Orientation prepares GPs for the regions

NZLocums Orientation attendees Dr Gina Boorsma, Dr Laura Wallevik, and Dr Matthew Grade travelled from the Netherlands, Denmark and the USA to work in Waimauku, Opunake and Warkworth (pictured left). Both Gina and Laura are accompanied by their husbands and children. The latter will be attending New Zealand schools while they are here.

Meanwhile, Dr Tara Muscovich from the USA and Dr Ali Malik from the UK took up roles in Whitianga and Greymouth after completing the April Orientation course.

NZLocums three-day Orientation course is held at the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network office in Wellington. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the working environment in the health sector covering topics such as introductions to Pharmac, ACC, and Work and Income.

The NZLocums recruitment team are currently working with GPs who are interested in working in New Zealand.

Please email enquiries@nzlocums.com or call 0800 695628 to talk about your future recruitment needs, or if you would like to book a place for a newly recruited GP or practice nurse on the Orientation course.

Long-term plan lacking for problems facing rural general practice, doctors say

Almost a quarter of Kiwis will be at retirement age in 20 years' time and, with fewer GPs in remote parts of the country, the question remains: who will look after rural New Zealand? RACHEL THOMAS reports. (Fairfax)

The doctor will get to us in a moment, he's just changing a light bulb.

Read more

Not enough doctors

General practice doctors are spread thinly in Wairarapa, with up to 1861 enrolled patients each. (Wairarapa Times Age)

The average patient load in New Zealand sits at 1326 patients per fulltime GP, according to figures supplied by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).

Read more.

Book giveaway

The Network has a copy of Island Nurses, stories of birth, life and death on remote Great Barrier Island to giveaway. The book is written by long-time island nurses Leonie Howie and Adele Robertson. To enter the draw to win just tell us the Maori name for Great Barrier Island. Entries via email to rob@rgpn.org.nz by 4pm April 28, 2017.

Bid for new med school 'flawed thinking' say critics

Debate is heating up over a proposal to establish a third medical school in New Zealand. (TV1)

The Waikato University and Waikato District Health Board bid aims to initially train 60 graduates per year to solve rural doctor shortages.

It aims to offer a four-year medical degree course for graduate students, specialising in rural medicine.

Read more.

Government 'out of touch' with mental health crisis, says health group

The mental health system is collapsing while politicians play with numbers, a health advocacy group warns. (Manawatu Standard)

Despite funding increasing to the sector and a rise in the number of nurses at the MidCentral District Health Board, the YesWeCare.nz health funding coalition says health officials aren't keeping up with demand.

Read more.

People’s Mental Health Report released

To read the full report follow the link: www.peoplesmentalhealthreport.com.

Palmerston North medical student heading to Yale University

A Palmerston North-based medical student will head to one of the world's most acclaimed universities to learn a technique that could shape the future of healthcare. (Stuff)

Josh Smith is in the final year of his medical training and is headed to American Ivy League institution Yale University to get training in carrying out point-of-care ultrasounds.

Read more.

PRIME report bumps up need for funding review amid sector frustrations

Rural clinicians remain stumped by constraints requiring a review of the national rural medical and emergency service, PRIME, be carried out within the existing funding envelope. (NZ Doctor – log-in required)

An updated version of the draft report on the review of PRIME (Primary Response in Medical Emergency) has been released by the review steering group for a second and final round of consultation before the report is finalised later this month.

Read more.

Edgecumbe practice seeks a new home after flooding forced staff to flee

Riverslea Medical Centre is in the process of setting up a temporary home after its riverside Edgecumbe practice was flooded recently. (NZ Doctor – log-in required)

Around 1600 residents were evacuated from the small Bay of Plenty town after the Rangitaiki River overflowed, flooding streets and homes.

Read more.
Also read Amazed everyone survived.

Events

Health professionals urged to undertake asthma and COPD training

Respiratory disease continues to make a substantial contribution to New Zealand’s health burden.

