1 Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

02 Chair report

02 Upcoming events

04 Faculty news

05 RACGP news

06 Allied news

08 Faculty events calendar 2012

In this issue

Welcome to the April issue of the RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter. If you have any feedback on the content contained in this newsletter or would like to make a submission, the RACGP Tasmania Faculty would love to hear from you.

Please feel free to email tas.admin@racgp.org.au.

Lakes Juno Vesta and Promontory from Mount Scorpio. Photo by Mark Nelson

April 2012

Women in General Practice Weekend retreat: the bare bonesThe Tasmania faculty’s annual women’s weekend will be held at Freycinet Lodge, Coles Bay 18 –20 May 2012. The workshop aims to sustain and inspire female GPs by providing excellent education and opportunities to connect with colleagues from all around the state.

Committee members Drs Athena Pantazis, Emma Warnecke, Viv Wright and Jane Gorman have developed a Category 1 active learning module (ALM) entitled ‘The bare bones’ which will focus on the pain associated with musculoskeletal presentations in general practice. The program will include clinical updates, practical sessions and insight into complimentary techniques, acupuncture and pain visualisation. A cocktail reception at Saffire and a premium dining experience at The Bay, Freycinet Lodge will be highlights of the weekend.

The Women in General Practice Weekend is always fully subscribed. To secure your place, please register immediately. For more information please phone 03 6278 1644 or email julia.ray@racgp.org.au.

Tasmania faculty newsletter

For further information visit www.racgp.org.au/tas, email tas.admin@racgp.org.au or telephone 03 6278 1644

2 Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

David Knowles Chair, RACGP Tasmania Faculty

Chair report

As part of our strategic business planning, the faculty board continues to support involvement in AGFEST, one of Australia’s largest rural events. Recognising that AGFEST provides direct connection with the public, it is a great opportunity to promote the invaluable role that GPs play in the community. Together with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia we will take a preventative health message to AGFEST, providing a range of services including blood pressure and cholesterol testing onsite. If you are able to spare 2 – 3 hours during AGFEST supervising medical students who will be engaging directly with the public, we welcome your participation. Please call the faculty for further information.

The successful annual Women in General Practice Weekend will be held at Freycinet Lodge, Coles Bay, 18 – 20 May. As usual the workshop is filling up quickly so if you’re interested in attending please contact the faculty immediately.

The clinical component of the Fellowship exam 2012.1 will be held at Launceston General Hospital on 12 May 2012. Thank you to those examiners who have volunteered their support.

As you are aware Tasmania Medicare Local (TML) was established in 2011 as part of a nation wide organisation. One of TMLs first considerations is after hours care and they have begun a project of analysis regarding the needs of our communities. Many of you will have had input through regional forums, surveys and practice visits already.

TML will certainly be challenged to coordinate an after hours scheme that will effectively meet the needs of Tasmania and support general practice. Although I may be criticised for simplicity, the cornerstone of after hours care in our state has been twofold. Firstly GPs and their practices that provide localised care partially funded by Practice Incentive Payments (PIP) and secondly, practices supported by GPAssist. Without continued support of both models there is significant risk that we will end up with a system that doesn’t works as well as the one we have today.

TML is working within the boundaries of their contract with the federal government and its associated funding to make sure we are not disadvantaged. However, the federal government will not fund GPAssist after July 2013 and phone triage will revert to the national call centre Health Connect. Health Connect currently provides phone triage with registered nurses and GPs based Australia wide, without connection with local practices.

If you have the opportunity, please engage with Tasmania Medicare Local to advocate best outcomes for Tasmania. Ask yourself how after-hours care is best provided for your patients, your nursing home residents, your palliative care patients or when your practice doors are closed.

Upcoming events

GP Lunchtime Series

The GP Lunchtime Series is delivered in Hobart and Launceston. In Hobart sessions are scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month from March to November. In Launceston sessions are delivered quarterly, also on a Wednesday. Dates remaining for Launceston are 16 May, 11 July and 10 October.

