Category: Primary Care

Best Case Ever

This case comes from Dr Alex McLeod RHMS Taupō. ...

empagliflozin

Great Goodfellow webinar tonight. Endocrinologist Dr Ryan Paul and RNZCGP Medical Director Dr Bryan Betty discussed the role of these medications. Key Messages  Empagliflozin is a preferred 2nd line agent in cardiovascular disease, especially heart failure, and renal disease. It reduces mortality from cardiovascular events and renal disease progression...

Of Art and Uncertainty

“In order to make progress, one must leave the door to the unknown ajar.” Richard Feynman...

Salute to the Pōhutukawa and the West Coast.

It’s Christmas. I’m touring the north Island with family in tow.  Blooming pōhutukawa line the Coromandel coastline.  I’m curious about its evolution, uniquely suited to the landscape, shaped by millennia of slow and steady adaptations.  Courageously reaching for the coral sea. The New Zealand Christmas tree.  I wondered how many versions of the Christmas tree...

Syncope? Think outside the box.

Syncope is a transient and abrupt loss of consciousness with complete return to preexisting neurologic function. It can be classified as neurally mediated (mostly young adults), cardiac, orthostatic, or neurologic. This case of syncope comes from Faseeh Zaidi, a 5th year medical student studying at the University of Auckland 72-year-old female...

Regional-rural programme at the University of Auckland

In 2008 The university of Auckland introduced Pūkawakawa. A year 5 regional immersion programme based in Northland NZ.  Early outcomes show that postgraduates who participated in the program are very likely to be working in rural and regional areas with an intention to work in general practice and rural medicine....

Pathways and Pipelines; the road to Rural Generalism

At this years NZRHN Rural Hospital Summit in Wellington, I was fortunate to hear Dr Kati Blattner speak. Amongst other achievements she is a clinician and academic instrumental in making vocational training for rural remote generalist doctors what it is today. Undertaking the Rural Hospital Training Programme in parallel to...

Diabetes management

As part of Otago Universities ‘Leaning on Fence Post’ series hosted by the fabulous Matilda Hamilton, Dr Alex Mcleod and Sharon Sandilansd give us an update on all things Diabetes. The series is also available wherever you get your podcasts....

Breaking Bad (News)

Delivering bad news in a compassionate way can make this difficult situation easier to cope with for patients, their families and clinicians themselves. Thanks to Hailey and Kendall who helped us workshop these skills at Taupo Hospital. SPIKES The SPIKES model was first published in The Oncologist in 2000 as a...