Effectiveness of local support for the adoption of a national programme--a descriptive study.

Background: Change management in health care is a complex and time-consuming endeavour, and no less so in implementing technological systems. In deploying a nationwide programme, the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR), the Australian Government employed a number of national and local change management programmes.

Objective: This article describes the processes undertaken and the experiences of introducing the PCEHR into 74 general practices across a specific area of metropolitan Melbourne.

Addressing the potential adverse effects of school-based BMI assessments on children's wellbeing.

INTRODUCTION. Do child obesity prevention research and intervention measures have the potential to generate adverse concerns about body image by focussing on food, physical activity and body weight? Research findings now demonstrate the emergence of body image concerns in children as young as 5 years. In the context of a large school-community-based child health promotion and obesity prevention study, we aimed to address the potential negative effects of height and weight measures on child wellbeing by developing and implementing an evidence-informed protocol to protect and prevent body image concerns.

The Victorian emergency department collaboration.

Objectives: The aim of the project was to bring together 17 major emergency departments across Victoria, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory to work together over an 8-month period to reduce both clinical and operational waits and delays, and to improve patient satisfaction.

Design: The collaborative was based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Series, and utlilized their intellectual property and methodology adapted for the Australian setting.

Setting: The largest (by annual attendances) 17 emergency departments in the State of Victoria and one hospital in the Australian Capital Territory participated.