NPS MedicineWise Podcasts

In this episode NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks with Veronica Nou, a community pharmacist working in western Sydney and recipient of a 2020 NSW Humanitarian Award. This week (7-11 September 2020) is NSW Multicultural Health Week, with a focus on health literacy and the safe use of medicines. In this podcast, Anna and Veronica discuss some of the health issues experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and some practical ways health professionals can help improve medicines literacy and communications, especially among vulnerable populations. Further reading: NSW Multicultural Health Week: www.multiculturalhealthweek.com Ethnolink: COVID-19 translated resources www.ethnolink.com.au/covid-19-coronavirus-translated-resources The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National): www.tisnational.gov.au NPS MedicineWise: Download the NPS MedicineWise Medicines List in English and 10 additional community languages www.nps.org.au/medicineslist NPS MedicineWise: Links to COVID-19 information translated into community languages www.nps.org.au/COVID-19-in-language

In this episode NPS MedicineWise CEO Steve Morris is joined by Professor Michael Kidd AM, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Australian Government Department of Health. They discuss the role of the Department of Health’s National Incident Room and the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, the challenges of managing chronic disease during this pandemic - particularly in vulnerable populations, and some the ways health professionals are ensuring continuity of care and access to medicines to patients in this rapidly changing environment. Further reading National Incident Room: www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-incident-room National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce: covid19evidence.net.au

In this episode, Steve Morris speaks with Dr Simon Judkins, an emergency physician working in Victoria at one of the Choosing Wisely Australia Champion Health Service hospitals. They discuss how the Choosing Wisely principles, particularly around resource stewardship and the importance of conversations about what care is necessary, have been relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also look at how new pandemic guidance from Choosing Wisely Australia will help health professionals and consumers navigate the current environment. Further reading Choosing Wisely principles: www.choosingwisely.org.au/what-is-choosing-wisely-australia Choosing Wisely pandemic guidance for health professionals: www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/health-professionals/choosing-wisely-australia-pandemic-guidance Choosing Wisely pandemic guidance for consumers: www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/consumers-and-carers/choosing-wisely-australia-pandemic-guidance 5 questions to ask - for consumers to use to start a conversation with their doctor or other healthcare provider about what matters to them and their health, available in English and 12 additional languages: www.choosingwisely.org.au/resources/consumers-and-carers/5-questions-to-ask-your-doctor-or-other-healthcare-provider-before-you-get-any-test-treatment-or-procedure Becoming a Choosing Wisely Australia Champion Health Service: www.choosingwisely.org.au/health-services

There has been some recent buzz around vitamin D supplements and their role in preventing or even treating COVID-19. In this episode, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks to NPS MedicineWise senior clinical program officer and pharmacist Rawa Osman to discuss whether or not vitamin D supplements may protect people with COVID-19 from more serious health complications, possible indirect links between vitamin D deficiency and poorer outcomes for people with COVID-19, and quality use of testing principles when it comes to vitamin D. Further reading NPS MedicineWise has a new article for consumers on vitamin D and COVID-19: https://www.nps.org.au/news/vitamin-d-and-covid-19

In this episode, Steve Morris speaks with Chris Freeman, National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) about how pharmacists have responded and adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, navigated medicines access challenges and enabled continuity of care, and the importance of taking care of their own health and wellbeing. Further reading Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) information for pharmacists: www.psa.org.au/coronavirus/ NPS MedicineWise COVID-19 information hub: www.nps.org.au/coronavirus

In this episode, NPS MedicineWise CEO Steve Morris speaks with the head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) John Skerritt about how the TGA is supporting clinicians and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss some of the unique challenges the TGA has faced and the way it has adapted to these, along with innovations that should be continued beyond the pandemic period. Further reading: The Therapeutic Goods Administration: www.TGA.gov.au The refreshed NPS MedicineWise COVID-19 information hub: www.nps.org.au/coronavirus

In this episode, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks to Natalie Raffoul, clinical pharmacist and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Manager at the Heart Foundation about the link between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COVID-19.

Early results from the RECOVERY trial in the UK are showing that steroid medicine dexamethasone reduces death in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19. In this episode, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks to NPS MedicineWise senior clinical program officer and pharmacist Rawa Osman to take an initial look at what the preliminary results may show, implications for practice in Australia, and some tips on how to have conversations with patients about these findings.

Episode 5: Quality use of medicines and COVID-19 by NPS Medicinewise

In this episode, CEO of NPS MedicineWise Adj A/Prof Steve Morris talks with Executive Director of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce A/Prof Julian Elliott. They discuss the role of the Clinical Evidence Taskforce during this pandemic, NPS MedicineWise joining the Taskforce as a partner, the role of living evidence and guidelines, and recent and upcoming clinical topics to be covered by the Taskforce. To access the latest continually updated, evidence-based clinical guidelines and to find out more about the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce go to https://covid19evidence.net.au/ To read the latest on the NPS MedicineWise COVID-19 information hub go to www.nps.org.au/coronavirus A joint media statement from NPS MedicineWise and the Clinical Evidence Taskforce about their partnership is available at www.nps.org.au/media

The advice from Australian health authorities around testing has been evolving as the COVID-19 situation evolves. And as with everything to do with COVID-19, even the available tests are new, with the data growing all the time. In this episode, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki interviews fellow medical adviser and GP Dr Jill Thistlethwaite about how clinicians can practice quality use of testing during this pandemic.

Currently there are no approved medicines to treat COVID-19. However, there are several trials underway assessing the role of antiviral medicines, including remdesivir, in the treatment of COVID-19. In this episode, NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks with CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris about the latest evidence for remdesivir and what this might mean for treating COVID-19.

In this episode, we look at emerging evidence for the use of hydroxychloroquine during COVID-19, and whether it is actually a ‘miracle drug’ that will save lives during this pandemic.

Join us for a conversation between podcast host Lynn Weekes; Ferghal Armstrong, a general practitioner practising in regional Victoria; Jarrod McMaugh, a community pharmacist who is also the President of Chronic Pain Australia and Denise “Rustie” Lassam, a person with lived experience of addiction to prescription medicines. This discussion focuses on patient-centred care and the importance of language in reducing stigma. This podcast series was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Victoria and produced by NPS MedicineWise.

Listen to Nick Carr, a general practitioner; Shalini Arunogiri, an addiction psychiatrist; Jane Andersonwurf, a program support specialist at Reconnexion; Natalie Corrigan, a person with lived experience of benzodiazepine dependency and podcast host Lynn Weekes discuss the risks of long-term benzodiazepine use and how gradual dose tapering can be carefully and safely achieved in the primacy care setting. This podcast series was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Victoria and produced by NPS MedicineWise.