The series is free to RACGP members. However we warmly welcome nonmembers and practice staff for a catering fee of $15 per person. Lunch will be served from 12.30 pm with the presentation from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm. To register, please email tas.admin@racgp.org.au or phone 03 6278 1644.

Please see below for more information:

2 May 2012 – Hobart

Expert: Dr Julian Davis, Psychiatrist

Presentation: Sex offenders: what a GP should know

Venue: Tasmania faculty, 206-208 New Town Road, New Town

6 June 2012 – Hobart

Expert: Dr David Humphries, Sports Medicine

Presentation: Eating disorders in sports medicine context

Venue: Tasmania faculty, 206-208 New Town Road, New Town

16 May 2012 – Launceston

Expert: Mr Rod Chandler, Coroner

Presentation: The role of the medical practitioner in the coronial process

Venue: Clarion City Park Grand Conference Centre, 22 Tamar Street, Launceston. *Onsite parking available

11 July 2012 – Launceston

Expert: Mr David Edis, Orthopaedic Surgeon

Presentation: My approach to lumbar disc prolapse and associated radiculopathy

Venue: Clarion City Park Grand Conference Centre, 22 Tamar Street, Launceston. *Onsite parking available

2011-2013

3Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

Register now for Clinical Emergency Management Program workshops – Launceston 2012

Stretch yourself and have fun

Short courses in expedition medicine

Learn how to respond to medical problems in a wilderness setting and develop skills to keep you functioning in extreme environments. Challenge yourself with realistic scenarios involving search and rescue and extrication. The activities are RACGP QI&CPD, ACCRM PDP and procedural training grant approved. These unique 8 day courses are only available in Tasmania.

2012 Courses

Date: 21 July – 28 July 2012 Location: Arm River Theme: Snow and ice

Date: 24 November – 1 December 2012 Location: Freycinet National Park Theme: Mountain medicine

For more information or to register log on to www.gptt.com.au.

CEMP Intermediate: Friday 27 July 2012

This 1 day Intermediate workshop will increase your knowledge, skills and confidence to manage life threatening emergencies within the first 30 minutes. The workshop includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) practice and assessment which meets the RACGP basic CPR requirement for the triennium and also meets the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) training requirement for general practice registrars and RACGP Fellowship candidates. The workshop attracts 40 Category 1 RACGP QI&CPD points.

CEMP Advanced: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July 2012

The 2 day Advanced workshop will enhance your adult trauma and paediatric emergencies skills. The workshop attracts 80 Category 1 RACGGP QI&CPD points. Eligibility criteria apply for this program and special member savings are available for the registration fee.

CEMP participants may be eligible to obtain a training grant of $2000 per day. Please visit www.racgp.org.au/rural/traininggrants for information about the grant call Pauline Curtis, National Rural Faculty on 1800 636 764.

For further information regarding the CEMP workshops, calendars, fees or to download registration forms, please visit www.racgp.org.au/cem, freecall 1800 284 732 or email gpeducation@racgp.org.au.

2012 Primary Health Care Research ConferenceCanberra 18–20 July 2012

National Convention Centre Canberra

Delegate sponsorship funding available

www.phcris.org.au/conference/2012

ADVERTISEMENT

19 May – 20 May 2012 | Novotel forest resort creswick, victoria

Simplifying drug and alcohol issues for gps c o n f e r e n c e

Everyday &RACGP Victoria Faculty Drug and Alcohol Committee and the RACGP National Faculty of Specific Interests Addiction Medicine Network

For more information email vic.events@racgp.org.au or call 03 8699 0488

Click here to register

4 Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

Faculty news

IMG Fellowship Support Grant Program – 100% successLast year the College sourced funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health And Ageing (DOHA) to support international medical graduates (IMGs) in areas of need to undertake RACGP Fellowship in 2011 and 2012. In Tasmania, grants to directly meet Fellowship training needs were awarded to 20 doctors around the state. Working with a mentor, each GP developed their own individual learning plan and the faculty sourced or developed training to meet those needs.

In addition to delivering workshops in dermatology and pre exam preparation, the faculty also addressed very specific individual needs including one-on-one English language tuition, organising supervised clinical attachments and individual tutoring via Skype. The faculty is delighted to announce that all grant participants who sat the Fellowship exam Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) in February, passed!

