Welcome 2013 interns

The AMA (WA) congratulates and welcomes to the medical fold, the 2013 Interns who recently completed their orientations and have since commenced their hospital Internships.

You are beginning what I trust will be a long and rewarding career as a Doctor.

The AMA is a place where you will strike strong career connections and friendships with people from other parts of the state, country and the health system.

We offer you friendship, professional support, leadership, the highest standards in health and social policy and a constant reminder that you are valued by your profession and by society.

The AMA (WA) looks forward to being with you every step of the way and engaging with you as the AMA (WA) continues its active role in supporting doctors and our patients.

We wish you all the best in your new career.

AMA (WA) President
Dr Richard Choong

If you haven't yet joined the AMA as an Intern Member, join now.

back to top

2013 Clinical Conference

Russia - August 1 to 14

The AMA (WA) is delighted to announce the destination and dates for the 2013 Clinical Conference.

The Conference will be held in Moscow from 1 August to 8 August and the Post Conference tour to St Petersburg extends from 8 August to 14 August.

This once in a lifetime experience will take you to one of the most extraordinary countries in the world offering an abundance of cultural and historical treasures.

The AMA (WA) 2013 Clinical Conference will be a chance for doctors to hear from medical experts from Australia and Russia on a range of topics and participate in continuing professional education sessions.

Dates, flight and accommodation information

Dates for the 2013 AMA (WA) Clinical Conference tour to Russia are 1 August to 14 August, to take advantage of the summer weather.  Flights will be with Emirates, flying via Dubai to Moscow and return from St Petersburg. Hotels in both Moscow and St Petersburg will be luxury landmark hotels well located in the city centre with excellent facilities and amenities.

Full itinerary and cost details will be available shortly, together with details of the Clinical Conference academic program.

You can view extended tour highlights by visiting the AMA (WA) website's 2013 Clinical Conference page.

For further information or to register your interest for the 2013 AMA (WA) Clinical Conference tour to Russia, contact Chris Kane at the AMA on 9273 3060 or chris.kane@amawa.com.au.

back to top

AMA (WA) in election mode

It might only be January and the state election won't be held until Saturday March 9 2013, but the Australian Medical Association (WA) has already started to play its part in the upcoming election campaign.

“A state election only comes around every 4 years and it is important for us to highlight our key issues whenever the chance arises. We would be failing our members and the health of all West Australians if we didn’t take this opportunity to talk about issues important to us in an election climate,” AMA (WA) President Dr Richard Choong said.

For more information about the issues that the AMA intends to target in the lead up to the election, the December issue of Medicus carries details of the AMA (WA)’s five key health issues.

“I encourage all members, indeed all West Australians, to look at our five key issues. These are all important foundation stones for the future of health in our state and between now and the election we will continue to emphasise them - strongly,” Dr Choong said.

“The AMA will be meeting will all major political players in the lead up to election day in a further effort to pinpoint how any future government of WA can make sure that our health system not only remains one of the best in Australia but one of the best in the world,” Dr Choong said.

The AMA (WA) would like to hear your feedback on the five key health issues addressed in the December issue of Medicus. Email your thoughts to mail@amawa.com.au.

back to top

Rights of Private Practice and Quarterly Statements

The Association has recently received a number of enquiries from practitioners who are having difficulty obtaining quarterly statements of income, consistent with clause 28 (3) of the Industrial Agreements.

The various AMA Industrial Agreements provide as follows:

Clause 27 Private Practice Generally, states in part the following:

• (2) A practitioner at the time of being appointed be granted a right of private practice subject to the conditions of this agreement.
• (4) A practitioner shall, to the fullest extent permissible by law, exercise rights of private practice in any public teaching hospital or in any other public sector health care facility in which the practitioner works.
• (5) The hospital shall provide to the practitioner a copy of a patient election form or other evidence of an election to be a private patient which would satisfy Medicare Australia or other applicable health insurers of the election to be a private patient for those private patients admitted under the care of the practitioner.
• (6) A practitioner who does not comply with the terms and conditions under which facilities are made available to the practitioner for the purposes of engaging in private practice, forfeits the ability to exercise rights of private practice.
• (7) If the employer determines that a practitioner is not exercising rights of private practice to the fullest extent permissible by law, the practitioner forfeits the ability to exercise rights of private practice.

​AMA (WA) members can find more information including the names of people to contact, in the latest Industrial Update.

back to top

AMA Recruit’s New Zealand Medical Exchange Program

Placements are filling quickly for AMA Recruit’s New Zealand Medical Exchange Program.

