Priority Health Medical Centre | Businesses

Priority Health Medical Centre

Phone: +61 7 3470 1599

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Businesses
• Doctor
• Medical and health
• Family medicine practice
• Family doctor
• General Practitioner

25.01.2022 Qld Health update: Following the announcement by Victoria of a case of COVID-19 acquired by a person working in a quarantine hotel, we are monitoring the situation closely and awaiting more information from Victorian health authorities. If you have been in Greater Melbourne since January 29 and arrived into Queensland should get tested even if you do not have symptoms and isolate until you receive a result.

25.01.2022 The COVID-19 cluster in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales, has now increased to 17 positive cases. As a result: Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches.... Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after midnight tonight (Thursday 17 December 2020), must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches. Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am Saturday 19 December 2020 must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches, and get tested. This includes both interstate visitors and Queensland residents returning home.

24.01.2022 In counseling, it’s very common for us to see people with these 3 traits and often together. 1 Have unrelenting standards 2 Self critical and self punitive... 3 Fear of failure. This is of course a perfect storm for stress. This is the triad for perfectionism. We have such high standards that we cannot reach. We then criticize self, blame self, and avoid failures due to our fear of failure. Hence, we cannot achieve. It’s a vicious cycle. If we can change self criticism to self reflection/self compassion, along with defusing/changing our beliefs around failures, then we can still have our high standards and succeed. The good news is, these skills of self compassion and changing our perception around failures, can be learnt. Please see your Doctor or Mental Healthcare Professionals if you have concerns about your emotional health.

24.01.2022 The emotion of shame (I am bad/not good enough) is the granddaddy of all uncomfortable feelings. The unhelpful feeling of shame is common amongst the people we see, but nobody really presents to us with.... Hi Doc. I have unhelpful feelings of shame.... Often the presenting complaint are... I am stressed out, burnt out, anxious, frustrated or I am angry all the time. Folks with primary emotion of shame, invariably have associated sense of disconnection leading to fear/anxiety, leading to the fight/flight/freeze responses OR distractions like emotional eating/drinking, which then create more shame/disconnection. First thing is to step back and see that at the primary level and create a safe and compassionate space to talk about that in order to defuse or zoom out from that. Not easy because shame IS a really yukky feeling! For more help, please see your Doctor or Mental Health Professional. For more information about #mentalhealth, please visit our mental health blog.

24.01.2022 Osteoarthritis is a very common problem we see. So what are the risk factors for this? 1. Being overweight ... 2. A previous significant injury to the joint 3. Increasing age 4. Repetitive movements associated with an occupation. 5. Genetics the genes you inherit can play a role in the development of osteoarthritis 6. Gender women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis How do we manage it? If you have osteoarthritis it is important that your condition is monitored by your Doctor or health professional, and that they create an osteoarthritis management plan for you. In most cases a management plan that focuses on non-surgical and non-pharmacological care is best. It is critical that the management plan supports you to take an active role. It is also important that you have an understanding of osteoarthritis and how to manage it appropriately. This involves being informed about: 1. Your condition 2. Managing pain with and without pain relieving medication 3. How to adopt a healthy lifestyle it is important that you maintain general fitness levels, reduce sedentary life style habits and eat healthily 4. The importance of managing your weight For more information, click here.

23.01.2022 Public Health Alert: Brisbane Positive case confirmed with UK strain of COVID-19 Genome sequencing has confirmed the Queensland case of COVID-19 has the UK variant. Anyone who has been to the following locations regardless of whether they have symptoms or not should get tested and isolate until they receive their result.... Critically, even if a negative test result is received, please continue to monitor for symptoms and get retested if necessary. Saturday 2 January - 7am - Train from Altandi station to Roma Street Station Saturday 2 January - 4pm - Train from Central Station to Altandi station Sunday 3 January - 11am-12noon - Woolworths Calamvale North Tuesday 5 January - 7.30- 8am - Coles Sunnybank Hills Tuesday 5 January - 8-8:15am - Nextra Newsagent, Sunnybank Hills Shopping Town

22.01.2022 Some positive news regarding the #Covid19 Vaccines development recently.

22.01.2022 Every year, in Australia: 1. Skin cancers account for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers. 2. The majority of skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun.... 3. GPs have over 1 million patient consultations per year for skin cancer. 4. The incidence of skin cancer is one of the highest in the world, two to three times the rates in Canada, the US and the UK. Prevention is better than cure so please slip, slop, slap. If you have any concerns, please talk to your Doctor.

22.01.2022 To our community who have been affected by the severe hail storm over the weekend, it has been a frightening experience indeed. Please take care and give us a call if you are struggling in any way. If your house is severely affected, please ring SES or your home insurance to make safe. They usually have an urgent make safe team of builders and contractors. Please take care ... Team Priority Health See more

21.01.2022 One of the strategies in #counseling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is to help and switch the should and must thinker into the it would be nice thinker, and back again depending on context. Of course, should and must thinking is great for giving us the focus and motivation to act, and at the same time, can be a great source of pain and suffering if we don’t ever succeed, due to our unrealistic expectations. Examples are: Life should be fair versus it would be... nice if life is fair. People should always be nice versus it would be nice if people are nice. People should have common sense versus it would be nice if people have common sense. People should always do the right thing versus it would be nice if people do the right thing. It would be nice helps us to accept what is IS, but still thrive for it. We understand that like is not fair, but we can still try and thrive for it. Doesn’t work all the time, but it would be nice if we can give it a try. For more mental health topics, check out our mental health blog.