The recently released Impact of Respiratory Disease in New Zealand: 2016 Update, commissioned by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, reported that respiratory disease accounted for one in 10 overnight hospitalisations.

Over 521,000 people take medication for asthma, and over 35,000 New Zealanders are estimated to be living with severe COPD.

Due to the staggering statistics in New Zealand, the Foundation urges all registered health professionals to undertake training in Asthma and COPD.

The course aligns latest research with specific information for the New Zealand context, such as recently funded medications, treating Māori and Pacific peoples and best practice health literacy.

The course consists of two parts - an online e-Learning series and a classroom based MasterClass. The Asthma and COPD Fundamentals course awards a total of 19 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours. The e-Learning series is now available.

Visit cpd.whitireia.ac.nz to enrol. The first MasterClass will be available in June 2017.

Publications

Latest Network News, COMING SOON
RHAANZ newsletter, click here.
Division of Rural Hospital Medicine e-newsletter, click here.
Rural Women New Zealand, Bulletin Aotearoa, click here.
Health Workforce New Zealand stakeholder bulletin, click here.
IT Health Board newsletter, click here.
ALAC newsletter Ease Up, click here.
Mobile Health news, click here.
Medline (USA rural health) click here.
To access the PRIME St John website, click here.
PRIME Committee contacts, click here.
Medical Council News click here.

Out soon! Stories of birth, life and death on remote Great Barrier Island

Fishpond is taking pre orders at a special price of $33.12 here.

Not a member?
Join the Network!

The Network is the only nationwide membership-based organisation in New Zealand representing the interests of rural general practice.

Visit our website for additional information and an online application form or contact Rob Olsen on 021 472 556.

Testimonial

"NZLocums have been helpful and supportive from beginning to end. I would not have been confident about starting a locum post in New Zealand without their support"

Tony Pearson, GP, UK.

New Care Plus model to be trialled in south

The southern region's $4.3 million share of Care Plus funding may be distributed differently in future as the region’s alliance looks to trial a new model of care for patients with long-term conditions. (NZ Doctor – log-in required)

“Do the Right Thing” is the new model which will be trialled in five general practices through the region. Practices are still being finalised but are expected to be in Alexandra, Wanaka, Dunedin, Invercargill and Palmerston.

Read more.

Events

University of Otago Rural Generalist CME Workshop

This workshop is aimed at generalist doctors who work in rural hospitals and/or rural general practice. Most speakers are regular speakers/tutors on the Postgraduate Diploma of Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice papers.

The format is practical case-based discussions centred around the complexity of managing some common presentations in a resource poor environment, providing updates on evidence based practice applied to a rural and remote context. There will be about a total of about 16 hours of workshop (16 MOPS points).

Part of the proceeds will go towards supporting colleagues in the Cook Islands to access CME.

Online registration will be open April 20. Early bird until June 14. Registration is limited to a maximum 24 delegates. Please see details here.

Location: Huka Falls Resort, Taupo
Dates: Thursday, August 31 to Friday, September 2
Topics include: Stroke/TIA, Rehabilitation in rural hospitals, Palliative care, Psychogeriatrics.

Clinicians Challenge 2017

It's Clinicians' Challenge time again, and you are encouraged to enter your most innovative idea for using IT to improve health care today or to transform tomorrow.

A key focus of this year’s challenge is ‘disruptive innovation’.

A previous example of disruptive innovation is the smart phone-based retinal camera developed by 2015 Clinicians’ Challenge winner Dr Hong Sheng Chiong. The camera attaches to a smart phone and helps optometrists perform eye exams for a very low cost in any location.

Entries close June 16, 2017. For more information or go to the Ministry of Health website.

Open your New Zealand bank account

The Network's official banking partner.

Resources

PRIME services review update, click HERE.

NZRGPN resources click HERE.

St John offers free tutorials for what to when somebody has a cardiac arrest.

Pharmac seminar series (new listings)

The seminar series provides high quality education covering a variety of topics, and caters to a range of health professionals. Click HERE to access the resource.