March 2018

The RACGP has joined representatives from the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and others from across the primary healthcare sector to celebrate the launch of the third edition of the  National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people  (National Guide). The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP Minister for Indigenous Health joined Associate Professor Peter O’Mara, Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and John Singer, NACCHO Chair at Parliament House on Wedn...

The  National Guide Podcast , a collaboration between the RACGP and NACCHO, has launched in recognition of the third edition of the  National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . In each episode, host Lauren Trask, NACCHO Implementation Officer and CQI expert, speaks to GPs and researchers on updates and changes to the third edition of the National Guide. Listeners will hear about the latest evidence on a range of topics from the authors of the third edition – grassroots GPs and researchers wi...

The My Health Record system allows individuals to view personal health information online and choose what information to share with their healthcare providers. A My Health Record may contain data from Medicare and the individual’s treating health professionals, including medical diagnoses, medicines, immunisations, allergies, adverse reactions, diagnostic results and hospital discharge summaries. The Federal Government has announced that by late 2018, a My Health Record will be automatically created for every person who is known to Medicare and has ...

Data informs decision making, policy development, research and advocacy. The RACGP is currently seeking feedback from members to better understand views and perceptions around sharing patient data for health insights.  AMR  is conducting research on behalf of the RACGP between now and April. There are two ways to take part: A 45 minute telephone interview to enable deep exploration of the topic, to be conducted in March A 15 minute online survey to measure membership perceptions, to be conducted in April. If you would like to participate in eith...

Applications for the 2019 Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program are now open and close 10am on Monday 30 April 2018 (AEST). The AGPT Program is the leading program for doctors wishing to pursue the specialty of general practice. Doctors interested in the program can apply via the  RACGP website . Doctors who have previously registered with AGPT can  log in  to their online account to apply. The RACGP is running a series of webinars for doctors seeking more information about the program. Visit  AGPT with the RACGP  to register for the ...

The RACGP  Standards for point of care testing  are under development, with the first draft now available for review. Individuals and organisations are invited to review the draft and provide feedback by 20 April 2018. The draft will be amended dependent on the feedback received in this round. There will be one more opportunity to provide feedback before the Standards are finalised. Visit the  RACGP website  for additional information or contact  standards@racgp.org.au .

The RACGP has recently released the RACGP  Standards for general practices  (5th edition) (the Standards) which provide a framework for continuous improvement in practice. Accreditation against the Standards is a peer-to-peer process whereby the practice team meets with their surveyor team to collaborate, learn and improve the practice’s systems to support quality and safety. The accreditation agencies are currently inviting applications from GPs, practice managers and nurses who are interested in becoming surveyors. Surveyors have a key role in...

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) skin excision items were restructured from 1 November 2016 to reflect best clinical practice. The Department of Health (DoH) has since been asked to clarify changes to MBS skin services billing. The DoH has made minor additions to skin excision items, which are highlighted below and are current as at 1 March 2018. Full details are available in explanatory note TN.8.125 associated with MBS items 31356–31376 on the  MBS website . Definitive surgical excision for items 31371–31376 means surgical removal with adequa...