The program allows you to undertake a 6-12 month placement in an urban area on either the North or South Island of New Zealand.

Medical exchange placements are limited and our first round of applications ends late February 2013.

This opportunity will allow you to experience a whole new healthcare system, a variety of different clinical situations and the life, culture and people of our stunning neighbour.

In addition, you’ll be presented with a unique way to increase your medical knowledge and gain invaluable, highly regarded overseas experience and career enhancement opportunities.

The program is aimed at recently graduated GPs wishing to gain overseas experience, or for those doctors looking for a new challenge in their careers.

AMA Recruit and our NZ partner will take care of the registration and immigration processes; all you have to do is seize the opportunity!

If you would like to take up this exciting opportunity, forward your expression of interest to Chris Rtshiladze.

Information sessions will be conducted at AMA (WA) for interested participants.

back to top

Update on PIP eHealth requirements

The AMA recently received the following advice from the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) and the Department of Health and Ageing in relation to the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) eHealth requirements commencing from 1 February 2012:

• For the PIP secure messaging requirement – the ‘interim NASH certificate’, as used for the PCEHR, will be upgraded and renamed the ‘NASH certificate’ and used for secure messaging.
• Practices should have received a letter from the Department of Human Services explaining the PIP requirements in ‘plain English’, advising that by 1 February 2013, practices must have a standards-compliant product with secure messaging capability that is listed on the PIP eHealth Product Register for Secure Messaging; OR
• Have written advice from a vendor listed on the PIP eHealth product register for Secure Messaging that their listed product will be available to the practice in order to meet the timeframe for commissioning requirements.
• Practices will now have until 1 August 2013 to ensure their secure messaging product has been installed and configured consistently with the NeHTA commissioning requirements (which NeHTA advises are currently undergoing vendor consultation).

The AMA checklist and AMA GP Desktop Practice Support Toolkit have been updated to help general practices prepare for e-Health incentive changes.

For more information, AMA (WA) members can contact mail@amawa.com.au.

See the Events section below to register for our Breakfast Seminar on ePip and PCEHR.

back to top

AMA Careers Advisory Service

The AMA has developed a Careers Advisory Service website for the convenience of the profession.

This is your one-stop shop for information and assistance on piecing together the puzzle of your medical career path from leaving university through to career change opportunities.

You will find all the relevant information on:

• Medical institutions - including your local medical schools and societies and vocational colleges,
• Graduate information - including domestic and international information on registration, employment opportunities and immigration requirements
• Application tools - resume and cover letter reviews, interview skills assistance etc.
• Education and training information - with links to your medical college and state/territory training institutes
• AMA CPD Tracker
• Doctors' Health support services
• Career change opportunities

More information on membership benefits is available on the AMA (WA) website.

back to top

Minister signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

After lengthy and difficult negotiations extending over 16 months, the Minister for Health has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AMA (WA).

The MoU applies to all Visiting Medical Practitioners providing services to secondary hospitals and all salaried Medical Practitioners employed in secondary hospitals.

The MoU governs matters related to access, medical input into hospital policy through Medical Advisory Committees, clinical privileges and conduct processes and is the product of many years of negotiation by the AMA (WA).

The AMA (WA) strives to develop and enhance mechanisms for medical input and the rights of doctors in being able to compete for access and to be fairly assessed.

For more information please refer to the Industrial Update 16.

AMA (WA) President
Dr Richard Choong

back to top

Survey: A 10 Point Plan of Action for Western Australian Women’s Health and Wellbeing

Community, senior public servants and political leaders are invited to complete a short survey that will assist the implementation of the 10 Point Plan of Action for Western Australian Womens' Health and Wellbeing.

There were consultation forums held in Perth, Busselton, Karratha, and online. Recognising the geographic spread of WA the consultants are keen to ensure that anyone who could not attend a forum can still complete the survey.

PowerPoint slides from some of the presenters are now available online.

The survey contains eight short questions and focuses on how we can give women a stronger voice for the health of themselves, their families and their communities.

You can complete the survey online.

For further information ring Felicity on 9467 2490 or email: FMcNeill@fortisconsulting.com.au.

back to top

Renew your AMA (WA) membership today!

Existing AMA (WA) members can renew their membership online. 

The Association has achieved significant outcomes on behalf of WA doctors, both individually and collectively, as well as for our patients.

The AMA (WA) values your ongoing membership.

Renew now.

back to top

AMA (WA) on Facebook and Twitter

Join the conversation with over 600 AMA (WA) fans and followers and keep up to date on topical AMA (WA) issues by visiting our Facebook and Twitter pages.

back to top

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