21.01.2022 Public health notice The West Moreton Public Health Unit has confirmed that a flying fox recovered from Queens Park in Ipswich has tested positive for Australia...n Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). Dr Catherine Quagliotto, public health physician at WMH Public Health, said: ABLV infection is fatal to humans and anyone who could have had contact with this bat is urged to present to their doctor urgently and ask their doctor to contact the Public Health Unit immediately. The weak and sickly bat was found on the ground between the carpark and the main gate of Nerima Gardens, Queens Park on the morning of Tuesday 8 December. It was taken into care by appropriately trained and vaccinated carers. The bat, which subsequently died, was sent for testing for ABLV and was found to be positive. This result was notified to Queensland Health and relevant follow-up was undertaken by the West Moreton Public Health Unit. We have been in contact with those people who reported the bat when it was found on the ground and also those who cared for it to check on the details of any contact they had with the bat and whether they were vaccinated. Once the bat was reported, it was only handled by trained and vaccinated carers, said Dr Quagliotto. It is very important to provide urgent treatment if anyone has had a scratch or bite from a bat to prevent a lethal disease, she said. Dr Quagliotto said bats should not be handled by members of the public under any circumstances even if they appear dead. Only people who are trained and appropriately vaccinated should handle bats. If you find a sick or injured bat please contact the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or a local bat care organisation search for bat care The Public Health Unit is working with Ipswich City Council to provide the council with appropriate health advice. Ipswich City Council said it would work with Queensland Health to ensure the safety of the community and the appropriate management of the situation. See more

21.01.2022 Tim Douge our inhouse Exercise Physiologist will be returning to Face-to-Face appointments from Wednesday 3rd February. Please call us on 34701599 to book your appointment.

21.01.2022 Priority Health Medical Centre is now approved to offer Covid-19 vaccines to the 50 and over population. Please call us on 34701599 or book with us via our Website and through the Automed App. (Please download the AMS Connect app). Please click the clink below to book your appointment. https://automedsystems.com.au/.../priority.../doctors/

21.01.2022 It’s hayfever season, and some of our patients may have been prescribed Nasonex (steroid) nasal spray for their hayfever. It is not uncommon for patients to use it incorrectly, so as a reminder, here is an instruction video on how to use Nasonex. www.nationalasthma.org.au//how-to-use-nasonex-nasal-spray-3

21.01.2022 Dear all, We hope you all had a lovely Festive Season with your family. As expected, due to more movements during this time, there will be more cases of Covid19 transmission in our community as seen in NSW and Victoria. ... If you have traveled to an affected area or have symptoms, please consider testing. As a community, we try to act early rather than later to prevent what we have seen overseas. Thank you for looking after each other. Please refer to the following testing sites. If you do need a referral for testing, please book a telehealth appointment with your Doctor so that it can be arranged. Take care. Team Priority Health https://www.qld.gov.au//stay-inf/testing-and-fever-clinics

21.01.2022 High blood pressure is a common problem we manage at our clinic. If left unchecked, it can cause damages to various organs including our blood vessels, eyes, brain, heart, and kidneys. If you have high blood pressure, it is a good idea to invest in a home BP machine to do home readings. Here are some tips around this topic from the Heart Foundation.

19.01.2022 Key facts on heart attacks: 1. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and your heart muscle can’t get enough oxygen. 2. A common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain that may spread to your arms, neck, jaw or back.... 3. Heart attacks are mostly caused by coronary heart disease which starves your heart of oxygen. 4. You can reduce your risk of having a heart attack by adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Talk to your Doctor on how to reduce your risk of getting heart disease. Call triple zero (000) immediately if you or someone else may be having a heart attack.

19.01.2022 This week, we have opened up more consultation rooms for face to face consultations without the need for prior telehealth appointments. For your safety and the safety of staff and other patients, we will ask you a series of screening questions prior to entering the practice. There will be a temperature check, along with hand sanitizing and masking, prior to entering the practice. We will also aim to keep your face to face appointments to less than 15mins to reduce exposure... time for you, staff, and other patients. Thank you for understanding and support around these safety procedures. If you have any queries or concerns, please email our practice manager.

19.01.2022 Dear valued patients, This week, we have opened up more rooms for face to face visits. Prior to your face to face visits, you will be asked a series of COVID19 screening questions. Please answer these truthfully, as it may impact your health and the health of the people around you. If you have any further concerns, please email us and we will respond promptly. ... We thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time. Team Priority Health

19.01.2022 The use of metaphors and analogies can be very useful in counseling because many ideas and concepts in mental health can be quite abstract. We can liken the mind to a computer, with our system of values, beliefs, internal rules, principles, and the way we think, being the operating system. The problem is, the operating system needs regular updates as our environment and society is changing so rapidly. To complicate things, it is also hooked into the network with other compu...ters which use different operating systems. A mixture of Windows, iOS, Linux and a few others. With that in mind, it’s not surprising to see so many internal and external conflicts in our lives, and the lives of our patients. Furthermore, if these internal and external conflicts are not resolved, it may manifest as stress, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders with anxious or depressed mood. So counseling is to assist people to update their operating system on a regular basis, and to understand and find ways to reconcile with the other operating systems in the network. It can be a tough gig for sure.

