In Practice newsletter
8 December 2015
RACGP’s General practice patient charter released
To highlight the concept of ‘partners in care’ and the mutual responsibility of the patient and doctor, the RACGP has developed the General practice patient charter (the Charter).
The Charter was initiated and progressed by the RACGP National Standing Committee for General Practice Advocacy and Support (NSC-GPAS) and promotes patients and practices working together for mutual benefit.
The purpose of the Charter is to:
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contribute to the formation of a productive patient–GP partnership, supporting quality patient care
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promote a mutual understanding of the roles and responsibilities of both the patient and GP
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provide guidance to patients on what they can expect when seeking or receiving care
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support patients to become more involved in their healthcare
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allow patients, families, carers and providers to share an understanding of the rights of people when receiving general practice services.
A rigorous and extensive public consultation process earlier this year gained feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including consumer groups, RACGP members, government, state/territory health services commissioners, medical defence organisations and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare.
The Charter and supporting material is available on the RACGP website for download and comprises a flyer and poster for display in general practices, and guidelines for GPs and general practice staff to use during implementation.
The implementation of the Charter is completely voluntary and is not a mandatory requirement for practices. However the RACGP encourages you to review the resources and implement them in your practice, if you believe they can assist in contributing to the formation and maintenance of patient–GP relationships.
Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President
RACGP submission on private health insurance in general practice
The RACGP has expressed its concerns about extending private health insurance to broadly cover general practice services in its submission to the Private Health Insurance Consultations 2015–16.
The RACGP’s key arguments are that:
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changes to health funding and service provision should improve patient outcomes and be evidence based
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countries with strong public health insurance and adequately resources primary healthcare systems have better health outcomes
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any involvement of private health insurers in general practice must be in accordance with three key principles:
– duplication or fragmentation of care is prevented
– the clinical independence of GPs is recognised and support
– access to case is based on need, not private health insurance status.
However, with specific boundaries in place, the RACGP does see potential for private health insurer involvement in preventative healthcare, evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs, targeted chronic disease management and hospital avoidance programs.
The submission is largely based on the RACGP’s December 2014 position statement, Private health insurance in general practice.
Quality improvement in general practice
As we approach the final year of the 2014–16 RACGP QI&CPD triennium, now is a good time to consider what QI&CPD requirements you still have outstanding, and to complete quality improvement (QI) requirements, if you haven’t already.
There is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate that QI activities lead to positive change in practices, particularly when involving a whole-of-practice team approach.
Completion of one of the following activities satisfies the QI requirement:
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small group learning
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supervised clinical attachment (SCA)
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‘plan, do, study, act’ (PDSA)
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clinical audit
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general practice research
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evidence-based medicine journal club.
Alternatively, GPs can complete a QI reflection following attendance at any Category 1 active learning module (ALM).
Further information to guide you through these activities is available on the RACGP website, including a range of video resources.
RACGP clinical pearl – Abuse and violence: caring for children
With the continuing focus on family violence in the media, including this week’s Stop Domestic Violence Conference in Canberra, there is a need to ensure children are not forgotten. Child abuse is a major health issue and GPs play a key role in early detection, intervention and response to the effects of such abuse. GPs are in a unique position to notice changes in family situations that can lead to stress and potentially increase the risk of child abuse.
Family violence and child abuse frequently co-exist. Witnessing domestic violence is a form of child abuse and any disclosure of such violence by adult patients requires GPs to ensure the safety of children. In cases where the safety of children cannot be ensured, reporting is mandatory.
For more information, including resources and suggested ways to speak to children in these circumstances visit the RACGP Abuse and violence: Working with our patients in general practice (the White book).