The Good GP

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Tim Koh is joined by Kai van Lieshout, CEO and co-Founder of Lyrebird Health, to discuss the current and future role of AI tools in Australian general practice.

Describing the uptake of AI transcription tools, with about a quarter of GPs using scribe tools daily and more having trialled them. Kai explains that recent improvements mean these tools now offer better accuracy, easier customisation, and can handle a wider range of documentation tasks, such as care plans and referral letters.

They discuss Lyrebird’s integration with Best Practice clinical software, which makes AI scribing freely available and fully integrated for all users, improving both accessibility and safety. Covering how AI scribes may enhance the quality of patient interactions and relieve some of the documentation burden for GPs.

Looking at the importance of locally tailored AI solutions, continuous feedback, and transparency to ensure safety and effectiveness. Both guests view the potential for these tools to benefit not just doctors but practice staff across general practice, with ongoing, incremental improvements anticipated in the years to come.

Try Lyrebird Pro free for 3 months for The Good GP listeners

Lyrebird helps GP clinics reduce admin, capture more billings, and give clinicians time and mental capacity back. As a Good GP listener, get your first 3 months of Lyrebird Pro free - including AI scribe, automated care plans, health assessments, documents, and the AI Document Sorter for your clinic. New Lyrebird users only. Sign up by 9 September 2026, 11:59pm AEST. Terms and conditions apply.

Claim your offer

About Lyrebird Health

Lyrebird is an AI clinical documentation platform purpose-built for healthcare providers. By automating the capture and structuring of clinical notes, Lyrebird reduces administrative burden, improves documentation accuracy, helps clinicians spend more time on patient care and elevates the clinical standard. Trusted by leading healthcare organisations and clinicians across Australia, the UK, and the UAE, Lyrebird is backed by leading investors committed to transforming the future of healthcare delivery.

Learn more: https://www.lyrebirdhealth.com/au?utm_source=TheGoodGP&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=Show_Notes

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Dr Ramya Raman is joined by Dr Paul Victor Effler, a public health physician, to discuss the current diphtheria outbreak in northern Australia. The clinical features of diphtheria, including its potential for severe throat and skin infections, and highlights the characteristic signs to watch for in general practice.

Dr Effler outlines the epidemiology of the outbreak, noting its predominance in remote Aboriginal communities, and provides guidance on when to suspect diphtheria based on clinical and epidemiological clues. Recommending the use of culture and PCR swabs, as well as the importance of alerting public health authorities in suspected cases.

Explaining vaccination schedules and recent updates for high-risk areas, and the vaccine’s role in preventing severe disease but not transmission. They conclude by addressing the need for ongoing vaccination in affected communities and the importance of tackling underlying factors that contribute to high rates of skin infection.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, Dr Ramya Raman is joined by Dr Stephen Oo, a paediatric respiratory physician from Perth Children’s Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital, and Respiratory Care WA. They discuss the recent updates to the Australian Asthma Handbook and the implications for asthma management across all age groups in general practice.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Asthma Guideline Changes:
• Shift from SABA (salbutamol) relievers to Anti-Inflammatory Reliever (AIR) therapy (inhaled corticosteroid + formoterol) for adults and adolescents.
• Focus on treating airway inflammation rather than just symptoms.
• Adults and Adolescents:
• Tailor preventative therapy based on symptom severity and exacerbation history.
• AIR therapy suitable for patients with poor adherence or very mild symptoms.
• Discusses risks of repeated oral steroid use, including osteoporosis.
• School-aged Children (6–12 Years):
• Limited evidence for AIR/SMART therapy in this age group.
• Most children should continue with regular low-dose inhaled corticosteroids.
• Challenges with lung function tests and alternative regimens.
• Children Under 6 Years:
• Diagnosis is challenging; trial of inhaled steroid may clarify diagnosis.
• Consider differential diagnoses such as protracted bacterial bronchitis.
• Monitor response to therapy for further guidance.
• Patient Education and Adherence:
• Use simple analogies to explain airway inflammation and the need for preventer therapy.
• Stress importance of regular medication use and clear communication.

Updating asthma management across all age groups and strategies for improving patient education in general practice.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Dr Maria Li is joined again by Associate Professor Antonio Di Dio, GP and Director of the Professional Services Review, to discuss practical strategies for avoiding Medicare compliance issues in general practice.

Key points:

• The crucial role of accurate, contemporaneous medical records to justify each billed item.
• Importance of regularly checking what has been billed under your provider number for accuracy.
• Effective use of documentation templates: start with templates but always individualise records for each patient encounter.
• Billing considerations with telehealth, especially in relation to the “3020 rule” (for telephone items).
• Advice on practice systems to minimise billing errors, including communicating with staff about the correct use of item numbers.
• Regularly consulting MBS item descriptors and educational resources, such as those offered by RACGP, to ensure appropriate billing.
• Guidance on using AI scribe tools, review and edit all automatically transcribed notes to ensure accuracy and appropriateness.
• The importance of peer discussions and knowing that PSR reviews are context-sensitive, not purely algorithmic.