Although the grant funding expired at the end of February, the RACGP will continue to negotiate with DOHA to determine ongoing IMG training funding.

Clinical Exam Consultation Skills for IMGsNew ground was broken by the Tasmania faculty in March with a new training course specifically designed to assist IMGs with the clinical component of the Fellowship exam. Focusing on language and communication skills, the workshop gave doctors the chance to role play exam style cases and to receive honest feedback on their performance. Facilitated by Dr Tim Flanagan and NSW Faculty IMG Coordinator, Susan Jones who developed the program, the workshop was positively received by all attendees. The Tasmania faculty aims to include the workshop as a regular feature of its exam preparation calendar.

Our members: inspiring storiesThe Tasmania faculty would like to acknowledge and share the accomplishments of our members.

If you have a wonderful story about a colleague’s career or personal achievement, please contact 03 6278 1644 or email tas.admin@racgp.org.au to arrange an interview.

Professional collaborations at AGFEST – Carrick Tasmania 3 – 5 May 2012

The faculty together with the Tasmanian branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia will again collaborate to deliver a preventative health initiative at AGFEST. The stall which we’ve named HealthStop will provide a targeted preventative health program to AGFEST patrons. The program will include blood pressure and cholesterol testing and tips and tools to support healthy outcomes for all.

We look forward to working with all our partners including University of Tasmania Clinical School, Rural Health and Exercise Science, DHHS Cancer Screening and Control Services and Population Health on The Get Healthy Campaign. With such a diverse range of information and expert advice we feel confident of a successful initiative.

How can you help?

The stand will be staffed with medical students and pharmacy students and we welcome GP participation as supervisors. If you are available for 2 or 3 hours during AGFEST, please contact Julia at the faculty on 03 6278 1644 or email julia.ray@racgp.org.au. Participants will receive free entry vouchers.

Dermatology: the big pictureA group of 25 registrars, IMGs and Fellowed GPs attended the Tasmania faculty’s dermatology workshop in March in Launceston. Presented by former GP and now dermatologist, Dr Philip Clarke, the day included suturing practice on pork skin and case study discussion. Feedback was unanimously positive with many participants appreciating both the highly practical sessions combined with the comprehensive information and illustrations. The faculty sincerely thanks Dr Clarke for his expert presentation and support of the initiative.

25 – 27 October 2012 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Leading primary care

Preliminary program available 4 June 2012

www.gpconference.com.au

5Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

RACGP news

College Connections 2012College Connections was inaugurated in 2009 as an annual reception to celebrate the triumphs of the past year and provide an opportunity for faculty staff to meet and thank our members, our partners and our friends and share some of the initiatives planned for 2012.

In launching the 2012 calendar Dr Knowles congratulated faculty staff on the diverse range of local educational and collegial events including the continuation of the popular GP Lunchtime Series in Hobart and Launceston, the success of the IMG Fellowship Support Grant, the successful Women in General Practice Weekend and the expansion of the assessment focus with the RACGP Fellowship examinations and PESCI process. “To all those who support the faculty in so many ways, thank you. We look forward to your participation in 2012” he said.

In addition to the formalities of the evening the event aims to provide an opportunity for guests to network and connect with colleagues across a broad business spectrum. Based on participant comments, College Connections continues to be a valuable and enjoyable annual event for the faculty.

New resources to support your practice management

The RACGP understands that GPs are highly skilled and trained in the clinical side of medicine, but aren’t necessarily taught how to manage and run their practice. Following feedback from our members, the RACGP is launching an expanding suite of resources to assist our GP members with their practice management. This is another way the RACGP is further supporting our members and building their RACGP membership value.

Next month (May 2012), the following new resources will be released:

Starting a medical practice – GPs need a reliable source of information to refer to when embarking on a venture to set up a medical practice. The RACGP Starting a medical practice workbook includes information on practice location and design, business structures, financial management, staffing arrangements, quality improvement, and risk management systems. Available in May 2012.

