• This update includes information about a wellness CPD opportunity, a new online Māori Health course and the new National Antibiotic Guidelines.

Whole Hearted Medicine wellness CPD Retreats

  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD) means, quite literally, to continue to develop as a professional. It is for this reason that our CPD programme encourages you to seek out activities that help you develop professionally. These areas of need are identified through personal reflection and discussion at your structured annual conversation (SAC). Wellness, mindfulness and burnout prevention are vital skills for an urgent care physician to foster and should form a part of your CPD at some point in time. Ideally, before you come close to experiencing burnout. Activities that help you address these areas are considered high value and count as double points towards your CPD requirements.
  • While you are free to find your own activities that meet your CPD needs, being directed to suitable options is helpful, so I would like to make you aware of an Australian company that provides educational wellness retreats for doctors. These retreats are run by Dr Emily Amos, a GP who personally experienced burnout, and her retreats have been endorsed by several other colleges. While they are Australian-based, they plan to run some retreats here in New Zealand. Check out details of the retreats here Or listen to Emily discuss her courses and why she runs them on the podcast.

Introduction to Māori Health

  • Dr Elana Curtis has created an online, introductory course to Māori health that has been endorsed as a high-value CPD activity. This is a 4-hour course and forms an important addition to other forms of culturally focused CPD available.

National Antibiotic Guidelines – Te Whata Kura

We are all aware of the need for antibiotic stewardship, appropriate prescribing and the importance of up-to-date practice. Often, antibiotic recommendations can change without you being aware, or can differ between regions.

The new National Antibiotic Guidelines, Te Whata Kura, are an important resource to have on your desktop. It allows you to quickly determine the correct antibiotic recommendation for your patients, complete with dosing and duration. It does not assist in making the diagnosis, so that is still on you, but when you have determined your patient has diverticulitis, it will help determine what, if any, antibiotic is required. It helps you remember key questions and allergies, and will prompt you to consider situations where an antibiotic is not needed.

Check them out here and save to your desktop.

Ngā mihi nui,

Dr. Guy Melrose – Director of Professional Development