Dr Michael Gannon announces decision to run for Federal AMA Presidency

AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon has announced his decision to stand for election as Federal President of the AMA.

Dr Gannon said that he felt very strongly that the AMA needed to refocus on the healthcare of everyday Australians.

“Health is under pressure in Australia like never before. The Federal Government must not be allowed to use health as a target for savage budget cuts," he said

“We must use the Primary Health Care Review to find ways to nurture our high quality General Practice sector.

"GPs in Australia provide the community and the taxpayer with enormous value for money, saving millions of dollars in preventing expensive admissions to hospital. Yet the Medicare freeze is putting this at risk," he said.

Dr Gannon added that recent positions taken by the Federal AMA meant  the Association was at risk of becoming "less relevant" to the medical debate in Australia.

“While I understand that there are numerous social issues that might impact on the nation’s health, we must concentrate on the day to day clinical care we afford patients and find ways of protecting universal healthcare.

“With the Federal Election likely to be called in coming weeks, now is the time to put access to healthcare, its affordability and quality at the top of the election agenda,” he said.

For more on Dr Gannon's announcement, please click here. 

Salaried negotiations - log of claims served on Government

Practitioners should be aware that the Department of Health Medical Practitioners (Metropolitan Health Services) AMA Industrial Agreement 2013 and the mirror public sector salaried agreements (the MHS Agreement) are due to expire in September this year.

The Agreements provide that negotiations for new Agreements must commence by 1 April 2016.

This update will refer to the MHS Agreement but apply to all public sector agreements.

For more information on this industrial update, please click here. 

 

Decision to keep Bentley Maternity Unit open a win for AMA (WA) advocacy

The decision to keep the Bentley Hospital maternity unit open for at least another two years is a victory for common sense and followed months of advocacy by the Australian Medical Association (WA).

“This issue was raised continually with the Health Minister Dr Kim Hames through numerous meetings with the AMA (WA). I thank the Minister for listening to our point of view and acting on our advice,” AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon said.

“There was a lot of misinformation floating around about consolidation of obstetric units in the Perth metropolitan area, and the review into maternity services. However to close the unit at Bentley was way too soon, and way too fast.”

“While the obstetric unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital provides a highly professional service, it is not ready to take the significant case-load from Bentley and will not be ready for some time.

For more information, please click here. 

AMA (WA) 2016 Annual General Meeting

AMA (WA) members are reminded that the AMA (WA) Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 June 2016 at the Association’s headquarters in Nedlands, starting at 6pm. All members are invited to attend. 

Members have the opportunity to have their voices heard by nominating for the following positions: 
 

• President
• Vice Presidents
• Honorary Secretary
• Assistant Honorary Secretary
• Honorary Treasurer 
• Six Division Delegates
• Three ordinary members elected by members of the Association.

Nominations must reach the AMA (WA) Returning Officer no later than 5pm on Monday 11 April 2016. This is a opportunity  to increase your involvement in the AMA (WA) and to assist in serving your fellow members. Please contact the AMA (WA) via email to request a nomination form.
 

AMA (WA) 2016 Clinical Conference

Following the very successful 2015 conference to South Africa, the AMA (WA) is pleased to confirm that the 2016 AMA (WA) Clinical Conference will be held in Boston and Washington DC, with a post conference tour of New York.

For those who have travelled with the AMA before, you will already know that our conferences are highly regarded and that there is a significant element of trust in what we do. 

The clinical component of the conference is well underway and is being developed in collaboration with the Harvard University Medical School.

The conference will take place from 8 October - 21 October, with four nights in Boston, three nights in Washington DC and an optional four nights in New York.

The formal part of the conference will be in Boston although we are extending part of the clinical conference to include Washington DC. We fully expect that some of you may want to spend a few more days in NY or seek to travel to other destinations in the US.

For more information and to register a formal expression of interest, please see the attached form and return it to Skye Connor via email.

AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner

Bookings are now open for the AMA (WA) Charity Gala Dinner and Awards Night to be held on Saturday 25 June 2016 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Please join us for a magical night of celebration, entertainment and prizes.

For all queries or to reserve your table at the dinner, please contact Skye Connor on 9273 3028 or via email.

Bookings can also be made on the AMA (WA) website.

Please note, following your completed online registration, you will be redirected to the AMA (WA) homepage, and a confirmation email of your successful booking will be sent to your email address.

