Published: 28 May, 2021
Contents
B-SAFE: Atrial fibrillation clinical decision support tool
Can you help us evaluate an electronic decision support tool which has been designed to assist primary
care clinicians with management of atrial fibrillation?
In collaboration with cardiologists and stroke physicians from the National Cardiac and Stroke Networks we have created a tool to assist primary care clinicians
in optimising cardiovascular treatments in patients with atrial fibrillation. The tool has been designed to provide an individualised check-list for treatments known
to decrease the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation. It has also been designed to
be quick and easy to use as part of routine care.
Click here to view a short video about the tool.
We now wish to evaluate this tool in the ‘Biomarkers for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation using Electronic Decision Support (EDS)’
or B-SAFE study in practices that use Medtech-32 or Evolution.
We would greatly appreciate your help with this study. This would involve identifying patients with atrial fibrillation in your practice, gaining
consent from them, and then completing the tool (this should take less than five minutes per patient). You may then adjust the patient's medicine
regimen if you think this is appropriate. We will pay $75 for each patient entered into the study.
If you are interested or would like more information,
please click here.
You can also contact us at b-safe@bestpractice.org.nz
Professor Ralph Stewart, Emeritus Professor Murray Tilyard, Professor Anna Ranta, Professor Richard Troughton
End of Life Choice Act resources from the Ministry of Health
The End
of Life Choice Act 2019 will be implemented on 7 November, 2021. From this date people will be able to request assisted dying if they meet specific
criteria; this is one option for people with a terminal illness and does not replace palliative care or other general health services. The Ministry of Health
has put together
a
resource page for the public, healthcare professionals and health service providers. Resources for health professionals currently include
an information sheet and a learning activity. This also includes information on the Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand (SCENZ) Group and
conscientious objection.
Immunisation Advisory Centre launches new COVID-19 website
The Immunisation Advisory Centre has produced a dedicated website for clinical and education resources related to COVID-19 vaccination.
The website includes information for vaccinators, for health professionals in general and for people receiving vaccinations. Links to webinars
and latest news are also provided. Browse the website here.
Influenza vaccination in "full swing"
The Ministry of Health reports that almost 50% of people aged over 65 years have received an influenza vaccination so far this year.
The focus of the programme has now expanded to include vaccinations for all high-risk people, i.e. people aged over 65 years, pregnant
women and those with underlying health conditions. Stocks of Fluad Quad, the vaccination licensed for people aged ≥ 65 years, are diminishing
(IMAC reports that the North Island is out of stock), but a
reminder that Afluria Quad can also be used in this age group.
For further information about influenza vaccination for health professionals, see: www.influenza.org.nz
See you in Rotorua
Come meet our colleagues at the Rotorua GP CME Conference 10-13th June. Bpacnz will be represented at a joint stand with our affiliated
organisations: BPAC Clinical Solutions and the South Link Health Group. Ask about the Primary Care Update series and Best Practice Journal.
Although, you may be distracted by some exciting new tech products in development; think automated clinical assistance, smart
inbox management and something rather large...
Visit the stand for more information, giveaways and competitions.
Paper of the week: Carpe Diem: seizure basics for primary care
This week, we once again depart from our paper of the week to bring you a podcast series by The
Curbsiders, a group of doctors, clinical educators and medical
students from across the United States. The group produces regular audio episodes, approximately one hour in length, with a relaxed and entertaining approach,
where they "curbside" the experts to discuss a topic and provide key clinical messages and practice changing knowledge.
In this episode, Carpe Diem: seizure basics for primary
care, the hosts interview Dr Sara Dawit, Neurologist and Assistant Professor of Neurology and
Neurophysiology at the Mayo Clinic, who takes them through a rapid response to a witnessed seizure outside of a hospital setting, how to manage
first-time seizures in adults and general information about caring for a patient with a seizure disorder, such as being aware that co-morbid mood
disorders are often present, e.g. depression, anxiety. If you want to skip the preamble, Dr Dawit begins talking about seizures at 10 mins 35 secs.
Episodes are arranged into a variety of themes; some other recent topics include “Dementia made simple”, “Medical myths: Challenge dogma” and a “Hypertension Update”.
This Bulletin is supported by the South Link Education Trust
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