Pregnancy and the Singing Voice: A Survey of What Singers Report.

Pregnancy has profound effects on a variety of body systems by way of hormonal and physical changes. Many of these changes directly affect body systems involved in singing. Assumptions exist about what can happen to a person's voice during pregnancy, but these assumptions are based on theoretical predictions leaving little knowledge of the lived experiences of voice changes during pregnancy.

Selective versus universal third trimester ultrasound: Time for a rethink? An audit of current practices at a metropolitan Sydney hospital.

Introduction: Routine third-trimester ultrasound (T3US) is not recommended in evidence-based clinical guidelines despite occurring frequently. This study investigated the incidence, indication for, results and follow-up needs of T3US performed at a Sydney metropolitan teaching hospital.

Methods: Audit of T3US amongst singleton pregnancies at St George Hospital, Sydney: retrospective review October-December 2012, prospective cohort with clinician survey February-April 2013.

The immunisation cold chain. Why is it so hard to get right?

Background: Although the standards for vaccine storage required for accreditation of general practices, and the Guidelines for Australian Immunisation are widely available, all research to date suggests that in Australia compliance with these standards has not been readily achieved.

Objective: The New South Wales Central West Division of General Practice (NSWCWDGP) and the Public Health Unit of the New South Wales Mid Western Area Health Service (NSW MWAHS) worked together from 1999 to 2001 to produce an intervention that would gather information about current vaccine storage, and provide practical help to storage sites which were not complying with accepted standards.

Discussion: Cooperation between a general practice division and the public health unit can deliver coverage of 100% of vaccinators in a large geographic region.

Tackling tough management issues: advice from the top.

Wondering how your peers across the country are managing the myriad challenges that confront HIM professionals? We assembled a panel of experts to address common problems and concerns.