Obesity Management Webinar Series
The RACGP invites members to participate in a series of obesity management webinars running from 3 May – 21 June.
The obesity webinars are aimed at assisting GPs in raising the issue of weight and its effect on patient wellbeing in a sensitive and non-judgemental manner.
The webinars will also provide GPs with some helpful tools, and in particular identify which pregnant women with obesity are high-risk and require referral to an appropriate service.
The webinars will be held from 7 – 9pm (AEST) on the following Thursdays:
- 3 May – Psychotherapy in obesity management
- 17 May – Why is losing weight sometimes so difficult and maintaining weight loss even harder? Is there a role for pharmacotherapy?
- 31 May – Bariatric endoscopic procedures and metabolic surgery
- 14 June – Nutritional needs of patients with obesity, post-metabolic surgery. How can the GP and dietitian implement very low energy diet (VLED) use?
- 21 June – Management of women with obesity who are planning to be, or are currently, pregnant.
Visit the RACGP website for more information and registration details.
GP18: Call for abstracts
Abstract submission for GP18 is now open.
The GP18 Scientific Committee is calling for 15-minute, 30-minute and one-hour oral or research and poster presentations.
The call for abstracts will close at 11.59 pm, Sunday 4 March 2018 (AEST). Don’t miss the opportunity to present to your peers at the most popular event for GPs in 2018.
GP18 will take place on the Gold Coast from 11–13 October.
Visit the GP18 website for more information.
In Practice poll results: Changes to the GP Aged Care Access Incentive
The GP Aged Care Access Incentive was put in place to encourage GPs to provide ongoing services in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). It has been an important resource for supporting GPs to remain involved in the aged care sector and improve the health and wellbeing of older Australians.
The RACGP is concerned about the absorption of the GP Aged Care Access Incentive into the Quality Improvement (QI) incentive as part of the reform of the Practice Incentives Program, which will remove incentives for individual GPs providing care in RACFs.
We polled members on what impact the removal of the GP Aged Care Access Incentive will have on their ability to provide care in RACFs. The majority of respondents said the viability of their provision of RACF services would be impacted: 61% significantly affected and a further 25% somewhat affected. Remaining respondents noted either that their RACF services would not be affected by the changes (8%), or that they do not provide care in RACFs (6%).
The RACGP has called on the Federal Government to ensure that GPs are properly supported for their vital work in RACFs. Poll feedback will inform further RACGP advocacy around GPs working in RACFs, including our submission to the Aged Care Workforce Strategy. Thank you to all respondents for their feedback.