Advance Healthcare Bundoora

👏 Introducing Dr Priya Arvind

Priya is our new Specialist Pain Medicine Physician (MBBS, DA, DNB, FFPMANZCA), who is now seeing patients via our Hoppers Crossing and St Albans clinics.

👉 Priya is an anaesthetist and pain specialist who completed her primary medical qualification and anaesthetic training in India. She has held various positions in anaesthesia and Intensive Care Units at several prestigious institutions, gaining extensive knowledge in administering cardiac, paediatric, and neuro anaesthesia.

👉 Priya relocated to Australia in 2019 and achieved the Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. She has trained at pain clinics in Hobart and on the Gold Coast, managing a wide range of acute and chronic pain patients.

👉 Priya has a special interest in pelvic and interventional pain management and favours an empathetic, compassionate, and holistic approach to patient care. She is committed to improving healthcare access for underserved populations globally.

📲 If you’d like to book an appointment with Priya, please use our online referral form here https://advancehealthcare.com.au/referral-form

✅ For a list of our other pain physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, podiatrist, psychiatrist, and dietitian click through to view our full team https://advancehealthcare.com.au/practitioners

🤝 Congratulations are in order 🤝

🏆 Advance Healthcare physiotherapist and researcher Dr Shane Pritchard has received an award for Associate Fellowship from the Australia and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) for his contributions to health professions education and research over the past 10 years.

✅ Shane travelled to the Gold Coast to present a feasibility study of the innovative student placement model at the ANZAHPE 2023 conference, which was developed by Advance Healthcare and La Trobe University.

✅ There was positive affirmation of the presentation (and placement model) from others involved in providing engaging learning experiences for health professional students in private practice and community settings.

👉 Learn more about Shane here https://ow.ly/72nZ50P12ke

👉 Learn more about Advance Healthcare’s research program here https://ow.ly/gfny50P12k8

Welcome Dr Rohan Kamath 👏

Rohan (MBBS, FRACGP) is a Provisional Pain Fellow in the last leg of his training towards attaining the Fellowship of FPMANZCA. He will be seeing patients via our Bundoora and Dandenong clinics.

👉 Rohan worked as a General Practitioner in Melbourne’s South-Eastern Suburbs for over 8 years, attaining his Fellowship in General Practice in 2018. Upskilling in the field of pain medicine became Rohan’s next objective due to the inherent challenges involved in managing patients with chronic pain in the primary care setting.

👉 Having trained at the Austin Hospital and the Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne, Rohan’s interests currently include the management of diverse and complex chronic pain conditions with a focus on interdisciplinary, patient-centred care.

📲 If you’d like to book an appointment with Rohan, please use our online referral form here https://advancehealthcare.com.au/referral-form

✅ For a list of our other pain physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrist, podiatrist, and dietitian click through to view our full team https://advancehealthcare.com.au/practitioners

Are you suffering with chronic pain that is not getting better after a work or road trauma related injury?

👉 Advance Healthcare specialise in treating chronic pain that is not responding to usual treatment.

👉 We welcome patients with an accepted insurance claim following a motor vehicle accident or workplace injury to our 6 clinics across Melbourne and online via Advance Online, our virtual and telehealth-led portal for rural or regional patients.

Our effective and evidence-based program is delivered by a team of physiotherapists, psychologists and specialist pain physicians that have over 25 years of experience in treating chronic pain.

✅ There are no out of pocket costs and we can work with you and your insurer to confirm eligibility ✅

📲 Message, email or call to leave us your details and receive a no obligation callback on how we can help you on the road to recovery https://ow.ly/h7Ya50OVm8L

✅ Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of pain and disability.

👉 It is estimated that chronic low back pain affects up to 1 in 6 Australians at any given time (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016) and pain can often limit the ability to engage in daily activities, having a significant impact on quality of life.

For people living with chronic back pain, a good place to start is a graded exercise program. Over time, this can significantly improve pain, function, and quality of life, and help you return to the things you find meaningful.

Read Advance Healthcare physiotherapist Mathew Foreman's guide to graded exercise here.

👉 http://ow.ly/FWLo50Nivbx

✅ Chronic pain is not simply a physical problem to overcome.

👉 It can impact daily activities, including lifestyle, employment, and mental health.

We enjoyed this article in about how flexibility and persistence can protect the wellbeing of those who suffer from chronic pain. At Advance Healthcare, this aligns with our treatment model and we believe this philosophy should be a primary focus in most instances of patient care. Our own program supports this approach and informs our practitioners in assisting our patients to fulfill their potential.

