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Welcome to the AMA's online newsletter

14 March 2018 Issue # 107

Feedback on Med e-link (WA) is welcomed. Send your views to medelink@amawa.com.au .

End of Life Choices and Palliative Care: A small change or a seismic shift?

The AMA (WA) is holding a symposium for members to advise us on the following issues:

  • How do we best fill the gaps in palliative care in WA?
  • What lessons can be learnt from jurisdictions where physician-assisted dying is legal?
  • What protections would doctors require if physician-assisted dying were introduced in WA? 
  • How can vulnerable groups be protected?

Have your say on these issues and help shape AMA (WA) advocacy!

Date: Saturday 5 May 2018, 9:30am - 4pm

Venue: University Club of WA, Hackett Drive, Crawley

Cost: Free. 

This symposium is for AMA (WA) members only, to register your interest in attending, please click here

 

AMA (WA) gives evidence on End of Life Choices

Australian Medical Association (WA) President Dr Omar Khorshid appeared before the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices to answer detailed questions about the AMA’s written submission.

 

Over almost two hours of evidence, Dr Khorshid emphasised the role of the doctor in supporting patients in all stages of life including birth and death, and the ethical principles on which medicine is founded.

 

Dr Khorshid told the inquiry members that it was vital there was an informed debate in the community about end of life choices, which addressed the broader issues of illness and death, including the role of palliative care, and commended the Inquiry for its work to date.

 

He highlighted the current state of palliative care in WA, and acknowledged that more needed to be done to improve access for patients, especially in rural areas, for chronic debilitating conditions and younger patients.

 

The upskilling of medical professionals in palliative care was also vital, Dr Khorshid said, including the provision of additional training to junior doctors and clinicians in all specialties.

For more on this report, please click here

 

Mixed recommendations in Sustainable Health Review

The Sustainable Health Review’s Interim Report includes a number of positive recommendations along with questionable findings, most notably the claim that there are enough hospital beds in the system to serve demand through the next decade, the Australian Medical Association (WA) said today.

 

“The current reality is that many of our hospitals are already at or even above capacity, and this is experienced by patients and staff on a daily basis,” AMA (WA) President Dr Omar Khorshid said.

 

“To suggest that this will be acceptable or even tolerable for another decade is ludicrous, and defies all credible data on safe capacity levels.

 

“Even the report itself comments on the predicted increase in demand for health care for the foreseeable future.”

 

“It has been recommended that capacity at hospitals should not exceed 85 per cent, anything beyond that can result in risks to patient outcomes. However that figure is becoming more of a pipe dream year after year,” Dr Khorshid said.

 

“However there are a number of positive recommendations in the Report, such as a renewed focus on preventative health initiatives, including reducing the burden of childhood obesity, alcohol and drug abuse.

 

“These are recommendations that will save lives, make us a healthier community and significantly save money in the long run,” he said.

 

“It is time that WA got really serious about preventative medicine. WA can be the healthiest state in Australia,” he said.

For more on this report, please click here

 

Why general practice?

Don’t let the ‘general’ in ‘general practitioner’ fool you. GPs are specialists. Like all medical specialists, to be a GP takes an extended period of specialised training. To practice independently as a GP in Australia, you need to achieve a fellowship in general practice training.

Fellowship signifies that a GP has been assessed as competent across the core skills of general practice, enabling him or her to practise safely and unsupervised in Australia.

 

The best pathway to fellowship is on the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program, currently facilitated by nine regional training organisations across Australia.


Applications for the 2019 AGPT program open on Monday, 26 March 2018. If you would like to receive updates on the 2019 AGPT selection process for WA, please email WAGPET at gpcareers@wagpet.com.au.

 

Applications are made through the college you wish to achieve fellowship with. Visit the ACRRM and RACGP websites for more information. 

 

Looking for vehicle or asset finance?

The AMA (WA) can help get you in touch with the right lender tailored for your specific circumstances.

The AMA works with some of the best lenders in the business, including:

 

  • Bank West
  • NAB
  • ANZ
  • Westpac
  • Citibank
  • Bank of Queensland Specialist
  • Suncorp, and many more. 

For more information on how the AMA (WA) can help you, give us a free call on 1800 262 287. 

 



 

Recognising elder abuse

The Department of the Attorney General and Lotterywest are jointly funding a pilot program aimed at increasing awareness of elder abuse. 

 

The program, Older Person’s Peer Education Scheme (OPPES) was launched so that older people can have an improved overall sense of wellbeing, independence and quality of life.

Two part-time coordinators have been employed to coordinate, train and support 30 volunteers who will provide the peer education to individuals, seniors groups and organisations and seniors support services. A target of 2,000 older people will be informed about the issues and types of elder abuse. 

 

GPs are welcome to contact the Older Persons Rights Services (OPRS) for promotional material outlining the signs of elder abuse to put up in their practice. 

 

Take your practice management skills to the next level

AMA Training Services is proud to announce the inroduction of the popular HLT57715 Diploma of Practice Management.

 

Our Assisted Study Program (ASP) delivery combines in-person workshops, networking events and professional development seminars with live, weekly online classes.


Two ASP units will be completed per school term so you won't need to worry about studying during school holidays.

 

For more details on the course and to register, please click here

 

Medical Careers Expo 2018

The 2018 Medical Careers Expo is a free event for junior doctors and graduating medical students, brought to you by the Postgraduate Medical Council of WA together with the AMA (WA).

