College Fax 30 March 2007
Message to members
RACGP President at 2007 Skin Cancer Conference
I had the honour of speaking at the 2007 Skin Cancer Conference of the Skin Cancer Society of Australia on the Gold Coast last weekend. The significant burden of skin cancer in Australia, and the central role of primary care management, makes conferences such as these of major interest to our profession.
The college has been involved in the setting of standards for skin cancer care, as in our work with members of the Skin Cancer Society of Australia to develop standards for skin cancer clinics.
Skin cancer care is a daily part of our work, being the commonest malignancy seen in general practice in Australia, and many general practitioners have a special interest in this area.
Our college is developing a specific chapter for general practitioners with specific interests and I will be hosting a meeting with special interest groups in May this year to discuss the ideas we have.
The college’s work in special interest areas pave the way for similar processes for other special interest areas, such as obstetrics, general practice diagnostic facilities, and a wide range of other areas. I will be in touch with members with updates and developments in the near future.
Congress of Ageing meeting in Victoria
Last Sunday, the RACGP Victoria Faculty joined with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to host the very successful Congress on Ageing, a full day learning seminar that explored the challenges of caring for older patients and a co-ordinated approach to meeting their health care needs. This innovative meeting included case discussions that followed the health care journey of an elderly couple through different key life stages. The ageing of our population is an urgent test that our community must face. General practitioners and pharmacists are on the front line of providing the quality care that older Australians deserve and we need to work together with all sections of the health sector including government, to meet this challenge. The Congress of Ageing continues to be a tremendously successful event on the general practice calendar, and I would urge all general practitioners to look out for future congresses. Congratulations to the RACGP Victoria Faculty Board and staff for such a successful meeting.
RACGP Membership Committee meeting
I met with the RACGP Membership Committee last week, and key on the agenda is the ongoing planning for events to celebrate our 50th year with participation from all our faculties. Our Membership Committee is also pursuing a strengthening of our important relationship with the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) as part of our commitment to the lifelong ‘journey of general practice’, from undergraduate medical students through to our valued Life Members and Life Fellows.
We have also established the Friends of the College, under the patronage of esteemed Past President and Life Member, Dr David Game AO KSJ, to ensure that long standing members of our college have an opportunity to remain active in their local faculty and to foster an ongoing sense of collegiality.
Our membership continues to grow to record levels, through the fine work of this key college committee.
Modular Assessment Pathway (MAP) update
The Modular Assessment Pathway (MAP) Steering Committee met last Monday to progress this program. Issues covered included the future development of integrated pathways for rural doctors of the FARGP and FRACGP, and the development of QA&CPD activities to support doctors undertaking the MAP program. The MAP pilot has proven very successful and has been oversubscribed, and the committee discussed options to cater for this extra demand. There will be further MAP updates, both to MAP participants directly and members through FridayFax.
Integrative medicine in general practice
I recently met with Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, chair of the RACGP-Australian Integrative Medicine Association Joint Working Party (RACGP-AIMA JWP) and committee members Dr Craig Hassed and Dr Maria Pirotta to look at ways in which we can support general practitioners in the area of integrative medicine. Issues discussed included the possible development of an evidence based database for integrative medicine, and a database of general practitioners involved in integrative medicine that others can use as a resource. The work of the RACGP-AIMA JWP has been an exemplary model of how to involve a broad range of medical practitioners in the college while supporting high standards of quality care, education and research in general practice.