For people with chronic pain, flexibility and persistence can protect wellbeing New research shows the way a person with chronic pain responds to limitations to the activities or goals they value can impact their mental wellbeing – even more so than their pain levels.

📚 Our world-leading research program achieved significant milestones in 2022 🔬

👉 Recruitment for our prognostic study assessing the factors associated with recovery during a pain management program is well on track to be the largest of its kind.

This year also saw the commencement of our randomised controlled trial examining the effectiveness of motivational interviewing delivered by physiotherapists during a pain management program. This involved a rigorous training program for the physiotherapists that was facilitated by motivational interviewing expert, Dr Paul O’Halloran.

👉 This project has contributed significantly towards the development of our physiotherapists, and in time may have important implications for the design and delivery of pain management programs.

✅ This is one of the many examples of our research program helping practitioners and patients fulfill their potential.

Is it time to renew your care plan?

✅ For those eligible for Medicare funded treatment, care plans can be renewed from the beginning of each year!

👉 This allows access to bulk-billed or rebated services including psychology, physiotherapy, podiatry and dietetics.

Want to know more about Care Plans? Charles Ruddock – Director, Principal Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist at Advance Healthcare – talks Mental Health Care Plans here http://ow.ly/ykYe50Monh1

Mental Health Care Plans - Charles Ruddock — Advance Healthcare It is now more important than ever to be aware of the support available to you. For those who qualify, a Mental Health Plan allows you access to a local Psychologist for ongoing Psychology services with a Medicare rebate applied. Read more…

🏃‍♂️ Do you have lower buttock pain that has persisted for at least 3 months? 🏃‍♀️

Advance’s Aidan Rich, APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, is undertaking his PhD on proximal hamstring tendinopathy. The main study for his research is currently recruiting participants for 6 free sessions of treatment with a physiotherapist at a choice of 11 locations around Melbourne and Ballarat.

To qualify for this research trial participants must:

✅ Be aged 18 – 65 years inclusive
✅ Have no history of hamstring surgery
✅ Have no Worksafe or TAC claim
✅ Be deemed appropriate for treatment

👉 For more information please email Aidan directly on [email protected]

So, how are our physiotherapists different? 💪

👉 Our physiotherapists have extensive experience in managing chronic and complex injuries that are not responding to usual care
👉 We focus on diagnosing the cause of your injury and providing specific, individualised and effective treatment programs to get you back to a normal life
👉 We have highly trained expert physiotherapists with a number having PhD or postgraduate Masters qualifications
👉 Our physiotherapists undergo continuous mentoring and professional development with our senior clinicians, including Assoc Professor and Specialist Pain Physiotherapist, Dr Jon Ford. Specialist Physiotherapists have attained the highest level of clinical qualification available in Australia for a physiotherapist.
👉 Our physiotherapists work in partnership with medical specialist doctors and other health professionals to ensure the best possible treatment and care
👉 We can bulk bill patients who have a Medicare referral from their GP, and provide both face-to-face and telehealth services

🖱️ Click here to read more about our physiotherapy services http://ow.ly/nwqi50MomYK

We are pleased to inform you that Advance has recently welcomed five new physiotherapists to the team!

👉 Peter Shahid
👉 Joshua Kiley
👉 Michael Sorrell-Saunders
👉 Matthew Licastro
👉 Jordan Margariti

🖱️ See our full team of highly qualified physiotherapists at
http://ow.ly/RKOc50MomUu

It’s a new year, is it time for change?

👉 Join our team! We’re always on the lookout for quality physiotherapists and psychologists to join our clinics!

✅ Advance has been providing multi-disciplinary care, mental health care and expertise in pain management to the Victorian community for over 25 years. Our collaborative team of practitioners includes physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, and podiatrists – and we are currently expanding if you or someone you know is looking for an exciting new role!

We offer a genuine interest in providing integrated, multi-disciplinary pain management and our world-leading clinical research team demonstrates our commitment to an evidence-based approach to clinical practice. Check out the benefits of working with Advance here http://ow.ly/SCsI50Monjr

Want to know more? Get in touch with Jon Ford.

APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist Aidan Rich regularly treats people with gluteal tendinopathy, a common musculoskeletal condition also known as greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS), and sometimes referred to as “gluteal tendinitis” or “bursitis”.

It causes localised pain on the outside of the hip and can cause pain and disability with activities like walking (particularly upstairs or up hills) and sleeping.

👉 Check out Aidan’s Guide to Managing Gluteal Tendinopathy below, including:

✅ What causes it
✅ Features of the condition
✅ How to treat it

🖱️ http://ow.ly/Fm5e50MokS7

Advance Healthcare’s physiotherapists can help you to diagnose and treat this condition with an individualised treatment approach. Click here for a direct referral form http://ow.ly/XWjI50MokS1

🎊 Whilst it is a time of happiness and joy for many, the holiday period for those living with chronic pain can be challenging.

