We have developed technology that automatically generates targeted personalised education, information and advice based on the patient’s current status, and that is presented to the patient at a moment when the patient can act immediately with a minimum of additional time, effort or cost. I lead a research program that is exploring the benefits of providing education, information and advice to people who have made appointments for consultations in their general medical practice (family practice). I have served and continue to serve on a range of professional and government committees and boards related to my interests. I lead a research program that is developing and evaluating the benefits of automatically presenting targeted individualised education, information and advice about preventive and other care to people who are attending their general practitioner or practice nurse. My professional and academic interests are in prevention, clinical informatics, quality of care and health services. In 2006 I started an academic career part time, with the balance of my time continuing to be spent in clinical practice. I designed and conducted the trial and programmed a general practice computer system to generate the automated reminders. My PhD was awarded in 2006 for a thesis based on a randomised controlled trial of automated opportunistic reminders to general practitioners about preventive activities. Exchanges of practice with English GPs in 1993-1994 in Nottingham and in 2000-2001 in Bristol allowed me to compare the British NHS with the Australian health system as a practitioner working within those systems. I have been in clinical general practice since 1978, and was a partner in a practice from 1988 until 2009.

The Mayonnaise Affair by Frank Linn