AGHDA-QOL questionnaire
Adult growth hormone replacement was recently approved for use in Australia for adults with poor quality of life. Approval requires documentation of biochemical evidence of growth hormone deficiency and poor quality of life that improves with growth hormone replacement. Quality of life is assessed using the AGHDA-QOL questionnaire. Please find below the AGHDA-QOL questionnaire (which is licensed for use by ESA members) and instructions regarding its use, along with application forms for initiating and continuing growth hormone replacement. ESA-AACB Dynamic Testing Protocols to test for growth hormone deficiency are in the process of being finalised and will soon be released. Further information is available on the PBS website http://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/10426R-10431B-11495B-9586M
Adult GH deficiency - continuing PBS authority application
Adult GH deficiency - initial PBS authority application
SOMATROPIN - PBS criteria for adults with severe GH deficiency
ESA e-Bulletin
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ESA e-Bulletin 28 September 2017
ESA e Bulletin 23 February 2017
ESA e Bulletin 3 February 2017
ESA e Bulletin 13 January 2017
ESA e Bulletin 23 December 2016
ESA e Bulletin 10 November 2016
ESA e Bulletin 26 October 2016
ESA e Bulletin 30 September 2016
ESA e Bulletin 15 September 2016
ESA e Bulletin 6 September 2016
ESA e Bulletin 25 February 2016
ESA e Bulletin 16 February 2016
ESA e Bulletin 25 January 2016
ESA e Bulletin 19 November 2015
ESA e Bulletin 9 November 2015
ESA e Bulletin 23 October 2015
ESA e Bulletin 14 September 2015
ESA e-Bulletin 26 February 2015
ESA e-Bulletin 12 February 2015
ESA e-Bulletin 30 January 2015
ESA e-Bulletin 15 January 2015
ESA e-Bulletin 25 November 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 6 November 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 23 October 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 4 September 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 2 September 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 25 February 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 11 February 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 21 January 2014
ESA e-Bulletin 29 November 2013
Harmonisation of Endocrine Dynamic Testing
This draft manual for Harmonisation of Endocrine Dynamic Testing is a joint initiative from ESA/AACB/RCPA and is now open for comment and feedback for 90 days. Information provided is a guide only and needs to be verified and modified according to local procedures (e.g. patient consent, sample type, name of test set). A separate paediatric endocrine dynamic testing protocol is in progress with the HDET-P working party.
Please direct comments to the chair of the HEDT working party: Dr Cherie Chiang (cherie.chiang@mh.org.au) with the subject heading " HEDT feedback"
Dear ESA Members
Diabetes Management Journal, the official journal of Diabetes Australia, is calling for urgent help.
A writer has fallen through at the 11th hour and they are in need of an endocrinologist to write a short article for the August issue on Managing a Hypoglycaemic Episode. The publication audience comprises members of RACGP, ADS, ADEA as well as APNA and Pharmacy Guild of Australia.
Please urgently contact editor, Justin Coleman (dmjeditor@tangello.com.au) if you have the time and inclination to contribute to the journal in the next couple of weeks (by 12 July). Below is the article brief:
I am a GP at Inala Indigenous Health in Brisbane (my bio is here) and also Editor of the Diabetes Management Journal (DMJ), which is posted to all Australian GPs – the latest online version is here with password DADMJ2018
The DMJ is a 3-monthly journal and I would like to feature an article about the management of hypoglycaemic episodes.
Hence, I am wondering whether you would be available to write an article, consisting of two pages (1000-1200 words) of background text and then a double-page pull-out diagram which our art department would design, based on a flow chart or algorithm for how to manage hypos.
The sort of dot-points that occur to me are:
• We’re after practical suggestions for GPs. The DMJ aims to be as practical as possible – we leave the focussed research to the research journals and try to make DMJ an interesting, useful read for ordinary clinicians rather than academics.
• The pull-out diagram would be an illustrated flow chart which GPs might put on the wall of their procedure room.