 

Register online today and take this opportunity to discuss and discover career options with over 30 health services, specialty colleges and other relevant organisations at the Expo.

Date: 20 March 2018

Venue: The UWA Club 

For more information and to register, please click here.

 

Engaging teams through positive culture and effective feedback

Do you want to step up to protect and enhance the desired climate in your workplace?

 

This 2.5 hour interactive workshop is designed for doctors at all stages of their career who are responsible for other staff, whether formally or informally. Practice managers are also welcome to participate.

 

By the end of this workshop participants should be able to:

  • Discuss at least three strategies for cultivating a positive team culture
  • Outline at least three strategies for ensuring a successful feedback conversation
  • Use a model such as the DASR (Describe, Acknowledge, Specify, Reaffirm) script to structure effective feedback to build a high-performance team.

The reward for improving workplace dynamics is high: staff engagement is a distinguishing feature of organisations that deliver safe and efficient health care.


Date: 28 March 2018, 6pm for a 6:30pm start

Venue: AMA House, 14 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands


Free for AMA (WA) members. $50 for non-members.

 

For more information and to register, please click here.

 

CPR training for GPs and practice staff

The AMA is delivering three-hour courses for staff requiring CPR training to meet practice accreditation requirements.


The learning outcome of this unit provides the participant with a nationally recognised unit of competency.

 

The course will include:

• Assessing the situation and responding to the signs of an unconscious casualty
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation following Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines
• Defibrillation awareness


Cost: $85pp (free for AMA Members).

The next course will take place on Saturday 7 April 2018 and there are only limited spaces available, so get in quick to avoid missing out.


For more information, please click here.

 

YFD workshop: Mental health disorders: the psycho-social treatment of young people

The Psychosocial Treatment of Young People workshop aims to equip GPs with the skills to confidently engage, assess, manage, treat and refer adolescents on to appropriate services.

 

Having a greater awareness of the ethical and legal considerations for working with young people will allow GPs to be better equipped to address issues of confidentiality that a young person may have.

 

The ability to establish relationships with adolescent patients is a key aspect of our ‘Youth Friendly Doctor’ training program.

 

The module will also provide GPs with guidelines for using the HEEADSSS consultation when dealing with adolescents for their psycho-social wellbeing.

Date: 10 April 2018, 6pm for a 6:30 start

Venue: AMA House, 14 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands

Free for AMA members, $50 for non-members. 

 

For more information and to register, please click here.

 

YFD workshop: Alcohol and drug use among adolescents

This workshop aims to increase GPs’ confidence and knowledge about alcohol and other drugs and seeks to explore the assessment, treatment and skills necessary to engage, assess, treat and support young people effectively.

 

The program also endeavours to increase GPs awareness of local specialised services available for referral of young people with alcohol and other drug issues as well as GP support.

 

Date: 17 April 2018, 6pm for a 6:30 start

 

Venue: AMA House, 14 Stirling Hwy, Nedlands

 

Free for AMA members, $50 for non-members.

 

For more information and to register, please click here.

 

Enjoy a private tasting experience with Clairault | Streicker Wines

Join a guided tour through the vineyard, history and wine and food styles of Clairault | Streicker Estate.

 

Commencing with a walk through 40-year old vines, guests will learn about the history of Margaret River and the pioneering vineyard.

 

On returning to the Cellar Door, knowledgeable staff will guide visitors through a tasting of current and museum release wines, each one paired with a fresh and seasonal canapé, direct from the Clairault | Streicker kitchen.

 

AMA members are offered a 15 per cent discount on the tastings by quoting their code: AMAMEMB when booking through the website.

 

Johnny Young presents an evening with Karen Carpenter

Hosted by Johnny Young, Narelle Belle and the Carpenters Band perform the songs that were major hits for The Carpenters around the world.

 

Considered one of the best vocalists of all time, Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with her unabashedly catchy pop music.

 

Talented and vivacious, Narelle Belle is a multi-skilled performer who you will not easily forget. her highly polished performance takes you on a journey capturing The Karen Carpenter Story; and you will think you are seeing the real artist herself, performing the favourites such as “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and of course, “Close to You.”

Date: 6 May 2018

Venue: Astor Theatre, Perth. 

The AMA (WA) is offering a douple pass to this event, contact Des Michael to register your interest.


 

AHG presents Signed Sealed, Delivered: the music of Stevie and Aretha

In the world of popular music, it doesn’t get any bigger than Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin and former child prodigy “Little” Stevie Wonder.


Now in the year Aretha Franklin is set to release her final album, produced by Stevie Wonder no less, Perth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) are readying themselves to break the rules once more.

Again teaming with the WAAPA Gospel Choir following the sold out George Michael tribute Faith & Freedom in 2017, they reunite at the Astor Theatre on May 31, 2018 to perform the work of not one but both these legends of soul, pop and R&B.

 

The AMA (WA) is offering a double pass to this event to the first entry that that can answer the following question: Who is the conductor of this concert? Send your answer through to Des Michael for your chance to win. 

 

Member Benefits

A wide variety of exciting events and movies are on offer in this month's On The Town.

To enter, visit AMA (WA) for your chance to win free double passes to one of these events.

Remember, AMA (WA) members have exclusive access to discounts across a wide range of goods and services.

Various categories of benefits are available and these can be viewed by visiting Member Benefits.

Not a member? Join now!

 


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