AMA (WA) 2018 Elections – get involved

Healthcare continued to experience major stress during 2017 in terms of funding for services and access.

The AMA (WA) has seen an increase in anecdotal accounts of disengaged clinical staff, poor morale and concerns over the clinical impact of decisions made regarding the delivery of clinical services. Respondents to a survey designed to measure clinical engagement and the morale of senior doctors providing services at public hospitals in WA confirmed these accounts. 

General Practice remains under constant pressure from poor Federal Government policy initiatives and from the State Government and its Area Health Services’ lack of support of GPs. These policy failures are putting greater pressure on the financial viability of a large proportion of private General Practice.

Salaried doctors and doctors in training also faced significant ongoing industrial and training concerns. 

Private insurers continue to shift blame for poor products that are not a value proposition onto doctors, and continue looking at managed care/financial behavioural models to control private practitioners.

AMA (WA) members are once again urged to take a strong interest in the coming AMA (WA) elections, not only by voting, but by getting involved and nominating for a professional Special Interest Group. Members are urged to participate by becoming an active voice for the profession.

Attached below is a nomination form for the positions of Chairman of Special Interest Groups within the Division of Specialty Practice, and the Division of General Practice.

In addition, there are a number of positions within the Division of State Government Service. Nominations are now open, and must reach the AMA (WA) Returning Officer no later than 5pm on Tuesday, 6 March, 2018.

This is an opportunity to increase your involvement in the AMA (WA) and to assist in serving your fellow members.
 

To access the nomination form, please click here.

Concern over discrimination against women in medicine

The AMA (WA) is concerned about the discriminatory effect of current practice by health services to provide short, fixed-term contracts to RMOs and registrars because of the subsequent lack of capacity by the RMO/registrar to access continuing contracts of employment and consequently parental leave entitlements, including paid parental leave. 

A break between contracts of employment also has an impact on practitioners’ leave accruals and continuous service.

The AMA (WA) has successfully intervened in many cases. In one case, the Director General's support was called for to ensure the senior registrar concerned was provided with a contract.

We encourage members to contact the AMA (WA) to discuss their entitlements and how the system of fixed-term contracts may impact their individual circumstances.

Review of the WA Human Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Acts

An independent review of the Western Australian Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991 (HRT Act) and the Surrogacy Act 2008 is being conducted by Associate Professor Sonia Allan. 

The Review’s Terms of Reference are extensive and consider such matters as appear to be relevant to the operation and effectiveness of the HRT Act.

The AMA (WA) intends to provide a submission to the Review and welcomes comments or suggestions from members of the Association. 

Please contact David Copland or Dr Katharine Noonan with your comments. Furthermore, submissions are invited from any interested party should you wish to provide comment directly to the Review.

New initiative aims to improve cancer outcomes in liver disease

Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) are implementing a new program aimed at improving cancer outcomes in liver disease – the Improving Cancer Outcomes in Liver Disease (iCOILD) initiative.

Leveraging ECU’s existing Masters by Research programs in the School of Medical and Health Sciences, young clinicians will be able to develop research training skills in the field of liver disease and liver cancer.

A real-time registry to track outcomes of treatment for liver cancer will also be developed, providing opportunities for outcomes-based research.

FSH’s Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Professor John Olynyk, said chronic liver disease and its complication of primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) were major global healthcare problems.

“Primary liver cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer in most countries and it’s estimated that by 2030 almost 60 per cent of deaths due to chronic liver disease will be due to this cancer,” Professor Olynyk said.

The iCOILD will launch in mid-2018 and will be embedded into the specialist liver services provided at FSH.

Are you a GP looking for your next opportunity? Let AMA Recruit help

It's going to be another busy year at AMA Recruit with practices large and small seeking both replacement and growth GP staff.

We continue to help a range of GPs who have moved town, completed GP training or are looking for a new challenge.

To view a selection of  work options on offer, please click here.

The changing nature of the Primary Care jobs market means that not all positions are listed, so please do get in contact if you are looking for work.

To discuss GP work options, please contact AMA Recruit on 9273 3000 or via email.

RACGP QI&CPD points when you complete Youth Friendly Doctor Workshops

The Youth Friendly Doctor (YFD) Program seeks to build the capacity of GPs to communicate more effectively with young people, address the barriers young people face in accessing healthcare and promote adolescent friendly policies, facilities and service delivery.

This program is accredited with the RACGP and attracts Category 1 and or Category 2 QI&CPD points.

The next workshop in the YFD program is:

13 February 2018: Young People, Ethics and the Law

This workshop is a core YFD workshop designed to provide medical professionals with best practice and practical information on legal and ethical considerations of their young patients, assessment of a young person’s capacity and competence to consent to medical treatment, the right to confidentiality and the limited circumstances in which it may be broken.

Each workshop has an online classroom for the participation of rural participants.

FREE for AMA (WA) members. $50 per workshop for non-members.

Please click here for the registration form.

If you would like more information, please contact the AMA (WA) via email or phone 08 927 3000.

How healthy is your medical practice?

Ensure your have all your Medical Practice Insurance in order.

Simply pick up the phone and talk to someone local who can give you personal service and support on a range of issues, including:

• Buildings and contents insurance
• Unfair staff dismissal
• Discrimination
• Hackers
• Computer malware or viruses
• Business interruption
• Occupational health and safety breaches.

For more information please contatct AMA Insurance on 1800 262 287 (free call) or visit amainsurance.com.au.

Clinical trial for treatment of conditions such as Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Fremantle Dermatology is currently recruiting for an international clinical trial with an investigational injected treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

They are seeking support in identifying and directing any of your interested patients to contact the clinic.

There is no cost to participate. Qualified participants will have regular visits with study doctors who specialise in treating conditions such as Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Participation will last about 34 weeks and involve about 12 visits to the study research site in Fremantle.

If any of your patients are interested in participating in this clinical trial, please have them contact Ron Pensini, Fremantle Dermatology Clinical Trials, Clinical Research Coordinator on
(08) 9430 4488 or via email.

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14 Stirling Highway, Nedlands WA 6009. Ph (08) 9273 3000