AMA calls for statewide MMA ban

AMA (WA) President Dr Andrew Miller has called on State ALP leader Mark McGowan to pledge not to seek nor accept any donations from any organisation wanting to change the current state ban on cage fighting.

“We find it very curious that Mr McGowan decided to announce his disappointing change of heart on this issue on the same day that salesmen from the UFC were in Perth to lobby state politicians,” Dr Miller said.

“We also want to know if any donations have already been made to the ALP from any groups lobbying against the current ban.

“Mr McGowan’s backflip seems to be a grab for a few votes. MMA is a dangerous activity where the ultimate aim is to knock out your opponent. Once trapped in a cage, the losing fighter can be beaten and kicked unconscious within the rules of this violent spectacle," he said. 

For more information, please click here. 

Online PBS authority approvals system goes live

Doctors can now get an authority number to prescribe PBS Authority medicines online. That’s right, no more dialling the approvals phone line and waiting on hold until a clerk gives you an authority number.

The catch is that prescribers need to log onto Medicare’s Health Professionals Online System (HPOS) until medical practice software providers get on board.

The AMA urges everyone who prescribes PBS Authority medicines to contact their practice software provider now, urging them to add this functionality to their prescriber software. Obviously the online PBS Authorities system must be available directly from doctors’ clinical and prescribing software, with online forms automatically populated from existing data.

However, medical practice software providers will only develop products that include online PBS Authority approvals functionality on the basis of ‘client interest’.

For more information, please click here. 

GP-Pharmacist team delivers better outcomes for patients

This Family Doctor Week, the AMA is encouraging the Federal Government to support the AMA’s proposal to integrate non-dispensing pharmacists into GP-led primary care teams.

Federal AMA President Dr Michael Gannon said that the AMA’s Pharmacist in General Practice Incentive Program (PGPIP) would enhance the care provided to patients, provide new career opportunities for pharmacists, and create significant budget savings across the whole health system.

“Integrating non-dispensing pharmacists within general practices as part of a GP-led multidisciplinary health team would improve patient health,” Dr Gannon said.

For more information, please click here. 

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 this year 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 7 October - 22 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, please click here.

For registration, please click here.

Doctors offered short-term contracts

The AMA (WA) has heard an alarming number of reports about senior consultants in public hospitals being offered six-month contracts, in breach of the Department of Health Medical Practitioners (Metropolitan Health Services) AMA Industrial Agreement 2013 (the AMA Agreement).

Members are reminded they are entitled to be offered a five-year contract when offered employment as a consultant in the public sector.

The only other alternative to a five-year contract is a short term contract of up to six months for a single purpose: “to meet short-term exigencies”. This is recognised by the AMA Agreement.

In other words, if you are employed in an ongoing role, you should be offered a five year-contract. If a health service offers you a six-month contract, you should insist on being offered a five-year contract unless you genuinely agree that a shorter term suits you.

If in doubt, contact the AMA before signing. If you sign the contract, it is deemed to be a written agreement with you and enables the health service to avoid their responsibility under the AMA Agreement, even though the AMA would argue it is an abuse of process.

Once a five-year contract is coming to an end, the health service is required to advise the practitioner three months prior to the contract end date if no further contract is to be offered.

For more information or to discuss your current contract, please contact  a member of the AMA (WA) industrial team.

Health Care Home trial must be properly funded

During AMA Family Doctor Week, the AMA is calling on the Federal Government to allocate appropriate funding for the trial of the Health Care Home model of care for patients with chronic disease.

Under the model, also known as the Medical Home, patients have a continuing relationship with a particular GP to coordinate the care delivered by all members of the patient’s care team.

In March, the government committed $21 million to allow about 65,000 Australians to participate in initial two-year trials in up to 200 medical practices from 1 July 2017. However, the funding is not directed at services for patients.

Federal AMA President Dr Michael Gannon said that the Health Care Home is potentially one of the biggest reforms to Medicare in decades, and the AMA is keen to work with the government to make it a success. 

For more information, please click here. 

Let HTA recruit quality trainees for your business

Looking for entry level reception and administration staff to support your busy practice? Consider traineeship recruitment through Health Training Australia (HTA).

It is a low risk, cost effective employment option for your business because the entire recruitment process is managed for you.

Our service includes the management of all advertising, pre-screening and interviewing of potential trainees at no cost to you; as well as payroll requirements such as Superannuation, Workers’ Compensation cover, mediation and associated employment paperwork. 

All trainees are employed directly by HTA and placed with your business as the ‘Host Employer’, while completing their training in BSB31115 Certificate III in Business Administration (Medical). HTA charges are very competitive and based on cost recovery.

AMA members seeking further information about traineeships and how they can support your business can contact HTA via email or call 9273 3033.

AMA Medical Products launches mobile health line

Mobile health or mHealth is an exciting concept in the field of medicine. As the term itself suggests, mHealth applications involve the use of mobile devices in collecting health data, delivering consumer healthcare information, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and directly providing care.

AMA Medical Products is delighted to announce that we will be entering this exciting new realm of healthcare. AMA Medical Products is the only medical product vendor in Australia supplying the iHealth range. For more information, please click here. 

After-hours opportunities in Perth

AMA Recruit has opportunities to work in the after-hours setting and in practices both North and South of the River, including Midland, Joondalup, Wanneroo, Currambine, Rockingham, Mandurah, Warnbro and others.

DWS exemption available for sessions after 6pm weekdays, and on weekends. These will be commitments for ongoing weekly sessions.

Contact Dave Bell at AMA Recruit to discuss your availability.

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