A sound understanding of Australia’s complex health system is essential for all health professionals who work and collaborate with others in delivering health care. The fifth edition of Understanding the Australian Health Care System provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the structure of the health system, its various functions and the various roles within it.
Logically structured and easy to follow, the resource covers aspects of health system structure and function, health insurance, the PBS, complementary and alternate medicine, current governmental and legislative changes, and comparison to other high-income countries. This overview places into context the 12 health professions and their roles, emphasising the importance of interprofessional practice.
Fully updated to reflect current policy, trends and environment, and how these impact on the health care system, practitioners and consumers, this book is an excellent resource for those undertaking health and medical undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
1. Cover image - p. i 2. Title page - p. ii 3. Table of Contents - p. iii 4. Copyright - p. iv 5. Video table of contents - p. vii 6. Dedication - p. viii 7. Acknowledgements - p. ix 8. Contributors - p. x 9. Reviewers - p. xv 10. List of Illustrations - p. xvii 11. List of Tables - p. xviii 12. 1. Understanding the Australian health care system: How to use this book - p. 1 13. Section One. System Overview - p. 13 14. 2. The public health sector and medicare - p. 14 15. 3. The private health sector and private health insurance - p. 30 16. 4. International health care systems - p. 41 17. 5. Public health in Australia - p. 55 18. 6. Primary health care in Australia - p. 64 19. 7. The pharmaceutical benefits scheme - p. 79 20. 8. The aged care sector: Residential and community care - p. 89 21. 9. Equity and access: A spotlight on rural health - p. 100 22. 10. Indigenous health systems and services - p. 114 23. 11. Mental health and recovery-oriented mental health services - p. 125 24. 12. People living with disability: Navigating support and health systems - p. 138 25. 13. Australian workers’ compensation systems - p. 150 26. 14. The complementary and alternative health care system in Australia - p. 163 27. 15. Oral health and dental services - p. 175 28. 16. Digital health and the divide - p. 191 29. Section Two. Health Professionals - p. 200 30. 17. Australia’s health workforce - p. 201 31. 18. Clinical exercise physiology in the Australian health care system - p. 214 32. 19. Nutrition and dietetics: Promoting health for all Australians - p. 225 33. 20. Health services managers in the Australian health care system - p. 237 34. 21. The medical profession in Australia - p. 248 35. 22. Midwifery in Australia - p. 258 36. 23. Nursing in Australia - p. 271 37. 24. Occupational therapy - p. 282 38. 25. Paramedicine and the health care system - p. 292 39. 26. The pharmacist’s unique contribution to Australia’s health system - p. 303 40. 27. Health profession regulation: The case of physiotherapy - p. 313 41. 28. Speech pathology and audiology: Assessment and intervention for communication impairment - p. 323 42. 29. The social work profession in the Australian health care system - p. 336 43. Glossary - p. 345 44. Abbreviations - p. 356 45. Index - p. 358
A sound understanding of Australia’s complex health system is essential for all health professionals who work and collaborate with others in delivering health care. The fifth edition of Understanding the Australian Health Care System provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the structure of the health system, its various functions and the various roles within it.
Logically structured and easy to follow, the resource covers aspects of health system structure and function, health insurance, the PBS, complementary and alternate medicine, current governmental and legislative changes, and comparison to other high-income countries. This overview places into context the 12 health professions and their roles, emphasising the importance of interprofessional practice.
Fully updated to reflect current policy, trends and environment, and how these impact on the health care system, practitioners and consumers, this book is an excellent resource for those undertaking health and medical undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
1. Cover image - p. i 2. Title page - p. ii 3. Table of Contents - p. iii 4. Copyright - p. iv 5. Video table of contents - p. vii 6. Dedication - p. viii 7. Acknowledgements - p. ix 8. Contributors - p. x 9. Reviewers - p. xv 10. List of Illustrations - p. xvii 11. List of Tables - p. xviii 12. 1. Understanding the Australian health care system: How to use this book - p. 1 13. Section One. System Overview - p. 13 14. 2. The public health sector and medicare - p. 14 15. 3. The private health sector and private health insurance - p. 30 16. 4. International health care systems - p. 41 17. 5. Public health in Australia - p. 55 18. 6. Primary health care in Australia - p. 64 19. 7. The pharmaceutical benefits scheme - p. 79 20. 8. The aged care sector: Residential and community care - p. 89 21. 9. Equity and access: A spotlight on rural health - p. 100 22. 10. Indigenous health systems and services - p. 114 23. 11. Mental health and recovery-oriented mental health services - p. 125 24. 12. People living with disability: Navigating support and health systems - p. 138 25. 13. Australian workers’ compensation systems - p. 150 26. 14. The complementary and alternative health care system in Australia - p. 163 27. 15. Oral health and dental services - p. 175 28. 16. Digital health and the divide - p. 191 29. Section Two. Health Professionals - p. 200 30. 17. Australia’s health workforce - p. 201 31. 18. Clinical exercise physiology in the Australian health care system - p. 214 32. 19. Nutrition and dietetics: Promoting health for all Australians - p. 225 33. 20. Health services managers in the Australian health care system - p. 237 34. 21. The medical profession in Australia - p. 248 35. 22. Midwifery in Australia - p. 258 36. 23. Nursing in Australia - p. 271 37. 24. Occupational therapy - p. 282 38. 25. Paramedicine and the health care system - p. 292 39. 26. The pharmacist’s unique contribution to Australia’s health system - p. 303 40. 27. Health profession regulation: The case of physiotherapy - p. 313 41. 28. Speech pathology and audiology: Assessment and intervention for communication impairment - p. 323 42. 29. The social work profession in the Australian health care system - p. 336 43. Glossary - p. 345 44. Abbreviations - p. 356 45. Index - p. 358
