Saturday
S6A ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE - treatment in GP
Alcohol dependence in Australia is a huge problemfor the community, yet it is often overlooked by GPs and many choose not to treat alcohol dependence because they feel it is too difficult. Even making a diagnosis is often a complex problem. This ession will help GPs recognise alcohol dependence & give easy & practical ways of engaging with patients & treating with effective pharmacotherapies. Dr Raymond Seidler
S6B PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE ELDERLY
Pain is more prevalent in the elderly. It is often undiagnosed and under treated leaving the individual exposed to the adverse effects of persistent pain. Comorbidities and cognitive impairment in older patients pose additional challenges for the treating clinician, but these are not insurmountable. Dr Benny Katz, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne. Endorsed by Australian Pain Society & supported by MundiPharma
S6C METABOLIC SYNDROME and longevity in the 21st century
A look at the reversal of the metabolic syndrome by ameliorating pro-inflammatory markers & implementing lifestyle and nutritional practices and calorie restriction to improve mean life expectancy.
A/Prof Luis Vitetta National Institute of Integrative Medicine
S7A PELVIC FLOOR: understanding & assessing urinary control, overactive bladder & ED
Intro to the anatomy & physiology of the pelvis and how this relates to various conditions. Assessment of patient; when to refer; outline of Rx options; surgical options - bulking agents, slings, ACT, laparoscopic surgery. WQ sessions 4,5,8,9,11&12 complement this seminar. Dr Bruce Farnsworth Gyrus
S7B NEW MBS ITEMS incl. 45 + health check & new mental health nos
Clarify the newest item numbers & unravel the process for completion of the 45+ health check and mental health items. The 45+ health check can benefit the health outcomes of your patients & the financial health of your practice & is designed to assess those risk factors present in your patients, encompassing family history, lifestyle & biomechanical factors which may lead to the development of chronic disease. The seminar will help structure an approach & a template that will cover the required areas efficiently & effectively, reducing the amount of time required & adding these vital & profitable screening processes to daily surgery procedures
S7C OBESITY - a chronic long term disease - what is the role of short term dietary Rx?
What role do very low calorie diets currently have in the Rx of obesity and what results can be achieved? Practical tips on how to use very low calorie diets in clinical practice; evidence-based research demonstrating the impact of small amounts of weight loss on health outcomes. How can the results of short term Rx be maximised for the long term?
A/Prof John Dixon Novartis Consumer Health
S8A ROBOTIC CARDIAC SURGERY: new technologies
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has been restricted due to the inherent anatomical challenges & limitations in the technology available to perform delicate surgery in the confined thoracic space, so the traditional full sternotomy has remained the gold standard to ensure optimal clinical results. Recently, robotics has become available, offering a full 3D view of the anatomy & fully ‘wristed’ instruments with tremor control & scaling of motion. This technology has been used for mitral valve repair & CA bypass surgery, eliminating the need for a sternotomy. Patients who underwent robotic double coronary artery bypass were able to go home on post-op day 2 or 3 with virtually no pain. Robotics may well represent the commencement of a new era, allowing cardiothoracic surgeons to offer a minimally invasive approach to their patients. Dr Paul Jans Device Technologies
S8B KNEE CONDITIONS & reconstructive surgery - current concepts
Acute & chronic conditions affecting the knee are common in gp. Multimedia lectures & case presentations that encompass the diagnosis, investigation & Mx of these conditions incl the latest surgical techniques & advances in these areas. The aims are to reinforce and improve clinical skills and diagnosis, the utilisation of appropriate investigations, & facilitation of timely referral to specialist resources to improve patient Mx. Interactive session with time for discussion.
Dr Darren Chen, Dr Samuel Macdessi and Dr Bradley Seeto.
S8C DEPRESSION: Horses for courses - subtyping & managing mood disorders
Most Rx for depression, be they drugs or psychotherapies, are tested & often implemented as if they have universal application. This model has been developed by classifying multiple expressions of depression as a single diagnosis. This session will describe the development of a new sub-typing model for the depressive disorders that lead to differentiating Rx for different subtypes and provides a practical guide to the understanding and effective Mx of depression in GP. Professor Gordon Parker, Executive Director, Black Dog Institute
S9A PSYCHOSTIMULANT USE IN AUSTRALIA - Saturday night fever
3 drugs constitute the major psychostimulants used by Australians: ecstasy, methamphetamine & cocaine. All 3 are being taken up by more and more young Australians. It is important for GPs to understand this phenomenon and to recognise patients who have used stimulant drugs. A clear explanation of the pharmacology, cost and effects of these commonly used illicit drugs. Dr Raymond Seidle
S9B MELANOMA: what’s new in diagnosis & Mx of primary & metastatic disease
Australia has the highest melanoma rate in the world. A look at the diagnosis & new frontiers & guidelines in melanoma & metastatic melanoma Mx. Dr Anthony Dixon
Australasian College of Skin Cancer Medicine
S9C HPV INFECTION - breakthrough in prevention & update
Currently approx 2 million Australian women undergo screening with Pap smears each year. It’s estimated that 78% of these are performed by GPs. Approx 120,000 of these women will have an abnormality reported. Recently, two developments offer opportunities to further reduce the negative health impacts of cervical cancer prevention programs. Firstly, the NHMRC Guidelines on the Mx of asymptomatic women with screen detected abnormalitieswhich came into effect July 2006, & secondly the introduction of safe & effective HPV vaccines. This presents the opportunity to add primary prevention to the screening programs.
Presented by Dr Gerard Wain CSL
S10A PANEL - Is generalism dead?
A panel discussion around whether the creation of GPs with special interests will lead to the fragmentation or devaluing of general care. Can they be good GPs and still deliver their special interest within their generalist care? Facilitator: Jenny Brockie- presenter of Insight on SBS TV
S10B ALLERGY, DRY EYE & RED EYE
Participants will be able to distinguish allergic from dry & red eye conditions and understand the concepts of initiation, latest Mx & maintenance of therapy as well as counselling of patients. Local and systemic factors and their role in these processes will also be discussed. Dr Patrick Versace
Novartis Ophthalmics
