Places still available for 2014 John S Lekias Memorial Lecture

Places are still available for the 2014 John S Lekias Memorial Lecture on Thursday 13 November at the UWA Club, commencing at 6.30pm.

The 2014 Lecture is entitled:
Paediatric Sleep & Epilepsy: A research and clinical update on the evaluation and management of children with nocturnal seizures.

The 2014 Lekias Lecturer is Associate Professor Shelly K Weiss Paediatric Neurologist at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Canada. A/Prof Weiss is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Past President of the Canadian Sleep Society.

For more information, please click here.

Closure of Graylands Hospital should be top priority: AMA (WA)

The Government should accelerate the development of alternative Psychiatric services so that Graylands Hospital can be closed without any further delay, AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon has said.

“Acting Director General of Health Professor Bryant Stokes has called Graylands an ‘archaic’ institution, and we could not agree more,” Dr Gannon said.

“We have been pushing for the closure of Graylands Hospital for years now, and it is high time we improve the quality of care given to mental health patients in WA.

“Graylands Hospital has served many patients well for over a century. Unfortunately, while the nature of Psychiatric care has improved dramatically over the past 100 years, the living conditions of our mental health patients have not kept up with the times," Dr Gannon said.

For more information, please click here.

WA Parliamentary Inquiry into FIFO Mental Health

The AMA (WA) has provided a submission to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry into the Mental Health Impacts of FIFO Work Arrangements.

The AMA (WA) submission was prepared with input from members who treat FIFO patients and their family members and focused on work organisation as the primary cause of mental illness in the FIFO work context.  The AMA (WA) submission identified that employers are essential partners in developing the solutions aimed at addressing mental illness in FIFO workers.

The Inquiry has received a large number of submissions and transcripts of evidence from organisations including the Chamber of Minerals & Energy, employee unions, the WA Mental Health Commission and beyondblue.

To view these, and the AMA (WA) submission,  please click here.

Review of the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Inquiry into the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Children and Young People in Western Australia

In April 2011, the former Commissioner for Children and Young People tabled the Report of the Inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the WA Parliament.

The Inquiry report contained 54 recommendations to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in WA.

The AMA (WA) has been asked to provide feedback on the following Inquiry recommendations:

• Recommendation 26:
The Commonwealth Government provide for additional training to general practitioners and health professionals to assist in the early identification and treatment of mental health problems in pregnant women and children and young people

• Recommendation 27:
The Commonwealth Government support incentives to ensure general practitioners have longer consultations with pregnant women, explaining mental health issues and supports.

The Inquiry Report is available here.
 

The AMA (WA) would like to hear from members who would like to provide comments in relation to these recommendations.  Please contact Chris Kane on 9273 3060 or via email

2014 AMA (WA) Foundation Charity Golf Day

Twenty-eight teams representing a range of organisations and professions came together to tee off for the annual AMA (WA) Foundation Charity Golf Day on Friday 31 October.

After a well-fought contest, joint winners were declared – MDA National Team A and Monadelphous.

Perth Radiological Clinic and MDA National Team C came second and third respectively.

Dr YES Medical Director, Associate Professor Rosanna Capolingua reminded everyone of the good work Dr YES provides, and how appreciative the organistion is for the continued support throught the Association's annual golf day. 

“I am continually amazed at the talent, ability and insight that these medical students have and how they communicate with young people,” she said.

“These medical students create, recreate and regenerate session content to ensure that they are up to date with emerging trends.
 

“Dr YES is a program empowering young people to understand themselves and their friends, and to know where to seek help. It teaches young students about safer choices for themselves and their friends,” A/Prof Capolingua said. 

The AMA (WA) wishes to thank all the sponsors of the Dr YES Charity Golf Day, without their support this event would not be possible.

Alcohol scourge needs a national approach: AMA (WA)

“It is it is of vital importance to develop a national approach to the growing alcohol problem in our community,” AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon has said.

Dr Gannon’s comments follow the conclusion of the Federal AMA National Alcohol Summit held in Canberra.

The summit featured political, medical, public health and community leaders, police, families of victims, and other stakeholders who came together to discuss the range of harms that alcohol brings to the Australian community. The summit sought to develop practical solutions to produce a safer, more responsible drinking culture in Australia.

“Make no mistake that Australia has an alcohol problem,” Dr Gannon said.

For more on this report, please click here. 