Closing a medical practice – If you are considering closing a general practice, there are many important decisions to be made and legal, regulatory and insurance issues to be dealt with before you retire. The RACGP Closing a medical practice workbook covers some of these issues, including medical indemnity, storage of patient information and disposal of medications.

Keep an eye on www.racgp.org.au/publications/orders for availability of these new practice resources.

College Connections 2012

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The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

A-Z journal list: for easy access to the library’s journalsThe library has created an A-Z journal list which includes live links to journals available through library’s online resources such as the Ebscohost databases and the OUP medical journals collection, along with entries and links for selected ejournal titles that are freely available from the publishers. The A-Z list also provides holdings information (volumes and years) for the library’s print journal collection.

The aim of the A-Z list is to facilitate access for library users to the growing range of journal titles available by bringing them all together in a single easy to use listing. Specific articles can be requested via the library’s online request form by clicking on the ‘Request an article’ link provided within each entry of the A-Z list.

To find out more, and to access the A-Z journal list, login to the College website and go to www.racgp.org.au/library/journals/enhancedjournallist.

Nominations open for RACGP awardsNominations for the RACGP awards are now open. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions made by GPs and general practice teams to the health and wellbeing of all Australians.

Tasmania enjoys a proud award history with the most recent accolade received by Latrobe Family Medical Practice named as RACGP General Practice of the Year 2011. Dr Geoff Shannon co-principal of the practice commented “it is a great honour to receive this award and a true testament to the hard work and genuine passion every member of the practice brings to their role each day.”

Nominations for the RACGP awards are open from 10 April – 8 June 2012.

Further information and nomination forms are available at www.racgp.org.au/awards.

General practice research grant opportunitiesThe RACGP Foundation supports general practice research through the provision of grants, scholarships, Fellowships and awards.

Applying for a research grant is easier than you think. The RACGP Foundation can provide personal support in developing and writing your submission for funding. Interested? To learn more go to http://foundation.racgp.org.au or phone 03 8699 0497.

Allied news

Date 23 – 24 June 2012

Venue RACV Club, Melbourne

The Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD), in collaboration with the RACGP and ACRRM, are holding a face-to-face dermatological skills workshop. The weekend workshop is available to all GPs, GP registrars and ACD training program registrars seeking to improve and expand their dermatological surgery techniques, including cryotherapy, excisions and flap repairs.

For more information, visit www.racgp.org.au/dermatology.

Looking to improve and expand your

dermatological surgery techniques?

Enrol now in the Dermatological surgery workshop

Are you sacrificing lifestyle, personal finances and your vision for the future?Work can be all consuming. At Aequis we have seen many cases of clients who have lost sight of their personal vision and goals in the process. Simple things like taking a family holiday or finding time to stay fit and healthy are important to most of us but they can be the first things to go when time is short.

So how do you effectively manage your business and work commitments, personal goals, community and cultural responsibilities, interests and obligations? Simply by acknowledging and valuing the importance of a healthy balance between your business and all the other elements that make up a satisfying life. By recognising this simple concept you’ll be better able to manage multiple responsibilities, without the guilt of sacrificing either work or personal priorities. Also, because you have choices, you are also more likely to feel in control of your life and therefore be more secure, happier and motivated.

Achieving this elusive balance takes planning. It is important to create a vision and plan for achieving the lifestyle you want to lead now and in the future. Aequis has a strong interest in supporting general practice and medical professionals and invites you to speak with our representative at the Tasmania faculty’s GP Lunchtime Series in Hobart or phone us on 03 6282 2822 to make an appointment with an advisor. Prepared by Nick Davey, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM. Nick and Aequis Pty Ltd are Authorised Representatives of GWM Adviser Services Limited trading as Garvan Financial Planning Australian Financial Services Licensee Registered Office at 105 – 153 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060. GWM Adviser Services Limited is a Principal member of the Financial Planning Association.

7 Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

RACGP

Invitation for GPs, practice managers and practice nurses to attend

E-health: What it means for your patients, your practice and your data

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ technology enterprise, RACGP Oxygen, invites GPs and staff to participate in an e-health active learning module (ALM).