18.01.2022 Tonsillitis is a common problem we see in General Practice. It is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. If it is due to a bacteria, then antibiotics can help. Surgery may be indicated if it’s recurrent, or if it is associated with sleep apnea. If you have concerns about your child’s tonsils, please talk to your Doctor. ... For more information about tonsillitis, click on the following link.

18.01.2022 It is very common for us at the clinic, to see parents who are concerned about their children's mood and behaviours. This can cause a lot of stress for the family. In this video, I have outlined a simple approach on how to assess these sort of problems, and discussed a simple framework on how we can assess and find ways to help these families and their children. We can describe it as the "What, Why, and How to improve" approach.

17.01.2022 Do you know about the Shingles Vaccine? Shingles immunisation is recommended for: -Anyone over 50 years old who wants to protect themselves against shingles can talk to their doctor about getting immunised.... -Adults aged 70 years to 79 years, for free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) -Adults aged 60 to 69 years -Adults 80 years and older -Adults aged 50 or over who live in the same household as someone who has a weakened immune system. Please speak to your Doctor or Nurse if you are interested to know more.

17.01.2022 Being too self critical can impact our self esteem and our mood. So why are some of us so self critical? It may be partly due to our punitive beliefs or schemas. There is often a strong belief within our current society that if someone does something wrong, they need to be punished, or if I do something wrong, I need to be punished. You can see this nearly everywhere around us. It’s part of our our values, beliefs and culture.... Habits from upbringing and what we see around us too perhaps. Of course it’s a spectrum. If one is too self reflective and detached, it may not drive action. If one is too self critical, it may cause too much stress and triggers a fight, fight or freeze response. Somewhere in between would be nice perhaps. It’s a difficult balancing act for sure, but it’s not impossible. If being too self critical is significantly impacting your mood, please talk to your Doctor or Mental Healthcare Professionals.

17.01.2022 We often see warts, including plantar warts at our practice. There are a few treatment options, but the one we utilize the most at the clinic, is cryotherapy i.e. freezing them. Freezing them will destroy the wart cells and stimulate the immune response to fight it off. The wart is caused by the wart virus. Hence, it is also contagious. You can read more about warts on the following link. ... If you have concerns about these, please contact your Doctor.

16.01.2022 We are running regular #covid19 and #Flu vaccination clinics. To book, please ring us on 34701599

16.01.2022 It is not uncommon for us to care for folks whose lives are not in line with their values and expectations. The bigger the gap, the bigger the stress it seems. To close the gap, we only have 3 options. ... We can help them to find or create a life that is congruent with their values and expectations. It’s about making changes to the outside world i.e. the external locus of control OR We can help them to change or defuse/detach from their values and expectations to be in line with their life. This is more about changing our internal world and how we perceive things i.e. the internal locus of control OR We can help them to change both. Whichever way, the first step is have clarity around what those values and expectations actually are. Do you need help to clarify these? #mentalhealthawarenessmonth

16.01.2022 You can now book your Covid Vaccine and Flu Vaccine with us via our Website and through the Automed App. (Please download the AMS Connect app). Please click the clink below to book your appointment. https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-me/doctors/

16.01.2022 Christmas Holiday Opening Hours Wednesday 23rd December 8am-5.30pm Thursday 24th December 8am-5pm... Friday 25th December CLOSED Saturday 26th December CLOSED Sunday 27th December CLOSED Monday 28th December 10am-2pm Telehealth Only Tuesday 29th December 8am-6pm Wednesday 30th December 8am-6pm Thursday 31st December 8am-5pm Friday 1st January CLOSED We wish all our patients a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

15.01.2022 Welcome Dr Peter Pham - Registrar Private Billing - Bulk Bills Pension/HCC/DVA card holders & Children under 16 years Monday-Friday and Private Billing weekends. Special interests: ... Dr Peter is a GP Registrar who completed a degree in Pharmacy and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). Since graduating in 2014, he has worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital and QE-II Jubilee Hospital. Dr Peter enjoys many of the broad aspects in medicine. His previous experiences were as a surgical resident and most recently a Medical Registrar in various specialties. Outside of work, Peter enjoys spending time with his young family and friends, sports and cooking.

15.01.2022 In counseling, it’s very common for us to see people with these 3 traits and often together. 1 Have unrelenting standards 2 Self critical and self punitive... 3 Fear of failure. This is of course a perfect storm for stress. This is the triad for perfectionism. We have such high standards that we cannot reach. We then criticize self, blame self, and avoid failures due to our fear of failure. Hence, we cannot achieve. It’s a vicious cycle. If we can change self criticism to self reflection/self compassion, along with defusing/changing our beliefs around failures, then we can still have our high standards and succeed. The good news is, these skills of self compassion and changing our perception around failures, can be learnt. Please see your Doctor or Mental Healthcare Professionals if you have concerns about your emotional health.

15.01.2022 Poor physical health affects our our mental health, which then affects our social health, including financial health. The reverse is also true. All are interlinked and require attention for good overall health.

15.01.2022 May you all have a wonderful and safe Xmas with your families and friends. Please take care. From team Priority Health

15.01.2022 Psoriasis is a common immune mediated disorder that we see at the clinic. So what is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by clearly defined, red and scaly plaques (thickened skin). ... It can be very mild or very severe severe, where it can affect your joints and it’s function. To read more on psoriasis, click on the following LinkedIn Dermnet.

