24 January 2017
Some highlights in this issue: President's blog | Membership fee renewal | Membership survey | Anaesthesia consumables | NZSA member discount |New Year Honours | New CEO for Lifebox | 2017 ASM Rotorua | Network for trainee research| PHARMAC medical devices forums |Anaesthetic Technicians' update| Events on NZSA website | NZAEC Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship | AIC Junior Research Award |
Vacancies: The NZSA posts vacancies on its website, for positions in New Zealand and overseas.
"Creating an evidence-driven “baseline” for care of common conditions would free up our time to do the difficult custom-crafting of care (the art) that every patient needs.
The autonomy of medicine rose to unprecedented levels in the 20th century, however there is a realisation that some boundaries are needed - economically, clinically, ethically and even politically. Over recent years we have experienced an ever-increasing level of oversight. A growing body of evidence suggests that physicians should embrace diminishing autonomy as it leads to better patient care outcomes. NZSA President Dr David Kibblewhite explores the literature on human behaviour in relation to innovation and change, and an editorial that outlines a path forward. Read David's blog here
Happy New Year to all our members and we hope you had a good break. A reminder that invoices for 2017 membership fees are due. Invoices were sent out in November last year.
We thank members who have already paid and welcome payment if you have not yet done so. For information on how to pay and an overview of our key work and achievements read our President's letter here. Please note that if you haven't paid by 31 January you will no longer have access to the members only section of our website.
Our membership survey is an opportunity to engage with the Society and to share your views to help shape the NZSA's direction and activities. The NZSA survey helps to guide our work and to be more in tune with and responsive to our members, especially in areas of advocacy and communications. NZSA President Dr David Kibblewhite says: “As leaders of your Society we need and value your input to guide us. We have designed a survey that will take about 10 minutes of your time and will help to determine where we concentrate our limited resource in the immediate future. Please take the time to reflect on and complete the survey.”
NZSA membership is growing and we want to build on this momentum. We will continue to focus on being more proactive, increasing our visibility and profile - but we need your help to achieve this. A strong response rate to our survey will enable us to better plan for the future. The survey will be emailed to NZSA members at the end of this month. The NZSA Executive will meet in March for a planning day, and the results of the survey will help to guide direction and priorities for 2017 and beyond.
Anaesthetic consumables update
PHARMAC has added 11 more categories to its medical devices purchasing scope, including anaesthetic consumables. This follows a consultation in which the NZSA provided input in a submission
sent to PHARMAC in September last year. PHARMAC expects to seek proposals for national agreements in the first half of 2017. More information is on the PHARMAC website.
NZSA Member Discount - Firstcheck for Summer Reminder
The NZSA is very pleased to offer our members access to a new wellness app with a special NZSA member price.
Unique discount code: NZSA16 Firstcheck, a New Zealand start up, is helping to revolutionise the early detection of skin cancer. You can have any skin condition checked by your local NZ skin specialist, via your smartphone or tablet. Firstcheck means that with a couple of clicks and pics you can have a dermatologist or skin specialist review your skin concern, anonymously from the comfort of home. The Firstcheck SkinScope™ fits on your smartphone or tablet and enables you to take high definition dermoscopic images. The offer gives you the best deal for individual purchases and can be used again and again. The coupon code expires 28 February 2017
so get your skinScope package today! Find out more on how to stay skin healthy
New Year Honours for Dr John Hyndman and Ivan Batistich
The NZSA congratulates anaesthetist Dr John Hyndman and engineer Ivan Batistich who were recognised in the New Years Honours for services to health and innovation. Together they developed a compact anaesthesia machine called the HYVAN at one tenth of the cost of standard market models. Both have been made members of the New Zealand order of merit.
The machine aims to revolutionise operating procedures in developing countries. Interviewed on STUFF last year Dr Hyndman said he had been working in the Pacific Islands when he realised there was a need for a cheap and reliable alternative to the "unsafe and unreliable machines they are still using. I thought a good idea would be to tailor-make a machine for that environment, make it affordable, and make it so it could easily be fixed."
The duo were awarded the inaugural World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologist's Innovation Award (pictured), which was presented to them last year at the World Congress in Hong Kong. They were also the recipients of the New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award in 2016.
New CEO for Lifebox Foundation
The Lifebox Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation making surgery and anaesthesia safer on a global scale, has appointed
Kris Torgeson as its new CEO. She will begin in the role on 13 February. Kris is a former Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) International and led an extensive governance reform process, while coordinating all facets of MSF’s worldwide humanitarian operations. After nearly 15 years with MSF, Kris served as Founding Executive Director of the US office of The Alliance for International Medical Action, a West African-based organisation providing medical care to more than 2 million patients through research and local partnership. “Lifebox launched a global search for a CEO to help us scale the success of our work bringing appropriate technology, training and most importantly, sustainable collaborations, to healthcare communities in low-resource settings,” says Atul Gawande, surgeon, New York Times bestselling author, and founder and chair of Lifebox. “Kris’s initiative, strength of vision and commitment to global health are exactly the qualities we looked for to lead Lifebox, and we are delighted that she is joining our team.”
Since its set up in 2011, Lifebox has made surgery and anaesthesia safer for more than 10 million patients worldwide. It has provided 14,000
pulse oximeters, provided training to hospitals around the world, and reduced the risk of surgical site infection. The NZSA is active in support of safer anaesthesia, particularly in the Western Pacific region through participation with Lifebox: Australia & New Zealand. For more information visit:
2017 Annual Scientific Meeting
Top overseas and local speakers will explore the theme of “Fear and Excitement” offering a wide range of topics to help you navigate those clinical conundrums that give you the willies in the dark hours of the night. Great social events will enable you to relax and catch up with colleagues, and there is always something new to check out in the healthcare industry exhibition. Visit the conference website
to learn more. We encourage you to bookmark this site as information will be regularly updated throughout the year. Registrations open April 2017.
