Some highlights: President's blog | Ao/NZ Anaesthesia ASM | NZSA President's Award - Dr Indu Kapoor | NZSA theatre caps | ASM education prizes | End-of Life Choice Act update | NZSA photo competition winners | Health system reform | In the Media | Pae Ora Healthy Futures Bill | OASIS 2022 | webAIRS
NZSA President Dr Sheila Hart
In her last blog of the year, NZSA President Dr Sheila Hart considers how to ‘suffer the losses’ – accepting what you cannot do and learning to live with disappointing others. She also reflects on COVID mandates and the importance of health professionals embracing the concept of manakitanga (love and compassion) when engaging in vaccination discussions. "The alternative will not be helpful in the overall goal of combating COVID in New Zealand." Read here
As always I welcome your comments president@anaesthesia.nz
Virtual Aotearoa NZ Anaesthesia ASM
Delegates can watch the ASM 'on demand' until 31 January 2022. Information has been sent to delegates by PCO Outshine.
Some highlights from the ASM will be featured in the next NZSA magazine.
We had over 400 registrations for our virtual ASM (including a small number attending at the Christchurch Town Hall where we were able to broadcast some of the speakers). It was a fantastic conference with diverse, thought-provoking talks that challenged our practice and ways of thinking across many issues, from equity to environmentalism. It was a privilege to co-host the ASM with ANZCA NZNC and NZATS.
A big thank you to the Organising Committee (photo, top left) from Christchurch Hospital, led by Dr Ben van der Griend. Your positivity and adaptability in the face of COVID restrictions enabled us to deliver an incredible virtual experience. The ASM theme Whakaora (To Heal) was timely and poignant, and the Christchurch session was a testament to resilience and outstanding patient care in times of crisis.
We also extend our thanks to all speakers, session and workshop chairs and moderators, our industry supporters and of course all attendees for your support. We are grateful for the professionalism of our PCO Outshine, which worked so collaboratively with the OC and parent bodies.
There was excellent social media engagement. In the seven days leading up to and including the conference, the ASM Twitter account had ~78,000 impressions. We would like to thank Dr Ross Scott-Weekly for tweeting from this account with such aplomb and to all who tweeted and retweeted to promote the ASM.
"She is a big contributor to the specialty both here and overseas, and it gives us great pleasure to present her with the inaugural NZSA President's Award."
Dr Kathryn Hagen
NZSA Immediate Past-President
Dr Indu Kapoor, a paediatric anaesthetist in Wellington, is the recipient of the inaugural NZSA President's Award. The award is for an NZSA member who has provided a specific or sustained contribution towards the specialty of anaesthesia and the NZSA.
The award was presented by NZSA Immediate-Past President Dr Kathryn Hagen at the ASM. Here is an abridged version of her talk: "Indu's concern for the welfare of those doing paediatric anaesthesia led to the establishment of the Paediatric Network of New Zealand. She set up and continues to be involved with Pacmac, and simulation courses for anaesthetic crises in paediatric anaesthesia. She was a member of the NZNC committee for 12 years, which included holding the education portfolio for a considerable length of time. She is actively involved in SIMG processes and workplace based assessments. Indu has a passion for assisting our Pacific neighbours, and is the Chair of the NZSA's Global Health Committee. She most recently helped to set up the PACT initiative, where for the equivalent of a coffee a week donors can support the costs of
training anaesthetists in the Pacific region." Find out more about PACT here
NZSA branded theatre caps
We're excited to launch our NZSA branded theatre caps! Personalise with your name and choose from a range of styles. NZSA President Dr Sheila Hart and VP Dr Morgan Edwards already have theirs!
View the styles to choose from and purchase here. Spread the word to your colleagues. We'd also appreciate receiving photos with the new look - individual or a team one so we can put them up on our website.
Simulation studies at Stanford University in the US demonstrated greatly increased communication and theatre efficiency when named theatre caps were worn. An article published a few years ago with Australian anaesthetist Dr Rob Hackett is a great reminder of the benefits.
Congratulations to all the winners! Judges were highly impressed with the calibre of entries.
NZSA John Ritchie Prize to Dr Stephen Roberts from Canterbury DHB for 'Coolsense® versus EMLA® for peripheral venous cannulation in adult volunteers: a randomised crossover trial.' Dr Roberts also has the opportunity to apply for the $5000 John Ritchie Prize Research Award.
ASM Poster Prize from NZSA and NZNC to Associate Professor Ross Kennedy from Canterbury DHB for 'EEG power and frailty - A preliminary investigation.' There was also an honorable mention for Mr Taehoon Kim from the University of Auckland for his paper 'The association between quality of recovery metrics and postoperative opioid use following elective total knee arthroplast.'
NZNC Trainee Prize to Dr Jignal Bhagvandas from Whangarei Hospital, Northland DHB for 'The effect of Remifentanil PCA vs Epidural in labour - maternal and neonatal outcomes.'
End-of-Life Choice Act update
The End of Life Choice Act 2019 came into effect on 7 November, legalising assisted dying.
The Health and Disability Commission has provided this update: "People choosing to receive the service will be protected by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. The Act changes some rights in the Code of Consumers' Rights, particularly rights to be fully informed, to make an informed choice and give informed consent. It’s important to understand what these changes mean for health practitioners and health service providers - regardless of whether they opt to provide assisted dying or not." HDC has prepared information for health practitioners on how the Code applies under the Act, on the HDC website. The Ministry of Health has resources for health professionals on the MOH website, including online learning modules. Policy guidance documents and implementation resources here.
