Alan is a physician and geriatrician based in Northland. He is the clinical director of Health of Older People for the Northland District Health Board and also clinical lead for the Northern Region Health of Older People Network. He has an interest in medication management and stroke care and is currently acting chair of the National Medication Safety Expert Advisory Group and a member of the National Stroke Leadership Group. He is also heavily involved in integrated care and implementing information initiatives to support this.
| Managing Medications - When Not to Treat
Main Session |
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| Friday, 15 August 2014 | Start 9:20am | Duration: 25mins | Plenary |
| Deprescribing in the elderly – how to use the delete button We are inundated with a vast array of disease specific guidelines about conditions we treat every day. For many patients, a number of these conditions co-exist and for many frail older people, the indication to treat or not to treat can be very unclear. The decision to stop a medication is often more difficult than the decision to start one. There are a number of protocols and algorithms to guide us about prescribing in this population group but these are not always helpful. This presentation explores some of the issues and provides some suggestions about how to address them. | |||
| Case Studies on Deciding Not To Treat Older Patients
Concurrent Workshop Repeated |
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| Friday, 15 August 2014 | Start 4:30pm | Duration: 55mins | Room 3 |
| Start 5:35pm | Duration: 55mins | Room 3 | |
| Polypharmacy and adverse drug effects are common in our older population. These sessions use realistic case studies to guide discussion about decision making for prescribing and deprescribing for older patients. The goal is to be confident about minimising medication use and at the same time improving outcomes for a vulnerable patient group. | |||
| Getting Old is Good for You
Main Session |
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| Saturday, 16 August 2014 | Start 8:00am | Duration: 15mins | Plenary |
| Population ageing – Why it is good for us
The population ageing debate typically concludes that the increasing burden of elder dependency will strain health and social care systems, limit the aspirations of universal healthcare and place an extreme financial burden on our younger and future generations. This presentation will argue that the ageing timebomb simply isn’t ticking and that the rising size of the older population is one of the defining successes of modern society. |
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| Avoiding Surgical Referrals in Oldies with PVD
Concurrent Workshop Repeated |
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| Saturday, 16 August 2014 | Start 11:00am | Duration: 55mins | Room 8 |
| Start 12:05pm | Duration: 55mins | Room 8 | |
| Medical management of PAD – avoiding the surgeon Peripheral arterial disease is common in our society and often undiagnosed. This workshop explores a simple approach to diagnosis and management in the primary care environment without resorting to the vascular surgeon. Case scenarios will be used to demonstrate the management issues. |
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| Diagnosing and Managing Dementia
Nurse Programme |
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| Saturday, 16 August 2014 | Start 2:30pm | Duration: 30mins | Westpac |
| 40,000 people suffer from dementia in New Zealand with this number set to quadruple over the next 35 years. It will become increasingly common in the primary care environment. Already these clients use significant resources in general practice. Health systems around the world are asking primary care to take a greater leading role in the diagnosis and early management of this group. A multidisciplinary approach is vital which means the practice nurse will be pivotal. This presentation discusses the role of the primary care team in the overall care of older people with cognitive impairment. | |||