The AMA Corporate Travel Policy: comprehensive cover for those unforeseen events

The AMA  Corporate Travel policy has been tailored specifically to the needs of the Medical and Health Profession, with key features being:

• Worldwide cover provided for both business and leisure travel
• Cover includes accompanying spouse / de facto and dependent children when either travelling together with, or separately to directly join or leave, the Insured
• Joint Insured cover option for independent travel
• Ski / Snow Sports cover and Charter Flights cover options
• Up to 180 days covered per trip
• No exclusions for pregnancy (except Life Insurance)
• Cover for pre-existing medical conditions, subject to policy terms and conditions
• Evacuation cover
• Detention and Extortion cover included under Kidnap and Ransom 
• Access to Dynamic Assist 24 hour, 365 day Emergency Service
• Policy renewable for the Insured up to 85 years of age

So to secure your peace of mind and optimum enjoyment when travelling, contact us on 1300 763 766 or email insurance@amainsurance.com.au to get a quote today!

2016 Junior Doctor of the Year Award

This annual Award has been established by Helen and Norm Michener, with the assistance and support of the AMA (WA), to honour the life and achievements of their beloved daughter, Dr Camille Michener, who tragically died in a car accident on 24 July 2009.

The Award recognises the significant and outstanding contribution of our Doctors in Training to the medical profession and the community in areas such as teaching and education; leadership and advocacy; and doctor’s wellbeing and community service.

These were all activities and values significant to Camille. The Award establishes a fitting legacy to all that Camille achieved in her short time with us and will ensure that we celebrate the ongoing contributions that our Doctors in Training make amongst their colleagues, the profession and in and for the community.

Nominations for ths award open Monday21 March 2016 and entries close on Friday 29 April 2016.

For further information about the Dr Camille Michener Legacy Award, including eligibility and criteria, please click here.

Improve your customer service with AMA Training Services

AMA Training Services is delivering the Certificate IV in Customer Engagement (BSB40315), which is ideally suited for medical practice staff who undertake complex customer interactions and need excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

This nationally recognised Certificate is therefore suited to people whose roles involve receiving and responding to complex customer requests or enquiries; handling customer complaints; using multi-channel communications; applying key performance indicators; leading a team; coaching staff; scheduling and organising; and gathering, interpreting and organising data capture.

The Certificate is available to both new and existing workers under a Traineeship arrangement through the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development. Employers may be eligible to receive up to $4000 in Australian Government incentives that could be used to cover the cost of the course where new workers are enrolled in the qualification. Payroll Tax exemption on trainees may also be applicable for eligible employers.

Members seeking further information about traineeships, course pricing and training material should contact Yvette McQueen AMA Training Services via Yvette.McQueen@amawa.com.au or telephone 08 9273 3033.

$1,500 cashback offer from CommBank when you switch your home loan

Refinance your home loan to CommBank and we'll give you $1,500 cashback. Plus, our home lending specialists can also offer you great rates on your home loan. Now that's a home advantage.

Apply between 8 February and 30 April 2016 and have your loan funded by 30 June 2016. Minimum refinance of $250,000.

For more information, please call Andre Francis on 0424 056 692 or contact him via email.

GP opportunities with AMA Recruit

The year has started off with an increase in jobs for General Practitioners at AMA Recruit.

The AMA (WA) has updated the Recruit section of the website, making it more user-friendly for practitioners looking for employment opportunities. The new job board can be accessed here.

If you are looking for a GP opportunity, please contact AMA Recruit via the website. Alternatively, contact Dave Bell on 9273 3096 or via email.

GP Careers Information sessions

Interested in finding out more about GP Training and prevocational GP placement opportunities?

Come along to a hospital information session, join us for an online webinar or talk to us in person at the careers expo. For more information on session dates and times, please click here.

For more information, contact  the GP Careers team via email.

Diagnosing coeliac disease - a brief guide for GPs

Coeliac Australia recently launched a campaign  to raise the profile of coeliac disease with GPs and promote awareness of symptoms and best practice screening and management.

According to Coeliac Australia, the autoimmune disorder affects 1 in 70 of the population and remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in the country. 

Coeliac Australia has developed new online resources to support doctors in the diagnosis of coeliac disease, including a video Diagnosing Coeliac Disease – A Brief Guide for GPs, which covers the key points in the work-up of coeliac disease, and a GP Fact Sheet.

For more information and to access the resource guide, please click here. 

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