RACGP Aboriginal Health and Torres Strait Islander Working Group meet to review RACGP curriculum
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group met last Thursday at the RACGP National Office to review the RACGP Aboriginal Health Curriculum Statement. This group comprising representatives from a broad range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health stakeholders are currently reviewing the RACGP curriculum to ensure that standards for high quality training for Australian general practitioners meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This project is a joint initiative of our Aboriginal Health Unit and our Education Services, and the college is committed to the improving health outcomes in close partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Call for nominations for RACGP Nation Rural Faculty Education Committee
I warmly invite expressions of interest from general practitioners with expertise in rural general practice education to join our RACGP National Rural Faculty Rural Education Committee. This extremely important committee provides direction to the National Rural Faculty and RACGP Council on educational and vocational training issues relating to the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice and Graduate Diploma of Rural General Practice. All interested general practitioners can contact Carolyn Turner at email carolyn.turner@racgp.org.au or telephone 1800 636 764 for further information.
RACGP Vic Faculty – Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia, Inaugural Joint General Practice Conference Malaysia
I am very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our Inaugural Joint General Practice Conference of the Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria Faculty in Malaysia 26–29 April 2007. The theme ‘Advances in musculoskeletal diseases in general practice’ will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. For more information on this exciting initiative visit www.racgp.org.au/vic/events or contact Emma Stonham on 03 8699 046 or email emma.stonham@racgp.org.au
RACGP response to ACSQHC national safety and quality accreditation standards discussion paper
The college has responded to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) discussion paper ‘National safety and quality accreditation standards’ available at www.safetyandquality.org Members can find the college’s response at www.racgp.org.au/reports Comments are welcome from members and can be forwarded to friday.fax@racgp.org.au
From the President’s diary
This week’s meetings include the Finance and Risk Management Committee meeting, the National Education Steering Committee, and the agenda setting meeting for the next RACGP Council. With Easter approaching, there will be no FridayFax on Good Friday. I know many of you will be working over the holiday period, and our thoughts are with you. For those not on call, I wish you a restful break, safe travelling on any journeys, and a blessed Easter.
Vasantha Preetham
RACGP President
Amendment to Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2007 relating to endorsements by health care professionals
Health care professionals need to know that an amendment to Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code 2007 that prohibits advertisements for therapeutic goods directed to consumers from containing endorsements by health care professionals took legal effect on Thursday, 8 March 2007. The college has received notice from the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code Committee (TGACC) that all existing, approved advertisements can continue until their current, 2 year approval period expires (noting that most advertisements do not have the full 2 year period to run at this point in time); that all existing point of sale advertising material and product labelling (not subject to any defined approval periods); and other advertisements for which approval is not required which include professional endorsements, must be completely ‘phased out’ within the next 12 months. Any new advertisements that contain a professional endorsement on or after 8 March 2007 will be deemed as being in breach of s.4(6)(b) of the TGAC 2007. For more information visit www.tga.gov.au/advert/tgac0703.htm
Are you a GP with a story to tell?
Or perhaps you have a story to tell about someone else! The Editor of GPReview is always keen to hear about new, unusual or exciting ventures that our members have been involved in. Perhaps you have been the medic on a trek to Mt Everest, or finished a locum somewhere unusual, maybe you have a story to tell about moving to Australia and the path to Fellowship… whatever your story, you can be sure that it will be of interest to your GP colleagues. Drop us an email at gpreview@racgp.org.au
General Practice Registrar of the Year – nominations now open
The GP Registrar of the Year is nominated by GP trainer/mentors and other general practitioners with final selection overseen by a RACGP adjudication panel. This award will be judged on the following criteria: commitment to general practice and to learning; service to patients, practice and education; and services to the community. The winning registrar will receive an educational scholarship valued at $5000 and a profile in Australian Family Physician. This is your chance to make a difference by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of a registrar. Nominations to be received no later than 30 June 2007. For further information and nomination forms visit www.racgp.org.au/gpoftheyear
