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.
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.
- Updated to reflect current policy and health environment
- Explores the roles of 12 health professions with a focus on inter-professional practice
- Case studies and accompanying video interviews with practitioners and thought leaders bring theory to life
- Test Bank to support learning
- Full range of instructor resources on Evolve
- Includes Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing for Understanding the Australian Health Care System 5e
- Greater emphasis on interprofessional practice
- Considerations of the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on health care delivery and workforce
- New section on aged care, considering the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
- New chapter on social work
- Includes changing scope of practice of nurse practitioners, podiatry and occupational therapy
- New sections on the regulation of paramedics with the introduction of Ahpra Paramedicine Board of Australia registration
Table of Contents
1. Understanding the Australian Health Care System: How to Use this Book (p.1)SECTION ONE: System Overview
2. The Public Health Sector and Medicare (p.14)
3. The Private Health Sector and Private Health
Insurance (p.30)
4. International Health Care Systems (p.41)
5. Public Health in Australia (p.55)
6. Primary Health Care in Australia (p.64)
7. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (p.79)
8. The Aged Care Sector: Residential and
Community Care (p.89)
9. Equity and Access: A Spotlight on
Rural Health (p.100)
10. Indigenous Health Systems and Services (p.114)
11. Mental Health and Recovery-Oriented Mental
Health Services (p.125)
12. People Living with Disability: Navigating Support
and Health Systems (p.138)
13. Australian Workers' Compensation Systems (p.150)
14. The Complementary and Alternative Health Care
System in Australia (p.163)
15. Oral Health and Dental Services (p.175)
16. Digital Health and the Divide (p.191)
SECTION TWO: Health Professionals
17. Australia's Health Workforce (p.201)
18. Clinical Exercise Physiology in the Australian
Health Care System (p.214)
19. Nutrition and Dietetics: Promoting Health for All
Australians (p.225)
20. Health Services Managers in the Australian
Health Care System (p.237)
21. The Medical Profession in Australia (p.248)
22. Midwifery in Australia (p.258)
23. Nursing in Australia (p.271)
24. Occupational Therapy (p.282)
25. Paramedicine and the Health Care System (p.292)