• I would imagine (although we would discuss) that the illustrations might be divided into levels of severity – ranging from the alert patient who feels early symptoms or notes a low BGL, through to a confused patient who can’t follow instructions, through to an unconscious patient requiring IV access. However, we would stop short of a fully equipped ED...this is aimed at standard GP equipment and a doctor who only sees an occasional emergency.
• The text before the pull-out would provide a background to hypoglycaemia. Things that spring to mind as being of interest to GPs are perhaps a little on some basic glucose pathophysiology; consistency of relationship between BGL and symptoms; frequency of hypo episodes in Australian adults/kids; the degree of culpability of insulin vs that of food/exercise; what degree of hypo it takes to ‘cause damage’.
• You will have your own thoughts on other points, no doubt – happy to chat
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23)
New assay now available
PhD information night for clinicians
Come to a PhD research opportunities forum for clinicians, at Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Wednesday 2 May 2018, 6.15-8pm
Call for PhD scholarship applicants in Reproductive Medicine
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Fertility and Research Centre (FRC) will be supporting a student of exceptional research potential to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) within the field of reproductive medicine.
With improving cancer survival rates, there is an increasing demand for women/girls to protect their reproductive potential, prior to facing fertility-destroying chemo/radio-therapy. Currently in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the only viable approach available to cancer survivors; however, a full IVF cycle is commonly not suitable or available. Patients often have ovarian tissue cryopreserved prior to chemo/radio-therapy but the current prospects of a future pregnancy are very low. Using novel pharmacological agents, this project will investigate their role in female fertility and their potential to be used as novel oncofertility strategies for cancer patients.
Applications will only be accepted as a Microsoft Word Document submitted by email. Candidates are expected to complete the accompanying form.
Please send to: michael.bertoldo@unsw.edu.au by COB Friday 11th May 2018.
Diabetes Research in South Australia
State Insurance Regulatory Authority 2018 Fees Order
Please see documents below from State Insurance Regulatory Authority regarding the fees applicable for medical services commencing from 1 January 2018.
2018 workers compensation medical practitioner fees order
ESA News
Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA Research Scholarship in Bone and Mineral Endocrinology
Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA is an organization established to reduce the incidence and disabling effects of arthritis, osteoporosis and related conditions in the people of Western Australia.
The Arthritis Osteoporosis Foundation of Western Australia and The University of Western Australia are pleased to announce a scholarship funded by the Foundation to undertake a PhD in the area of bone and mineral clinical research.
The purpose of the scholarship is to enable medical doctors undertaking advanced training in endocrinology via Royal Australasian College of Physicians or equivalent to utilise their final year of training to start their Masters or Phd by research. This will add to the body of knowledge related tobone and mineral metabolism disorders and increase the pipeline of trained clinical researchers.
Web site information
Arthritis & Osteoporosis WA Research Scholarship in Bone and Mineral Endocrinology
Applications close 31/10/2017. The selection body reserves the right to close early should a suitable applicant be identified.
Australia Future Health Workforce Series Physicians Workforce
ESA are asking members for formal comments to the attached workforce document.
Please email comments to ijohnson@endocrinesociety.org.au by January 18th 2018.
Q Stream Online Professionalism Program
The RACP Online Professionalism Program (OPP) is a free online learning program that is designed to enhance physician’s practice and performance. The program content is based on real scenarios, developed by RACP Fellows with the aim to challenge physician thinking and improve professional practice.
The OPP is delivered by Qstream - an interactive learning platform -which disseminates case studies via email at spaced intervals. Qstream is developed by the Harvard Medical School and has been shown to increase knowledge retention, change on-the-job behaviours and improve patient outcomes. Email notifications prompt users to respond to case studies and each question takes just five minutes to complete. This flexibility means that users are free to engage and learn in their own time via desktop or mobile. Users also have the option to discuss the case studies and share opinions with others through the secure, online discussion boards.
OPP courses are developed under and focus on various domains within the SPPP (Supporting Physicians’ Professionalism & Performance) framework. Previous OPP courses delivered by RACP include: Modern Workplace Challenges and Diagnostic Error. Several new courses will be released in 2017.
Download flyer regarding the Diagnostic Error 2017 Qstream course. It would be greatly appreciated if you would consider circulating this to your members (who are also members of RACP).