14.01.2022 If you have symptoms, been in contact with covid cases, or been to a hotspot, please consider isolation and get tested. Take care Team Priority Health

14.01.2022 Are you a Self Sacrificer? In Schema Therapy, self sacrifice is defined as excessive focus on voluntarily meeting the needs of others in daily situations, at the expense of one's own gratification. The most common reasons are: to prevent causing pain to others; to avoid guilt from feeling selfish; or to maintain the connection with others perceived as needy . Often results from an acute sensitivity to the pain of others. Sometimes leads to a sense that one's own need...s are not being adequately met and to resentment of those who are taken care of. Of course it can be good for society, but if excessive, it can be problematic, especially if it’s not balanced with adequate self care. It’s hard to give, what we don’t have. When our needs are not met, and our self care is neglected, our mind may default into the self preservation mode of what about me. The problem is, when self sacrificers put their needs first, they tend to feel bad or guilty, and this will create an inner conflict between self sacrifice, and what about me. This will increase the chance of stress and burnout. So how can we minimize or mitigate this? Simply be aware, defuse or unhook from our self sacrifice schema, accept that every superpower has its own Kryptonite, and remember the mantra of oxygen mask on us first, so that we can look after many. Looking after ourselves first does not equal selfishness. It’s looking at the bigger picture. For more #mentalhealth topics, see our mental health blog.

14.01.2022 Who is bowel screening for? If you are aged 50-74, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will send you a free bowel screening test in the mail every two years. It’s important you do it as soon as possible. If you are not yet eligible for the program, but have symptoms, a family history or are concerned about bowel cancer, speak to your #GP about your options. We can simply organize this over #telehealth for you. ... For more information on bowel cancer screening, call Cancer Council 13 11 20 or check the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program website.

13.01.2022 When a two or more individuals with different personalities, backgrounds, past experiences, and biases are in a personal or working #relationship with each other, there will be challenges. With any group dynamics, we will go through 4 stages of group or relationship development as described by Psychologist Bruce Tuckman. 1. The forming... 2. The storming 3. The norming 4. The performing The storming is inevitable for us to get to the norming and performing stages it seems. If we ride through these storms together, over time with acceptance, openness, honesty, and a positive regard for one another, then we have hope. So how do we get through the storm? 1. We need to align our goals. Two or more different individuals with aligned goals equal a great adaptive team. Two or more different individuals without aligned goals equal a war. 2. We need to connect when we are disconnected. When one feels disconnected, the rational thing to do is to reconnect. However, people don’t often do this. They often fall into the trap of withdrawing or criticising, which makes the disconnection worse. Be careful of this trap. 3. We need to resolve our conflicts through a positive regard for one another, accept and appreciate each other’s differences, and move forward together with aligned, value driven goals. Again, be careful not to fall into the usual trap of the fight or flight response with withdrawing or criticizing. None of this is easy of course, but it is possible. Storms will come and go, and yes, they are inevitable. For more mental health related topics, please visit our blog at epsychconnect.com

13.01.2022 Molluscum contagiosum is a very common skin condition we see, particularly in young children at our clinic. It is not serious, and is usually self limiting. However, it is contagious, and annoying for both the child and the parents. Often, we do not need to do anything but if it gets infected, then antibiotics may be required. We can also treat it by cryotherapy if active treatment is required. For more information, click on link below.

12.01.2022 Gastroenteritis is a common presentation at the Family Doctors. So what causes it? 1 Viruses (these are by far the most common cause and include the rotavirus and norovirus infections)... 2 Bacteria, such as salmonella toxins produced by bacteria 3 Parasites, such as giardia 4 Chemicals, such as toxins in poisonous mushrooms When should I see my doctor? See a doctor immediately if your child cannot keep down a sip of liquid or has dehydration (dry mouth, no urine for 6 hours or more, or lethargy). Babies under 6 months should always be seen by a doctor if they have gastro. Adults and older children should seek medical advice if their symptoms include a fever, severe abdominal pain, blood in their diarrhoea or signs of dehydration, such as thirst and decreased urination, lethargy, dry mouth, sunken eyes or feeling faint when standing. For more information, click on this link.

12.01.2022 Being too self critical can impact our self esteem and our mood. So why are some of us so self critical? It may be partly due to our punitive beliefs or schemas. There is often a strong belief within our current society that if someone does something wrong, they need to be punished, or if I do something wrong, I need to be punished. You can see this nearly everywhere around us. It’s part of our our values, beliefs and culture.... Habits from upbringing and what we see around us too perhaps. Of course it’s a spectrum. If one is too self reflective and detached, it may not drive action. If one is too self critical, it may cause too much stress and triggers a fight, fight or freeze response. Somewhere in between would be nice perhaps. It’s a difficult balancing act for sure, but it’s not impossible. If being too self critical is significantly impacting your mood, please talk to your Doctor or Mental Healthcare Professionals.

