FIFO and its impact on health services

This week is your last opportunity to take part in the AMA (WA) survey on the impact of Fly-in / Fly-out and Drive-in / Drive-Out  on health services in WA.

Earlier this year, the AMA (WA) urged the Federal Parliamentary Committee which is investigating the issue to include health in its terms of reference and to ensure the Committee examined the impact of FIFO on health services and communities.

Early survey results indicate a strong interest in the issue from medical professionals around WA, especially in regional areas, with strong support for the AMA (WA)’s position that mining companies need to seriously consider financially supporting health services in regional areas.

AMA (WA) President Associate Professor David Mountain will present the results next week at a public hearing into the growing practice of FIFO by mining companies and the impact of the practice on Australian communities.

Ensure that your voice is heard by taking part in the survey!

back to top

Draft guide to using the PCEHR

The AMA has produced a draft guide for doctors on how to use the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR), which is due to commence implementation from 1 July 2012.

The draft guide has been circulated for feedback from doctors and is available on the AMA website for professional and public comment prior to final publication.

The guide will assist medical practitioners to make choices about participating in the PCEHR system and explains how they might use the PCEHR in their day-to-day practice.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said recently that the AMA supports patients taking responsibility for their own health and recognises that ‘personal control’ of their health information could empower and encourage them in this role.

“The PCEHR system will put the patient in the ‘driver’s seat’ for managing their health information,” Dr Hambleton said.

“But the PCEHR has practical clinical limitations for medical practitioners in the treatment of patients in respect of the content, accuracy, and accessibility of the information ... more.

back to top

PCEHR and the MBS – More work and no reward for GPs

Recently the Minister for Health and Ageing made an announcement that caused several GP groups to think she had announced MBS rebates for preparing the Shared Health Summary for the PCEHR.

The AMA was the first to spot that the Minister had chosen her words carefully and merely announced that MBS rebates would apply in the usual way to patient consultations, even if a SHS was prepared. Dr Hambleton confirmed with Government officials that the item requirements continue to apply - if a standard consultation stretched out to more than 20 minutes because a shared health summary was done, the more complex item could not be billed.

To illustrate where we are now, if a patient attends just to have shared health summary prepared, there is no Medicare rebate payable.

The AMA will continue to call for GPs to be supported for the extra clinical service they will be providing their patients. While we want to make the PCEHR work, we know this won't happen without proper support.

back to top

Practice Nurse Incentive Program – Registration for Top Up and Grandfathering

Practices planning to register with the Practice Nurse Incentive Program for top-up or grandparenting payments have only until 30 June 2012 to do so.

Accredited practices can apply for top-up payments and non-accredited practices can apply for grandparenting payments if financially disadvantaged by the removal of the “for and on behalf” of MBS items for immunisations, wound dressings and cervical smears performed by practice nurses and associated bulk billing items.

Practices that apply for top-up payments after 1 January 2012 but before 30 June 2012 will have their payments backdated to 1 January 2012, or the earliest calculated eligibility date.

For more information on PNIP visit the Department of Human Services website.

back to top

Awards Night and Charity 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.

Pictured: Winthrop Professor Marcus Atlas, 2011 AMA (WA) Award winner.

back to top

2012 Clinical Conference - Book now!

Places are filling fast for the AMA (WA) Clinical Conference to Buenos Aires and the Post Conference tour to Peru and Santiago.

There are now only a limited number of places left on the Post Conference tour to Peru (featuring Machu Picchu) and the Iguazu Falls Tour, so book now to secure your place.

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

The registration brochure contains full Conference and Post Conference tour itineraries, including updated information, costs, inclusions and details on the clinical topics.  Places are strictly limited.  Register now.

back to top

Aboriginal Maternal and Child health conference

The Aboriginal Maternity Services Support Unit and the Aboriginal Child Health Project invite you to join them at the inaugural Aboriginal Maternal and Child Health Conference, to be held at the Duxton Hotel, Perth on 28 and 29 June.

The conference is an opportunity for those who work with Aboriginal families to share stories about the successes and the challenges in closing the gap in Aboriginal maternal and child health.

Hear about what works from the people who are on the ground and celebrate the positive achievements in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal families.

Registration closes Friday 8 June. For more information contact the AMSSU via email or phone 9340 1232.

back to top

Federal AMA President on Medical Certificates

At a recent doorstop interview at Parliament House, Dr Steve Hambleton spoke about medical certificates in the wake of skepticism about the validity of MP, Craig Thomson’s, recent illness.

Dr Hambleton reminded everyone that medical certificates were legal documents and were not something issued lightly by doctors.

Dr Hambleton also reiterated that a patient’s confidentiality is sacrosanct and a medical certificate only needs to certify that a patient is unwell.

He went on to say that while some employers may want further information about an employee’s illness this would only be supplied with the permission of the patient.

Transcript of the interview.

back to top

Full time GP - Southern Inland WA

Excellent earning potential for a full time GP in the Southern Inland area of Western Australia:

• Salary package ranging from $200,000 to $350,000 per annum
• Procedural payments up to $40,000 per annum for a period of up to 4 years
• Payments up to $50,000 per annum for up to 4 years for inclusion in the on-call roster
• Establishment / Relocation packages up to $80,000 over 2 years

If you would like to experience the clinical diversity of this location with all the benefits of a large country town then this position will appeal to you.

If you would like further information on this or other vacancies available please contact one of our consultants for a confidential discussion at AMA Recruit on 9273 3033 or email recruit@amawa.com.au.

back to top

GP Careers Information sessions

Rural General Practice is a challenging, diverse and flexible career path which opens up a world of opportunities.

Find out more about rural GP Training and prevocational GP placement opportunities at a rural GP Careers Information Session near you.

For more information email gpcareers@wagpet.com.au.

back to top

Applications for GP training open soon

Are you ready for the challenge?

Applications for Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) will open on Monday 16 April and close Friday 18 May.

To apply visit www.agpt.com.au.

For more information contact WAGPET on (08) 9473 8200 or email gpcareers@wagpet.com.au.

back to top

Copyright © 2010 Australian Medical Association of Western Australia
14 Stirling Highway, Nedlands WA 6009. Ph (08) 9273 3000