Associate Professor Antonio Di Dio emphasises that thorough documentation, regular billing checks, and ongoing education are the main safeguards against compliance issues. He reassures GPs that most practitioners will never be affected by PSR processes if they follow best practices.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.psr.gov.au/
• Medicare compliance | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/compliance/how-to-comply?language=en

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, host Dr Maria Li is joined by Associate Professor Antonio Di Dio, a practicing GP and Director of the Professional Services Review (PSR), to discuss Medicare compliance, a topic of growing relevance and concern for Australian general practitioners.

Associate Professor Antonio Di Dio explains the role and remit of the PSR in Australia, outlining how it operates independently from Medicare and exists to protect both patients and the Commonwealth from inappropriate or unnecessary healthcare.

Key points:

• The origins and legislative framework of the PSR and its place within Australia’s compliance ecosystem.
• The mechanisms that trigger Medicare referrals to the PSR, including unusual billing patterns (data triggers) and external tip-offs.
• The structured review process, possible outcomes (including no action, agreement under Section 92, or referral to a committee), and criteria for progressing cases.
• Reassurances for GPs that a PSR referral does not automatically mean adverse findings, with many cases resulting in no further action.
• The role of peer input throughout the process, and emphasis on seeking mitigating circumstances.
• Consequences of adverse findings, including financial repayments and restricted billing, while clarifying that the PSR does not impact a doctor’s licence to practise (though it may refer cases to AHPRA under certain circumstances).
• Practical advice for GPs if subject to a PSR review: notify medical defence organisations early, seek support from trusted colleagues and family, and, if necessary, access doctors’ health services.

This episode is aimed at demystifying the PSR process, reducing unnecessary fear, and empowering GPs with knowledge on best practices for engagement and self-protection if under review.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.psr.gov.au/
• Medicare compliance | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicare/compliance/how-to-comply?language=en

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, host Dr Krystyna De Lange is joined by Dr Ashley Bowden, ACRRM registrar and exercise science graduate, to discuss the growing interest in peptides, particularly those promoted in the fitness and wellness sectors.

Dr Ashley Bowden defines peptides as short chains of amino acids and distinguishes between regulated, TGA-approved peptides (such as insulin and GLP-1 analogues) and unregulated, research-use-only peptides commonly discussed online and in gyms. Exploring the demographics of peptide users in Australia, noting that use extends from athletes to recreational gym users, occupational groups, and young adults influenced by social media trends.

They also addressed the limited evidence for the efficacy and safety of unregulated peptides, highlighting that most claims are based on anecdotal reports rather than robust clinical trials. Associated risks include potential side effects, the dangers of unregulated products, and complications related to injection practices.

Dr Bowden provides a practical harm-minimisation approach for GPs whose patients raise questions about or disclose use of peptides. He stresses the value of a non-judgemental, curious approach to build rapport, assess risks, offer regular monitoring, and support overall patient health, while recognising the ethical complexities faced when evidence is lacking.

Links & Resources:

• Healthy Male article: https://healthymale.org.au/health-article/peptides-australia-what-you-need-know
• Webinar: Understanding the use of androgens, SARMS and peptides by Australian males: https://medcast.com.au/courses/1153

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, host Dr Krystyna De Lange speaks with Sydney-based cardiologist Dr Natasha Gorrie from St Vincent's Hospital and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. They discuss cardiac amyloidosis, an under-recognised cause of heart failure in older adults and a condition with evolving diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Dr Natasha Gorrie outlines the basics of amyloidosis, emphasising that it is an umbrella term for disorders characterised by the deposition of abnormal protein fibrils in tissues and organs.

Key Points:

• Understanding Amyloidosis: The pathology and range of organ involvement; why diagnosis depends on identifying the causative protein.
• Epidemiology and Prevalence: Recent recognition that transthyretin-related amyloidosis (ATTR) is more common than previously thought, with prevalence as high as one in six in certain heart failure populations.
• Key Clinical Clues: Red flag features in patients (particularly those over the age of 65), including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, left ventricular wall thickening, atrial fibrillation, aortic stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and unexplained changes in blood pressure medication requirements.
• Diagnostic Pathway: The importance of timely suspicion, appropriate specialist referral, and the role of the monoclonal screen (serum and urine electrophoresis and serum free light chains) to rule out AL (light chain) amyloidosis. The role of bone scintigraphy and when tissue biopsy is indicated.
• Therapeutic Options: Overview of disease-modifying treatments available for different amyloid subtypes, including the PBS-approved medication tafamidis for ATTR cardiac amyloidosis.
• The GP’s Role: GPs are essential for early suspicion, referral, initiation of screening tests, and, following diagnosis, ongoing care; including regular review, heart failure management, coordination of multidisciplinary care, and supporting the patient’s mental health and quality of life.

