The changing nature of the relationship between doctor and patient will be explored at a free public lecture hosted by Curtin on Thursday 7 July.
Re-Inventing the Doctor: What will medicine look like in 20 years’ time? will use scenarios performed by professional actors to illustrate how the Australian public have traditionally viewed and interacted with their doctor in the past and present.
The influence of new technologies on patient expectations and in shaping the future role of the doctor will be particularly highlighted through interactive activities and role plays.
The event will be chaired by Professor Moyez Jiwa, Chair of Health Innovation – Chronic Disease, at the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI).
“Twenty years ago, people walked into a doctor’s surgery with limited knowledge of their condition, seeking help from what was often the only authority on health they had access to,” Professor Jiwa said.
“Nowadays, people have access to so much information via the internet and public health authorities that they will often walk into the surgery very well informed.
“The first visit to a doctor is no longer the first step towards a diagnosis.”
According to Professor Jiwa, the way doctors treat patients continues to change rapidly, with improvements in technology empowering them to utilise new treatment methods quickly.
“You can have online consultations now, which can connect people with treatment faster than ever,” he said.
“Doctors can also use computer simulations to predict the likelihood of future conditions based on present lifestyle habits and genetic predispositions to certain conditions.”
The free lecture is on Thursday 7 July from 6pm to 7pm at the Bankwest Lecture Theatre at Curtin University’s Bentley Campus. RSVP is essential on events@curtin.edu.au or (08) 9266 2563.
Contacts:
Teresa Belcher, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 9085; Email: teresa.belcher@curtin.edu.au
Kristy Jones, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 9085; Email: k.jones@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