12.01.2022 Do you suffer from Hayfever? We can consider the following: 1. Intranasal corticosteroid sprays these nasal sprays are used for people with moderate to severe symptoms and are one of the most effective treatments for allergic rhinitis. They need to be used regularly as directed to be effective. Combined intranasal corticosteroid and antihistamine sprays are also useful for people with moderate to severe symptoms and offer the combined advantages of both medications. 2. ...Non-sedating antihistamine medications these may be useful to control sneezing and itching, but are not as effective as intranasal corticosteroid sprays to control a severely blocked or runny nose. Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 3. Eye drops may relieve itchy, swollen or runny eyes. Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice on choosing the correct eye drops. 4. Decongestant nasal sprays are useful for quick relief, but should not be used for more than a few days as long-term use can damage the lining of the nose. Certain people should not use decongestants (such as those who are pregnant, or have high blood pressure). Discuss with your GP or pharmacist before using these medications. 5. Allergen immunotherapy some people may benefit from allergen immunotherapy, which exposes a person to increasing amounts of an allergen to improve tolerance and reduce symptoms. This therapy may help hay fever and some cases of asthma. It should only be conducted under medical supervision. For more information, click on below link.

12.01.2022 The COVID-19 cases linked to venues in the suburb of Avalon has now grown to 68. Dr Jeannette Young has urged anyone who has arrived from Greater Sydney and is showing COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. She made the request after concerning positive sewerage results in tourist regions North Cairns, Townsville, Cleveland and the Gold Coast.

12.01.2022 In counseling, we can help our patients to see their strengths/superpower and embrace that. We also help our patients to see their weaknesses that inherently come with that superpower, and accept that too. For example, if you have the special ability to make decisions based on your own internal principles, feelings, and values, your inherent blindspot will be the tendency to break social norms. If you have the special ability of being highly aware and making decisions base...d on the feelings, values and rules of others, you can obviously follow social norms with ease. However, your inherent blindspot may be, not knowing your own values, principles, and if excessive, not even knowing who you are. This may lead to inner disharmony and unhappiness. If we are not careful, we let others judge us based on our weaknesses, and worse still, judge ourselves based on our weaknesses. Part of counseling is to shift that thinking towards working on our strengths, as we get a better return on investments on that, AND at the same time, manage our weaknesses, but with awareness and acceptance. This is also a very important approach for working with families and children with special needs. If you are struggling with your mental health, please speak to your Doctor or Mental Health Professional. For more mental health topics, visit our mental health blog www.epsychconnect.com

11.01.2022 Extreme heat can affect anyone! Please check on your neighbours and family members this week, as temperatures are predicted to be extreme! Those over 65yo and less than 4yo are most at risk of heat exhaustion as their bodies regulate temperature less efficiently. Tips to prevent heat exhaustion:... 1. Keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of water to help the body sweat. Avoid sugary/sports drinks, teas, coffee or alcohol as these may cause/worsen dehydration. 2. Wear loose light clothing 3. Protect against sunburn because sunburn impairs the body’s ability to cool itself. 4. Avoid strenuous activity especially during hottest part of the day. 5. Be aware of symptoms of heat exhaustion which may require medical attention (eg. Faintness/dizziness, fatigue, rapid/weak pulse, low blood pressure, nausea, headache, clammy skin/goosebumps) There are many factors which can cause heat stress and heat-related illness, including: Dehydration. To keep healthy, our body temperature needs to stay around 37C. The body cools itself by sweating, which normally accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of the body’s heat loss. If a person becomes dehydrated, they don’t sweat as much and their body temperature keeps rising. Being in hot, poorly ventilated or confined areas. Sun exposure. Especially on hot days, you should try and avoid being out in the sun between 11am and 3pm. Hot and crowded conditions. People attending large events in hot or crowded conditions may also experience heat stress that can result in illness. Bushfires. Exposure to radiant heat from bushfires can cause rapid dehydration and heat-related illness. Bushfires usually occur when the temperature is high, which adds to the risk. Please take care Team Priority Health

09.01.2022 One of the common strategies in #counseling and #CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), is to switch the should and must thinker into the it would be nice thinker, and back again depending on context. Of course, should and must thinking is great for giving us the focus and motivation to act, and at the same time, can be a great source of pain and suffering if we don’t ever succeed, due to our unrealistic expectation. Examples are:... Life should be fair vs it would be nice if life is fair. People should always be nice vs it would be nice if people are nice. People should have common sense vs it would be nice if people have common sense. People should always do the right thing vs it would be nice if people do the right thing. It would be nice helps us to accept what is IS, but still thrive for it. Doesn’t work all the time, but it would be nice if we can give it a try.

09.01.2022 Sleep apnea is a common but yet often under diagnosed condition. It can also affect your emotional and social health. So what are the symptoms of sleep apnoea? The symptoms of sleep apnoea include:... 1. Pauses in breathing while sleeping, which may be noticed by other people 2. Snoring 3. Tossing and turning 4. Waking up gasping or choking 5. Feeling tiredness and unrefreshed after sleep If you are concerned about any of the symptoms above, please speak to your Doctor.

