Developing strategies to meet health crises from pandemics to terrorism

Aug 04, 2006

A conference to be held in Canberra on 9 and 10 August will explore options for the better management of health and disease in today’s society.

Health Outcomes 2006: Managing Health and Disease in Today’s Society will feature about 80 speakers and 300 delegates. The conference is being convened by the Australian Health Outcomes Collaboration, the University of Wollongong’s Centre for Health Service Development and the Centre for Advances in Epidemiology and Information Technology, The Canberra Hospital.

Professor Kathy Eagar from the Centre for Health Service Development is one of the keynote speakers participating in the conference.

Professor Eagar's address will focus on the challenges facing the health system and why the health system needs to change. The challenges include workforce shortages, failing physical infrastructure and finite funding to provide quality care for the ageing. At the same time, health systems are being asked to meet growing community expectations of improved services and health outcomes for everyone without neglecting the particular needs of the most disadvantaged. Professor Eagar will argue that a balanced investment across the health spectrum from prevention to palliative care is fundamental to Australia’s future.

Conference organisers highlighted how health planners and care providers are being called on to address the needs of a rapidly ageing population as well as coping with rising levels of mental illness, obesity, diabetes, cancers, substance abuse and a range of other diseases.

They say that health care systems are required to meet rising community expectations of improved services and health outcomes for everyone in society and that strategies have to be developed to meet potential new health crises ranging from pandemic diseases to unnatural disasters such as acts of terrorism.

Other keynote speakers are Professor Henry Brodaty (Department of Psychogeriatrics, University of New South Wales) who will focus on ageing and dementia; Dr David Osoba (Quality of Life Consulting, University of British Columbia) who will examine clinical outcomes that really matter in managing health and disease in today's society as well as a second lecture on translating the science of patient reported outcomes into clinical practice; and Dr Robin Harvey (Sentiens Global) who will speak about using e-disease management system to monitor population mental health after natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.

Conference venue and date: Rydges Lakeside, London Circuit, Canberra from 9-10 August

Conference website: The conference program can be seen at: http://www.uow.edu.au/commerce/ahoc/program2006.pdf

For further information about Professor Kathy Eagar's participation in the conference contact her on (02) 4221 5735 or for general information about the conference contact Michael Partridge on (02) 6205 0869. During the conference Michael can be reached on either 0402 830121 or 0416 112362.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128