http://hdl.handle.net/2440/5867 2013-05-24T13:49:32Z 2013-05-24T13:49:32Z Shephard, Mark Douglas Samuel Spaeth, Brooke Mazzachi, Beryl Auld, Malcolm Schatz, Steven Loudon, John Rigby, Janet Daniel, Vinod http://hdl.handle.net/2440/76857 2013-04-11T06:30:25Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Design, implementation and initial assessment of the Northern Territory point-of-Care Testing Program Author: Shephard, Mark Douglas Samuel; Spaeth, Brooke; Mazzachi, Beryl; Auld, Malcolm; Schatz, Steven; Loudon, John; Rigby, Janet; Daniel, Vinod Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to improve pathology services in selected remote health centres from the Northern Territory (NT) through the implementation of a quality managed point-of-care pathology testing (POCT) service. DESIGN: Study of the efficacy of the POCT service after 1 year and qualitative survey of POCT device operators. SETTING: The study was set in thirty-three remote health centres in the NT administered by the NT Department of Health. PARTICIPANTS: Remote health centre staff at participating remote health centres participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: The introduction of the i-STAT device to perform on-site POCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures used in the study were the number of remote staff trained, volume of testing performed and satisfaction of POCT device operators. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four health professional staff were trained to perform i-STAT POCT during the first year of the program. A total of 2290 POCT tests were performed on the i-STAT. The volume of testing consistently increased across the year. Tests for international normalised ratio were the most frequently performed (averaging 70 tests per month). Stakeholder satisfaction with the i-STAT device was high, with a statistically significant improvement in satisfaction levels with pathology service provision being reported after the introduction of POCT. Greater than 80% of respondents stated POCT was more convenient than the laboratory service and assisted in the stabilisation of acutely ill patients. CONCLUSIONS: The NT POCT Program has been operationally effective and well received by staff working as i-STAT POCT operators in remote health centres. Retention of remote health centre staff is the most significant challenge to ensuring the program's long-term viability.

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z Miller, Emma Ruth Fielding, James E. Grant, Kristina A. Barr, Ian G. Papadakis, Georgina Kelly, Heath A. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/76671 2013-04-09T01:30:17Z 2007-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Higher than expected seasonal influenza activity in Victoria, 2007 Author: Miller, Emma Ruth; Fielding, James E.; Grant, Kristina A.; Barr, Ian G.; Papadakis, Georgina; Kelly, Heath A. Abstract: In 2007, the Victorian influenza season exceeded normal seasonal activity thresholds. The average rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported by general practitioners (GPs) participating in sentinel surveillance was 9.0 cases per 1,000 consultations, peaking at 22 cases per 1,000 consultations in mid-August. The average ILI rate reported by the Melbourne Medical Locum Service (MMLS) was 11.5 per 1,000 consultations over the season. The MMLS ILI rate peaked at 30 per 1,000 consultations at the same time as peak rates were reported by GPs, with a secondary peak observed three weeks later (22 cases per 1,000 consultations). Influenza cases notified to the Victorian Department of Human Services peaked in mid-August with a secondary peak of influenza A in early September. Of the influenza positive swabs collected by GPs and among those collected throughout the state, 92% were type A and 8% were type B. The most common strains identified in Victoria in the 2007 influenza season were A/Brisbane/10/2007-like followed by A/Solomon Islands/3/2006-like. While neither virus strain was specifically included in the 2007 Australian influenza vaccine, reasonable cross protection was afforded by the strains in the vaccine.

2007-12-31T13:30:00Z De Lacey, Sheryl Lynne Rogers, Wendy Anne Braunack-Mayer, Annette Joy Avery, Jodie Christine Smith, David Richards, Bernadette Joy http://hdl.handle.net/2440/76538 2013-04-05T05:30:22Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Perceptions of embryo status and embryo use in an Australian community Author: De Lacey, Sheryl Lynne; Rogers, Wendy Anne; Braunack-Mayer, Annette Joy; Avery, Jodie Christine; Smith, David; Richards, Bernadette Joy

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z Fielding, James E. Miller, Emma Ruth Adams, Josie Hawking, Bronwyn Grant, Kristina A. Kelly, Heath A. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/76492 2013-04-05T00:30:29Z 2006-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Influenza surveillance in Victoria, 2006 Author: Fielding, James E.; Miller, Emma Ruth; Adams, Josie; Hawking, Bronwyn; Grant, Kristina A.; Kelly, Heath A. Abstract: The Victorian influenza season in 2006 remained within normal seasonal activity thresholds and was relatively mild compared with recent years. The season peaked in mid-August, with influenza-like illness (ILI) rates from general practitioner sentinel surveillance and the Melbourne Medical Locum Service (MMLS), and cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza notified to the Department of Human Services, reaching their zeniths within one week of each other. A total of 74 general practitioners (GPs) participated in the sentinel surveillance in 2006, reporting a total of 136,732 consultations during the surveillance period from May to September inclusive. Participating GPs reported a total of 765 patients with an ILI; an average ILI rate of 5.6 cases per 1,000 consultations. The average ILI rate from the MMLS in the same period was 8.5 cases per 1,000 call-outs. Eighty-two per cent of laboratory-confirmed influenza notifications during the surveillance period were type A; the remainder were type B. Typing indicated circulation of two predominant strains during the season: A/Wisconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus. The influenza vaccine for 2006 contained A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus, A/California/7/2004(H3N2)-like virus and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus. Commun Dis Intell 2007;31:100–106.

2006-12-31T13:30:00Z