Early bird registration extended! RACGP 50th Gold Coast weekend clinical update 5–6 May 2007
The RACGP Queensland Faculty invites you to be a part of the 50th Annual RACGP Gold Coast Clinical Update 2007 – ‘50 years 50 stories’. The early bird registration deadline has been extended to Thursday 5 April, so register now to take advantage of this great discount. The conference is being held at the five star Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort situated in the heart of the Gold Coast and is an excellent opportunity to establish, renew and develop relationships with friends, organisations and industry professionals, and enjoy the famous beaches, shopping and nightlife of Surfers Paradise. This year we focus on the past, present and future of medical care that build on and celebrate the successes and breakthroughs in health care delivery, and look forward to where medical care might head over the next 50 years. RACGP President, Dr Vasantha Preetham, the Queensland Health Minister, The Hon Stephen Robertson MP, and the NRF Chair Dr Chris Mitchell will be presenting at the conference. For further information download the conference brochure at www.racgp.org.au/events or contact YRD Conference Organisers on 07 3871 1155, fax 07 3871 1232 or email racgp@yrd.com.au
NSW & ACT Faculty’s Update and Uplift course, Wollongong 20–22 April
Registrations are still open for NSW & ACT Faculty’s Update and Uplift. This 2 day retreat provides an excellent opportunity to update skills and uplift your spirits. You can also earn Category one and Category two QA&CPD points. For more information or for a brochure, please contact the faculty on 02 9886 4725 or email nswact.events@racgp.org.au
RACGP ASC 2007 invitation for papers, posters and workshop abstracts
The RACGP invites you to participate in the ASC 2007 by presenting short essays, innovative ideas and research findings addressing the convention theme ‘Our patients, our communities, our profession’. As this is our 50th convention, presenters are encouraged to consider how their topic relates to our discipline’s past, present and future. For further information visit www.racgp.org.au/asc2007/abstracts Early bird registration available now!
ASC 2007 short film festival
Are you a GP, medical student, practice staff member or practice manager? The RACGP ASC Short Film Festival is your opportunity to celebrate the cultural life of general practice. Submit your film that highlights the convention theme: ‘Our patients, our communities, our profession’. Prizes for fiction and non-fiction (documentary or interview) categories will be awarded based on production quality, originality, the film’s emotional connection with the audience, and how clearly the film conveys the convention theme. Entries must be submitted on DVD and can employ a range of formats including film, video, animation and claymation. For more information, including advice on permissions and intellectual property and tips for shooting your film, visit www.racgp.org.au/asc2007
Call for abstracts, AIMA 13th International Holistic Health Conference, 24–26 August 2007
The Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) in now calling for abstracts and registrations for the 13th International Holistic Health Conference on 24–26 August 2007, at Peppers Fairmont, Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Please note there are student scholarships available. For more information contact Anna Ryan on 03 8699 0582, fax 03 8699 0584, email admin@aima.net.au or visit www.aima.net.au
Look at journal alerts on global family doctor – WONCA online
Read about the effectiveness of aspirin, coxibs and NSAIDs in reducing the incidence of colonic adenoma and colorectal cancer; that coxibs give better upper gastrointestinal safety than NSAIDs; and the treatment of the common cold. To see these and other items posted this week, visit www.globalfamilydoctor.com and click ‘current week’. Enrol for free journal alerts at www.globalfamilydoctor.com/enrollment.asp
Attention South Australian GPs – Workcover Corporation, annual fee indexation
The RACGP SA/NT Faculty are actively working in collaboration with AMA (SA) in negotiating better remuneration for GPs from Workcover Corporation. An increase of 4% is due to be passed on the 1 July 2007. The new rate will be adopted for all hourly rate fees. In the case of fees with a flat fixed rate (such as consultations for each group, medical procedures and imaging), the effective indexation rate will be applied. The SA&NT Faculty Board is keen to collect de-identified practice data to negotiate a better fee structure from Workcover in the future. The faculty will be contacting practices willing to provide this information. A copy of the Medical Fee Schedule can be found on the WorkCover SA website at www.workcover.com
PLEASE SEND CONTRIBUTIONS, COMMENTS AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES TO FREEFAX 1800 625 060 OR email friday.fax@racgp.org.au. The RACGP is not responsible for any action taken in reliance on anything in this fax.