Registration is open to RACP Fellows and Advanced Trainees.
Registrations for the Diagnostic Error 2017 course close Wednesday, 15 March 2017, or earlier if full.
If you would like any further information regarding these sessions please contact sppp@racp.edu.au.
FUNDING GRANTS FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is administering a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across the health sector.
The initiative is providing women working in health with grants for leadership development.
Expressions of interest are being sought until 9 March, 2017.
Pfizer’s Independent Grants for Learning & Change (IGLC) programme for endocrinology
What does the IGLC programme cover?Pfizer’s IGLC programme aims to provide grants for projects which seek to improve patient outcomes through the delivery of measurable, educational programmes and / or quality improvement initiatives.
Who can apply for an IGLC grant?
This programme is open to healthcare providers, quality improvement experts and stakeholders involved in the multidisciplinary care of patients within the field of endocrine in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Applications are open from 22 February 2017
Attention clinical endocrinologists:
The RACP is undertaking a trial of multisource feedback (MSF) as part of the process of continuing professional development. The details are outlined in the accompanying document. If you are interested in participating in this trial please email Multisource.Feedback@racp.edu.au or call on +61 2 8247 6203. Registration is open until 31st March 2017.
2017 Workers Compensation Medical Practitioners Fees Order
The New South Wales State Insurance Regulatory Authority have released a document outlining the maximum fees chargeable by medical practitioners providing care under the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
Andrology Symposium
“Improving Men’s Health - Research Horizons in Andrology”
Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria
Saturday 28th November
8:30 – 5:00 pm
This is an initiative of the DFG-funded PhD training program joint between Monash University, Melbourne and Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, with the title "Molecular Pathogenesis of Male Reproductive Disorders".
This one day Symposium follows on from our annual scientific review and is intended to draw together our National and International colleagues who will collectively provide an update on clinical and basic research in Andrology. This will be a unique opportunity for a day of discussion of the Andrology field and how we might find way to move the field forward in the future.
Registration is free (http://goo.gl/forms/4c06zEIyvW) and there will be an opportunity for students to present their data in poster format within the program.
|
ISE Members Update September, 2016 |
Download ISE Members Update October 2016
Download ISE Members Update January 2017
Dear ENDOTEXTand THYROIDMANAGER READERS---
May 2016 bring
you some peace and prosperity. And if you wish to expand your knowledge of
Endocrinology, may we recommend— not surprisingly, WWW.ENDOTEXT.ORG,
and WWW.THYROIDMANAGER.ORG.
More
good things keep happening on ENDOTEXT. For example, Jonathan Purnell, Professor
Of Medicine at the Oregon University of Health Sciences has become the Section
Editor on Obesity, our book-within-a-book, “OBESITEXT”. Aidar Gosmanov,
Associate Professor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center is now
co-editor of the Diabetes Section..
On January 16 the NIH/NLM/NCBI will
upload all of the latest chapters in ENDOTEXT to their version of ENDOTEXT, and
Index them in PUBMED, as is done every 3 months. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305900 If you wish to always see the very latest material on all topics you should
visit our website directly. Among recent additions you will find an outstanding
review of insulin types, pharmacology and treatment http://www.endotext.org/chapter/modalities-for-treatment-of-diabetes,
an
update on Islet cell transplant http://www.endotext.org/chapter/diabetes-treatment-strategies/islet-transplantation/,
the
word on Paget’s disease http://www.endotext.org/chapter/pagets-disease-of-bone/,
treatment
of hypercholesterolemia http://www.endotext.org/chapter/the-severe-hypercholesterolemia-phenotype-genes-and-beyond/,
everything
you need to know about sub-acute thyroiditis http://www.thyroidmanager.org/chapter/acute-and-subacute-and-riedels-thyroiditis/,
and
many, many more current essentials for the well-grounded Endocrinologist in
2016
READ
MORE
GH Submission
A working group from the Endocrine Society of Australia and Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group in conjunction with pharma have submitted an application for a listing for growth hormone treatment of severe adult growth hormone deficiency on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Submissions from the public are invited by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and may strengthen the application. Could clinical ESA members who have patients that will advocate for adult growth hormone replacement consider forwarding them the attached letter (drafted by Professor Ken Ho) inviting them to support the application. The deadline for public submissions is October 5, 2016.
