Perioperative Medicine Podcast Series

What does it take for every patient to feel safe, respected and heard when they walk into a clinic or hospital? In this episode, we're joined by Dr Michelle Gold, Director of Palliative Care at Alfred Care Group, and Rhys Gleeson, Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Team Lead, for an honest conversation about cultural safety in healthcare: what it means, why it matters for health outcomes, and how it plays out at the bedside, in the consult room and across the system. Whether you're a clinician, a student or a health leader, this episode will leave you with plenty to take back to your practice. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country 01:10 Does the patient feel safe? Defining cultural safety 06:45 Hospital support, training and Aboriginal health referrals 11:40 Language, interpreters and patients affected by trauma 17:17 Gender, family decision-making and consent 22:13 Intersectionality, time pressures and building trust 27:35 Practical takeaways and teaching the next generation

Blood pressure is one number every anaesthetist watches in every single case but there remains discussion about the 'right' number to defend. Professor Paul Myles joins us to discuss the findings of the PeriOperative Quality Initiative (POQI) international consensus statement on perioperative arterial pressure management. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Prof Paul Myles and the POQI consensus 00:59 Why is blood pressure still contested? 03:03 How the POQI consensus process works 04:11 Is there a safe threshold? The autoregulation curve 06:41 Association vs causation in the evidence 08:40 What the randomised trials show 10:44 The new target: MAP 60–65 mmHg 11:45 Which patients need a higher pressure? 13:07 Brief severe vs prolonged moderate hypotension 14:58 The hidden risk: hypotension on the ward 16:13 Continuous monitoring and IV fluids after surgery 18:05 Who owns the first 24 hours after surgery? 20:00 Pre-operative hypertension: cancel or proceed? 23:17 Open questions: which vasopressor is best? 24:21 The case for noradrenaline 26:07 Wrap-up and resources

Every minute lost in an operating theatre is a minute a patient waited for nothing. Dr Sandeep Rakhra joins us to discuss ways in which we can all improve the efficiency of the operating theatres in which we work. 00:00 Welcome and introductions 02:53 Lists, turnover and recovery 08:08 Culture, safety and cost 13:20 On-time starts and add-ons 20:40 Tips and the OTIQ course

How can we design healthcare systems that help people deliver safer care? In this episode of the PeriopMed Podcast, we look ahead to the 2027 Monash University Human Factors and Patient Safety Conference, exploring its theme: 'Adaptive systems by design: humans, technology, safer care.' Bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers and Human Factors practitioners, the conference offers opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and develop practical approaches to improving patient and staff safety. Join the conference on 18–19 March 2027 at Sofitel Melbourne, with separately registered pre-conference workshops on 17 March. Explore the program and register: https://monash-hf2027.com.au

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that often causes concern for anaesthetists and perioperative clinicians. Dr Stuart Hastings joins us to discuss the perioperative management of patients with a history of this complex condition, who require noncardiac surgery.