It's not uncommon for pain symptoms to become elevated due to changes to daily routines and increased expectations from others.

Our team recommends the following to help manage pain symptoms over the holiday season:
👉 Implement pacing strategies, such as breaking up tasks into manageable smaller chunks of time, as best as possible
👉 Make time for exercise and self-management strategies like mindfulness in a comfortable position
👉 Be mindful of how well you are coping and seek help if needed

If you feel you may need further guidance on how to manage your pain over the holiday season, our team of experienced physiotherapists and psychologists can help. Please contact us to arrange a booking.
📱 http://ow.ly/T3nU50LRZ0x

Evidence indicates that the festive period is a time of the year when many people experience stress, anxiety, isolation, and depression ✅

Click the link to read our guide to coping over the period by Advance Healthcare Director and Charles Ruddock.

👉 http://ow.ly/p24k50LZ3PV

We enjoyed this article published by The Conversation Media Group, highlighting the emerging data supporting the role lifestyle factors have in physical and mental wellness.

👉 It details how changing your eating, exercising, socialising, and engagement with nature can help treat depression.

✅ Many of the key points align with Advance Healthcare's holistic patient treatment guidelines.

http://ow.ly/JrQg50LZ3rz

The festive season for many is a time of happiness, rejuvenation and connection with others. However, for people having difficulty with their mental health, the holiday period can amplify feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

👉 Our advice for coping with these feelings is to take a proactive approach and plan ahead for a healthy holiday season.

For some this may be maintaining a sustainable schedule for holiday preparation and events, or taking time out for self-care and mental wellbeing strategies, such as mindfulness and exercise.

If you feel you may need further support, our team of experienced psychologists can help and will be taking bookings over most of the holiday season.

Please contact us to arrange a booking.

📱 http://ow.ly/NFgL50LRYQx

✅ Today is International Day of People with Disability, which is globally recognised date to celebrate the valuable contribution that people of all abilities make to our community ✅

👉 For us this day is important, because it aligns with one of our core values at Advance Healthcare – which is contributing to a more inclusive and accessible world for all.

👉 We have the pleasure of providing physiotherapy, psychology, and pain management services to patients across the spectrum of disability, and for each of our patients we strive to enable them to fulfill their potential.

Is your back pain coming from your head?

Advance Healthcare founder, Assoc Prof and Specialist Pain Physiotherapist Jon Ford, have seen hundreds of patients who reported having been told that their pain is “coming from their head” ✅

👉 When patients have this perception, they often feel upset, invalidated and dismissed. So, what is the right information for people with low back pain and how should it be presented? The answer is complex… click to read more!

Is my back pain coming from my head? - Jon Ford — Advance Healthcare As the founder of Advance Healthcare, I have seen 100s of patients who reported having been told that their pain is “coming from their head”. When patients have this perception they often feel upset, invalidated and dismissed. Read more…

🏃‍♀️ There's no one size fits all when it comes to exercise for people living with chronic pain 🏃‍♂️

However, research consistently demonstrates that exercise tailored to the individual can have a positive impact on chronic pain.

Exercise can help improve function and pain symptoms by:
✅ Improving muscle strength and endurance
✅ Increasing sleep quality
✅ Anti-inflammatory effects
✅ Promoting the brain to release endorphins, which can have a positive effect on pain symptoms

Our physiotherapists complete thorough assessments and work collaboratively with our patients to develop an individualised and graded exercise program, with a focus on increasing physical function and improving pain over time.

http://ow.ly/1mYB50LAGcl

Do you suffer from imposter syndrome? 🤔

Imposter syndrome is common in high-achieving individuals, who despite their successes, have difficulty internalising their achievements. They often have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or imposter.

Even Paul Newman, one of the most casually confident figures in Hollywood, has had personal experience with imposter syndrome. Click below to read his story.

What’s the take away from a psychology perspective? Gently exposing yourself to self doubt can actually be helpful ✅

How much self-doubt do we need to thrive? Self-doubt drove Paul Newman to wild success, according to a new memoir. But it also crippled the movie star emotionally. When does helpful self-doubt turn dangerous?

While becoming a parent is a joyful time for many, postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders are a very real experience for many new mothers and families.

✅ The symptoms depend on the nature and severity of the condition, but may include low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, tearfulness, sleeping difficulties and panic attacks.