Download letter inviting public submission to PBAC
ESA Annual General Meeting 2016
ESA Annual General Meeting 2017
Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016 Information Kit
The National Transport Commission and Austroads has announced the release of Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016, a new edition of national medical standards for driver licensing, which will come into effect on 1st October 2016.
Nominations for ESA Council 2016-2020
Nominations are now called for election to membership of the Council of the Endocrine Society of Australia.
At the 2014 election the following were elected for four years until 2018:
Bu Yeap, Nicolette Hodyl, Belinda Henry, Chen Chen and Craig Harrison
Council members reaching the end of their terms in 2016 are Helena Teede (who will stay on for the next year in the role of past-president), Tim Cole, Ashim Sinha and Morton Burt. These members can stand for re-election if they wish.
Warrick Inder will take on the role of President for two years, then past-president for one year.
Therefore, in the 2016 election, those elected will stay on ESA Council for 4 years until 2020. At least 4 states must be represented on the Committee.
A nomination form is included below for any ESA member wishing to nominate for election to ESA Council for 2016-2020. Nominees must be a financial member of the Society, and be nominated by two financial members of ESA. The primary requirement of a committee member is an interest in assisting with the work of ESA in promoting endocrine research and practice in Australia.
Nominations for election to the Society must reach the secretary of the ESA, A/Prof Tim Cole, 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 by 5:00 pm, Friday 1st April 2016.Further details regarding the Committee of ESA, and procedures for elections to the committee can be found at the ESA website: http://www.endocrinesociety.org.au/constitution.htm
Do you identify as trans* and are 14-25? Or, are you a parent/guardian of a trans* young person under the age of 25? Change the way services are provided to trans* young people in Australia - have your voice heard!
Trans* Pathways are currently conducting a study looking into the mental health and barriers to accessing services for trans* young people in Australia. The survey is directed to both trans* young people (aged 14-25) and parents/guardians of trans* young people under the age of 25. We hope that this research will help to inform policies, health professionals, other researchers, parents of trans* individuals, other trans* young people and the wider community about how relevant services can best meet the needs of trans* young people.
This research is a collaboration between the University of Western Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, Curtin University, YouthLink and the Freedom Centre.
Survey Link: bit.ly/transpathways
If you have any questions, please contact Penelope Strauss onpenelope.strauss@uwa.edu.au.
Precision Medicine in Metabolic Disease
RACP Expression of Interest: DoH Biosimilars Awareness Initiative Reference Group
The Department of Health is seeking representatives for their Biosimilars Awareness Initiative (BAI) Reference Group, and has invited the College to participate.
The Reference Group participants are being asked to represent and provide information on the needs and interests of their members.
As your specialty is highly relevant to biosimilars matters, we are asking for your support in promoting this opportunity to Fellows to represent their College on this Reference Group. We would appreciate it if you would circulate the attached Expression of Interest.
Please note that we have been provided with a very tight timeframe for this nomination. The College will be taking applications until COB Thursday 18 February. EOI forms and CVs can be submitted to policy@racp.edu.au.
Download: Biosimilars Awareness Inititative
Consultation structure
TGA web statement re: Medtronic MiniMed Sure-T infusion sets
The TGA recently published information regarding Medtronic MiniMed Sure-T infusion sets. The TGA's statement can be found at http://www.tga.gov.au/alert/medtronic-minimed-sure-t-infusion-sets
Medicines Australia Code Edition 18 transparency initiative
Download information about the new Code of Conduct transparency initiative commencing on 1 October 2015.
PBAC request for Nomination for Reference Group – Ezetimibe review
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) intends to establish a Reference Group to conduct a post-market review of Ezetimibe, in terms of its cost-effectiveness in the context of the latest available evidence and best clinical practice.
All post-market reviews follow a standard process detailed in the Post-market Review Framework, available at: http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/reviews/subsidised-medicines-reviews. The Reference Groups will provide clinical, technical, consumer and industry advice to inform the reviews. Please see the attached Expression of Interest (EOI) form for further information.
The College has been invited to nominate a representative to participate in this review and, therefore, requests that you circulate this expression of interest to your membership. You may have already been approached by the PBAC on this matter, but we would like to seek expressions of interest from Fellows of your society, who are also members of the RACP. Concurrently, we will also seek expressions of interest from our Policy Reference Group members.
DOWNLOAD the EOI form for this nomination and the RACP Code of Conduct. Interested Fellows must complete and submit the EOI form and a CV to racpconsult@racp.edu.au by 5pm Thursday, 26 November.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact racpconsult@racp.edu.au.ICE/CSE 2016 - Call for Program Suggestions Reminder:
The Program Organising Committee for the joint International Congress of Endocrinology and the Chinese Society of Endocrinology meeting (ICE/CSE 2016) is especially interested in your member’sideas for topics and speakers for the scientific sessions at ICE/CSE 2016 to ensure they craft a content rich and diverse program, reflective of our global endocrine community. Please forward this to your members and encourage them to submit their suggestions via the ICE/CSE 2016 website:http://www.ice-cse2016.org/en/page.asp?hid=&pageid=75.htmlor by using the attached form and sending toice-cse@comtecmed.com. The deadline for receipt of all suggestions is 31 July, 2015.
Download suggestion form
Announcing the 18th ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies Congress:
Hosted by the Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) and chaired by our very own Executive Committee Member, Prof Dr Nor Azmi Kamaruddin, ISE are delighted to be supporting their regional partners at AFES 2015 being held 10th – 13th December 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Through a series of sponsored symposia and meet the professor sessions ISE will contribute to an exciting program themed around ‘Advancing the Frontiers of Endocrinology in Southeast Asia’. See the attached flyer for more details or visit www.afes2015.com. Benefit from early bird registration rates before 31st August 2015!
RACP info: PBS s100 changes for botulinum toxin
The Department of Health has recently announced changes for the PBS regarding botulinum toxin. Initially the changes were to be introduced from 1 July 2015 but after subsequent consultations this has now been pushed back to 1 September 2015.
The Department has now provided a 1 page FAQ on the changes.
Overseeing biosimilar use - CATAG release of Guiding Principles
Biological drugs such as proteins and peptides are produced by complex processes that include the use of recombinant protein expression in various organisms. Because of this complexity, the same biological produced by a different drug company after a patent expires is not identical despite having the same amino acid sequence. For example, there may be differences in post-translational modifications and trace impurities, and these may have biologically relevant effects. These copies are therefore called biosimilars rather than generics and it cannot be assumed that they are identical in all ways to the original. This is particularly relevant to endocrinologists as the first biosimilar insulin (of glargine insulin) has been approved in the EU, has tentative approval in the US, and the PBAC has recommended including it on the PBS here. The document provides guidelines for the use of biosimilars in Australian hospitals.
Direct Healthcare professional Communication: Risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis during Treatment with Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 inhibitors
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the new safety information for prescription medicines containing canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, or empagliflozin, which are inhibitors of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) approved as oral antihyperglycemic agents for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Dexamethasone 0.5mg tablet shortage
The Pharmacy at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane has alerted the Endocrine Society of Australia of a potential shortage of dexamethasone 0.5 mg tablets, used for diagnostic testing and occasionally therapeutically. Please check your local pharmacy for details of supply in your area. An alternative supply has been found, which will require an SAS application. Click on form
New Editor-in-Chief for JOE & JME
Applications are invited for EDITOR-IN-CHIEF for Journal of Endocrinology & Journal of Molecular Endocrinology.
The Society for Endocrinology invites applications for the role of Editor-in-Chief for a five-year term starting in August 2015.
Applications are due by 1 February 2015, and should be emailed to David Ray, Chair of the Society for Endocrinology Publications Committee (joe@bioscientifi ca.com).
Candidates will be shortlisted and interviews will be held in March 2015.
Endocrine Society of Australia
145 Macquarie Street
Sydney. NSW. 2000
Email: ijohnson@endocrinesociety.org.au
The Endocrine Society of Australia acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
