August 2020

Ensure your views and voice are heard by  voting in the RACGP Presidential election . Voting is now open  and closes Friday 4 September 2020. RACGP members are invited to  find out more about the six Presidential Candidates  and submit their vote for the GP they would like to lead the RACGP and Australian general practice. Voting for RACGP President is an important way members can express their views and ensure they are represented by the GP they choose. RACGP Fellows, members and registrar associates will receive an email from the Retuning Offi...

The GP20 Program Committee and RACGP Expert Committee – Research are calling for innovative and highly engaging research abstracts for this year’s conference presentations. We’re seeking three preferred presentation styles for GP20: 15-minute oral presentations, presented live or pre-recorded for on-demand viewing Three-minute lightning talks, pre-recorded for on-demand viewing ePosters Submissions close at 11.59pm (AEST) Friday 18 September 2020. View more information and submit via the GP20 website .

Doctors who wish to apply for the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program with the RACGP can do so from 10.00 am Monday 31 August until 10.00 am Monday 21 September. The RACGP recently hosted a webinar detailing the application and selection process, as well as a number of changes due to COVID-19. You might also find this useful to get an idea on how the final intake differs from the first, which happened earlier in the year. The Selection Guide and Eligibility Guidelines will also be your best friends in the lead up to completing you...

The RACGP’s Short guide for general practice , a quick-reference guide listing commonly used Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items in general practice, has been updated with the latest MBS data as of August 2020. The short guide lists face-to-face services only. A full list of COVID-19 MBS telehealth items available to GPs can be found here . The RACGP is currently working on developing an interactive online tool that will allow users to enter clinic fees for MBS services, calculate patient out-of-pocket contributions and build their own custo...

Free training session for practice owners and practice managers   This year has been chaotic, to say the least. There's been a real shift in patient behaviour, which has resulted in the need to change your approach to marketing.  The good news is, with every disruption there is opportunity. In this training session you will learn five effective tactics that are working right now to attract and retain patients. Date: 31 August 2020 Register on the Marketing Practices website.

The Federal Government has announced it will provide $5.75 million to four Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to lead development of the Primary Care Enhancement Program. The program will provide GPs and other health professionals with greater support to enable them to provide more effective care to people with intellectual disability. The four PHNs selected to lead the program over the next four years, with a view to national rollout, are: Central and Eastern Sydney PHN Western Victoria PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN Tasmani...

NPS MedicineWise has information and resources to promote being medicine-wise, as well as regularly updated evidence-based information on COVID-19 topics. We encourage you to share and use these resources with your patients and communities: Medicines Lists – Download in English and 10 other languages Choosing Wisely 5 Questions – Download in a handy format; five questions patients can ask their doctors Medicines Line – consumers can call 1300 MEDICINE to ask questions about medicines MedicineWise app – patients can download this app to ...

The latest version of the Australian Asthma Handbook is now available. This updated resource outlines important new recommendations that could affect many of the 2.7 million Australians with asthma, and focuses on avoiding the underuse of preventer medicines and the corresponding over-reliance on reliever medications. The Australian Asthma Handbook is Australia’s national guide for asthma management. It provides evidence-based, practical guidance for health professionals diagnosing and managing asthma in adults and children in primary care. The la...