Ginny Barbour Chief Editor, PLoS Medicine, is presenting:Open Access Publishing in Medicine:A Win-Win for Researchers, Clinicians and Patients at 4.30pm on Thursday, 21 August at the UQCCR auditorium RBWH campus Herston.

PLoS Medicine is an open access journal that has been well received and in its short publishing life has achieved an impact factor of
12.6.

Further enquires: Liz Slowey - e.slowey@uq.edu.au

The 2020 summit represents a part of the great many reviews and national statements that 2008 has brought. The 2020 summit was held on the 19th and 20th of April in Canberra and was developed with a goal of capturing the best ideas from a variety of sources to give direction for Australia in the 21st century. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, convened the event to address long term challenges which will affect Australia into the future.

To access the 2020 Summit report go to the following link:
http://www.australia2020.gov.au/final_report/index.cfm

Within the report is chapter 5 A long-term national health strategy and this can accessed via the following link:
http://www.australia2020.gov.au/docs/final_report/2020_summit_report_5_health.pdf

In 2007 Queensland Health undertook statewide health services planning in the areas of renal, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation medicine services and a review of neonatal care services. A wide range of stakeholders was consulted from across Queensland Health, external health service providers and other government agencies. This resulted in the development of three statewide clinical service plans and one report:

• Queensland Statewide Renal Health Services Plan 2008-17 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
• Queensland Statewide Cancer Treatment Services Plan 2008-16
• Queensland Statewide Rehabilitation Medicine Plan 2008-12
• Evaluation of the Report of Statewide Neonatal Intensive Care Services Project (2006)

Diabetes Australia 13-19 July 2008 is National Diabetes Week. Type 2 diabetes often runs in families. Check here to find out if you may be at risk of type 2 diabetes.

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Statistics
This site provides the latest statistics on the impact of diabetes and its complications, including direct and indirect costs of diabetes in the United States.

Diabetes Research Institute
The Diabetes Research Institute collaborates with leading researchers in academia and biomedical companies around the world. This site covers emerging technologies, presents the latest diabetes research, and offers a Newsroom as well as information about clinical trials.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
This website is packed with information on type 1 (juvenile) diabetes for scientists and for families affected by the disease.

MedlinePlus: Diabetic Diet
This comprehensive site provides links to resources for meal planning and healthy eating for individuals with diabetes.

MedlinePlus: Interactive Health Tutorials: Diabetes Introduction The images and text of this tutorial are straightforward and easy for consumers to understand. It presents an overview of diabetes, signs and symptoms, treatment options, information on how to control the disease, and possible complications.

MyDiabetesCentral.com A component of The HealthCentral Network, MyDiabetesCentral helps consumers locate information about diabetes and ways to manage the disease. The Top News page keeps consumers abreast of the latest diabetes news.

National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) The NDEP, a federally funded program, is a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 200 public and private organizations. Its website targets individuals with diabetes and their families as well as health care professionals. The free downloadable publications are particularly useful for those involved in diabetes education and awareness. Both Spanish and Asian-Pacific Island language materials are available.

US National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Diabetes Public Health Resource This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site contains information for the public and professionals about diabetes, including research, statistics, and educational publications. The State-Based Diabetes Prevention & Control Programs page provides information about diabetes programs by state. A Spanish-language site is available.

US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. This clearinghouse, aimed at both consumers and professionals, responds to inquiries about diabetes, offers copyright-free publications at various reading levels, and features a searchable database of health education materials.

World Health Organization (WHO): Diabetes Programme
This WHO program focuses on setting norms and practices for diabetes prevention and control on the global scale. A Facts and Figures link provides resources on the worldwide incidence of diabetes.

Most of the above links are taken from MLA News, June/July 2008, no. 407, Submitted by Laura T. Kane and edited by Lynne M. Fox pp. 10-11.

In two policy monographs for the Centre for Independent studies Jeremy Sammut critiques the concept for the Super clinic, examining the evidence and the Medicare implications.

To access these monographs follow the links below:
The false promise of GP super clinics, part 1: Preventive care
http://www.cis.org.au/policy_monographs/pm84.pdf
The false Promise of GP Super Clinics, part 2: Coordinated Care
http://www.cis.org.au/policy_monographs/pm85.pdf

You can listen to information about Cochrane reviews via podcast from the Cochrane Collaboration. To listen to summaries of Cochrane reviews go to the following link:
http://www.cochrane.org/podcasts/

To listen or watch Multimedia from Cochrane Colloquia and Meetings go to the following link:
http://www.cochrane.org/multimedia/index.htm

The Department of Health and Aging has released an audit into the current and developing health workforce distribution profile in rural and regional Australia. Key findings include:

• Regional and remote Australia has less access to health professionals than people living in major cities. The medical workforce distribution in these areas being rated low to very poor.
• Overseas trained health professionals make up 41% of doctors in rural and regional Australia, significantly higher than in major cities.
• The supply of health professionals will not meet the developing population trends.
• The significant increase in medical school places help in part to address the issue.
The complete report can be accessed at:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-res-ruraud

The Australian Government announced funding to improve the mental health workforce, by providing training to around 24,000 mental health professionals and encouraging mental health nurses to stay in the workforce.

This announcement follows the Government’s release of the National Mental Health Report 2007, which clearly underlines the need to do more in mental health.

More information http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr08-nr-nr054.htm

National Mental Health Report

This report is a summary of twelve years of reform in Australia’s Mental Health Services under the National Mental Health Strategy 1993-2005. To see the full report go to the following link: National Mental Health Report 2007

The Australian Immunisation Handbook has a new edition for 2008.The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), an advisory committee appointed by the Minister for Health and Ageing, is responsible for the development and revision of the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition (the Handbook). The Handbook is designed as a general guide to inform a wide target audience of health professionals on the safest and most effective vaccination strategies using the highest quality evidence available. The Handbook is a stand-alone document and, while it has similarities to some overseas guidelines, it is written specifically for Australia.

Australian Immunisation Handbook - 9th Edition 2008 (on Department of Health & Ageing website) http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook-home

Changes since 8^th ed.
http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/9-whatsnew

On the 25th of March the 7:30 report ran an expose on the DEM at the Royal.
For those who may have missed it you can download it from the ABC’s website, http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/vodcast.htm the report is called; Inside Australia’s biggest emergency department.