Successful fundraiser assists in fight against Ebola

The Australian Medical Association (WA) will match the money raised by the African Australian Union to assist in the fight against one of the world’s most frightening diseases – Ebola.

AMA (WA) President Dr Michael Gannon accepted a cheque from the African Australian Union for $5000,  and said the AMA (WA) would match the donation with goods to a similar value. The money will be used to purchase masks, gloves and gowns that are vital in the fight against this dreadful disease, Dr Gannon said.

For more information, please click here

Limited time scholarship available for Cert IV in Customer Contact

The AMA (WA) is delighted to announce that a new initiative is now available for a limited time.

The Certificate IV in Customer Contact is being offered as a scholarship to your nominated new and existing staff under a traineeship. This means that your staff can undertake this training at no cost to your organisation or the individual. I have attached a flier and list of units available. Please note that there are further electives also available.

The qualification available is self paced and workplace based to be completed within a nominal duration of 18 months. Participants will be allocated a trainer/assessor to support him/her through their traineeship.

The qualification consists of 13 units of competency. Nominated staff must be employed in a position that supports the qualification and is an ideal way for new and existing staff to achieve an accredited qualification and develop their customer contact skills. As the employer you may be eligible for an incentive of up to $4000 as well as exemption from payroll tax for your staff member while they are completing the traineeship.

As eligibility criteria is applicable and the number of scholarship places available is limited we would request that nominated staff complete the attached expression of interest form and send back to us. We will then contact you with options available for you to make a decision. If required we will be happy to meet with you to discuss further.

Please note that scholarship places are limited and participants must have the support of the organisation and be able to demonstrate that they are committed to the training.

AMA (WA) reserves the right to decide on the allocation of scholarship places.

Should you have any queries please contact Dianne Cunningham or Chris Dias on 9273 3044.

What does your travel insurance policy cover?

Do you know what your travel insurance policy covers? Recent news has been released about the closure of the Travel Compensation Fund, the previously mandatory requirement for travel agent licencing.

The TCF (Travel Compensation Fund) would have previously covered you for losses suffered by you as a result of closure of tourism operators for financial failure, such as tour groups and travel agents.  There will be no claims accepted after 30th June 2014 as a result of this.

Most travel insurance policies including leading insurers, exclude any cover for financial default or failure by any travel agent, tour wholesaler, tour operator, or booking agents.

However, the AMA Annual Corporate Travel Policy that we offer WILL cover you for your losses in the event that your tourism operator collapses due to financial failure. With the holiday season approaching, take advantage of this superior Travel Insurance Policy that offers you exceptional value and protection.

Click here to request a quote.

For more information on the Travel Compensation Fund, please click here.

AMA (WA) Medical Products Spring Promotion 2014

AMA (WA) Medical Products is pleased to announce the launch of its 2014 Spring promotion.

From stethoscopes to wheelchairs and ECGs to Spirometers, AMA (WA) Medical Products has all the equipment you need.

Contact our customer service team who are local, friendly, motivated and have the technical knowledge to provide the sales experience you deserve.

For more information about the promotion, please click here or call (08) 9273 3000.

Members warned of scam letter

The AMA (WA) warns Members of a new scam letter doing the rounds.

Allegedly from the International Association of Health Professionals (IAHCP), the letter claims that its team of researchers have nominated you as the top doctor of your area, and would like to feature you in a publication called Leading Physicians of the World.

We strongly advise our members to not provide personal information to this organisation. 

To view a sample of the letter, please click here.

Recognition of Registered Acupuncturists in the WA Workers’ Compensation Scheme

The AMA (WA) has been asked to comment on the potential inclusion of acupuncture as a compensable service in the WA Workers’ Compensation Scheme.  The proposal is the result of an application to WorkCover from the Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medical Association (AACMA).

Acupuncturists have been included as a profession under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, with registered Acupuncturists included in the National Registration & Accreditation Scheme for Health Professionals on 1 July 2012.

Recognition of registered Acupuncturists in Workers’ Compensation regulations would enable them to bill for acupuncture provided to Workers’ Compensation patients. WorkCover has advised of the following indicative definition of an acupuncturist:

A person who is resident in this State and is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) in the Chinese medicine profession in the Division of Acupuncture or is a registered practitioner under Section 97 for the practice of acupuncture.

The AMA (WA) would like to hear from members interested in commenting on this proposal.  Contact Chris Kane on 9273 3060 or via email

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