22 October 2020


Changes to the MBS from 1 November

A number of changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will come into effect from 1 November 2020.

The introduction of a new item for computed tomography (CT) angiography of the pulmonary arteries (item 57357) is of particular interest to GPs.

GPs will now be able to request CT angiography for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism without needing to consult with a non-GP specialist first. More information is available here.

Fact sheets outlining other changes to the MBS are also available:


GP20 – A program built for GPs by GPs

The GP20 program is here. Created for GPs by GPs, the program will analyse the challenges of the pandemic, and provide the clinical education and research information that helps you be the best GP you can be.

Monday 16 – Saturday 28 November 2020

Visit the GP20 website for more information and to register.  
 

GP research: What’s it all about?

General practice research helps GPs provide the best and most up-to-date care for their patients. Join us for a Q&A style digital panel discussion showcasing general practice research.

Topics will include why research is relevant to clinical practice, what GP researchers do, what they enjoy about it, and how you can get involved.

Tuesday 27 October 2020, 7.00 pm (AEDT)

Visit the RACGP website for more information and to register.

Webinar: Transitioning in and out of general practice ownership

This webinar is relevant to both existing practice owners and those looking to buy into or setting up a practice.

Covering the key areas for consideration when buying, as well as an overview of transitioning out of practice ownership and how to de-risk the process for yourself as an owner.

Thursday 29 October 2020, 7.00 pm (AEDT)

Visit the RACGP website for more information and to register.
 

Webinar: My Health Record for mental health professionals

The Australian Digital Health Agency will be presenting an interactive session on My Health Record for mental health professionals, discussing the recently published Mental Health Toolkit which includes a range of practical resources to assist you in providing care for your clients.

This is a free session intended for GPs and other relevant healthcare providers.

Thursday 29 October 2020, 6.30–7.30 pm (AEDT).

Register on GotoWebinar.


Essential update for GPs on cervical screening (Part 1)

Date: Tuesday 27 October 2020

Time: 7.30–9.00 pm (AEDT)

Location: Online

Cost: Free

The first in a two-part series, this webinar will provide an essential update to guide GPs’ clinical practice.

Presented by Dr Deborah Bateson, Dr Lara Roeske, Sharon Clarke and Bronwyn Morrish, the expert panel will cover the following topics:

  • Co-testing ­– new data from the National Cancer Screening Register relevant to GPs will be presented, followed by a case-based discussion on how GPs can improve approaches to the investigation of symptomatic women.
  • Self-collection – key information to support the increased uptake of self-collection in general practice and future directions.
  • Tips on how to deliver culturally appropriate cervical screening.

This webinar is supported by the National Cervical Screening Program.

Register on Zoom.


Child mental health webinar: Management

Date: Thursday 29 October 2020

Time: 7.00–8.30 pm (AEDT)

Location: Online

Cost: Free

The fourth and final instalment of the Child Mental Health webinar series presented by Emerging Minds and RACGP Specific Interests, this webinar will discuss ways of supporting a child and family following a child mental health assessment.

Join Dr James Best, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health network, as he facilitates the webinar presented by psychiatrist Dr Nick Kowalenko, GP Dr Matthew Ruhl, and patient advocate, Bronwen Hocking.

Register on Zoom.  


RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health – Annual members meeting

The faculty will hold its annual members meeting on Thursday 29 October 2020, from 7.00 pm (AEDT), streamed via live webinar.

The meeting gives you an opportunity to share in our achievements of the past 12 months and provide advice about the future direction of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. 

Register on Zoom.
 


For information, resources or help – submitting library requests is easy

The RACGP library team is here to help you with your information and resource needs. We are happy to receive your requests by email, by phone (if urgent) on 03 8699 0519 or via our online request form which pre-populates with your details when you are logged into your RACGP account.

The online form is multi-purpose, so you can request:

  • journal articles
  • literature searches
  • remote one-on-one training
  • book chapters or pages*
  • information or assistance.

Simply provide as many details of what you need as possible and we’ll do the rest. We look forward to hearing from you.

*Resource loans are temporarily suspended during COVID-19, as the library team is working remotely. However, we are still able to source some content from books (subject to availability and copyright) and can also suggest alternative content if required.


Emergency medicine for rural GPs

Designed and facilitated by experienced rural GPs with a passion for emergency medicine, RACGP Rural’s ‘Emergency medicine for rural GPs’ workshop aims to enhance rural emergency medicine skills using case scenarios that reflect the challenges faced when living and working in rural and remote communities.

This online workshop involves four small-group interactive case scenario discussions, as well as an exploration of the critical considerations involved in managing rural emergency cases, packaging patients for retrieval, communicating effectively with retrieval teams, debriefing and self-care.

All scenarios included in the workshop are written by experienced rural GPs from actual cases.

Saturday 7 November, 1.00–5.00 pm (AEDT)
Cost: $95 for RACGP members and $195 for non-members.
Register on the RACGP website.


Minor burns dressings: Considerations for rural GPs

Join RACGP Rural for a free webinar to explore the factors to consider when selecting a burn dressing for minor burns.

Learn how to choose a burn dressing, taking into account burn mechanism, depth and anatomic location. You will also gain an insight into how a burn clinician selects dressings based on patient factors, follow-up arrangements and what is available locally. Referral criteria to burn units will also be discussed and commonly used dressings will be evaluated in detail.

Thursday 5 November 2020, 7.00–8.00pm (AEDT).

Register on Zoom.

Social isolation and social prescribing: Webinar series

The Australian Disease Management Association (ADMA) is co-hosting a series of lunchtime webinars focusing on social isolation and social prescribing.

 The webinars will include a mix of research, learnings from trials and services that have been implemented, and are an opportunity to collate what is being done across Victoria.

The sessions are open to all healthcare and social care sectors, researchers and policymakers. This is an opportunity to hear and liaise with others working in, or interested in, social prescribing.

For further information on the webinars, or to register, visit the ADMA events page.

 

 


Media enquiries

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

John Ronan

Senior Media Advisor