GP13, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP) annual conference is currently taking place at the Darwin Convention Centre, running until Saturday 19 October 2013.
RACGP President Dr Liz Marles said she was extremely pleased that over 1 000 GPs had made it to GP13, taking time out of their busy clinic schedules to exchange knowledge, continue professional development and catch up with colleagues from around the country.
“This year’s conference has kicked off to a fantastic start. Following yesterday’s highlights, including Dr Jeff McMullen’s keynote presentation ‘Health is a state of mind’, delegates are in for another jam-packed day with many opportunities to network and learn,” Dr Marles said.
Today’s highlights include:
| 7.00 am – 8.00 am |
RACGP Foundation walk |
| 9.00 am – 10.30 am |
Plenary: AKWE:KON (all of us, together): What American Indian communities can teach general practitioners, Dr Theresa Maresca |
| 11.15 am – 12.00 pm |
Electronic prescribing to reduce medication error, Dr Trina Gregory |
| 12.15 pm – 12.45 pm |
The experience of working in Indigenous medicine on the Tiwi Islands, Dr Rodney Omond |
| 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm |
The GP guide to social media: an introduction to professional life on the web, Mr David Townsend, Mr Aaron Sparshott and Dr Edwin Kruys |
| 7.00 pm – 11.00 pm |
National Rural Faculty and registrars cocktail party (and presentation of Rural Registrar of the Year award) |
Day 2 of GP13 took off to a brisk start this morning with conference participants taking part in the RACGP Foundation Walk. The early morning exercise was organised by The RACGP Foundation. The RACGP Foundation raises valuable funds for general practice research, enabling RACGP members to deliver the highest level of quality and evidence-based care to all patients.
Delegates can learn more about Indigenous healing methods in today’s plenary session ‘AKWE-KON (all of us, together): What American Indian communities can teach general practitioners’ delivered by Dr Theresa Maresca, USA. Dr Theresa Maresca (Mohawk Tribe, Kahnawake Band) has served rural and urban American Indian communities since 1987 as a family physician and is a GP13 keynote speaker.
Delegates will participate in another day of active learning modules (ALMs) focused on improving outcomes for a timely diagnosis and management of dementia in general practice; musculoskeletal injury – identifying, diagnosing and managing acute and long term conditions; and, dermatology: the big picture; and teaching consultation skills for international medical graduates. They will also have the opportunity to refresh their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills by attending one of the many CPR workshops on offer at GP13.
Day two of GP13 will conclude with the National Rural Faculty and registrar’s cocktail reception at Crocosaurus Cove. The family friendly event will capture the spirit of Darwin with a reptile show featuring over 60 habitats. Guests will enjoy a night of entertainment provided by a band of GPs, ‘Simon and the GPettes’.
To download an up-to-date conference program and for more information, including venue information, visit www.gpconference.com.au.
Conference delegates are able to access real time conference updates, personal scheduling functionality, note recording and more via the free GP13 smartphone app. Access the app at www.gpconference.mobi.
Media representatives are invited to attend the conference.
Follow GP13 on Twitter @RACGPConference for real-time conference updates. The official hash tag is #gp13live.