Doctor Health High Priority Equal To Doctor Shortages

MEDIA RELEASE

2 September 2009

Doctor Health High Priority

Equal to Doctor Shortages

Healthy doctors could be the key to a healthy population.

The issue of doctors with personal health issues could have as high an impact on public health as doctor shortages, a national conference to be held in Adelaide this week will hear.

Australian health experts will gather to discuss this issue at the Healthy Doctors Better Medicine conference this week, to be held at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel from September 3-5, 2009.

Canadian researcher Professor Erica Frank will give the conference keynote address, highlighting the link between doctor and patient health.

"Healthy doctors mean healthier patients," Prof Frank said.

"Healthy doctors are more likely to have a positive impact on the behaviour of their patients and facilitate more positive changes in a patient's living habits.

"Scientific literature supports intuition in this area health care providers need to practise what they preach to have the most positive effect on public health."

Prof Frank is currently based at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her research into preventative medicine led her to develop the Healthy Doc Healthy Patient programs to address prevention through better doctor health.

CEO of the Medical Board of South Australia, Mr Joe Hooper, said the conference would also consider the results of the 2007 South Australian Doctors Health Survey, which found that one in eight South Australian doctors had treated themselves for depression.

"Doctors can get sick too, just like anyone else in the community," he said.

"Regardless of whether they are suffering from depression or the common cold, doctors and those in the health profession need access to confidential treatment so that they can continue to provide care for the community.

"Excessive working hours and conditions of work also need to be addressed to ensure a healthy medical workforce can be maintained."

Mr Hooper said the Healthy Doctors Better Medicine conference would provide an opportunity for the profession to collaboratively review the issues surrounding the health of Australian doctors.

"Participants will be encouraged to consider their own well-being as well as the role they play in improving the health of the community and the wider profession," he said.

"The conference is consistent with the Medical Board of South Australia's commitment to address the issue of unwell doctors through the work of its Doctors' Health Committee.

"It also aligns with the Board's strategic goals to improve the identification of unwell doctors and assist the profession to address this issue to preserve public safety."

The conference is the sixth National Doctors Health Conference and will be co-hosted by the Medical Board of South Australia, the Australian Medical Association (SA Branch) and the South Australian Doctors' Health Advisory Group.

The full program is available at: http://www.doctorshealthsa.com.au/

Professor Erica Frank will deliver her address "Healthy Doctors Practice Better Medicine" at 9.00am on Friday 4 September at the Hilton Hotel, Adelaide.

Professor Frank will be available for interviews and photographs throughout the day.

Mr Joe Hooper will be available for interviews and photographs today (Wednesday 2 September) and from 7am Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September.

Media contact:
To arrange an interview with Prof Frank or Joe Hooper, please contact:
Linda Hein or Louise Close at Corporate Conversation on 8224 3535 or
Linda on 0400 281 822 or Louise on 0418 814 147.


SOURCE: Medical Board of SA