09.01.2022 One of the most common pitfall for all #parents is the escalation trap. We ask the child to do something. They ignore or refuse. We escalate. They escalate. We escalate. They escalate. At the end, we may give in with an accidental reward, or they may give in this time. The question is, what are they learning from this, and what are we as parents, learning from this.... They are learning that we are not serious until we escalate. We are learning that they are not going to listen until we escalate. So if that is what we are learning, and that’s what they are learning, it’s probably not going to get better. Part of parenting skill training is to equip parents with strategies to prevent this escalation trap. So what principles and strategies can we use to help parents with this? 1. Start with simply being aware of the above. Awareness is the first step to change. 2. Work on connection/relationship because this is foundational in parenting. When the relationship, connection and attachment are good, boundary setting is going to be much more effective and easier to implement. 3. Consider shaping behaviour by rewarding and giving attention to the behaviours we want, and active ignoring of the behaviours that we don’t want (as long as they are not dangerous). If not careful, we tend to do the reverse. Part of reward can be a simple descriptive praise for behaviors and values that you want to cultivate in our family. For example, good boy for being so patient and kind to your sister, rather than simply, good boy. Be mindful of what they are doing well and acknowledge those, rather than just pointing out the bad stuff. 4. Consider using behavioral strategies from TripleP like quiet time and time out, or the 1,2,3, and consequence from 123Magic may assist, although the delivery must be done correctly. 5. Or cultivate more mindful parenting in line with the theme of Circle of Security. Provide them with their needs for safety, stability, unconditional love/connection, and the opportunities for growth/learning. Use time out for both parent and child if required for defusion/reflection, but remember to go back to time in to empathize, teach, coach, accept/own our mistakes, make things right, and most importantly, rebuild the connection. Parenting is definitely one of hardest job in the world, and at the same time, can be most rewarding as well. Please consider speaking to your Family Doctor or Mental Health Professionals, if you have struggles in this area.

08.01.2022 NEW - Testing for people from Adelaide, Public Health Alert no.19 released Queensland Health have released Public Health Alert no.19. As per the Public Health Alert, the Chief Health Officer has asked that anyone who has arrived from Adelaide on or since Monday, 9 November 2020, immediately get tested, regardless of symptoms, as some may already be infected. These people are also being asked to voluntarily self-quarantine in their current accommodation until 14 days since th...ey left Adelaide. BORDER UPDATE Adelaide has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot. Queensland borders will close to local government areas (LGAs) in the city of Adelaide from 11.59pm Monday, 16 November 2020 following the latest COVID-19 outbreak. People who travel into Queensland from Adelaide after this time must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine at their own expense. This restriction will apply to anyone who has been in the city since Monday, 9 November 2020. Anyone currently in Queensland who’s been to Adelaide in the past seven days has been asked to immediately get tested and self-quarantine, even if they don't have symptoms. #Testing can be simply organized by your Doctor via telehealth if required. Call us on 34701599 or book online via www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au Thank you and please take care. Team Priority Health.

08.01.2022 To all our patients, we are in the process of changing our online appointment software and SMS reminders. We will now be using Automed. Please save the below mobile number. You can still go directly to our website to book online appointments at http://www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au/ As patients of Priority Health Medical Centre, you may receive reminders from us from time to time for upcoming appointments, reviews, assessments, or reviewed test results. As we do not use a shared messaging gateway, all messages are sent from this dedicated number: 0427 912 144

08.01.2022 When our outside societal rules and values are different to our inner rules and values, it creates stress and tension. This is a real challenge for us. Often, we may not even know what those inner rules and values are, but when it’s different to the outer world rules and values, it simply doesn’t feel right or make sense to us. This gap will general create a lot of stress and tension for us as we try to reconcile our outer world perception with our inner ones. The bi...gger the gap, the bigger the stress. The stress and tension will then spread to many other areas of our lives, if we are not aware. Counseling is to help us reconcile this gap. It’s a bit like updating our Windows or firmware. So how do we do that? 1. Firstly, we need to identify what those inner rules and values are. 2. Find, or upskill and change the outer world so that it’s more in line with our inner rules and values. 3. We need to defuse, change, update or refine our inner rules and values to reconcile with our outer world. 4. Or a combination of the above to find that sweet spot, although it may be very elusive and ever changing. If you are struggling with unhealthy stress, please consider speaking to your Doctor or Mental Health Professional.

07.01.2022 In #parenting, sometimes we can be so focused on the behavioral management, that we can forget to work on the connection and relationship with our children. There are a number of simple ways to improve the connection with our children as described in TripleP (Positive Parenting Program), and the 5 Love Languages. There are significant overlaps. 1. Provide frequent quality time for our children. The principle here is frequent and shorter duration is better than rare and longe...r duration. Quality is about being present for the child. So when our children show us something, we then fully engage with them, and be present with them. This is of course not easy in this day and age. If this is done frequently, even for a short one or two minutes, it’s probably better than that once in a while beach holiday or overseas trip. 2. Show frequent physical affection for our children. A simple hug, high five, or a pat on the shoulder. We acknowledge that some kids are less physical than others. 3. Help and support our children, and be mindful of frequent opportunities to teach and encourage learning. 4. Using words of acknowledgement, and descriptive praises to encourage certain values that they want to cultivate in their family. A simple example is, thank you for being so kind and considerate to your sister, instead of simply, good boy. 5. Appropriate gifts and rewards are effective to connect and initiate wanted behaviours, but in order for the behaviour to be more sustainable, it must be done intermittently. Improving the connection with our children, will reduce stress and the fight or flight responses, which will in turn reduce the need for behavioral management. #parentingtips #parentingstress

07.01.2022 One of the strategies in counseling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is to help and switch the should and must thinker into the it would be nice thinker, and back again depending on context. Of course, should and must thinking is great for giving us the focus and motivation to act, and at the same time, can be a great source of pain and suffering if we don’t ever succeed, due to our unrealistic expectations. Examples are:... 1. Life should be fair versus it would be nice if life is fair. 2. People should always be nice versus it would be nice if people are nice. 3. People should have common sense versus it would be nice if people have common sense. 4. People should always do the right thing versus it would be nice if people do the right thing. It would be nice helps us to accept what is IS, but still thrive for it. We understand that life is not fair, but we can still try and thrive for it. If you have a tendency to have should or must thinking, AND it is creating unhealthy stress for you, speak to your Doctor or Mental Health Professionals.

