RACGP releases its position statement on Primary Health Networks
After careful consideration of the Department of Health’s (DoH) Invitation To Apply (ITA) and Grant Program Guidelines, released 29 November, the RACGP has published its position statement on Primary Health Networks (PHNs). The RACGP supports, in principle, primary healthcare organisations that recognise general practice as the foundation for a robust and effective primary healthcare sector. For PHNs to be a success, they must be GP-centred, responsive to community need, and deliver a coordination of, rather than provision of, services.
The RACGP is pleased that tenderers are required to demonstrate their capacity to ‘support GPs as the cornerstone of primary healthcare’, but does not support corporate organisations, private health insurers or organisations substantially controlled by another organisation that directly fund or provide patient services, tendering or operate PHNs. The RACGP will not endorse or support any individual tender applications.
The ITA requires tenderers to outline how the GP-led Clinical Council will report to the Board and influence decision making on clinical issues and strategies to meet the needs of their community. This is critical and should support the adoption of practical solutions developed by clinicians to solve issues of access and continuity of care, improve patient services in the regions, and improve health outcomes in the region. More detail is needed before the RACGP can be satisfied that GPs and other primary healthcare providers will have sufficient input into the operation and activities of their PHN. I encourage you all to access the position statement on the RACGP website and will communicate updates on the establishment of PHNs in future issues of In Practice.
Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President
RACGP attends Independent Expert Panel roundtable meeting in Canberra today
RACGP representatives, including National Rural Faculty Chair Dr Ayman Shenouda, are attending a roundtable meeting of an Independent Expert Panel in Canberra today. The stakeholder meeting is one of the final consultations prior to the release of the Modified Monash Model (MMM), which was announced by Federal Assistant Minister for Health, Fiona Nash, in October and will re-shape the rural classification system of general practice for the future. The agenda for today’s meeting includes how the General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) and consideration of junior doctor training in rural general practice will be adapted to the MMM.
The implementation of an MMM, in identifying rurality, will ensure stronger overall targeting of incentives and programs. However, targeting is required to ensure the best outcomes from workforce programs for rural areas. Areas most in need must be prioritised first for efficient use of incentive funding and to provide workforce results.
The RACGP’s formal submission to the Rural Classification System Reform Rural Incentives and Training Integration Reviews, as part of the broader classification system reform, outlines a preferred approach to the implementation of the MMM. This approach encompasses additional scalability to ensure incentives reach the areas of most need and will be made available to members via the RACGP website in the near future.
Member feedback on RACGP General Practice Patient Charter
The RACGP invites members to provide feedback on the final documents of the draft General Practice Patient Charter, developed via its National Standards Committee – General Practice Advocacy and Support (NSC-GPAS). The Charter aims to provide general practices with a resource that supports quality patient care through the promotion of mutual understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the practice and the patient, and serves as a set of principles applicable to general practice settings nationally. The Charter supports the RACGP’s principle of a person-centred health system, with mutually beneficial partnerships between patients, their families and GPs. To receive a copy of the documents, email
advocacy@racgp.org.auand provide written feedback via email by January 9 2015. The final
General Practice Patient Charter is expected to be released early 2015.
Clinical pearl – The importance of recoding Indigenous status
Clinical recommendations for pneumococcal and influenza vaccination are different for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. There are also differences in other preventive health recommendations, such as the age at which to start screening for cardiovascular disease.
Some Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications, such as Mupirocin nasal ointment or anti-fungal medications, are available only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. It is therefore important that all patients are identified as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, both or neither in order to ensure they receive the most effective care available. The RACGP’s Standards for general practices (4th edition) requires that the Indigenous status of patients is identified and documented in medical records.
For more information on the appropriate way to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, refer to the RACGP’s Identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian general practice position paper.
RACGP Christmas closure
The RACGP will be closed for the Christmas period from 22 December and will reopen 5 January 2015. Please note,
In Practice will take a one-month hiatus in January and will resume Tuesday 3 February 2015. On behalf of everyone at the RACGP, we wish you all the best for the festive season.