Chris Middleton - AMA President
The annual general meeting of the Tasmanian Branch is to be held at the Launceston Country Club this coming Saturday, 24th April. The Federal President, Dr. Andrew Pesce, will be our guest and there will be an issues forum covering the new national registration and accreditation scheme as well as a session on current controversies in aged care. Would all members please make every effort to attend?
The Tasmanian State election has come and gone and at long last we have a new government and a new health minister in Michelle O'Byrne. During the election campaign, AMA Tasmania focused on public hospitals and medical workforce as the major issues with the message being that about 150 extra beds are needed within the state to allow our public hospitals to operate somewhere near 85% capacity and thereby alleviate the chronic bed access block situation which causes so many problems with our emergency departments and the reliable provision of elective surgery. We did our best to extract an undertaking from all political parties to guarantee internship positions for all Tasmanian medical school graduates in the future. There is an Australia wide doctor shortage and whilst the Prime Minister is making hundreds of million dollars available for prevocational training, this will be of little use to graduates if they cannot complete their essential preregistration internship. Tasmania is still the only state not to publicly commit to such an undertaking.
At the time of writing, all of the states and territories with the exception of Western Australia have signed up to the Prime Minister's National health and hospitals network package. The AMA has long been calling for a single funding stream for public hospitals so as to reduce the potential for cost shifting and hopefully put an end to the so-called "blame game". We are still coming to grips with the details but it seems that this objective may have been met up to a point. The Commonwealth will contribute 60% of the cost of running hospitals and that money will go to the National Health and Hospital Networks fund which will in turn be made available to specific state health funding authorities to which the states will contribute their 40%. These funding authorities will be independent of state treasuries. Hospitals will be paid directly by the authority and the state will retain overall control for planning purposes. New money has also been promised and an extra $5.4 billion has been allocated between now and 2014 with $15.6 billion guaranteed as top up funding between 2014 and 2020. The AMA has estimated that Australia needs to open another 3800 hospital beds to reduce the access block issue however the Commonwealth’s current package only has 1316 new sub-acute beds by 2014 so there is a considerable shortfall here.
Nevertheless, I have been fairly positive in the media that these new arrangements will lead to efficiencies and improvements in our public hospital system although we will of course have to wait and see how it all works out.
By way of explanation, the photograph above was taken at a recent fuction in Canberra at which the Prime Minister and the opposition leader both presented their visions for health reform to AMA federal council members and invited guests. Both leaders stayed on afterwards and conversed with many of those present on an informal basis.
Finally, this is my swansong for TasTalk as I will not be continuing as State President after the AGM. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve in this capacity for the past twenty months.
Regards to all,
Chris Middleton
Deans Desk - Professor Alan Carmichael
One of Australia’s most imposing medical science precincts will be created in Hobart when the second stage of the co-location project, Medical Science 2 (MS2), is completed in December 2012. Medical Science 1 (MS1) and MS2 will be integrated into one world-class facility known as the UTAS Medical Science Precinct. This facility will ensure Tasmania’s strong position in health and medical education and research into the future.
MS2 will include a 250 seat auditorium which will significantly increase the School of Medicine’s teaching activities, the clinical research facilities of the Royal Hobart Hospital, as well as Menzies’ expanding research program. $90 million in funding for the development of MS2 has been committed by UTAS, along with considerable support from the Australian Government, the State Government and Atlantic Philanthropies. Stage two of the Medical Science Precinct has been approved, demolition work has commenced on the site and it is on-tract to be completed in 2012.
The School of Medicine has commenced teaching in the new MS1 building. In addition to the MBBS and Medical Research programs the new Bachelor of Paramedic Practice degree is now being delivered. The flexibility of the new building is providing excellent teaching spaces and the feedback from both students and staff has been extremely positive.
During Brain Awareness week, the School of Medicine commenced a series of public lectures. The first lecture of the series was titled: Obesity, what does your brain have to do with it? Professor Margaret Morris delivered an informative and very well received lecture on the topic. There will be a number of lectures to follow in the series, including topics such as the topical National Health Reform.
A number of School of Medicine staff have received Vice Chancellor’s Awards for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning. Dr Jenny Barr and the team from Launceston Clinical School received the “Award for Programs that Enhance learning”, in the Innovation in Curricular, Learning and Teaching category, for their success with the Patient Partner Program (P3).
