RACGP Corporate Governance review
Following the publication of the Council’s preferred RACGP Governance Model, I am delighted to present the ‘RACGP Council Charter’ and the ‘RACGP Board Charter’. These form the core of the preferred revised RACGP Governance Model.
The concepts were workshopped by many RACGP member GPs to ensure they suitably address the RACGP’s governance requirements and also members’ needs.
The model addresses two key issues: the irreconcilable conflict of representatives on boards and the board’s need to incorporate skills, knowledge and experience.
It also reflects published recommendations for not-for-profit organisations by leading industry bodies such as the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
However, it does not just focus on addressing deficiencies. Instead, the RACGP Governance Model incorporates innovations reflecting a fitness for purpose and best practice.
Without relinquishing the quintessential factor of GP involvement, the model positively supplements the skills, knowledge and experience of the board where needed. It also maintains specialist GPs as the majority and ensures the RACGP remains member-controlled.
Importantly, the Council will operate as it always has, but with governance changes. Council will continue to manage the matters most important to GPs –those ‘College matters'. These are the RACGP’s policy matters, and include clinical and professional issues, position statements, examination and training, and interaction with other health bodies. These matters elicit the most professional passion, interest and involvement from GPs, and councillors will be free to pursue them unfettered by their representative function.
The RACGP is growing rapidly and requires a corresponding growth in governance practices. Realistically, few GPs in isolation can claim the skills, knowledge and experience to oversee a rapidly growing organisation. Opposition to a managerial approach does not recognise the complexities and requirements of the RACGP as it evolves.
I encourage you to review these documents, to look at the duties performed by each body, and to talk to your Faculty Chair about the deliberations that were made in coming to these conclusions. I, along with the Council, genuinely believe this is the best way forward for the RACGP.
The RACGP Governance Model is now available for members to view on the RACGP website.
Dr Frank R Jones
RACGP President
RACGP Council election ballot opens today
The ballot for the RACGP Council election opened today at 9.00am AEST (10 June 2016).
All eligible RACGP members are encouraged to take a strong interest in this election by visiting the RACGP website to read each candidate’s statement and supporting documentation, and use their option to vote.
Voting for these positions will close Monday 27 June, 4.00pm AEST. All eligible RACGP members will receive their voting details today, including a unique, random password and a link to a secure external voting website.
Release of the second draft - RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition)
The second draft of the RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) (the Standards) is now available for review.
The current consultation phase commenced on 6 June and is set to run until 30 September 2016. The RACGP welcomes feedback from all stakeholders on the second draft and the resource guide.
Please visit the RACGP Standards development page to provide feedback and to access a summary of the feedback received during the most recent consultation phase. All stakeholder feedback will be published, unless otherwise requested.
Off-label use of influenza vaccines in children
Each year, the Australian Department of Health monitors off-label use of seasonal influenza vaccines and in 2016, Fluarix Tetra and Fluvax use amongst children is being monitored. Unfortunately off-label influenza vaccines continue to be used amongst children under five, which poses a safety risk to those children.
- GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Fluarix Tetra is being incorrectly administered to children under three years (including half-doses of the vaccine) – this vaccine is not registered for this age group.
- Seqirus’ (BioCSL) Fluvax is being incorrectly administered to children under nine years of age.
All influenza vaccines are approved for use in specific age cohorts, based on research and evidence about their clinical safety and effectiveness. With multiple vaccines in use, and the still recent introduction to the market of quadrivalent vaccines, mistakes can be easily made.
In order to reduce the risk of off-label vaccine use in your practice, you could:
- organise your vaccine fridge so that children’s vaccines are quarantined and clearly labelled – for example, you could set up separate spaces in the fridge with signs indicating the appropriate age indications, eg ‘under three years only’
- make sure two clinical staff check vaccines before they are administered
- refresh your knowledge of the Australian Technical Advisory Group’s statement on influenza vaccines on the Immunise Australia website
- have discussions in your practice about what practical steps you could put into place to make sure patients receive the correct vaccine every time.
For more information visit the Immunise Australia website.
Clinical pearl
Building e-mental health into a GP Mental Health treatment plan
e-Mental health interventions are online programs for the prevention and treatment of mental illness that offer a convenient and cost-effective option for people with mild to moderate mental health issues.
Programs can be recommended to suitable patients as an alternative to face-to-face therapy using a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan to document the details of an e-mental health recommendation. Such a plan can list particular e-mental health programs for the patient to try, outline a schedule for follow-up, and present a plan for alternative or additional referral in the event that the intervention is not suitable.
For more information including links to templates, visit the RACGP resource e-Mental health: A guide for GPs.
In Practice poll results
RACGP presidential and member forum
On Thursday 16 June the RACGP will host a presidential and member forum in Melbourne.
The member forum has been initiated as part of the RACGP Corporate Governance Review and is an opportunity for RACGP members to discuss and debate key issues affecting general practice now and into the future.
Over the last couple of weeks the RACGP has been seeking member input on the issues for discussion, and the topics that have been selected are‘Funding for General Practice’ and ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship’.
Members are encouraged to submit questions for the presidential candidates to address during the event. Please provide your questions to advocacy@racgp.org.au by close of business Wednesday 15 June.
The presidential and member forum will be filmed and available to all members via the RACGP website following the event.