National cardio-oncology network to be set up
A national network of cardio-oncology service hubs is to be set up under a joint initiative funded by the Heart Foundation and the Federal Government.
Associate Professor Rachel Conyers of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne will lead the project to establish three cardio-oncology hubs across Australia after being awarded the grant
“The aim is to improve the cardiovascular outcomes of Australian cancer survivors through a national network of multidisciplinary cardio-oncology hubs that combine research with clinical services,” she said.
“These services will deliver centralised hubs of expertise, with protocolised risk assessment and guideline directed cardiac surveillance and enrolment within a suite of new research studies to improve cardio-oncology outcomes.”
The latest on secondary stroke prevention
A comprehensive new guideline on the secondary prevention of stroke has reiterated the importance of defining the ischaemic stroke aetiology where possible.
Recommendations in the 104-page guideline, from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, have therefore been grouped according to subtype.
The guidelines included diagnostic evaluation, management of vascular and lifestyle risk factors, antithrombotic therapy, comorbidities and more.
In one highlighted change since the 2014 guideline, it says it is now considered reasonable to close patent foramen ovale percutaneously in selected patients: those with younger age with nonlacunar stroke or no other cause at any age.
Specialists in top 10 for Australian incomes
Doctors led by surgeons and anaesthetists hold five of the 10 top places for high-income earners in Australia, according to ATO statistics for the 2018-19 financial year.
Internal medicine specialists were in third spot, with average taxable income of $304,752, although earnings varied by jurisdiction, from $343,353 in Western Australia to $287,437 in NSW and $269,158 in the Northern Territory.
Surgeons were Australia’s most highly remunerated occupation, with an average taxable income of $394,303, followed by anaesthetists on $386,065. Psychiatrists were in 5th place on $235,558, while ‘other medical practitioners’, in 6th place, recorded average earnings of $222,933.
By way of comparison, the average taxable income for Australians was $62,549 overall, ($73,218 for males, $51,382 for females). Besides doctors other high income occupations included financial dealers in 4th place with $275,984, judges and lawyers (7th) with $188,798 and mining engineers (8th) with $184,507.
Australian CEOs and managing directors recorded average incomes of $164,896, (9th) and engineering managers rounded out the list with $159,940.