06.01.2022 If you need to have a test at the Ipswich Hospital COVID Clinic, please remember to bring a hat and water as it's a pretty hot one today. We all need to stay hy...drated! Our clinic is open for testing from 8am to 4pm. If you are visiting Ipswich Hospital, our staff and volunteers will help you check in, which is important to do correctly for contact tracing. View all the sites where you can get test around West Moreton here: www.westmoreton.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus See more

06.01.2022 Have you ever had the experience of being stuck inside your head, ruminating about the past or worrying about the future? How can we help you to shift gears? This is a metaphor we can use to help in this situation. When we are ruminating about a past or anticipating a negative future event in an unhelpful way, we are living inside our heads. This is what we would call the inside head experience. Introversion is another term, if you like that term better. We are now stuc...k in that gear. To shift from that gear, we must first use our clutch to detach from that gear. Defusing, detaching, distancing or unhooking from thoughts is just like that clutch in the car. But this is not enough. If one purely focus on defusing and unhooking from thoughts, then it’s like pressing on the clutch and releasing it again back to the original gear. Once the clutch is pressed, one must then go into neutral dropping anchor, be present in the five sense experience rather than the inside head experience. Then shift gears to value based actions. What’s the quality of life that you want to create? Where do you want to go despite the challenges. How can you live life true to who you are and your values? One must coordinate all the elements above in order to shift gears more effectively. The challenge is that many of us may not know how to operate the clutch and gears properly inside our heads. The wonderful thing is that this is a learnable skill, just like learning how to drive a car albeit a bit more difficult perhaps. #mentalhealthawareness #emotionalliteracy

06.01.2022 Amos Paterson our inhouse Physiotherapist will be returning to Face-to-Face appointments from Saturday 20th Feb 2021. Please call us on 34701599 to book your appointment. You can also book Face to Face with Amos online through our website at http://www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au/

06.01.2022 As Family Doctors, one of the most common unhelpful or limiting beliefs we encounter in our patients, is that I am not good enough belief or story. Of course that belief is useful in some context where it can motivate us to learn, grow, and keep us humble, but when excessive and generalized, it can create lot of emotional and relational issues. Recognizing that belief, detaching and defusing from that belief, and learning to see our life through a different set of len...s/filters, can be literally life changing. So how can we shift that? There’s probably many paths to get there, but ultimately, we can work towards self as context rather than self as content as defined by Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). If our life story was made into a movie, then self as content would be identifying self through the eyes of the main actor/actress, rather than through the eyes of the movie director/script writer. So self as context is identifying self as the director/script writer. Naturally, through the eyes of the director and script writer, it will be much easier to create a life story that we want. It will take time and patience. We can work on self understanding, clarity around our values and the life we want to create, emotional literacy, self awareness, mindfulness, being present, defusion, acceptance, self compassion, and more observation of our thoughts, beliefs and filters. Strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy(ACT), will cover most of these. Many folks we work with, still see their self worth predominantly through the lens/filters of their achievements, looks, their approval of others, and their helpfulness to others for example. These are of course great for motivation, including doing good for society, but if excessive or not balanced, it can lead to vulnerabilities, and a lot of emotional and relational problems. In counseling, we explore other lenses/filters around self worth too, including authenticity, being who we are, and growth. It’s sounds relatively simple, but it’s definitely not easy. It will require time, patience, and the commitment to shift. If you are struggling with this, you are not alone. Please talk to your Doctor or Mental Healthcare Professionals.

06.01.2022 We think that sometimes we can underestimate the value of simple psychoeducation as part of the counseling process. Examples are: We can learn about the simple fight, flight or freeze as a response to stress. We can learn that anger may be a simple manifestation of stress.... We can learn that stress may be a response to maladjustments in our lives, and to sort out these maladjustments, we need to look at the external locus of control (our external factors), and the internal locus of control (our internal factors). We can learn that when a child is showing aggressive behaviors, it may represent the simple fight response to stress, and stress can be due to disconnection, shame, or loneliness. We can use the following metaphor to explain to our patients about the importance of simple psychoeducation and emotional literacy. To solve maths we need to know what numbers are i.e. simple numeracy. To solve communication, we need to know the alphabet i.e. literacy. To solve finance, we need to know financial literacy. So to solve emotional problems, we need simple emotional literacy first through simple psychoeducation. It’s simple, but fundamental and absolutely critical. Visit our #mentalhealth blog for other mental health topics.

05.01.2022 Festive seasons will bring families together, and when families are together, some conflict and tension will invariably occur. In any meaningful relationships, there will be conflicts. It’s inevitable. Being aware, and knowing how to repair, is an absolute must have skill in any relationship work. If we are able repair something, there will be less fear of it going astray. So how do we repair?... Acknowledge and allow space for the other persons point of view and their feelings. Acknowledge and allow space for our own point of view and feelings. With the values around care, compassion, and being solution orientated, we move forward with aligned goals and shared values. Using the toolbox above, think Y-Axis of acceptance/acknowledgement, and be assertive guided by our values, rather than the X-Axis of avoidance and aggression (flight or fight response).

