Deur Reon Janse van Rensburg Die Solidariteit Beroepsgildes bring mense uit dieselfde beroepe bymekaar en gee ook aan jongmense 'n kans om spesifieke beroepe te betree. Die gildes tree ook as waghond op wat brandpunte in beroepe takel deur met werkbare oplossings vorendag te kom. Die gildes se doel is om 'n netwerk te skep waarbinne lede die beste praktyke met ander kan deel, kan sake doen en hulself in hul beroepe kan ontwikkel en bevorder. 'n Beroepsgilde is deel van jou pad van lewenslange leer en 'n geleentheid waar jy insette kan lewer oor hoe jou beroep beskerm en
… Read more

Solidariteit Helpende Hand ondersteun behoeftige bejaardes op verskeie maniere. Twee van die projekte wat ons baie sterk dryf en waarvoor die behoefte elke jaar net groter en groter word, is die behoefte aan katarakverwydering en gehoorapparate. Staatshospitale se waglyste om katarakte te verwyder, is twee en ’n half jaar en meestal word die bejaardes dan weer op die volgende waglys geplaas. In 2019 het ons die katarakprojek saam met dr. MC Niemandt van die Intercare Mediese Sentrum in Hazeldean, Pretoria, deurgevoer. Tydens Internasionale Ooggesondheidbewusmakingsweek kon 40 bejaardes se katarakte verwyder word. Ons het wel in 2019 ’n totaal van 485
… Read more

Die nuutgestigde Christo Engelbrecht Studiefonds vertel die storie van ’n driejarige seuntjie wat na 'n lumbale punksie oorlede is. Die fonds is nou, vier jaar na klein Christo se afsterwe gestig. Die doel van die studiefonds is om 'n jongmens met studiebefondsing by te staan vir enige beroep in 'n pediatriese rigting, soos bv. Pediatrie, Pediatriese Intensiewe Sorg of Pediatriese Neurologie. Die dapper klein Christo het vermoedelik virale breinvliesontsteking gehad en na ’n lumbale punksie het sy brein begin swel. Hy is vier dae later oorgeplaas na ’n hospitaal in Johannesburg waar sy breintellings weer genormaliseer het. Die dokter het
… Read more

By Luisa van der Linde General skills that may be of help Empathy can take you far Always keep the human aspect of health care in mind. Patience and empathy are important aspects of your calling. A difficult situation can often be defused by just being nice and showing empathy. An upset patient can become calmer if he or she feels you are really listening. Use phrases such as, “I understand your frustration.” Remember that the patient is away from their loved ones, probably in pain and uncertain. Show them you care! Treat the patient with respect rather than being
… Read more

by Luisa van der Linde INTRODUCTION As a health practitioner, your own safety and the wellbeing of your own employers remain a top priority at your practice. It involves much more than a sign behind the bathroom door with a pretty picture that says: “Please wash your hands.” To quantify safety at the workplace is very difficult, because certain regulations depend on the specific practice’s unique circumstances. The number of staff you have, types of patients who visit the practice and infrastructure will also have an influence on how safety guidelines and regulations will be applied. THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND
… Read more

by Luisa van der Linde Introduction The main purpose of health practitioners in a clinical environment is to treat and care for their patients to the best of their ability. Sometimes, however, differences in expectations, perceptions and communication styles may lead to challenging interactions between a health practitioner and the patient. Many patients are polite and follow their practitioner’s recommendations exactly, but unfortunately not all patients do so. Reasons There are many reasons why patients sometimes become difficult to deal with. Some are unhappy about where and when they receive bad or life-changing news. Others experience the health practitioner’s non-verbal
… Read more

Seeing that the application of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) is drawing close, it has now become more important than ever to make sure that your medical practice complies with the requirements of the POPI Act. Although the government has not yet announced a specific enforcement date, you can use the interim to your advantage to get fully acquainted with the significance of the POPI Act for your medical practice and how to set about safekeeping the medical data of patients in accordance with the requirements of the POPI Act. Are you wondering how the Protection of Personal
… Read more

By Reon Janse van Rensburg   Careless handling of patient information at a medical practice, is not only unethical but can also result in sanctions at the Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and violating of a private dispute can in extreme cases result in fines or even imprisonment. Health practitioners and their administrative staff receive personal information from their patients on a daily basis in various ways, for example when a file is opened or when patients disclose confidential medical history to a doctor. According to the Act this information is regarded as the personal information of a
… Read more

By Reon Janse van Rensburg In 2018, the Constitutional Court in South Africa ruled that the use of cannabis is legal for both personal and medical use. However, it is still unlawful to use it outside of your private home as well as buying and selling it. There is one exception which is mentioned later. Before the ban was lifted in 2018, advocates applied pressure to the government to amend the acts to allow for exemption for medical use, religious practices, and other purposes. The ban existed from 1922. The Afrikaans word “dagga” comes from the Khoi-Khoi word dacha which
… Read more

By Bianca Smit “Burnout is a sign that something needs to change.” – Sarah Forgrave The abovementioned statement makes it sound so easy: If things do not work, change them. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. Health practitioners, nurses and social workers make the conscious decision every day to sacrifice their own wellbeing so that they can take care of other people’s wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced in a press release that burnout is now regarded as a medical condition. This follows shortly after the South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA) reported in April
… Read more