Network for trainee research
The Supportive Anaesthesia Trainee aUdit & Research Network (SATURN) was set up to undertake high quality, trainee-led, multi-centred research and audit across New Zealand to improve anaesthesia and perioperative care for patients. SATURN aims to improve trainee access to research to enable a larger number of trainees to get involved in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine audit and research projects. Visit the SATURN website for more information.
Anaesthesia Continuing Education
The Anaesthesia Continuing Education Co-ordinating Committee (ACE) encourages members convening conferences, workshops or meetings, which assist CPD requirements, to add their event to the ACE website. The parent groups, NZSA, ANZCA and ASA, host the site as part of the tripartite committee. Learn more about the many CPD opportunities on the ACE website
PHARMAC medical devices forums
PHARMAC is running a series of forums at DHBs around the country to provide an update on its hospital medical devices activity.
PHARMAC’s work in medical devices is expanding with national contracts and market share agreements. They are keen to continue their partnership with DHB staff to ensure processes are mindful of the implications for patients, clinicians and staff.
You are invited to attend the forums (taking place in March, April and May), which will be a 10-15 minute presentation with time for questions after. PHARMAC staff will be available more informally following the session to talk. Lunch will be provided after the forum presentation. Click here for details of locations, dates and to RSVP.
Anaesthetic Technicians' update
AUT will be phasing out the current Anaesthetic Technology Diploma and a Bachelor of Health Science major will be offered instead. The University is working closely with the anaesthetic technicians' regulatory authority the Medical Sciences Council (MSC) to ensure the required competencies, which result from the MSC’s current scope of practice review, are covered in this future programme. This is still in the consultation phase, so the content of any such degree programme is yet to reveal itself. NZATS President Angela Dewhirst advises that AUT has said that the diploma will continue to be offered long enough to prevent a shortage of on the floor work ready graduates. It is envisaged the degree would not be ready to be offered before 2019 at the earliest. Providing a pathway for diploma
qualified Reg Tech ATs to progress to the degree qualification is being explored. The NZSA and New Zealand Anaesthetic Technicians’ Society were among stakeholder groups who attended a MSC stakeholder forum last year on the review of the Scope of Practice. Both organisations are committed to the professional development of ATs and the service they are able to offer anaesthetists, members of the perioperative team and patients. The MSC consultation on the revised scope of practice definition and competencies will be published in May 2017.
New Zealand Simulation Instructors (NZSIC) Course 20-21 March 2017
Wellington Hospital More details
SPANZA PANNZ Update Meeting, Wellington
11 March 2017, Wellington HospitalDiscounted rate for NZSA and SPANZA members
Plus early bird rate if you register on or by 27 February 2017 The update meeting will be a one-day course suitable for the occasional paediatric anaesthetist and other staff (nursing/technical) wanting to upgrade their knowledge of current paediatric anaesthetic management. To view the programme and for further information on location, accommodation and how to register for the meeting, Click here
NZAEC NZ Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship - Whanganui
The NZAEC NZ Anaesthesia Visiting Lectureship, held in November last year in Whanganui, was well represented with about 30 delegates attending.The meeting achieved its aims of sharing knowledge and experience through outstanding presentations to anaesthesia departments and practices. It was an opportunity to network and support regional collaboration and is a cost- efficient way for multiple secondary level hospitals to gain exposure to experts in their field. The Lectureship speakers were: 1) Dr Matt Jenks from Dunedin Hospital who spoke on “Operating theatre waste, climate change and the anaesthetist." Drawing on his own experiences at Tauranga and Dunedin hospitals, along with
an up-to-date review of the literature, Matt provided practical guidance about how to make your anaesthetic practice more environmentally sustainable. He said the the impact anaesthetists have on the environment must not be taken lightly. 2) Dr Benjamin Griffiths from Auckland City Hospital who spoke on “Emergency Laparotomy perioperative outcome and quality improvement pathways: A United Kingdom and NZ perspective." The talk covered poor perioperative outcome within the UK for this "forgotten group" and the recent steps taken aiming for improvement. It also reflected current data from the wider Auckland City area, including possible explanations for outcome differences. The co-convenors of the Whanganui regional visit Dr Marco Meijer,
Whanganui Hospital and Dr Nigel Waters, Palmerston North Hospital, thank the NZAEC and speakers Matt and Benjamin for an informative, thought provoking day. Thanks also to GoodHealth Whanganui and Carole Telford (departmental PA Mid-Central Health) for their support in making the meeting so successful.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Junior Research Award
Applications are invited for the Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Junior Research Award from ASA, NZSA, or ANZICS members who are in training or within five years of their specialist qualification. To be eligible, applicants must be the first author of a paper published in ‘Anaesthesia and Intensive Care’ in 2016. Ideally the paper would describe work conducted in Australia or New Zealand. The award will be made on the basis of the scientific merit and originality of the paper. The award will be made separately to the ‘Jeanette Thirlwell Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Best Paper Award’ and will carry the same cash prize and cover the same expenses to attend the annual ASA National Scientific Congress to receive the award. Applications in the form of a
letter indicating the name of the paper and the date published should be addressed to the Chief Editor, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care by 30 April 2017 at aic@asa.org.au
Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Ltd (MSD) was established in New Zealand in 1962 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc. MSD New Zealand supplies pharmaceuticals and vaccines for New Zealand patients across a wide number of therapeutic areas including; oncology, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, women's health, fertility, HIV/AIDS, antibacterials/antifungals and immunisations.
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