Dr. Natasha Gorrie also highlighted an upcoming Australian Prescriber article (due for publication mid 2026) on cardiac amyloidosis, which expands on today’s discussion with practical flowcharts and insights into the central role of GPs. Well worth checking out! https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/

Links & Resources:

• St Vincents Heart Health Amyloidosis page: https://www.svhhearthealth.com.au/conditions/cardiac-amyloidosis
• Australian Amyloidosis Network: https://aan.org.au

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Dr Tim Koh speaks with Dr Grace Phua, a GP and public health clinician from the Health Department of Western Australia’s Syphilis Response Team, to provide an update on syphilis in Australia and practical guidance for general practitioners.

Key Points:

• Changing Epidemiology: They highlight the recent increase in syphilis, with cases now extending beyond traditional higher-risk groups. All sexually active patients may be at risk, making ongoing awareness in general practice essential.
• Clinical Presentation: The primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages of syphilis, noting the diverse and often atypical presentations. Classic signs such as ulcers and rashes may vary, and neurological symptoms can occur at any stage.
• Screening and Testing: GPs are reminded to include syphilis serology in routine STI screening and to swab any ulcer for syphilis PCR (using a dry swab and requesting “syphilis PCR” on the form). Pregnant people require syphilis screening in early and late pregnancy, and higher-risk groups need more frequent testing.
• Serology Interpretation and Treatment: The use of treponemal and non-treponemal tests. Benzathine benzylpenicillin is the recommended treatment. Empirical treatment of contacts, especially for hard-to-reach patients, is encouraged.
• Further Resources and Support: GPs are advised to access national guidelines and decision-making aids for detailed management and to consult public health units as required.

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode of The Good GP, host Julia Rawlinson welcomes Dr Erin Horsley, an experienced GP anaesthetist, to provide practical guidance on pre-anaesthetic medication management for general practitioners. Focusing on how to prepare patients for elective surgery by knowing which medications to pause, continue, or adjust.

Highlights include:

• SGLT2 inhibitors: Advice on withholding these medications prior to surgery, especially for diabetic patients, due to risk of euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Diabetes medications and insulin: Specific instructions for perioperative management in procedures such as colonoscopy and gastroscopy.
• GLP-1 receptor agonists: Discussion on Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. They emphasise that stopping them is not routinely required. Instead, they recommend clear fluid fasting protocols.
• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents: Practical approaches for managing DOACs, warfarin, and antiplatelet therapy based on procedure risk, including guidance on bridging and specialist consultation.
• Other medications: Tips on ACE inhibitors, opioids, and pain medications regarding continuation or withholding.
• Useful GP actions: An accurate medication list, allergy documentation, and direct communication with anaesthetic teams or pre-admission clinics.

Providing concise, evidence-based recommendations for medication management in the perioperative setting to assist GPs and ensure safer outcomes for their patients.

Links & Resources:

• NSW CEC Guidelines on Perioperative management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents
• WA Country Health Service Anaesthetic Services, Pre-operative Assessment and Investigations Guideline(good summary)
• Australian Diabetes Society Periprocedural DKA with SGLT-2 inhibitor
• Australian Diabetes Society Perioperative Diabetes and Hyperglycaemia Guidelines

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!

In this episode, Julia Rawlinson speaks with Professor Paul Little, is a Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Southampton and a practising GP with over 20 years of clinical experience, about his landmark research on acute respiratory tract infections and its relevance for general practice.

Professor Little summarises the Lancet Respiratory Medicine trial involving nearly 14,000 participants at risk of respiratory infections. The trial compared usual care, two nasal sprays (Vicks First Defense and isotonic saline), and a digital lifestyle intervention. Both nasal sprays resulted in fewer days ill, reduced antibiotic use by around 30%, and were well tolerated. The saline spray was highlighted as a first-choice option due to its effectiveness and minimal side effects.

Giving practical advice on counselling patients to use nasal sprays at the first sign of illness, with discussion around challenges to adherence and the rationale for early use. They also explore the antiviral mechanism of saline spray and the continued value of stress management and physical activity in infection prevention.

Professor Little discusses how setting realistic expectations about infection duration can help reduce unnecessary presentations and prescribing, and how these simple interventions contribute to antibiotic stewardship in primary care.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wzg2s/professor-paul-little#publications
• 12 month follow-up of a randomised open label trial of nasal sprays and a behavioural intervention for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/507356/

The Good GP Podcast is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

If you have any questions or would like to contact The Good GP, send an email to [email protected]. Visit www.thegoodgp.com.au for previous episodes and more information. You can also find us on our Instagram page: @thegoodgppodcast. Follow us for more updates!