The NZSA webpage has collated EOLC Act information here. You can also sign up for MOH updates.
NZSA photo competition winners
"We can't wait to showcase your photos in our resources."
NZSA CEO Michele Thomas
Thank you to everyone who sent photos to the NZSA for our first-ever member photo competition!
The judges (NZSA President, Vice-President, CEO and Comms Manager) really enjoyed looking at entries, which celebrate the diversity and integral role of anaesthetists. We asked for photos of you at work, and enjoying down time.
Judges cast their votes and the results are in. In first place is Dr Alan McKenzie, while Dr Tim Parris-Piper won second and third place. Visit our website to see the photos.
Thank you to our sponsors the Medical Assurance Society, and Device Technologies for the prizes.
COVID vaccination - NZ doctors unite!
The NZSA joined medical colleges and other health organisations to endorse a letter (6,733 signatures) reassuring the public about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The letter was written by Doctors Stand Up For Vaccination, a grassroots initiative by the doctors of Aotearoa. This group has been very active on Twitter @NZDRSUV and Facebook. The NZSA has also been posting on social media to encourage vaccination as our best line of defence against the virus and to reduce hospitalisations and ICU admissions.
NZSA President Dr Sheila Hart says it's been wonderful to see NZSA members posting on their individual social media accounts to promote positive vaccination messages, research and resources. "It's been encouraging to read the positive and engaging posts from anaesthetists to encourage the public to get vaccinated and to provide reassurance and allay concerns."
Health system reform update
The Health Reform Transition Unit overseeing the health system reforms publishes a regular newsletter. The latest issue includes updates on a stronger voice for Māori, new boards coming together for induction, an update on locality prototypes and the launch of Aotearoa's consumer health forum. Read newsletter here. The Transition Unit also has a website which is being regularly updated and is well worth
bookmarking.
Dr Morgan Edwards - busting COVID myths
A profile article about NZSA Vice-President Dr Morgan Edwards included the work she is doing to dispel COVID misinformation and her role as a health influencer on social media. The Woman magazine article was also republished on STUFF this week.
COVID vaccine pro choice statements by midwives 'disappointing'
Dr Edwards was also interviewed about the "blatant misinformation" being spread by some midwifery groups such as the Maternity Services Consumer Council. Read the STUFF article here
Meeting demand for paediatric Covid vaccine
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 last week. A similar application from Pfizer for use in New Zealand is expected soon. RNZ reports a youth vaccination programme may be in place by early 2022.
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill
The NZSA will be developing a submission on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, which was introduced into parliament last week. We welcome member comments to help inform our feedback to Government at comms@anaesthesia.nz
Our future health system will focus on services designed and delivered locally but supported by a national system to attain greater consistency of care across the country. Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority have been established as interim entities – the Bill enables them to become permanent once the reformed health system comes into effect on 1 July 2022.
The Bill recognises the important role of Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards and Māori exercising tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake for planning and decision-making of health services at a local level.
The NZSA called for greater consumer representation on PHARMAC's advisory committees and a stronger focus on equitable health outcomes, as part of our feedback on PHARMAC's committees consultation. PHARMAC has announced the main changes following consultation including more consumer input, and health equity expertise on its clinical advisory committees. Details on the PHARMAC website.
Obstetric Anaesthesia Special Interest Symposium, 8-9 April 2022, Auckland
Obstetric care has continued unabated throughout the pandemic and in that spirit OASIS22 is pushing on too! By drawing on the combined knowledge of speakers from obstetric anaesthesia and related fields of medicine, this multi-disciplinary meeting will explore the latest trends in obstetric anaesthesia and stimulate discussion on current controversies with special focus on delivering world-leading care for wahine in Aotearoa. Visit the OASIS website
For the first time in the history of the prize, the Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Jeanette Thirlwell Best Paper Award for 2020 has joint winners: Dr Yasmin Endlich, Dr Julia Lee and Dr Martin Culwick, for their paper ‘Difficult and failed intubation in the first 4000 incidents reported on webAIRS’, and Drs Kasia Kulinski and Natalie Smith, for their paper ‘Surgical prehabilitation using mobile health coaching in patients with obesity: a pilot study.’ Awards for papers in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 2020 First Published October 11, 2021. Dr
Yasmin Endlich, a member of the ANZTADC committee, has been appointed ANZTADC Publications Chair, following Professor Alan Merry's retirement.
PANNZ Update Meeting, 11-12 March 2022, Rotorua
The Paediatric Anaesthetist Network of New Zealand (PANNZ) maintains two-way collaboration and communication between paediatric anaesthetist services within regions, and with colleagues in different regions of the country. Early bird registration until 31 January 2022. More information and registration here
Anaesthesia Continuing Education
The ACE website is a one-stop shop for anaesthesia events. Members convening conferences, workshops or meetings, which assist CPD requirements, are encouraged to add their event to the website.
The parent groups ANZCA, NZSA and ASA, host the site as members of the tripartite committee. Click here to add your event. Visit the ACE website and follow ACE on Twitter @ace_acecc
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