just a gym, but a key community resource for Gillingham and beyond. It is hoped the hub will promote health, connection and support within the community. This project represents a significant step towards improving community health and reducing the strain on NHS services.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Plans for NHS diagnostic centre in Peterborough win approval
Plans for a community diagnostic centre aimed at reducing patient waiting times have been means building work can begin next month on the facility in Wellington Street, Peterborough, which should be open in West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which submitted the plans, said it would offer scans and cardiology and respiratory diagnostic Coffey, its chief executive, said she was "incredibly pleased" that planning approval had been granted. "As an organisation, we are working tirelessly on reducing diagnostic wait times, and opening the [centre] will undoubtedly improve patient experience," she Coffey said the government's 10-year plan for the NHS had highlighted the need to shift care out of hospitals and into the centre will have CT, MRI, Dexa, X-ray, ultrasound and fibroscan Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, said it would ease pressure on hospitals."As Peterborough grows, we need local services that grow with us," he said."This centre is a big boost for patients and for our brilliant NHS staff."The plans were approved by Peterborough City Council on Monday. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
