Dear Members and Friends of ACNEM,

I have recently taken over from Dennis Crowley as CEO and would firstly like to offer a vote of thanks to Dennis for his dedication and hard work over the last 12 months in forging a new path for the College. Thanks also to Michelle Bradford and Kathryn Silver who manage the day-to-day operations of the College.

As you are probably aware, ACNEM has been undergoing a process of renewal and I'm looking forward to bringing fresh ideas and energy to that process. The ACNEM Board are very supportive of my appointment and also look forward to developing recent initiatives.

By way of introduction, most recently I completed a Masters by Research while teaching at RMIT University in the Department of Complementary Medicine. I have also been working part-time for the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA). Prior to developing a passion for Integrative Medicine and post-graduate education, my background was in financial management and I.T.

One of the initiatives underway at ACNEM is the development of a regular monthly email newsletter with news, events and other items of interest. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to contribute an item for the next email newsletter.

The ACNEM Journal is also undergoing changes. I would like to welcome and thank Lesley Braun for accepting the position of Editor. In addition to a new editorial committee, the design and content of the journal will be changing in the near future. Please consider whether you would like to contribute a scientific paper, article or news item for the next edition.

I would also like to draw your attention to our upcoming courses, to be held in Darling Harbour and the Gold Coast, and invite you to consider joining us. You'll find more information and links below.

Thank you for your continuing support of ACNEM and I look forward to meeting and talking with many of you in the near future.

Warm regards,

Stephen Penman
CEO

Upcoming Courses (see RACGP QA&CPD Points below)
Some good news for those living on the East coast, or looking for a reason to visit Darling Harbour or the Gold Coast. Attending the Primary Course now earns 40 Category 1 RACGP QA&CPD points. Applications for QA&CPD points are pending for the Special Training Programs. Early bird pricing ends 15 July for the August courses, so please be quick to book.

August - Novotel Darling Harbour, Sydney

• Primary Course in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (6-9 Aug) register
  
• The Gut - Special Training Program (STP) (6-7 Aug) register
• The Changing Face of Allergy and Autoimmune Disease STP (8-9 Aug) register

November - Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise

• Primary Course in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (5-8 Nov) register
• Practical Cancer Treatment STP (dates to be confirmed)
• 2nd STP (topic and dates to be confirmed)

RACGP QA&CPD Points
Good news. Attending the Primary Course now earns 40 Category 1 QA&CPD points. Applications for QA&CPD points are pending for the Special Training Programs (STPs). ACNEM is now a fully accredited provider for the Triennium 2008-2010.

14th International Holistic Health Conference
The popular annual AIMA Holistic Health Conference is being held at the Swiss-Grand Resort & Spa, overlooking Australia's most famous stretch of sand and surf at Bondi Beach, 19-21 September 2008.

Speakers include Senator Jan McLucas, Prof Wolfgang Koestler, Prof Ian Brighthope, Assoc Prof David Colquhoun and Prof John Murtagh.

The call for abstracts closes 31 July. Early bird pricing closes 15 August. Click here for the full program and registration form.

RACGP Integrative Medicine Fellowship
The AIMA/RACGP Joint Working Party has recently announced the proposed establishment of an Integrative Medicine Faculty within the College, as part of a wider College initiative to develop faculties of specific interest to GPs. The IM Faculty will provide an accreditation system and educational framework for doctors wishing to undertake a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine.

This represents an excellent opportunity for ACNEM and we expect that our Primary Course and selected STPs will sit well within the guidelines for accreditation under the Fellowship. We are working closely with AIMA to maximise the opportunities and role for ACNEM in this initiative.

More infomation on the IM Fellowship to follow.

In the Trenches
One of our members wrote to us recently with a warning about using VR content-based item numbers D44 and C36 for long consultations. Essentially he warned that it is very difficult to perfectly fulfil the content requirements of these item numbers and that use of these item numbers may attract review. He suggested using instead the non-VR, non-content based item numbers 57 and 54 for prolonged consultations.

A case in point for sound clinical practice; keep careful well-constructed medical notes, which meet the requirements of the item numbers charged. More information is available on request.

Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine Inc
ARBN: A0022218W ABN: 18776847535