General Practice: Health of the Nation 2017 report released at Parliament House
The RACGP launched its inaugural General Practice: Health of the Nation report at Parliament House in Canberra this week.
The release of this report marks a major milestone for the RACGP, Australian GPs and their patients.
Health of the Nation will provide an annual insight into the state of general practice, with more than 1300 RACGP Fellows from across Australia involved in the survey.
Like other medical specialties, general practice is a profession worthy of comprehensive and reliable research. Health of the Nation will report on trends across general practice and help to identify current and emerging challenges facing the profession.
Visit the RACGP website for more information about General Practice: Health of the Nation.
MBS fee summary 2017
The RACGP provides the annual MBS fee summary to members as a quick and easy reference to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers and patient rebates relevant to general practice.
The latest version of the MBS fee summary is now available. For the first time, the RACGP has also developed a one-page summary that covers the most commonly used items in general practices.
These resources are now available online in the member’s only section of the RACGP website. Each digital resource can be customised with a practice’s own clinic fees. Hard copies are available on request by emailing advocacy@racgp.org.au.
Share your research in the Australian Journal of General Practice
Australian Journal of General Practice invites authors to submit research articles or discussion papers for a themed issue on the subject of ‘access to general practice’.
Theme-related topics include:
- Impact of technology
- Access among vulnerable populations and rural and remote communities
- General practice business and clinical systems
- After-hours care
- Barriers to access
- Evaluations of current challenges in access.
Submissions close Friday 13 October 2017.
Visit the RACGP website to submit an article or paper. Contact afp@racgp.org.au with any queries.
Nominations for RACGP Expert Committee Chairs close Monday, 18 September
The nomination period for position of Chair on each of the RACGP Expert Committees (REC) closes 5.00 pm AEST, Monday 18 September.
The RACGP has seven expert committees: Pre Fellowship Education, Post Fellowship Education, Quality Care, Research, General Practice Advocacy and Funding, eHealth and Practice Systems, and Standards for General Practices.
The RECs play a critical role in providing advice and expertise in their specific areas to RACGP Council and management.
REC Chair positions cover for a three-year period commencing at the 2018 Annual General Meeting. In order to facilitate continuity and allow for a handover period with the current Chair, successful applicants will be invited to join their REC as Chair-appointee.
All RACGP Fellows who are financial members as at 1 July 2017 are eligible to apply. The REC - Terms of Reference are available on the RACGP website.
To express your interest, please complete the nomination form on the RACGP website and send it along with your current CV to memberhr@racgp.org.au.
New Exam Support Online activities for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination
New Exam Support Online (ESO) activities to help candidates prepare for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) are now available on gplearning.
The new activities include:
- The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) – Part A: Overview
- The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) – Part B: Practice Cases.
Log in to gplearning on the RACGP website to access the ESO activities.
RACGP 2017.2 Key Feature Problems exam results released
The RACGP is pleased to announce that the 2017.2 Key Feature Problems (KFP) exam results have been released. Candidates can log into the RACGP website to access their results.
Please contact the RACGP on 1800 472 247 or via email at racgpeducation@racgp.org.au with any enquiries.
RACGP Standards for general practice (5th edition) achieve accreditation from the International Society for Quality in Healthcare
The RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) (the Standards) have been awarded accreditation by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua).
Accreditation by the ISQua means the Standards have been independently assessed as meeting international best practice benchmarks for safety and quality in healthcare. The RACGP is committed to supporting quality improvement in general practice through its Standards.
The Standards will be launched at GP17 in Sydney.
Clinical pearl: What are the mandatory requirements for reporting of child abuse and neglect?
Child abuse is most often perpetrated by someone within the family, or by a person known to the child. It can present in myriad ways and leave some children with emotional or behavioural issues or unexplained injuries. Meeting the needs of the child and/or family may require Coordination with external providers for services additional to medical assistance. Mandatory reporting, however, does not affect a GP’s continuing professional obligation to the patient.
If you need advice, you can call your local reporting phone number and discuss your concerns without revealing personal details. Your medical defence organisation may also provide other help and advice.
Refer to the RACGP White Book for more information on the key features of state and territory legislation reporting duties.
In Practice poll: RACGP advocacy on public policy issues
Members sometimes ask the RACGP to advocate on public policy issues such as illicit drug use, climate change, refugees, marriage equality, sugar tax, and alcohol consumption and sale.
The RACGP has traditionally focused advocacy efforts on issues that directly relate to support and recognition for the provision of quality general practice care, with the aim of improving support for GPs and patient health outcomes. The RACGP advocates on these priorities in a range of ways, including meetings with politicians, submissions, position statements and meetings with other stakeholders.
We are interested in your views as to whether you would like the RACGP to advocate on a wider range of public policy issues.