New Guide Marks 20 Years Of World Class Advice On Prevention In General Practice

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 05 May 2009 - 6:00 PST

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is launching its 7th edition of Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice - better known as the 'Red Book'. The publication provides general practitioners and general practice teams with the most reliable, up to date, guidelines for preventive health activities in Australia.

This new edition will be launched on Saturday, 2 May 2009 during the RACGP 52nd Gold Coast Clinical Update in Broadbeach, Queensland. A copy of this internationally recognised resource will be sent to each GP in Australia. The 'Red Book' will also be available through the RACGP website at http://www.racgp.org.au/guidelines/redbook following the launch.

"The 'Red Book' is a practical and useful resource that keeps GPs up to date; it offers relevant advice on what kind of screening and preventive services should be provided to our patients, as based on the latest international medical evidence," said Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President and GP in Northern New South Wales.

"This year we are celebrating 20 years of the 'Red Book', but the basics of the first edition remain relevant to general practice in 2009. This new edition builds on the knowledge and vision of its predecessors in providing an all encompassing approach to health prevention in our day-to-day work of caring for patients.

"The 'Red Book' stands out as a wonderful resource for Australian general practice and as a world-leading guide on prevention in family medicine. The RACGP is immensely proud of, and deeply appreciative of, the work that all members of the 'Red Book' task force have done, led by Professor Mark Harris.

"Eighty six percent of Australians see their GP each year. GPs do so much more than treat the condition of the patient in each consultation. Today's approach to medicine means that we use every opportunity to provide our patients with the knowledge and skills they need to live a healthy life.

"Modern medicine is a two-way relationship between the clinician and our patient. Patients will see the best health care outcomes when they work together with their GP, take an active approach to health prevention and take responsibility for their own health," said Dr Mitchell.

The 'Red Book' covers prevention in children, adults and the elderly; immunisation; prevention of chronic disease; heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease; preventing cancer and more.

Source
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

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