Urgent information regarding AIMS forms

In June last year, the Health Department, having apparently kept secret for some six months, that qualified privilege for AIMS forms was under review, subsequently provided only 24 hours notice of the removal of qualified privilege.

The removal of privilege increased the risks of legal exposure to practitioners if practitioners provided details on the AIMS form, which lost privilege could now be used by laywers against them or other clinicians named on the form. This created a situation which was contrary to the original intent of reporting these clinical incidents to facilitate quality improvement without fear of recrimination. 

The Association issued advice that doctors should continue to notify incidents but only provide information contained within normal patient notes. Anything outside of normal patient notes should only be submitted to a process which provides qualified privilege ... more.

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WA Governing Councils - applications close Wednesday

Members of the Australian Medical Association (WA) are reminded that expressions of interest close very soon for appointment to the new WA Governing Councils.

From 1 July 2012, Western Australia will be served by five new Health Services, each with a high-level governing council made up of community members and clinicians, selected by the Minister for Health.

Each governing council will include nine members:

• a chair
• four clinicians: one of whom will be a “non-doctor” (for example allied health or nursing)
• three representatives from the corporate community
• one community representative.

The Councils will play a major part in planning, monitoring and reporting on WA’s health services, and engaging with clinical and community stakeholders.

Members would have already seen information about the Councils in recent copies of Medicus, but for more information, please contact your AMA (WA) or go to Governing Councils section of the WA Department of Health website.

Interested AMA (WA) members will need to hurry: nominations close at 5pm, this Wednesday 15 February.

WA Health Minister Kim Hames has indicated that Council members will be selected to reflect  the interests of the community as a whole, including people of culturally diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal people, people with a disability, young people, and rural representatives for the two country Health Service governing councils.

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Payment for Christmas 2011 - No presents from HCN

Practitioners should be aware of an error that was detected associated with the payment that ought to have been made for working on Christmas Day 2011.

Given this error, by HCN, it is also possible that payments for Boxing Day and the observed public holiday on Tuesday 27 December 2011 could also have been paid incorrectly.

As Christmas Day fell on a Sunday in 2011, this means that any practitioner who worked on this day should be paid at the rate of 250%. In addition, if any practitioner worked on Monday 26 or Tuesday 27 December these days would also attract the rate of 250% ... more.

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Savings from private health means test must go to health

Federal AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, has said that, should the Government succeed in getting its private health insurance means test changes through the Parliament, all savings should be ploughed back into the health system.

Dr Hambleton said that the extra funding would assist cover existing need in the system and help compensate the public hospital system for any extra demand that may occur as a result of the changes.

“Australia needs both a strong private sector and a well-funded public sector to deliver effective health care,” Dr Hambleton said.

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Better coordination vital to beating Ross River virus

There should be greater coordination between levels of government to tackle rising rates of Ross River virus, the Australian Medical Association (WA) said today.

“We are currently seeing a worrying leap in numbers of Ross River sufferers reporting to General Practitioners in the metropolitan area,” AMA (WA) Vice President Dr Richard Choong said.

“This is a very worrying and debilitating disease and must be tackled with a strong effort to control the spread of mosquitoes. This should be done not just through effective and coordinated spraying campaigns but also planning ahead and not placing residential areas too close to wetlands,” he said ... more.

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Private Medical Practice Bulletins - updated awards

During 2011, Fair Work Australia varied the Nurses Award 2010 and the Health Professionals and Support Staff Service Award 2010.

To view the complete list of changes, and the updated versions of the Nurses Award and Health Professionals and Support Services Award, visit the Private Medical Practice Bulletin section of the AMA (WA) website.

This is a members only section. Not a member? Join now!

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AMA guidance for GPs regarding nurse practitioners

GPs have been asking what they should do if they receive documents about a patient from a nurse practitioner. Last year, the AMA held a forum with other GP groups, nursing bodies and Medical Defence Organisations. The forum agreed that a GP would be under a professional obligation to:
• review the information; and
• consider what, if any, action was required.

The same meeting concluded that, where a GP receives documents from a nurse practitioner, the following courses of action would be appropriate, depending on the general practitioner’s circumstances:

1. If the GP is in a collaborative arrangement with that nurse practitioner, he or she should comply with the terms of that arrangement.

