What is known about the topic? Geriatric Evaluation and Management, Rehabilitation Hospital in the Home (GEMRHITH) is a poorly studied area of sub-acute healthcare practice. What does this paper add? The multidisciplinary GEMRHITH service supported a broader cohort of patients than traditional HITH models across medical and surgical conditions. What are the implications for practitioners? The GEMRHITH service was safe with low re-admission rates and improvements in patient functional outcome scores.

What is known about the topic? Health professional students need to develop their knowledge and skills in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be culturally responsive and meet their health needs effectively. What does this paper add? This study is the first to describe the responses of occupational therapy students to a module on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Students were challenged about any biases that could affect their capacity to be culturally responsive. What are the implications for practitioners? Both practitioners and students need to be culturally responsive to provide culturally safe services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What is known about the topic? Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In 2018, it was included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule with the expectation that the number of prostate biopsies performed would decrease. What does this paper add? By 2022, biopsies increased nearly 12% with over a 50% increase in the 80–89 age group – those least likely to benefit from curative treatment. What are the implications for practitioners? The criteria for funding mpMRI and the performance of prostate biopsies should be altered to enable better use of resources.

What is known about the topic? Due to the increasing demand for palliative care services, this care is increasingly delivered by general non-specialist clinicians such as allied health professionals. What does this paper add? This study provides evidence for how often a surveyed population of allied health professionals in rural and regional Australia are providing care to people with a terminal illness, as well as their confidence, competence and learning needs. What are the implications for practitioners? High-quality care is needed at end-of-life, therefore rural and regional health services need to support allied health professionals to increase confidence and competence in providing palliative care.

What is known about this topic? It is unknown whether the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) definition of an emergency department (ED) mental health presentation definition accurately reflects ED mental health workload. What does this paper add? The AIHW definition appears to underestimate the clinical workload related to ED mental health presentations. There is moderate agreement between the AIHW definition and mental health presentations classified according to complaint recorded at triage, or whether the patient is reviewed by psychiatry services. What are the implications for practitioners? Accurate measurement of emergency psychiatry workload should not rely on the AIHW definition alone.

What is known about the topic? Workforce development needs related to the management of people recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are relatively unknown, due to the novelty of the virus and sustained pressure on the healthcare system due to the pandemic. What does this paper add? The paper identifies resource gaps and potential improvements from the clinician perspective. It also emphasises the urgent need for tailored, multidisciplinary resources and workforce capacity building. What are the implications for practitioners? Access to accessible updated resources and continuing professional development is critical for allied health clinicians in the evolving field of COVID-19 rehabilitation.

What is known about the topic? During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic there were significant adaptations required to the delivery of clinical care. What does this paper add? There is a strong preference for ongoing work from home arrangements, especially for administrative and non-clinical work. Most radiation oncologists feel more confident using telehealth and favour its ongoing use post-pandemic. Burnout and stress remain prevalent within the workforce. What are the implications for practitioners? There is a high demand among the radiation oncology workforce for adoption of technological advances to improve work satisfaction including remote access to enable flexible work arrangements.

What is known about the topic? There is no current evidence pertaining to what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples think of direct prescriptions from the pharmacist for six conditions: low-risk oral contraceptives, antibiotics for urinary tract infections, and four minor skin ailments. What does this paper add? This paper provides a protocol to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives are captured and amplified for policy makers. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners are made aware of the perspective of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples regarding pharmacists prescribing certain medications.

What is known about the topic? It has been challenging for oil and gas companies to deliver and evaluate value-based healthcare services to improve workers’ wellbeing, supplementing essential emergency services and occupational health. What does this paper add? The Remote Health Value Framework (RHVF), developed and tested in this work, offers a blueprint for designing and evaluating models of care considering the companies’ and workers’ priorities. What are the implications for practitioners? The RHVF’s application has the potential to improve industry standards, enabling a data-driven approach to healthcare investments that closely align with both corporate objectives and employee wellbeing.

What is known about the topic? Young-onset dementia refers to a dementia with onset at less than 65 years of age. People with young-onset dementia may contact mental health services for support but the reasons for contact are unknown. What does this paper add? The reasons for contacting one Victorian mental health service included behaviour changes such as agitation or aggression and psychotic symptoms (74%) and general advice, including about dementia pathways (14%). General practitioners made up one-third of referral sources. What are the implications for practitioners? Victorian mental health services are generally overloaded and complex. There is a need to promote alternative dementia support organisations in order to provide an alternative contact for people affected by young-onset dementia.

What is known about the topic? The pre-medical emergency team (pre-MET) was implemented to enhance hospital patient safety; however, there is evidence that it is underused by health professionals. What does this paper add? We argue that health professionals’ behaviours within the pre-MET be understood differently by using the 'Behaviour Change Wheel’, where behaviour is driven by capability, opportunity, and motivation. What are the implications for practitioners? To improve patient safety and assist in formulating theory-based solutions, hospital leaders and health services researchers are called upon to examine the pre-MET using behaviour change theory.

What is known about the topic? Young-onset dementia refers to a dementia with onset at an age less than 65 years. Accessing age-appropriate services for these people is difficult as they fall through the gaps of adult and aged services due to their age. What does this paper add? Due to the behavioural and psychiatric manifestations related to young-onset dementia, data is provided about mental health service involvement for these people. What are the implications for practitioners? There is a need to upskill mental health clinicians, especially in rural areas, as younger people with dementia are accessing these services.

What is known about the topic? Triage systems can be used to prioritise the order in which patients are treated in a pandemic, but the views of the general public on using chronic comorbidity as intensive care unit (ICU) triage criteria are unknown. What does this paper add? This Australian survey, conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, demonstrated that the majority of respondents perceived ICU triage methods based on comorbidity to be fair, but significant ethical issues exist. What are the implications for practitioners? It may be possible to develop an ICU triage protocol for future pandemics in Australia, but further research is required.

What is known about the topic? Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact physical and mental health. What does this paper add? A health package of light intensity exercise, advice on anxiety management and nutritional information demonstrated maintenance of physical and mental health and reduced fatigue in people with and without mild COVID-19 in hotel quarantine. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners should consider providing a health package of exercise, anxiety management and nutritional information to help people in quarantine to cope with the physical and mental isolation. Adequate staffing is required to enable implementation.

What is known about the topic? Bariatric surgery is an effective intervention to treat severe obesity. Access to this service in Queensland public hospitals was limited. Access was gained only in exceptional cases; this created unmet need and inequities. What does this paper add? This paper demonstrates that a state-wide central referral hub is an effective approach to provide equitable access to bariatric surgery according to ability to benefit regardless of location or ethnicity. What are the implications for practitioners? This provides a sustainable and equitable framework for bariatric surgery services that can be extended to other specialty services and jurisdictions.