GP Obstetric Shared Care Newsletter - March 2024

Your GP Obstetric Shared Care Team are big believers in the power of staying in the loop! Your ongoing dedication and active participation in the program play a pivotal role in making it a success!

We’re excited to present the newest CPD Activities within our Obstetric Shared Care Program, ensuring you stay informed and engaged with timely updates.

Hello,

Welcome to the sunny, first autumnal edition of our Obstetric Shared Care newsletter for 2024! Hopefully, the recent sweltering temperatures haven’t taken too much of a toll on you, and the long weekend provided some much-needed downtime to beat the heat and stay cool.

As temperatures soar, it’s crucial for our pregnant women to take extra precautions to stay cool and comfortable. High heat can exacerbate discomfort and pose potential risks, particularly during pregnancy.

We are thrilled to announce two extraordinary events that are sure to elevate your professional journey in Obstetric Shared Care! Mark your calendars for an enriching evening CPD Activity scheduled for next Thursday, March 21st, at Auchendarroch House in Mt Barker. Following this, we are delighted to present our inaugural Accreditation Seminar for 2024 on April 6th, hosted at the popular Adelaide Pavilion. Both events promise to be enlightening experiences filled with valuable insights, outstanding presentations and networking opportunities. With registrations now open and spaces filling up rapidly, secure your spot today to ensure you don’t miss out on these exceptional learning opportunities.

The momentum of the year is already evident with an impressive start, boasting 14 new applications received for accreditation to our program. Join us as we continue to strive for excellence and growth in the field of Obstetric Shared Care!

Looking ahead, I am enthusiastic about the many opportunities that will be available in 2024. From seminars, Project ECHO, workshops and webinars to collaborative projects, there are numerous opportunities for you to get involved.

Keep an eye out for our newsletters which will have all the details, together I hope we can continue to innovate, expand our services collaboratively and positively impact our community.

As usual, our newsletters aim to keep you informed about the most recent developments, noteworthy updates, special announcements, and engaging discussions pertaining to all things obstetric!

From my team and myself, keep happy and healthy!

With warmest wishes,

Leanne.

Breastfeeding Medicine Network Australia / New Zealand Conference 2024

The Breastfeeding Medicine Network of Australia / New Zealand are proud to announce the return of their biannual conference in 2024.

For doctors interested in lactation and breastfeeding medicine, the conference will run from Friday April 26th to Sunday 28th April 2024 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Intrauterine Device Insertion Training

We have been inundated recently with requests for assistance regarding Intrauterine Device (IUD) Insertion Training, reflecting a growing interest in enhancing skills in this important area of women’s health care.

We’re excited to announce that Dr. Alison Clarke is offering specialised Intrauterine Device (IUD) Insertion Training, responding to the surge in requests for assistance.

Discover more about the training opportunities available to you now and empower yourself to deliver exceptional care in women’s health.

OPAL-3 Study

We need your help!

You can help recruit for this study.
The success of the OPAL-3 Study is undeniably connected to the engagement and commitment of GPs referring their pregnant patients to the study team. Since launching in November 2023, the OPAL-3 study team have received almost 50 referrals, with 16 pregnant women going on to enrol. A very big thank you to everyone who has started referring their patients.

About OPAL-3 Study:
The OPAL-3 Study will help us determine the best dose of omega-3 supplements to give pregnant women, who have a moderately low level of omega-3 to reduce prematurity rates.

Eligibility is open to any woman less than 21 weeks pregnant with a singleton pregnancy.

Twilight Seminar Series: Prenatal Genetics

Reproductive Carrier Screening, NIPT, the place of Prenatal Exome and the genetic evaluation when you elicit a history of autism in the family. What to do?

