07 August 2020


Hear from your candidates at the virtual Presidential Q&A

The 2020 RACGP elections are just around the corner, so we’re holding an online Q&A session with your candidates for President.

Journalist and broadcaster Virginia Trioli will act as host and moderator, putting members’ questions to the candidates. 

The Q&A session is a chance to get to know your candidates and help guide your decision at voting time.  Voting opens on Thursday 20 August 2020.  Members will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance and then join in on the night and watch as candidates respond to members’ issues.

The Presidential Q&A will be held online at 7.00 pm (AEST) on Monday 17 August 2020.

Registration for the event opens today. Visit the RACGP website to register and to submit a question for the candidates.


RACGP Rural Awards

Nominations are open for the 2020 RACGP Rural Awards, which recognise outstanding achievements and exceptional individuals for their contribution to rural general practice.

Do you know a rural or remote medical practitioner, GP in training or student who has made a valuable contribution to rural general practice? Let them know about the awards or nominate them today.

The 2020 awards include:

  • Brian Williams Award
  • Rural GP in Training of the Year Award
  • Medical Student Bursary Award
  • Community Project of the Year Award

Awards are open across all states and territories.

For more information and to nominate, visit RACGP Rural Awards.


Join the RACGP Rural Education Committee

RACGP Rural is seeking expressions of interest from members with experience in rural general practice education to join the RACGP Rural Education Committee. The committee provides direction to RACGP Rural on educational and vocational training issues related to rural general practice and the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice.

Committee member terms are three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms allowed. One member position is currently available.

Submit your expression of interest, along with your resume, to the RACGP Rural Education Committee Chair by 5.00 pm AEST, Friday 21 August 2020, via the RACGP website.


RACGP Rural member meet-up: 11 August

Join RACGP Rural’s online meet-ups to connect with your rural and remote colleagues and share your experiences in responding to rural- and remote-specific issues.

During these one-hour sessions we share real rural GP stories from around Australia and create a forum for discussion.

Our next meet-up on Tuesday 11 August at 7.30 pm AEST will be hosted by rural Associate Professor John Kramer on the topic of ‘Business of rural general practice’. Hear from practice owner Dr Nicole Higgins in Mackay, Queensland, on the key considerations when opening or taking over a rural general practice.

Register via Zoom.


Business resilience webinar series

Education at your convenience – a three-part webinar series titled ‘Business resilience and continuity during COVID-19’ is available to watch now through the RACGP Digital Events Program.

The series aims to support GPs and general practice owners during the pandemic, and is supported by the Commonwealth Bank.

The webinar series is available on the RACGP website.


ADHA webinar: Electronic prescriptions panel discussion with participating healthcare providers

Electronic prescriptions offer new prescription format options and convenience for both patients and healthcare providers.

Implementation of electronic prescriptions is well underway, with several software providers validating the technical aspects, along with workflow in a number of electronic prescribing communities of interest (COI).

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) will host a panel discussion with a GP, pharmacist and practice manager participating in COI. They will share their experience and strategies about how their practice has incorporated electronic prescriptions in everyday practice.

All healthcare providers and staff interacting with consumers are welcome to attend this session on Wednesday 12 August, 6.30–7.30 pm.

Register via Go to Webinar.


Additional mental health support for people subject to COVID-19 restrictions

From Friday 7 August 2020, people subjected to further restrictions in areas impacted by COVID-19 will be able to access 10 additional psychological therapy sessions through Medicare.

The additional Medicare-subsidised sessions will allow people in eligible areas who have used their 10 sessions to continue to receive mental health care from their psychologist, psychiatrist, GP or other eligible allied health worker.

The new items will apply to people subject to public health orders restricting their movement within the state or territory issued at any time from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, and to people who are required to isolate or quarantine under public health orders.

Patients will be required to have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a review with their GP to access the additional sessions. This measure will be available until 31 March 2021.

For more information, access the Minister for Health’s media release.


When to use MBS item 2713 during a mental health consultation

The GP mental health care consultation (MBS item 2713) applies to surgery consultations, which are at least 20 minutes and where the primary treating concern is related to a mental illness. It may be used for ongoing management of a patient with a mental illness and can be claimed if the patient requires an extended consultation.

MBS item 2713 should not be used for the development of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and cannot be claimed at the same time as the review of a GP MHTP (MBS item 2712). However, it can be used whether or not a patient has a GP MHTP.

For a list of FAQs on MBS item numbers used for the provision of primary mental healthcare, visit the General Practice Mental Health Standard Collaboration website.


New GP hotline to support veteran mental health

A new 24/7 hotline has been set up to assist GPs to support the health and wellbeing of Australia’s veterans. The Veteran Mental Health GP Assistance Hotline will enable GPs to access free expert advice on the mental health challenges facing veterans, provided by health practitioners who are clinically trained in veteran mental health.

The hotline can be accessed immediately via 1800 VET 777 (1800 838 777).

In addition to the GP Assistance Hotline, a General Advice Hotline will be available to anyone in Australia who wants to access information and resources on veteran mental health and treatments.

A community of practice for post-traumatic stress disorder trauma recovery program providers will also be established.

For more information, access the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs media release.


Changes to the RACGP Standards for general practices

Changes have been made to Criterion C6.4 – Information security and Criterion C3.6 – Research, in the RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) (the Standards).

Indicator C6.4►C has been updated to enable flexibility in practices who use alternate solutions to provide access to their practice’s clinical software. The previous wording limited practices to unique individual passwords, however due to technological development they are not the only way that people can access clinical software. Technology now allows fingerprint, voice and retina scans to access information.

Further to the advised changes to C3.6 – Research  in December 2019, additional explanatory notes have been added that link to the RACGP resource, Guiding principles for managing requests for the secondary use of de-identified general practice data, to support practices to make informed decisions about releasing practice data. An FAQs page about the changes can be found here.

You can access the updates to the Standards via the RACGP website.

If you have any questions regarding these changes please contact the Standards Unit on standards@racgp.org.au.

 


One-on-one library training sessions

Want to know how to use the library’s services and resources? One-on-one training sessions, tailored to your needs, are available for members.

The 45-minute sessions, which use screen-sharing, are available for a range of purposes, including:

  • how to use library databases, e-books and more
  • library website and resource navigation
  • literature searching – using a topic of interest or research questions.

Contact the library to arrange a session or submit a request via the library’s online request form.


Did you know you can be a GP at headspace?

headspace GPs are a key part of how the organisation delivers support to young people across Australia. They play an important role in supporting the mental, physical and sexual health of young people aged 12–25.

Having GPs onsite at headspace centres provide a safe, low-stigma entry point for young people who may be reluctant to seek help for mental health concerns. Our GPs work holistically with young people and are part of a multidisciplinary team.

headspace is keen to welcome more GPs into its network to help enhance the care provided to young people across Australia. These roles can offer great flexibility, including part-time, face-to-face and telehealth positions, with plenty of opportunity to make a real difference to young people’s lives. 

To find out how you can become a headspace GP, visit the headspace website.


Media enquiries

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

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor