Clinician Modules

This advanced education package was designed by clinicians for clinicians. Each module was developed in consultation with a clinical expert on the module topic. Aimed at clinicians and senior health staff, topics range from an introduction to acute rheumatic fever through to medical management of rheumatic heart disease.

These modules are designed to be a self-paced, interactive learning tool. Each module takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. Users can choose to do as many modules as they need to meet their learning requirements.

Begin Clinician Modules

Module Summaries

Clinician Module 1: ARF/RHD What is it?

This module is an overview of ARF and RHD in the global and Australian context. It includes the ARF/RHD disease pathway, an introduction to the Jones criteria for diagnosis of ARF; disease statistics from northern Australia and RHD prevention strategies including a summary of Australia’s Rheumatic Fever Strategy and RHD control program objectives.

Prof Jonathan Carapetis
Ph.D., FAFPHM, FRACP (Infectious Diseases), FRACP (Paediatrics), MBBS, BMed.Sc

Clinician Module 2: Primordial and Primary Prevention

This module includes a description of the autoimmune response in relation to ARF and highlights risk factors for the disease. It includes a description of primordial and primary prevention including changes to environment and the development of a vaccination to prevent GAS infections.

Dr Graeme Maguire
James Cook University and Baker IDI

Clinician Module 3: Diagnosis of ARF in Children

This module is a discussion of the Jones criteria for diagnosis of ARF as applied to children. It includes a description of the major manifestations including investigations and treatment, the minor manifestations, key points and differential diagnosis, and the difference between definite and probable diagnosis.

Dr Alan Ruben
FRACP, FAFPHM, Paediatrician and Public Health Physician

Dr Ben Reeves
MBBS, FRACP, Paediatric cardiologist

Clinician Module 4: Diagnosing ARF in Adults

This module is a discussion of the Jones criteria for diagnosis of ARF as applied to adults, including challenges around diagnosis in older people. It includes a description of the major manifestations including investigations and treatment, the minor manifestations, key points and differential diagnosis, and the difference between definite and probable diagnosis.

Dr Stephen Brady
FRACP, Physician and Rheumatologist

Clinician Module 5: Secondary Prevention

This module is a discussion of the principles of secondary prevention of ARF and RHD. It includes drug treatment regimens to prevent recurrence of ARF, and strategies for reducing injection pain. It also includes information about how RHD programs and registers can be used to monitor and improve treatment delivery, and reduce the prevalence of RHD among those at risk.

Dr Malcolm McDonald
PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, Outreach Physician, School of Medicine & Dentistry James Cook University

Dr Keith Edwards
MBBS, BSc, DCH, FRCP, FRCPCH, Community Paediatrician

Clinician Module 6: RHD Diagnosis : General Principles

This module is a discussion of the key principles of RHD diagnosis. It includes common issues and some unusual presentations; it highlights some of the barriers to RHD diagnosis and management, and includes an introduction to the mitral and aortic heart valves, and the importance of echocardiography in aiding diagnosis.

Dr Gavin Wheaton
MBBS, FRACP, Director of Paediatric Medicine Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide

Dr Malcolm McDonald
PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, Outreach Physician, School of Medicine & Dentistry James Cook University

Clinician Module 7: RHD & Dental Care

This module contains information about the importance of oral hygiene and dental care in preventing health problems, such as endocarditis, in people with RHD.

Dr Robyn Boase
BDS, FRACDS, BS

Clinician Module 8: Medical Management of Mitral Valve Disease

This module focuses on diagnosis and management of mitral regurgitation and stenosis. For each lesion it includes signs and symptoms, diagnostic techniques including interpretation of auscultation and echocardiogram findings, and barriers to management. It also includes information about criteria for surgical referral for mitral stenosis, and highlights the risk of atrial fibrillation in mitral valve disease.

Dr Warren Walsh
MB, BS, FRACP, FACC, Clinical Cardiologist Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney NSW

Clinician Module 9: Medical Management of Aortic Valve Disease

This module focuses on diagnosis and management of aortic regurgitation and stenosis. For each lesion it includes signs and symptoms, diagnostic techniques including interpretation of auscultation and echocardiogram findings, and barriers to management.

Dr Warren Walsh
MB, BS, FRACP, FACC, Clinical Cardiologist Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney NSW

Clinician Module 10: RHD : Mitral Stenosis - The option of Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty

This module contains information about the symptoms and diagnosis, and medical and surgical management of mitral stenosis in RHD. This includes relevant diagnostic assessments and practical issues and follow up of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Dr Con Aroney
MBBS, FRACP, FCSANZ, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Queensland

Clinician Module 11: RHD & Stroke

This module is an introduction to the main causes and clinical features of stroke related to RHD. The information focuses on embolic stroke with infective endocarditis and prosthetic heart valves. Haemorrhagic stroke and over-coagulation are also discussed.

Dr Jim Burrow
MBBS, FRACP, Neurologist

Dr Malcolm McDonald
PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, Outreach Physician, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University

Clinician Module 12: RHD : Management of Anticoagulation in the bush

This module contains information about the safe use of warfarin and provides practical information about managing patients requiring anticoagulation medication in remote settings. Monitoring INR and warfarin documentation is also discussed.

Dr Paul Burgess
PhD, MBBS, Senior remote general practitioner and Public Health Physician

Fiona Bittlestone
B.Pharm, Grad.Dip.Clin.Pharm, Outreach Pharmacist

Clinician Module 13: RHD & Infective Endocarditis

This module contains information about infective endocarditis in relation to RHD. It includes a summary of risk groups, causative organisms, signs and symptoms, the Duke criteria and use of echocardiography for diagnosis, complications, and strategies for prevention and management.

Dr Graeme Maguire
James Cook University and Baker ID

Clinician Module 14: Pregnancy in RHD

This module contains information about the risks and management of RHD in pregnancy. This includes discussion about specific valve lesions, pregnancy planning and counselling, surgical intervention and maternal outcomes.

Dr Jaye Martin
MBBS FRACP

Dr Barry Walters
MBBS FRACP

Clinician Module 15: Screening for RHD

This module includes an introduction to the principles of screening as applied to RHD. This includes suitability for screening, reliability of the screening method, effectiveness of treatment and the cost of finding cases.

Dr Kathryn Roberts
B Med Sci, MBBS, MPH & TM, FRACP, Paediatrician , Royal Darwin Hospital, PhD Scholar, Menzies School of Health Research

Dr Malcolm McDonald
PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, Outreach Physician, School of Medicine & Dentistry James Cook University