April 2017

The RACGP has released the first in a  series of videos  outlining the cases for and against change ahead of the 30 May Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).   The Notice of Meeting (NOM) has been distributed to members this week. The Notice is also available on the  RACGP website , along with the proposed constitutional changes for the Special Resolutions included in the Notice, the Explanatory Memorandum and other supporting documents. Proxy nominations are now open and must be received no later than 8.00 pm (AEST) on Sunday 28 May 2017. You ...

The RACGP has been awarded a prestigious international prize for shareGP, the online collaboration space for Australian GPs, only six months after the platform was launched. The Jive Digital Transformation Award will be presented at the JiveWorld17 conference on Wednesday 3 May. Since its launch in September, shareGP has been used by nearly 9000 RACGP members with more than 1700 general practice conversations and 23,000 log ins. Log in to  shareGP  to read more about the Jive Digital Transformation Award.

GPs throughout Australia have been sent a letter from Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy outlining interim arrangements during the delay of the National Cervical Screening (NCS) Program. The letter includes information on cervical screening Medicare Benefit Scheme (MBS) items. It also details how the delay to the NCS Program will impact the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Until 30 November 2017, GPs should encourage all eligible women aged 18–69 to have their two- yearly pap test and attend their follow up appointment when due....

Residents, interns and international medical graduates can now  apply online  for 2018 the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program with the RACGP. If you have already started your application, please  continue the saved application . For information on all things AGPT with the RACGP please visit the  RACGP AGPT webpage . If you have any AGPT questions and would like to speak to a representative, the RACGP will be open this Saturday 29 April 9.00 am – 5.00 pm to answer your queries. Call 1800 472 247.

The RACGP will have a strong presence at two rural health conferences in Cairns over the coming week. The National Rural Health Conference (26 –29 April) and the WONCA World Rural Health Conference (29 April –2 May) will attract health professionals from around the world and deliver a multidisciplinary focus of the health service models in more remote areas while providing an Australian context for rural family practice. RACGP Rural will be strongly represented at both conferences with key faculty-led research being presented at the national confer...

World Immunisation Week (24–30 April 2017) is a timely reminder of the important role GPs play in the provision of vaccines for all patients, from birth and at particular ages throughout life. Populations with lower levels of age-appropriate immunisation rates include people who are: of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent born overseas without private health insurance in the highest or lowest socioeconomic quintile of low birth weight and singleton birth. Evidence supports a number of strategies for improving immunisation such as ad...

Discharge summaries are the primary method of communication between hospitals and a patient’s GP upon discharge. There is an expectation that discharge summaries provide clear and sufficient information to ensure GPs are able to follow up safely and effectively, including the follow-up of test results. It is inefficient for GPs to have to follow up with hospitals when discharge summaries are unclear and lacking important information; presented in confusing formats; or are even non-existent. There have been alarming cases in which discharge summaries...

A considerable amount of discussion continues to take place in  shareGP  about the proposed RACGP governance changes and the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on the 30 May. Members will vote on the  special resolutions , which contain the proposed constitutional changes, at the EGM. The  explanatory memorandum , also available in shareGP, provides an explanation of those special resolutions. The EGM will be held virtually and streamed online, allowing member participation from any location. Eligible members will be invited to vote online either ...