05.01.2022 Weekend Operating Hours: Telehealth consultations Please book online via the direct HotDoc link below or through our main website www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au... Saturday 31st October Dr Vladana O’Neill 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//pr/doctors/dr-vladana-o-neill-1 Dr Abi Ramanujam 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au///doctors/dr-abirami-ramanujam-1 Dr Mai Nguyen 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//priorit/doctors/dr-mai-nguyen-4 Sunday 1st November Dr Matilda Simic 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//prio/doctors/dr-matilda-simic-1 Dr Anitha Makam 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//prior/doctors/dr-anitha-makam-2 Dr Huy Dinh Vu 9am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//priori/doctors/dr-huy-dinh-vu-1

05.01.2022 From 6:00pm tonight people living in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands will be required to stay home until 6:00pm Monday in a bid to stop the spread of the highly-infectious United Kingdom strain of the virus. It comes after a cleaner at a quarantine hotel in Brisbane tested positive yesterday to the mutant strain and was in the community for five days. All residents in those areas need to stay at home unless it is for essential work, providing healthcare for a v...ulnerable person, essential shopping or to exercise in your local neighbourhood. If you do go outside, masks in those areas will be mandatory. #COVID19updates

04.01.2022 For weekend Telehealth bookings, please book online at www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au or please ring us on 34701599 Reminder that our reception desk is closed on weekends, for all enquires or bookings please call our offsite staff 34701599. Saturday 19th December Dr Tuan Vu 9am-1pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//priority-h/doctors/dr-tuan-vu-1... Dr Abi Ramanujam 8am-11am https://www.hotdoc.com.au///doctors/dr-abirami-ramanujam-1 Dr Matilda Simic 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//prio/doctors/dr-matilda-simic-1 Sunday 20th December Dr Matilda Simic 8am-12pm https://www.hotdoc.com.au//prio/doctors/dr-matilda-simic-1

04.01.2022 Prememstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a common problem we see at the clinic. It can be quite debilitating affecting your physical health, emotional health, and your social/relational health (relationships). If this is troubling you, please speak to your Doctor about ways to manage it more effectively.

04.01.2022 Update from West Moreton Health Routine wastewater testing has returned positive results for viral fragments of COVID-19 in sewage at treatment plants in seven locations across the state: Victoria Point, Oxley Creek, Goodna, Fairfield and Redcliffe - as well as Cairns North and Nambour. So please get tested if you experience any symptoms at all. If you visit Ipswich Hospital please check in using our QR code - ask for help at any time if you are unsure you've checked in correctly. All the places where you can get tested are listed below.

04.01.2022 To book face-to-face appointments, please call us on 34701599. The online booking system is currently restricted to telehealth bookings only. We are currently working with our online platform to rectify this. You will be asked a number of screening questions prior to the booking of your face to face consultations. We appreciate your understanding in this matter. Please check our FB page regularly for updates as we review our procedures on a weekly basis during this pandem...ic. Please take care. Team Priority Health

03.01.2022 As there has been some confusion around face to face clinics, we would like to remind our patients that face to face clinics are available daily from Monday to Friday. If you require a face to face consult with one of our Doctors, please ring us on 34701599 to book the appointment. Thank you and please take care. ... Team Priority Health See more

03.01.2022 To our patients, Dr Katherine Lynch will not be returning to Priority Health Medical Centre after her Maternity Leave, Dr Lynch will be relocating to Outback Queensland for the next few years and we are hopeful to see her return in a few years’ time. Please see our website for a list of up-to-date Drs or call us on 34701599 if you have any questions.

01.01.2022 Expression of interest: #ParentingWorkshops We are planning Zoom Workshops to provide support for mums and dads with school age children on the following topics. 1. How to assess behavioral concerns in children. ... 2. Strategies on how to handle difficult behaviours in children. 3. Strategies on how to improve your relationships with your children. 4. How to reconcile different parenting styles between parents. 5. How to approach parenting for children with special needs. If these topics are of interest to you, please email our Practice Manager to express your interest in the above. Also let us know what other topics around parenting you would like us to address. Thank you. Team Priority Health www.priorityhealthmedicalcentre.com.au

01.01.2022 Dear valued patients, This week, we have opened up more rooms for face to face visits. Prior to your face to face visits, you will be asked a series of COVID19 screening questions. Please answer these truthfully, as it may impact your health and the health of the people around you. If you have any further concerns, please email us and we will respond promptly. ... We thank you for your support and understanding during this difficult time. Team Priority Health

01.01.2022 WEEKEND OPENING HOURS for Face to Face and Telehealth Appointments. If you have any Respiratory Symptoms, please CALL us first before attending. Masks are mandatory while inside our Practice. Phone 34701599 for face2face appointments. Online bookings are reserved for telehealth bookings. Saturday 6th February... Dr Matilda Simic 8am-12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/ Dr Yasmin Esat 8am-12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/ Dr Mai Nguyen 8am-12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/ Sunday 7th February Dr Peter Pham 8am 12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/ Dr Vladana O’Neill 8am-12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/ Dr Matilda Simic - 8am-12pm https://automedsystems.com.au//priority-health-m/doctors/