👉 It’s Perinatal Mental Health Week, so if you are a parent who needs help with managing your mental wellbeing, our psychologists are here to assist you.

Click the link to contact us for an appointment with one of our psychologists! http://ow.ly/zEce50LAFBy

✅ It’s World Osteoporosis Day ✅
This global campaign is dedicated to raising awareness around the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Take a minute today to consider your bone health.

Need a little expert advice?

👉 Physiotherapy can assist individuals with osteoporosis to improve their bone health and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. Our team of experienced physiotherapists can advise you on:
✅ Weight-bearing exercises
✅ Flexibility and strengthening exercises
✅ Postural exercises
✅ Balance exercises

👉 Diet plays a big part in bone health. Our in-house dietitian can advise you on following a healthy and bone-enriching diet, which includes enough calcium and Vitamin D.

👉 According to Nutrition Australia, just 7% of Australian adults and 5% of children meet the recommended guidelines for 5 serves of veggies each day.

✅ Enjoying a more sustainable diet packed with vegetables is one of the foundations for better health and reduced risk of chronic disease.

This week is National Nutrition Week, and our dietitian Aneela Panwhar is advising everyone to “Try for 5” a day. Book an appointment with Aneela if you’d like to overhaul your approach to diet with more a more healthy and sustainable approach to food! http://ow.ly/PiPo50L3Ky2

✅ Awareness
✅ Belonging
✅ Connection

Mental health concerns continue to be a growing problem in Australia. Looking after your own mental wellbeing and knowing how to support others around you who may be experiencing mental health issues is increasingly important.

Today is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity to rekindle our global efforts to protect and improve mental health. We can all benefit from looking after our mental health and the wellbeing of those that surround us. This can allow us to better cope with life’s challenges, connect with those important to us, and pursue the things we find meaningful.

👉 If you need professional support in achieving good mental health, our psychologists offer face-to-face and telehealth appointments, and bulk billing is available for those with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP.

Look after your mental health, Australia!

👊 October is National Safe Work Month!

It’s a timely reminder for both workers and employers to commit to building a safe and healthy workplace for all Australians.

Being healthy and safe means:
✅ Being free from physical and psychological harm
✅ No job should be unsafe, and no death or injury acceptable

The theme for National Safe Work Month this year is, “Know safety, work safely”. This means encouraging everyone to make health and safety in the workplace a priority.

👉 Our physiotherapists have extensive experience in working with injured workers, providing both early intervention therapy for acute workplace injuries and delivery of multi-disciplinary pain management programs for chronic and complex conditions. Our team adopts a patient-centred approach to rehabilitation, with a focus returning to or remaining at work to support recovery from injury.

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day, which is observed in more than 60 countries worldwide. The aim is to reduce the stigma around su***de and promote both policy change and seeking help where needed.

It is also an opportunity to remember those we have lost and those who have attempted su***de. Su***de Prevention Australia estimates 10 million Australians (nearly half the country) know someone who has been impacted by su***de.

Today or any other day, if you need professional help to cope with what you’re going through, our psychologists offer face-to-face and telehealth appointments. Those with a Medicare Mental Health Plan from their GP are bulk billed.

If you are seeking immediate help, please call:

👉 Lifeline 13 11 14
👉 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
👉 Su***de Call Back Service 1300 659 467

***depreventionday

✅ A conversation could change a life. ✅

It’s R U OK day, so take the time to meaningfully connect with the people around you and start a conversation with those who may be having a tough time.

R U OK? research has found four in ten Australians feel asking someone “are you OK?” is a conversation better had with a health professional.

However, you don’t need qualifications to start that conversation. Listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need.

👉 The vital service health professionals provide is now easier to access than ever before. If you or someone you know is struggling, our psychologists offer face-to-face and telehealth appointments, and those with a referral from their GP are bulk-billed. Click here to contact us http://ow.ly/VJJw50Kxm3i

It’s World Physiotherapy Day! 💪

This year’s event is shaped around promoting the role of physiotherapists in the prevention of osteoarthritis and in the management of people affected by osteoarthritis

👉 Did you know?

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability affecting around 520 million people around the world. It is the most common joint condition and most usually affects the knees, hips, and hands. As the disease progresses, the body’s natural repair system can have difficulty maintaining the health of our joints, leading to pain, loss of strength and reduced ability to engage in activities that we find meaningful.

👉 Our physiotherapists can:

✅ Assist you in choosing the best exercises, provide advice and education on pain relief and managing osteoarthritis, teach you how to improve your joint movement and strengthen your muscles.

✅ Have you already undergone a joint replacement? Our physiotherapists are able to work with you to get the maximum benefit from your surgery and help your recovery.