Meet the RACGP and other local GPs in Coffs Harbour
RACGP members are invited to meet local GPs and the team from RACGP Rural at the Coffs Harbour sundowner social on Friday 20 March.
Visit the RACGP website to find out more and sign up for this special event.
Members are also invited to attend the ‘Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound for rural GPs’ workshop on Saturday 21 March.
Participants will identify practical applications of ultrasound technology in rural general practice settings, and utilise point-of-care ultrasound devices under the guidance of experienced rural GPs and sonographers.
The workshop is a CPD-accredited activity under the RACGP CPD Program and is approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
Register for ultrasound workshop.
Become a GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies
Are you interested in becoming a GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) to offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-derived FPS counselling to your patients?
The RACGP Rural online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) package provides essential mental health skills training without having to leave your practice or community.
The flexible, innovative training package consists of four modules and uses a combination of technology, peer learning groups and locally available resources.
Level one Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) is a prerequisite for enrolment.
The training package has General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) accreditation and on completion GPs can gain FPS provider registration with Medicare to access FPS-related MBS numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727.
Register for the April intake on the RACGP website now.
2020 RACGP Practice Owners National Conference
The third annual RACGP Practice Owners National Conference will deliver a dedicated program stream specific to rural and remote practice owners.
Sessions will include information on:
- funding models and grants
- getting the best out of your technology for rural and remote practice
- HR – supporting the rural and remote practice
- establishing and managing a viable and sustainable rural practice
- disaster/drought planning and management.
We are also supporting our rural and remote practice owner colleagues by providing a live streaming registration option to enable members who are unable to travel to Brisbane to attend the conference virtually.
We expect another sell-out conference, so secure your place today. Visit the conference website for further information.
RACGP response to AIHW National Health Information Strategy consultation
The Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) has tasked, via its Health Services Principal Committee and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), an independent expert panel to develop a National Health Information Strategy (NHIS).
The RACGP is developing a response to the NHIS draft framework.
We welcome any member feedback by Wednesday 11 March. You can submit feedback via online survey on the RACGP website.
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health review of position statements
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health is undertaking a review of its position statements, in order to ensure they are accurate and are relevant to the current policy environment.
Our current position statements are available to view on the RACGP website. The faculty welcomes your input on the updated position statements.
Please contact aboriginalhealth@racgp.org.au to access copies of the updated documents or if you have any questions.
We welcome your feedback by Monday 2 March.
Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered stone compliance code
The new ‘Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered stone’ compliance code came into effect on Tuesday 11 February.
The code provides practical guidance on how to comply with obligations under Victoria's occupational health and safety legislation when manufacturing, supplying or working with engineered stone.
The code includes compliance information about:
- Part 4.5 – Crystalline Silica of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations), that came into effect in August 2019, to prohibit the uncontrolled use of power tools on engineered stone
- Part 4.1 – Hazardous substances of the occupational health and safety regulations
- General duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) for employers, and for manufacturers and suppliers of engineered stone.
It also includes information on the crystalline silica exposure standard, air monitoring requirements, how to control risks of exposure, when health monitoring is required and what it involves.
Copies of the new code can be downloaded from the WorkSafe website or viewed at any WorkSafe office.
A notice announcing the making of the code appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette.
Coroners Court of Victoria recommendations
The Coroners Court of Victoria recently made recommendations to the RACGP following the death of a patient from sepsis complicating bronchopneumonia and a chest wall abscess in the setting of adrenal crisis.
The Coroner asked the RACGP to advise their members to:
- be mindful of the risk of adrenal crisis, with particular consideration to
- the non-specific nature of symptoms preceding a crisis
- the importance of quick recognition and treatment of crisis
- adjusting medication during periods of stress and illness
- ensure that your medical software alerts for conditions such as adrenal insufficiency when the file is opened
- ensure the patient’s relatives, friends and/or carers are educated about adrenal insufficiency. This includes the signs and symptoms of a crisis, and the preventive measures to reduce the risk of crisis
- liaise with specialists regarding the management of adrenal insufficiency during times of illness or stress for the patient.