8 NEWS
8 NEWS
14 JULY 2023 ausdoc . com . au
Is it thumbs up for emojis ?
The study looked at more than 1300 texts .
Rachel Carter SENDING a heart , a smiley face or a tears of laughter emoji in a text to another doctor may not just be a handy short cut but could also enhance communication .
A study looking at more than 1300 texts between doctors at a large US hospital found that 7 % of the messages included emojis or emoticons , which the
Treat and prevent flares
with steroid-free Elidel ® * 1 ( pimecrolimus ) authors grouped together as ideograms .
“ Both popular media and institutional policies have suggested that the use of ideograms in professional communication may be inappropriate ,” researchers wrote in JAMA Network Open .
Their study analysed the text threads sent on a clinical texting system at the Midwestern hospital from July 2020 to March 2021 .
More than 40 different types of emoji were employed , with the most common being the thumbs
They may help avoid ambiguity .
up , smiley face , the tears of joy face and the heart .
Overall , the authors found
the majority of ideograms added new information rather than duplicating details in the text .
They said they may also have benefits , such as promoting interpersonal relationships and removing ambiguity around the meaning of a message .
As proof , the researchers referred to this exchange :
Doctor A : “ You following [ patient name ] today ?”
Doctor B : “ Yes , I have the pleasure of her today . ” Doctor A : “ Oh , how fun . ” Emoticons were also used in this clinical advice between two doctors :
“ Just add Flagyl [ metronidazole ] for anaerobes , and ditch the clinda [ mycin ]! :)”
Further , the authors found that the use of emojis was not “ particularly disparaging of patients ” or likely to trigger medicolegal concerns .
The researchers concluded they had “ no reason ” to see the use of emojis as “ professionally worrisome ” but still said more research was needed to determine best emoji practice . JAMA Netw Open 2023 ; 13 Jun .
Waits for ‘ frequent flyer ’ cash
A steroid-free treatment for atopic dermatitis in patients aged 3 months and older 1
Private script price : 2 15 g tube approx . $ 30 30 g tube approx . $ 60
* Elidel ® is indicated for atopic dermatitis in patients aged 3 months and older for short term treatment of signs and symptoms , and intermittent long-term treatment of emerging and resolving lesions in atopic dermatitis where the use of a topical corticosteroid is not yet warranted , no longer needed , or is inadvisable . 1
PBS Information : Authority required ( STREAMLINED ) for 15 g tube . Refer to PBS Schedule for full authority information . The 30 g tube is not listed on the PBS .
Before prescribing : Please review approved Approved Product Information by scanning the QR code or phone 1800 274 276 .
References : 1 . Elidel ® Product Information . Date of revision 21 / 02 / 2022 . 2 . Data on file , Viatris recommended retail price . March 2022 .
Elidel ® is a Viatris Company Trademark . Copyright © 2023 Viatris Inc . All rights reserved . Viatris Pty Ltd , Level 1 , 30 The Bond , 30 – 34 Hickson Road , Millers Point NSW , 2000 . ABN 29 601 608 771 . Australia Toll free : 1800 314 527 . ELI-2022-0556 . DH . ELI-003632-00 / AD . Date of preparation : February 2023 .
Initiate Elidel ® cream at the first sign of itching to prevent progression to flares 1
Pimecrolimus 10mg / g ( 1 % w / w )
®
Antony Scholefield NEW payments for GP practices that keep ‘ frequent flyer ’ patients out of hospital will be introduced over three years , leaving some practices ineligible until 2027 .
The federal Department of Health and Aged Care has released details on its long-promised patient enrolment scheme , dubbed MyMedicare , which officially starts in October .
In its initial form , the only incentive to enrol patients will be renewed Medicare access to longer phone-only telehealth consults . Practices will have to wait until the middle of next year to access the Frequent Hospital Users Incentive , which aims to reward practices caring for patients who rack up 10 or more hospital attendances a year .
However , the department said it would only start with nine Primary Health Network regions out of 31 , with “ national coverage ” being secured over three years .
“ Your practice should register with MyMedicare if you would like to be considered for this incentive in the future ,” it said in a new fact sheet .
It added that the exact dollar figures and criteria for the incentive will be worked out by the middle of next year .
The AMA has flagged indicative figures : $ 2000 per eligible patient in the first year of enrolment plus a $ 500 bonus for “ keeping people out of hospital ”.