Professor Sankar Sinha received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence. UTAS Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching and Learning were awarded to both Associate Professor Craig Zimitat and Dr Derek Choi-Lundberg.
These awards reflect the excellence demonstrated by both the team and individual efforts of the recipients and sets the standard of the School.
The Distinguished Alumni Award 2010 has been awarded to Professor Ed Byrne, AO. Professor Byrne obtained his MBBS degree from UTAS in 1972 with first class honours, then undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He pursued a career in Neurology, making outstanding contributions to clinical and research in degenerative neurological and muscle diseases. After appointments as Dean of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash and Vice Provost (Health) at University College London, Professor Byrne became the eighth Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in July 2009. The award acknowledges the notable contributions Ed Byrne has made as a clinician, researcher, businessman and academic leader. The School congratulates him and is honoured to have him as one of our alumni.
Tony Steven - AMA CEO
AMA Annual General Meeting and Forums
On Saturday the 24th April at 11.30am to 4pm we are holding two forums in conjunction with the AMA Tasmania Annual General Meeting at the Launceston Country Club, Prospect.
The first forum will address the changes regarding the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme with speakers from the current Medical Council of Tasmania namely the Chair Dr. Peter Sexton, and a member of the new National Board Dr. Fiona Joske, plus the new Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority State Manager Ms Lisa Wardlaw-Kelly. Our National President Dr. Andrew Pesce will also be part of this panel and contribute to the debate.
The second forum after a light lunch will discuss the issue of the Aged Care industry in Tasmania and nursing practitioners. Speakers include Dr. Jane Tolman Gerontologist, Mr Darren Mathewson from Aged Care Tasmania and Ms Neroli Ellis of the Australian Nurses Federation.
The AGM will follow shortly afterwards with the tabling of the annual report showing a significant turnaround in the fortunes of the AMA in Tasmania.
Please make sure you advise the AMA office today by e-mail ceo@amatas.com.au if you are attending for catering purposes or call us on 03 6223 2047.
What makes a doctor join the AMA?
Our membership is on the rise once again which, is good news, considering we have set ambitious targets for 2010. To reach these new levels though, we have to be sure of why a non member would join. There are two sides to the answer of this question, 1. What’s in it for me? and 2. What can I contribute?
1. This is a sensible economic approach to have because these days you have to make hard headed economic decisions in order to stay in front. The AMA has many economic benefits which can redeem your investment with up to 5 times. All the sponsors and providers listed down the right hand side of this newsletter can save you money and make your membership very worthwhile indeed.
2. The second reason to join is to fulfill the leadership role you automatically have as a Doctor in your community. The health sector in Australia is in a dramatic state of change and it is imperative to ensure that these changes are for the better. Patients, doctors and whole community rely on the Government getting the right advice. The AMA is the most significant voice for Doctors in the country.
Go to our website www.amatas.com.au/membership
or give me a call on 03 6223 2047 if you would like further information.
AMA surveying specialist trainees
There are nearly 12,000 specialist trainees undertaking a recognised medical specialty training program in Australia. The AMA will be surveying these doctors on their experiences with their training so that the medical colleges can be given independent feedback about their training programs.
The AMA Specialist Trainee Survey is a confidential online survey that will ask trainees about various aspects of their training, including the course curriculum; college assessment and examination processes; the flexibility of the training program; and training costs.
The AMA plans to use the results from the survey to highlight the strengths and areas for improvement in individual medical college training programs.
AMA Council of Doctors in Training Chair, Dr Andrew Perry, says that the survey is an important initiative for getting comments on individual college training programs, and the findings will provide the colleges with important trainee feedback.
“The AMA strongly supports the Australian model of medical vocational training based on the specialist medical colleges.
“The college training programs do a great job in preparing doctors for independent practice.
“It’s important that the colleges are aware of where they are doing well, and where the overall training experience for trainees could be improved.
“Most colleges already make commendable efforts to get the views of their trainees. Our survey will be an independent exercise that will cover some aspects of training that the colleges do not necessarily seek feedback on from their trainees.”
The AMA will pass on the survey findings to the medical colleges to assist them with their quality assurance processes.
The questionnaire was developed by the AMA Council of Doctors-in-Training, with input from college trainee representative groups and the colleges. It takes into account the Australian Medical Council’s standards for accrediting specialist medical education and training.
A separate questionnaire, which reflects general practice training arrangements, has been prepared for general practice registrars.
