16 January 2020


Register now for the 2020 RACGP Practice Owners National Conference

Join us at the 2020 RACGP Practice Owners National Conference to experience specific, tailored program content relevant to:

  • current practice owners
  • rural and remote practice owners
  • aspiring practice owners
  • practice managers.

Discover the latest trends, developments and technologies while making new connections and exchanging knowledge with leading professionals from all around Australia.

We expect another sell-out conference for 2020, so secure your place via the RACGP website today.


Rural health webinar - Supporting gender questioning in rural adolescents: The consult room and beyond

RACGP members are invited to join RACGP Rural’s webinar, ‘Supporting gender questioning in rural adolescents: The consult room and beyond’.

Held on Thursday 6 February from 8-9.00 pm AEDT, the webinar is accredited for 2 CPD points and covers practical ways GPs and practices can support the mental health needs of young people questioning their gender identity. While it is focussed on rural setting, it will be useful to GPs in any location.

 

The webinar will be facilitated by RACGP Rural and Dr Ashlea Broomfield (MBBS (Hons), DCH, FRACGP), a GP working on the North Coast. who has experience working with disadvantaged young people living in regional and rural areas.

 

The RACGP Rural health webinar series presents free monthly webinars on important health issues for rural and remote GPs.

Each session is held on the first Thursday of the month with a focus on supporting GPs with relevant information and resources.

Visit Go to Webinar to register.


Measles fact sheet and checklist

The RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management has published a new ‘Measles fact sheet and checklist’ to support GPs and practice teams in response to an increased number of measles cases presenting at Australian general practices after international outbreaks.

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viral diseases and early intervention is critical to prevent disease transmission. While measles was officially eliminated from Australia in 2014, a global outbreak has resulted in increased number of local cases.

This resource includes key information and considerations for GPs and practice staff alongside a preparation, response and recovery checklist for measles presentations.

Visit the RACGP website to access the factsheet, alongside an extensive suite of general practice emergency planning and response resources.


Improve your professional knowledge and skills in the new gplearning

gplearning has moved to a new and improved learning management system (LMS), which is accessible to RACGP members through the RACGP website.

Every module and activity within gplearning is designed to help you maintain and improve your professional knowledge and skills.

To access gplearning:

  1. Log in to the RACGP website

  2. Select My Account

  3. Select the gplearning 2020 link

Please note, you will first need to be logged into the RACGP website for your profile to be automatically logged in to the gplearning 2020 LMS.

Visit YouTube to view a short video overview of the gplearning 2020 LMS.


Submissions to the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review

The RACGP’s Funding and Health System Reform team recently provided three submissions to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review:

The MBS Review Taskforce is considering how the more than 5700 items on the MBS can be better aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice, and improve health outcomes for patients. The Taskforce is also identifying whether there are any services that are obsolete, outdated or potentially unsafe.

Thank you to all those who provided feedback to inform these submissions.


Submission to the Australian National Audit Office – Managing health provider compliance audit

The RACGP has provided a submission to the Australian National Audit Office’s Managing health provider compliance audit.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Health’s approach to health provider compliance.

The RACGP submission summarises member feedback on current compliance arrangements and highlights the need for educative processes as opposed to punitive measures.

Visit the RACGP website to view the submission.


Changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule to support patients affected by bushfires

In response to the current bushfire crisis, the Federal Government has announced a number of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) initiatives to improve access to mental health care for those affected.

Visit the RACGP website to view information regarding these changes

The RACGP is closely monitoring these initiatives and will provide further information to members as it becomes available.

The RACGP website also contains bushfire information for GPs, with regular updates provided  on the latest information to support GPs during the current bushfire disaster. Please check the page for regular updates.


Member survey: RACGP Medicare Benefits Schedule fee summary

The RACGP’s Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee summary aims to provide RACGP members with a quick and easy reference to item numbers relevant to general practice. It is revised and published annually, or as major updates to GP-specific MBS items are announced.

Accompanying the fee summary is a short guide covering the most commonly used items in general practices.

We welcome your views on how these resources can be improved to ensure they remain useful for members in their daily practice. Please let us know your thoughts by completing this short survey via  the RACGP website.

Thank you for your feedback.


Clinical sports medicine collection: Trial for members

The RACGP Library is providing members with access to a trial of McGraw-Hill’s Clinical Sports Medicine Collection via the AccessMedicine platform for four weeks from Thursday 16 January 2020. The trial will allow us to gauge member interest and evaluate the usefulness of the collection’s content which will help us decide whether to subscribe to the collection.

In addition to the two volumes of world-renowned sports medicine text Brukner & Khan’s Clinical Sports Medicine, now in its fifth edition, the collection also includes 40 video masterclasses showing such procedures as foot examination, hip injections and basic biomechanical assessment.

Your feedback on the Clinical Sports Medicine Collection is welcomed; we are particularly interested to hear your views on:

  • ease of use: Was the search interface user-friendly and intuitive?
  • potential value: How useful would this resource be to you?
  • expected use: Would you use it daily, weekly or occasionally?

Take a look at the Clinical Sports Medicine Collection on the AccessMedicine page today. It is one of the three collections available to you from the McGraw-Hill Medical drop down menu on the top ribbon (RACGP website login required).  Please send your comments to library@racgp.org.au.


Vacancy for Recent Fellow on the Advisory Council of Assessment closes today

RACGP new Fellows are invited to apply for the position of Recent Fellow on the Advisory Council of Assessment (ACoA). The position offers new Fellows the chance to explore a new and different aspect of college life.

The successful applicant will be someone who holds a keen interest in the education, training and assessment of GPs and feels strongly about speaking on behalf of doctors on a pathway to Fellowship.

Visit the RACGP website to view the position advertisement, ACoA terms of reference, and details of how to apply (deadline 17 January 2020).


Media enquiries

Journalists and media outlets seeking comment and information from the RACGP should contact:

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor