CISTM 13 in Maastricht

I have just returned from the 13th conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine which was held in Maastricht from 19th - 23rd May 2013.  This is the largest meeting of travel medicine practitioners held every two years and this time there were in excess of 1300 delegates.  Sessions run concurrently from 8am to 6.30pm and its a challenge to keep up with the pace!  I was presenting on the topic of 'Helping the Professional Communicate Risk'.  There is little information on the subject in the travel medicine literature so it was interesting to write and present.  A wonderful feature of the meeting is the 'networking' of fellow travel medicine colleagues.  Over the years I've built up many good friendships not only with UK based people, but many colleagues abroad as well.  During the meeting the Committee of the Travel Health Nurses in The Netherlands held a 'Meet and Greet' lunchtime gathering.  This was a great event where we were gifted with many Dutch treats, participated in a quiz and then participated in a 'speed networking' activity discussing many issues in the travel medicine field across the globe!  It was a great event and their hard work to provide such a 'party' was much appreciated.

Below is a photograph of three friends - from left to right, Karen Avery from the USA, Susan Koeman who is the Nurse Consultant in LCR (which is the National Coordination Travel Advice Centre in The Netherlands - see here ) and Rhonda Martin also from the USA who I know from many years ago as she was then a student on the Diploma in Travel Medicine course in Glasgow!

The next big travel medicine meeting abroad for me is the 5th Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine in Bergen, Norway 5 - 8 June 2014 -  and the next meeting of of the ISTM will be held on Quebec City, Canada 24 - 28 May 2015!

HELP

I've created a new page on my website entitled 'HELP' which will link you to resources by topic.  So far I've put lots of Immunisation Resources and Vaccine Storage information on there.  I intend to add to this list as time goes so keep looking!  You'll find the page under the 'News' heading on the top menu but also click here to take a look!

A trip to India

I went to Tamil Nadu earlier this month to the Seventh International Short Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine.  This comprises a group of 30 doctors learning by means of lectures in the morning followed by laboratory diagnostics work, then clinical ward rounds during the afternoon in the Christian Medical College in Vellore. The work of this wonderful hospital is famous throughout the world, patients travel from all parts of India to be treated there and it was very special to be present for a second visit.  My husband Peter teaches on the course and this year I also gave a lecture.  Some facts from the 2012 annual report of CMC reveal the main hospital and its outlying units had in total 2736 beds, employed 1187 doctors and 2491 nurses last year and saw 6378 outpatients every day!

Click here for the report with further fascinating facts.  Details of the course can be found by clicking here

Oh, and while on a wander in the hospital grounds we pictured some monkeys preening themselves on the ledges of a building in temperatures of 34 C plus!

Happy New Year!

I've never seen the fireworks in London at first hand and so decided this year as the rain had stopped and it wasn't too cold or too far to travel, to see if I could see them in person!  However, we were possibly too late to get a good spot and by the time we got there all access to the river was closed off and we found ourselves 'cordoned off' on the Strand, very near to Waterloo Bridge with no view of any fireworks at all.  The atmosphere was jovial to begin with, but then the crowds (some very drunk) started to surge and it was all we could do to stay upright due to the force of people shoving and pushing.  It made me appreciate just how dangerous a mass gathering situation like that can be and it certainly wasn't pleasurable.  So I caught the fireworks the next day on the BBC iPlayer and next year think I'll stay firmly at home.... much more comfortable!  There in the peace of your home you can also travel the world on the news seeing the New Year start in many different countries - a cheap form of travelling the globe!

Travel Insurance - and pre existing medical conditions

The consumer WHICH travel magazine published in November 2012, ran a very useful article on travel insurance for those with medical conditions.  I always remind my travellers of the importance of ensuring they take out adequate travel insurance and especially making sure they inform the company if they have any pre existing medical conditions.  High penalties by some companies can present a real deterrent to taking out adequate cover and so the WHICH information is of particular interest.  Pass it on to your travellers who need such guidance.  Travel insurance - cover for those with medical conditions

RCN Competences for Travel Health Nursing

Travel health nursing: career and competence development RCN guidance was republished in September 2012.  This document has been completely updated from the original publication in 2007.  Highlights include a new section providing an overview of travel medicine services in the UK including financial and prescribing issues, an updated resource section and brand new travel risk assessment and travel risk management forms.  The document is an essential tool for all nurses working in travel health and although written for nurses, much the information is equally applicable to doctors and pharmacists working in this field of practice.  Electronic copy is available at http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/78747/003146.pdf
If you would like a printed copy please e mail me at jane@janechiodini.co.uk providing your name and surgery address.  There is currently a restriction of one per surgery as copies are limited.

A Travel Experience

The third week of October 2012 I travelled to New York City for a long weekend break with my husband, staying in Times Square.  The weather was glorious, temperatures up to 24°C, blue skies, it was perfect weather!  We went to wonderful new attraction – the High Line.  This is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side.  The walk was truly amazing through many of the park features alongside old and new architecturally fascinating buildings en route.  For further information see  http://www.thehighline.org/  A couple of shows in Times Square, breakfast in a diner I first visited in 2003 ( with a group of travel health nurse friends when Barry Manilow came in and sat on the table next to us – we were attending the 8th Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine) and a little bit of retail therapy made a wonderful break!  Just one week after our return, devastation struck with Hurricane Sandy.  It was hard to take in the images and devastation this weather phenomenon caused.  It made me rethink the ease with which one can reach any corner of the world these days, but how fragile arrangements could be for anyone, anywhere, the impact of the host country for its economy and how important it is to take out good travel insurance.  More on the insurance aspect in a future blog! 

Pumpkin display in Chelsea Market,
Manhattan on our way to the
High Line at 14th Street

Walking the High Line with the
 Empire State Building 
in the background!