2. If the GP is not in a collaborative arrangement with that nurse practitioner:
• If the results are clinically significant, the GP should satisfy himself or herself that appropriate action is, or has been, taken by the practitioner who initiated the investigation(s).
• If the results are not clinically significant, the GP should add the information to the patient’s file according to his or her usual practice.
• If the clinical significance of the information is not clear, the GP should satisfy himself or herself that appropriate action is, or has been, taken by the practitioner who initiated the investigation(s).
If you do not consider yourself to be the patient’s usual GP because you do not know or you have not seen the patient for an extended period, you should write to the nurse practitioner and the patient advising to this effect and not to be sent any further results in relation to that patient.

The same letter should also state that the results should be given to the patient’s usual GP and that the patient should consult the GP as soon as possible.

Alternatively, you can suggest that the patient make an appointment to see you to discuss the results. If the information suggests that the patient needs urgent medical attention, this should be highlighted, with the patient being advised as a matter of urgency.

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2012 Clinical Conference

Save the dates for the 2012 AMA (WA) Clinical Conference.

From 23 October to 6 November we will be visiting South America featuring Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

For further information, contact Chris Kane at the AMA on 9273 3060.

Early in the New Year we will send you the full Conference and Post Conference tour itineraries and details on the clinical topics.

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2012 Awards Night and Charity Gala Dinner

The AMA (WA) will hold its prestigious 2012 Charity Dinner and Awards Night on 7 July at the State Reception Centre, Kings Park.

The gala evening celebrates the achievements of the WA medical profession and recognises the significant contribution to medicine by one or more association members with the presentation of the AMA(WA) Award.

For information regarding tickets for the evening visit the website, or please contact Liz Gray on 9273 3027.

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Senior Policy Officer position

AMA (WA) is seeking to appoint an experienced person for the newly created role of Senior Policy Officer. 

As a member for the Executive team, the successful applicant will be required to provide leadership and management input into the development of AMA (WA) strategies and policies.

For more information, download the advertisement.

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'Leading injury and trauma your way' Day

The Injury and Trauma Health Network invite you to represent your area of interest as a participant in an exciting and dynamic day of planning and networking.

The program is split into two parts offered at two different locations:

• Sharing the Knowlegde, hosted at Banquet Hall South, University Club of WA
• Implementing the Knowledge, at lecture theatre, Grace Vaughan House.

Download the registration form for more information.

If you have not already had the opportunity we also encourage you to complete this online survey ahead of the day.

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National Antenatal Access survey

The National Antenatal Access Survey will be closing on Thursday 23 February.

This survey invites your practice or service to participate in the survey before it concludes.

Complete the survey online by entering the survey site using the following details:
Username: antenatal@survey.com Password: antenatal
Please do not enter your email address into the username field: it will not work

The survey is being administered on behalf of all Australian jurisdictional health authorities by KPMG, a health and human policy advisory service.

If you have any questions please call the KPMG survey hotline on 1800 789 576.

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VR Locum Opportunities

AMA Recruit currently has a number of opportunities available for VR General Practitioners within the inner and western suburbs of Perth.

We have opportunities available for doctors who are looking to pick up a few extra shifts on a permanent or casual basis as well as opportunities for leave relief.

If you have a few spare hours or are able to assist with locum leave relief please contact one of our consultants for a confidential discussion at AMA Recruit on 9273 3033 or email recruit@amawa.com.au

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GP careers information sessions

Are you an Intern or RMO interested in finding out more about GP Training and prevocational GP placement opportunities?

Come and hear from WAGPET Medical Educators and GP registrars about the training programs and their GP experiences.

Find out about your nearest GP Careers Information Session.

For more information contact gpcareers@wagpet.com.au

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Tinnitus, dizziness and severe hearing loss - Educational dinner from ESIA

The Ear Science Institute Australia invites GPs to its RACGP accredited educational dinner on 27 March.

Introduced by Winthrop Professor Marcus Atlas, AMA (WA) Award Winner 2011, presentations will be given by ENT surgeons and audiologist specialists in the field.

This seminar is RACGP accredited.

Date: Tuesday  27 March, drinks at 6.30pm
Venue:  UWA Club Restaurant, University of Western Australia, Hackett Drive, Crawley.

A three course dinner will be served.

Register online or call Sandra Nair on 6380 4900 before 21 March.

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Youth Friendly Doctor program

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

To become a qualified Youth Friendly Doctor you are required to complete both the core workshops and an elective workshop from the other modules. This training program is also accredited by the RACGP for the 2011-2013 QI & CPD program and attracts Category 1 and 2 points.

To register for these workshops complete the registration form, or for further information please email yfd@amawa.com.au.

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