First up, a quick whip around Noninvasive Prenatal Testing: all your questions answered. Led by Mercy Perinatal’s Genetics Gurus: Professor Lisa Hui, who is an international expert in this area and our Senior Genetic Counsellor and Genetics Manager, Melissa Graetz.
Next an ‘Update on Reproductive Carrier Screening’. In November 2023, Australia announced MBS coverage to support genetic reproductive carrier testing for Cystic Fibrosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Fragile X for people who are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, and their reproductive partners. But how do patients access this? When does the partner get tested? What if there IS no partner? What about expanded reproductive carrier screening? Join as we navigate the maze of pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy reproductive carrier screening. We are incredibly fortunate to be joined by Associate Professor Alison Archibald, an academic clinician and Genetic Counsellor who leads the field in this area.
‘Childhood Autism and the role of the Geneticist’. When a family history of Autism Spectrum Disorder pops up, what to do? Is genetic testing ever needed? Never needed? How do we triage risk and refer appropriately? Professor David Amor is a consultant clinical geneticist, paediatrician and clinician scientist with a research focus on neurodevelopmental gene discovery. He holds the Galli Chair in Developmental Medicine at the University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. He is perfectly positioned to give the ‘what you need to know at the coalface’ take home messages on Genetics, and genetic testing, in autism.
Finally, ‘Does everyone need an exome in 2024?’ It feels like whatever the question is regarding disorders of fetal growth and development, the answer is ‘get an exome’! But how do we balance the yield of this expanded testing with the financial cost and the potential burden of uncertain information? Dr Lil Downie, is a paediatric clinical geneticist at Mercy Perinatal and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Her own research expertise is in the area of congenital and childhood hearing impairment, but she brings a wealth of prenatal experience counselling clinicians and families on the good, the bad and the ugly of prenatal exome testing.

Link to the Twilight recording (Password: Twilight)

Reproductive carrier screening fact sheet

In Summary

Reproductive carrier screening (RCS) is an optional blood or saliva test carried out prior to pregnancy or in early pregnancy. It looks for variations in a person’s genes.
RCS can identify a couple’s chance of having a child with specific serious inherited genetic conditions.
Couples found to have an increased chance of having a child with a genetic condition will be given information about their reproductive options.
There are different RCS tests available through different laboratories. The difference between tests may include the number of conditions included, price and turn-around time.
Some RCS tests are covered by Medicare (items 73451 and 73452), others may have “out-of-pocket” costs.

Please note: RCS is different to screening tests undertaken during pregnancy, such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which assess the chances of a baby having Down syndrome or other chromosome conditions

See the Reproductive carrier screening fact sheet

Don’t miss out!

‘Antenatal advancements: A day of discovery’

GP Obstetric Shared Care

Accreditation Seminar

Adelaide Pavilion, Adelaide SA

We are proud to present our first Obstetric Shared Care Accreditation Seminar on the GP Obstetric Shared Care Calendar for 2024.

These are RACGP-approved CPD activities under the RACGP CPD Program.

The GP Obstetric Shared Care Program has a key role in advocacy, policy and promoting high quality, safe and innovative practice.

There is no more effective environment for learning than the in-person exchange of information and there will be ample opportunity to ask questions.

Free Parking and Meals Provided

Tickets are now open for ARU2024!

Roll up, roll up; the Greatest Show of 2024 is coming to town – Tickets are now OPEN for Mercy Perinatal Australian Reproduction Update (ARU).

Do not wait, do not delay – get in now to lock in your place to hear all about the latest and greatest reproductive advances of 2024. The theme for 2024 is The Greatest Show; Perseverance, Innovation and Equality in Reproduction.

Australian Reproduction Update 2024
Woodward Conference Centre
The University of Melbourne
Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th August 2024

Find out more…

Please be advised that the SA Pregnancy Record has undertaken the yearly review and the following changes have occurred

MR-31 A4 Folder – 19046051 – A4 Folder SA Pregnancy Record – EMR Sites Only (FMC)
- This version will no longer be printed.
MR-31 A5 Wallet – 19046052 – A5 Wallet SA Pregnancy Record
- This version will remain the same but renamed as follows:
  - Description: SA Pregnancy Record Wallet – Full/Complete Version – Pages 1-20
  - Item Reference: MR-31 20 pages
New version – Only for NALHN and WCHN.
- This version is identical to the 20 page version except it has the first four pages removed.
- The first four pages will be printed at the sites which are using the new processing system. These four pages will then be added to the rest of the SAPR and then continue use as per normal practices.
- It will be named as follows:
  - Description: SA Pregnancy Record Wallet – Excluding History Section – Pages 5-20
  - Item Reference: MR-31 16 pages

The existing SA Pregnancy Records referenced ‘Version 15, January 2023’ must continue to be used until the 1^st January 2024.

From the 1^st January 2024, the new versions referenced ‘Version 16, January 2024’ must be used and all previous version destroyed/disposed of.

All sites are to ensure there is adequate stock on hand of the existing version to ensure a transition date occurs as required.

New stock will be made available from mid-December for ordering and additional emails will be sent when this occurs.

SA Pregnancy Record

GP Obstetric Shared Care Newsletter – March 2024