My Health Record Guidelines for Pharmacists

The My Health Record provides electronic access to a patient’s key health information including medicines, allergies, medical conditions and test results, and supports improvements in the safety, quality and efficiency of Australia’s healthcare system.
A pharmacist’s contribution to medication safety and quality use of medicines will be enhanced by their ability to access a patient’s My Health Record. These new guidelines are intended to help increase the number of pharmacists using My Health Record.

My Health Record Guidelines for Pharmacists. Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd., 2017. 

Alcohol & Breastfeeding Web Page

Not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. Generally, moderate alcohol consumption by a breastfeeding mother (up to 1 standard drink per day) is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the mother waits at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing. However, exposure to alcohol above moderate levels through breast milk could be damaging to an infant’s development, growth, and sleep patterns.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched a new web page to better inform health care providers and nursing mothers,to provide guidance on consuming alcohol while breastfeeding.

Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia

The report Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2016–17: key findings, shows that over 127,000 Australians received drug or alcohol treatment in 2016–17, equating to around 1 in every 170 people. The fastest growing treatment area is for amphetamine use, which has more than doubled over the last 10 years—in 2007–08.
The report from AIHW also shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were overrepresented among clients. Despite only comprising 2.7% of the Australian population (10 years and over), 1 in 7 clients (15%) receiving drug or alcohol treatment services were Indigenous.

Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2016-17: key findings.  

Treating Lyme Disease Early

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK has published a new guideline on Lyme Disease. The guideline has advice for GPs and specialists on symptoms to look out for, tests to help confirm a diagnosis and what treatments to use. It also calls for more UK research into Lyme disease and the best long-term treatment options. Lyme disease symptoms are common with those of other conditions and so NICE says lab tests can be useful to help confirm a diagnosis. Typical symptoms can include combinations of headache, fever, joint pain or fatigue as well as others that are more specific such as problems with nerves or joints.
Lyme disease. NICE guideline [NG95] Published date: April 2018 

Bedside Burnout: Young Midwives

Nurse Uncut blog tells the story of one midwife who took a 20 year career break only to return to many of the same problems they worked through before. Burnout, too many shifts and not enough  staff, things haven't changed.

Bedside Burnout: Young Midwives With No Life Outside Work. By Nurse Uncut Editor, March 15, 2018.

1 in 20 Australian deaths caused by alcohol and illicit drugs

Alcohol and illicit drug use are serious and complex issues that contribute to substantial illness, disease, injury, and deaths in Australia. This new report from AIHW provides insight into the health impact of alcohol and illicit drug use in Australia;

• Nearly 5% of all deaths are from alcohol and illicit drug use.    
• One-third of road traffic injuries due to alcohol use
• Opioids are the largest contributor to the illicit drug use burden.

Impact of alcohol and illicit drug use on the burden of disease and injury in Australia: Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011, AIHW. 29 March 2018. Cat. no: BOD 19