Low Value Care: Challenges and ways forward

Details

Date: Thu, May 16

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM GMT+10

Event: Online event

Registration Link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e7dbc838-2db0-48f8-9e53-47bc20675a08@fee9c112-179f-46e3-ab98-f8d58602cf19

Facilitated: by Dr Nick Coatsworth, Australian Patients Association Ambassador for Healthcare reform

With special guests:  Professor Ian Harris AM, academic orthopaedic surgeon, and Kylie Woolcock, CEO of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.

In a Healthcare system where every dollar counts, low value care has been an ongoing issue of concern.  Costly procedures with relatively low success rates have most recently been in the news through the controversial Four Corners investigation into spinal surgery  https://abc.net.au/news/2024-04-09/chronic-pain-spinal-cord-stimulator-surgery-four-corners/103686582 with widespread additional media coverage.

Not everyone agrees with the report. While Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) said the report “exposed serious risks to patients and the shocking extent of fraud, waste and abuse in Australia’s ‘back pain industry’” and that ‘Low value care is both dangerous for patients and a drain on our health system’, the Australian College of Surgeons says the report showed ‘an unbalanced view of spinal surgical care’ and challenged the evidence presented in the report. The AMA also challenged the data in the report, and hit back with its own accusations of private healthcare rorting.

The issue strikes a lot of raw nerves.  How can we address it to produce better outcomes to Australian patients?

Join Dr Nick Coatsworth, Professor Ian Harris and Kylie Woolcock in a focussed discussion to explore the challenges of Low Value care, its impact on the healthcare system, and to reflect on pathways forward through this timely and informative Webinar.

The discussion will be followed by Q&A.

Speakers

  1. Nick Coatsworth: Nick Coatsworth is an infectious disease physician, a respiratory physician, a practitioner of disaster and humanitarian medicine, and a senior public administrator. Nick has led not-for-profit boards, Australian Medical Assistance Teams, government agencies and hospitals, whilst retaining his frontline role as a public hospital physician. Nick provides a clear, credible voice for the health of the Australian community as one of Australia’s most recognised medical spokespeople.
  2. Professor Ian Harris: Professor Ian Harris is an Orthopaedic Surgeon who specialises in orthopaedic trauma, Arthritis, Arthroscopic Surgery, and evidence-based medicine. A/Prof Harris is an expert in the assessment of Spine and lower limb injuries. His extensive list of qualifications include MBBS, FRACS, FAOrth, MMed and PhD.
  3. Ms Kylie Woolcock: Kylie has worked in the health sector for over 20 years, starting her career as a pharmacist, before moving her focus into health workforce development, health policy and reform. She is passionate about reorienting the health system to achieve the outcomes that matter for people and their communities.