AMA (WA) honours two incredible health practitioners

Two of Western Australia’s most respected medical figures were awarded the AMA (WA)’s highest accolade at a gala charity dinner and WA Award ceremony last Saturday.

Professor Alex Cohen and Doctor Michael McCall both received the AMA (WA) Award (popularly known as a Hippo) at a glittering ceremony held at Perth’s Hyatt Regency.

The award is presented to those medical figures who have made a significant impact in advancing the cause of medicine and improving the health and quality of life – for those resident within WA and beyond.

Previous winners include Australian of the Year Dr Fiona Wood, West Australian Citizen of the Year Professor Bruce Robinson and Nobel Laureates Professor Barry Marshall and Professor Robin Warren.

AMA (WA) President Dr Richard Choong said both awards went to men acknowledged as having contributed immeasurably to medicine in WA.

“WA is a healthier place due to their work that amounts to a combined record of almost 120 years.

“There is no higher award that can be won by medical professionals in this State and both men have shown their dedication by committing their lives to medicine,” Dr Choong said.

For more information, please click here. 

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Orthopaedic Registrar wins esteemed Junior Doctor of the Year Award

The esteemed AMA (WA) Dr Camille Michener Legacy Award – Junior Doctor of the Year for 2013  has been awarded to Dr Dror Maor for his outstanding contributions in the areas of leadership and advocacy; teaching and education; doctors' wellbeing and community service.

Dr Maor has held the prestigious role of National President of the Australian Medical Students' Association, served on the International Federation of Medical Students, and held the role of President of the Australian Union of Jewish Students.

During his time as Chair of the Doctors in Training (DiT) Committee, Dr Maor advocated strongly for issues affecting junior doctors. Of particular note is the effective campaign he led on the impact of the Four Hour Rule on junior doctors.

Whilst Dr Maor may be well known for his leadership and advocacy, many would not know of his significant work in teaching and education. Dr Maor and another registrar have created a 10-week teaching module for residents and interns regarding Orthopaedics.

This has been so well received that it has already been implemented in the teaching program of two tertiary hospitals and is about to be taken up in South Australia.

Dr Maor is significantly proud of AMSA's Leadership Development Seminar that he and two other medical students created in 2005. Dr Maor led the project which enables medical students from each medical school to annually attend Parliament House in Canberra where they learn about politics and health.

Dr Maor has also been significantly involved in considering issues affecting doctors' wellbeing and with the assistance of MDA National, set up the first ever MDA National 'Dr’s Healthy Way of Life' Program.

Dr Maor is a most deserving winner of this significant award, and he provided a moving tribute to the memory of Camille upon receiving it.

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AMA (WA) recognises impact of Act-Belong-Commit

The winner of the AMA (WA) and Healthway Healthier WA Award 2013 is Mentally Healthy WA for Act-Belong-Commit.

Act-Belong-Commit is a community-based health promotion campaign designed by Mentally Healthy WA to assist good mental health.

Act-Belong-Commit aims to reduce risk factors associated with mental illness and suicide (including social isolation and lack of meaningful things to do) and promotes protective factors such as active social networks and physical activity that assists in building resilience and preventing mental illness.

Since its original pilot programs undertaken in six regional communities between 2005 and 2007, Act-Belong-Commit has expanded across WA, Australia and now internationally.

By encouraging individuals to be more proactive about their mental health this service has the ability to change lives in a positive manner, and the campaign is congratulated for its huge impact on public health.

In addition to Act-Belong-Commit, the Selection Panel decided to recognise with special commendation Fair Game Sports Equipment. Fair Game is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led health promotion and community development charity that recycles sports equipment and uses them to run fitness and health programs.
 

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Association applauds Coalition call to Scrap the Cap

AMA (WA) President Dr Richard Choong has congratulated the Federal Opposition for strongly opposing the proposed cap on self-education tax deductions.

The Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training Christopher Pyne made the call during a meeting with a Scrap the Cap Alliance delegation, which included Federal AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton.

Dr Choong said the AMA (WA) strongly welcomed the Coalition's call, as the proposed cap will dumb down education and reduce the quality of healthcare in Australia.

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Annual Indexation of Medical and Allied Health Fees

WorkCover WA intends to index the scales of fees paid to medical and allied health providers with effect from 1 November 2013.

Medical and allied health fees are indexed annually in accordance with the Composite Index, and the scheme actuary has advised that this year's calculation of the Composite Index will result in a 3.53 per cent increase to all fees.

Let us know what you think of the proposed increase by emailing Michael Prendergast by Monday 19 August; all responses received prior to the cut-off date will be forwarded onto the Policy Officer at WorkCover WA.

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Member Survey on Patient-Centred Medical Home

The AMA recently conducted a survey to identify GPs' opinions about the concept of the ‘patient-centred medical home’ (or simply ‘medical home’) and its possible effects if formally introduced into Australian General Practice. The findings of that survey have now been released.

The AMA acknowledges that the Government is still in the process of considering the medical home concept and is keen to hear the views of GPs on the topic. The findings of this survey will help inform AMA policy, noting that the Association will resist any moves by the Government to use the concept as a means to deliver capitation/fund holding in General Practice.

For more information, please click here.

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AMA urges implementation of food star rating

AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton has said that the Federal and state governments should make health star ratings for packaged food mandatory following moves by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) to sabotage an important weapon in the war against obesity.

Dr Hambleton said the AFGC has withdrawn its support for the voluntary health star rating system, which was adopted by Food and Health Ministers recently after years of development, claiming high costs and rating anomalies.

“It is irresponsible for the food industry to walk away from the new system at this late stage,” Dr Hambleton said.

For more information, please click here. 

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NUUBO product review

AMA Medical Products isthe exclusive national distributor in Australia and New Zealand for the NUUBO Wireless Cardiac Monitoring Platform.

The system is a new simple, dynamic, remote cardiac monitoring solution that can be used by anyone, anywhere.

For a full product review, please click here.

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Does your practice need clerical staff?

AMA Recruit can help.

We currently have numerous candidates available with a high degree of experience across varying specialties who are available for work throughout the metropolitan area. Our recruitment service covers all placements from permanent positions through to short-term and temporary assignments and our service will be customised to meet your individual needs.

Should you be interested in recruiting clerical staff through AMA Recruit, please contact us on 9273 3033 or by email to margaret.templeton@amawa.com.au for further information.

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AMA Council of Doctors in Training Meeting to be held in Perth

The AMA Council of Doctors in Training (AMACDT) will hold its next meeting in Perth. This is the first time that WA has hosted the CDT delegates.

The meeting will be held over two days on Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August. The meeting will focus on the following key issues to name a few:

• Cap on tax deductions for work-related self-education expenses
• AMA position statement regarding medical workforce and training
• Issues surrounding the use of medical photography
• AMA position statement on clinical academic pathways in medicine
• Discussion on the national mental health survey of doctors and medical students
• Updates on IHPA teaching, Training and Research (TTR) Working Group and funding models for TTR.

For those practitioners interested being more involved in the Doctors in Training Committee, please contract Clare Francis.
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