you are here: home page > links > reference

Reference for Health Professionals

If you are a health professional, here are some links to detailed information and further resources to keep you up to date. Simply follow the links provided to visit these sites.

While we make every effort to ensure that the information we link to is reliable, TravelHealth.co.uk cannot take responsibility for the information contained in these external websites.

Speciality Websites

Epidemiological record - WHO Weekly report from the World Health Organisation.  Opportunity to subscribe in electronic and printed format.  Back issues available online

Disaster Relief Information, resources and training on disaster relief

In-Flight Nursing Service An independent resource to all involved in In-flight and Travel Nursing/Medicine

TeleServe.org Telemedical support and information for volunteers working in aid and support overseas

Organisations

The British Travel Health Association The official website of the BTHA with links to research and publications.

International Society of Travel Medicine Information on travel medicine, forthcoming conferences, and valuable links.

World Health Organisation Home page of the World Health Organisation. Links to health topics, reports and WHO information.

CDC Home page of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA.  Resources and A-Z of health topics.

Research and Information

Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health Travel health advice for health care professionals.  Link to Travax resources. (Registration required)

MedScape Information on infectious diseases

EUVAX Scientific and technical evaluation of vaccination programmes in the European Union

Electronic Medicines Compendium Free medicine information - with individual log-in categories for healthcare professionals and the general public.

Newsletters

TDR - Tropical Diseases Research Electronic mailing list for tropical diseases research scientists by the WHO.  Also links to a host of related other mailing lists and discussion forums.

ProMED Mail The global electronic reporting system for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases

Travel Health Courses

Magister 

Magister Travel Health Distance Learning Unit

This is an open learning programme for those nursing within general practice and in the community. More than 3,000 nurses have successfully used the Magister Unit. It aims to give a practical knowledge base in travel health and consists of four units.

• Tutorial One:     Health Education and Disease Prevention
• Tutorial Two:     The Environment and Special groups of travellers
• Tutorial Three:   Immunisation and prophylaxis
• Tutorial Four:     Managing a Health Service

Credits:
You can obtain 25 CEP point from the RCN following the completion of the Travel Health Unit.

Enquiries:
For more information on this course contact Richard Bazneh or visit the website at www.magisterconsulting.com.

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine:
Short course in Travel Medicine

Course tutors: 
Dr R H Behrens and Ms B Carroll

Who Should Attend:
This course is designed for general practitioners and practice nurses who provide a pre-travel health service. Teaching is through lectures, discussions and practical sessions in the use of technology to access current health information.

Content:
The course will cover a range of topics pertinent to the everyday practice of travel medicine, including:

• operating a travel clinic
• accessing travel health information
• consultation and communication skills
• the disadvantaged traveller
• accidents, injuries and repatriation
• tuberculosis and travel
• indications for vaccines
• prevention of jetlag
• vaccine handling and storage
• communicable disease
• current issues in malaria prophylaxis
• vector-borne disease
• skin & parasitic infections
• food and waterborne disease
• expatriate screening and care abroad

For one session, participants pay a visit to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic, and attend a practical computing workshop. 

Enquiries:
For further details, contact:The Registry, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP. 

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7299 4648; fax: +44 (0)20 7323 0638; e-mail: shortcourses@lshtm.ac.uk 

Travel-Health Related Education & Care (T.R.E.C.)

T.R.E.C. was developed to provide accessible travel-health care, education and information.

T.R.E.C. provides both introductory courses and short updates, designed to meet the needs of doctors and nurses who find themselves involved in the growing field of health advice for travellers.

For full course details and to register, visit www.TRECtravelhealth.co.uk.

Distance Learning (Glasgow)

The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) with its long established background in travel medicine education, offers two courses for health care professionals.

1) Diploma in Travel Medicine

Available since 1995, the aim of this course is "to provide suitably qualified and motivated health professionals with theoretical and practical knowledge sufficient to accurately and safely advise intending travelers."

The course takes one full calendar year to complete and includes:
" An introductory residential week
" Completion of 10 distance learning units of core material with written assignments
" A mid session residential week including workshops
" A small original research project carried out over 3 months
" A final written and practical exam
" A personal advisor allocated to all students.

The diploma is awarded through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow). Students may be invited to continue onto Msc in Travel Medicine through the University of Glasgow.

2) Foundation in Travel Medicine

Available since 1997, the aim of this course is "to provide a foundation of knowledge in travel medicine for health professionals working in the field". The course takes 6 months to complete and includes completion of 4 distance learning units of core material with written assignments.

These assignments include:
" Infections
" Immunizations theory and available vaccines
" Malaria
" Sources of information for travel health advisors; providing a travel medicine service and setting up a travel clinic
" A 2-day residential component including lectures and workshops (held at the end of the course)
All students are allocated a personal advisor. Continuing Education points are being applied for.

For further information: Miss Amanda Burridge, Course Administrator, Travel Health Department, Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, GLASGOW, G3 7LN. Tel: 0141 300 1132. Fax: 0141 300 1170. Email: Tmdiploma@scieh.csa.scot.nhs.uk