The emerging e-health environment provides opportunity to develop practice culture to drive improvements in care. The effective use of information and information systems will be critical as we move into an e-health care delivery model.

The ALM consists of three activities:

• Activity 1: E-health supporting patient care (1 hour online)

• Activity 2: How e-health will work in daily general practice (3 hour face-to-face workshop)

• Activity 3: Improving the quality of your data (2 hours online).

This education covers what e-health is, the Healthcare Identifiers Service, the shared e-health record system, and the importance of data quality. Using e-tools to manage patient health information

and practice business information is demonstrated and discussed at the workshop. In order to complete the ALM, a predisposing and a reinforcing activity are required in addition to completing the online activities and the workshop. After completing these activities, participants will be able to:

• Identify the areas of e-health and their potential impact on your patients, practice and data

• Recognise the importance of accurate identification of patients, their healthcare providers and organisations when transferring shared health information

• Identify a quality improvement process to improve data quality

• Manage patient health information and practice business information using e-tools to improve the delivery of care in your practice

• Recognise the value of a quality and safety team culture.

Registration

Workshop programRegistration and light meal

Welcome and discussion

What is e-health?

Healthcare Identifiers Service

Tea and coffee break

Shared e-health record system

Data quality

PCS Clinical Audit Tool® and PrimaryCare Sidebar®

Questions

Close

To start the first activity log onto the ThinkGP website at http://thinkgp.com.au/education/content/15016. Please note if you would like to participate in the ALM, the online activity MUST be completed PRIOR to the workshop.

For further information or to register for a workshop please email betty.petkovski@racgp.org.au or phone 03 8699 0305.

QI&CPD points: Genesis Ed is the accredited provider with the RACGP. This ALM is accredited for the 2011–2013 triennium (40 Category 1 points) and separately activities 1, 2, and 3 are also available to complete as Category 2 stand alone activities (2 points per hour).

2011-2013

2012 workshop datesDate Location Facilitators

10 May Geraldton, WA Dr Mike Civil

15 May Melbourne, VIC Dr Rob Hosking and Judy Evans

23 May Brisbane, QLD Dr John Bennett and Jess Carmichael

13 June Sydney, NSW Judy Evans and Ben Johnson

31 July Geelong, VIC Dr Rob Hosking and Judy Evans

8 Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

The RACGP Tasmania Faculty newsletter — April 2012

Faculty events calendar 2012

Please note these event details are subject to change. To keep updated on the RACGP Tasmania Faculty activities visit www.racgp.org.au/tas or call events on 03 6278 1644.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners206 New Town Rd,New Town, Tasmania 700803 6278 1644www.racgp.org.au

Healthy Profession. Healthy Australia.

2 May GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

3 – 5 May Preventative health at AGFEST Carrick, Northern Tasmania

12 May Fellowship Exam 2012.1 Clinical Component Launceston General Hospital

16 May GP Lunchtime Series, Launceston City Park Grand, Launceston

18 – 20 May Women in general practice weekend Freycinet Lodge, Coles Bay

6 June GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

16 June FRACGP online pre-exam workshop Tasmania faculty

16 JuneRACGP Fellowship pre-exam workshop – written component

Hobart

4 July GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

11 July GP Lunchtime Series, Launceston City Park Grand, Launceston

27 July CEMP Intermediate workshop University of Tasmania, Launceston

28 – 29 July CEMP Advanced workshop University of Tasmania, Launceston

1 August GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

4 August Fellowship Exam 2012.2 Written Component Quill Consulting, Hobart

25 August Faculty general meeting Diamond Island Resort, Bicheno

25 August Fellowship Awards Presentation Ceremony Diamond Island Resort, Bicheno

1 September FRACGP OSCE pre-exam workshop Launceston General Hospital

5 September GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

3 October GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

10 October GP Lunchtime Series, Launceston City Park Grand, Launceston

21 October Fellowship Exam 2012.2 Clinical Component Launceston General Hospital

25 – 27 October GP12 RACGP annual conference Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

3 – 4 November GP recharge weekend Venue TBA

7 November GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty

5 December GP Lunchtime Series, Hobart Tasmania faculty (TBC)