The anonymous, ten minute survey – which runs from 9 April to 2 May 2010 – is open to AMA members and non-members, and all specialist trainees are encouraged to participate.
If you would like to do the survey please go to www.ama.com.au/specialist-trainees-survey
The GP registrars survey can be found at www.ama.com.au/specialist-trainees-survey-gpregistrar
Tastel Community Telco
While VoIP is an exciting technology, the profusion of networks, service providers and applications also makes it a confusing technology. The safest way to approach VoIP for the first time is to do so with a sound understanding of how you use your telephone system. This, combined with a straightforward analysis of current call costs and the different services available to you, will go a long way towards ensuring the investment produces real benefits for your business. The Difference between VoIP and IP Telephony VoIP, or Voice over IP, allows telephone calls to be carried on IP-based data networks. It describes the relatively simple process of using an IP-based network, either on VPN or the internet to transmit packets containing audio.
By contrast, IP Telephony describes a broader service environment. With IP Telephony you can wrap IP-based services such as unified messaging, data collaboration, or IP video around VoIP capabilities.
What are the benefits of VoIP?
The single largest benefit of VoIP is in cost savings. For you, that will mean significant savings on your telephone bill - from line rental to national, international and mobile calling.
1. Convergence of voice and data
By carrying voice and data on the same network, not only do you have a more efficient, cost-effective communications network, but it is simplified and provided by one carrier. The offer of bundled services and packages also saves businesses time and money by bringing all of your telecommunication needs under one banner and in one bill.
2. VoIP Wide-area network (WAN) with free on-net calling
For businesses with multiple sites, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can now be the carrier for both your offices' voice and data, allowing for a closed-circuit network with shared data and toll free on-net calling.
3. Remote access to main offices
Employees can now communicate from home (and on the road with a soft-phone) back to the head office and to other remote employees for no cost.
4. Productivity Gains
The real benefits of convergence are the productivity gains and improved customer service that can be achieved via the more advanced communication features of VoIP such as:
■ Videoconferencing /conference calls, thereby reducing travel costs, easy three way calling, sending and receiving real time text and video/visual information during a call, sending and receiving faxes, file transfer, instant messaging, electronic notification of voicemail and much more.
To find out more about the future of technology today and to save your practice money, please call Tastel’s Business Development Manager, Alison Rogers on 1300 550 580 or email Alison.Rogers@tastel.com.au
From the Federal Minister of Health
BUILDING A NATIONAL HEALTH AND HOSPITALS NETWORK
TRAINING RECORD NUMBERS OF JUNIOR DOCTORS IN GENERAL PRACTICE
The Rudd Government will invest $148 million to ensure that more junior doctors can experience a career in general practice before they become a fully fledged doctor.
The Government’s investments will expand overall training capacity in the system, as well as encourage more graduating students to choose a career in general practice.
The numbers of Australian medical students that are graduating in the next five years are expected to double from 1,738 in 2008 to around 3,108 in 2014.
To help ensure more of these students have access to training opportunities in general practice when they graduate from medical school, the Government will expand the successful Prevocational General Practice Placements Program to 975 places by 2013-14, up from the 400 places which are currently available.
This investment will provide an additional 575 students per year with the opportunity to undertake a 10-12 week placement in general practice after they graduate from medical school.
As a result, it:
• will more than double the number of places available in the program currently;
• represents a 250 per cent increase in the number of places available in this program since the Rudd Government came to office.
The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program provides junior doctors with the opportunity to undertake a placement in general practice under the supervision of an experienced GP.
This allows them to make these choices based on good training and experience in General Practice, during the years where most doctors choose their future career.
For those students who do not eventually become GPs, their personal experience becomes a vital part of improving the integration between the hospital system and GP services in the community.
This investment builds on the Commonwealth’s commitment to permanently fund 60 per cent of teaching and research in our public hospital system.
This major investment will build on the Commonwealth’s commitment to taking full funding and policy responsibility for all GP services and primary care.
This investment will be included and offset across the forward estimates in the 2010-11 Budget, consistent with the Government's strict fiscal strategy.
CANBERRA
15 MARCH 2010
PRESS OFFICE (02) 6277 7744
MINISTER ROXON'S OFFICE (02) 6277 7220
HPAU Article to medical publications
Centrelink’s new Health Professional Advisory Unit
Centrelink is recruiting medical professionals and other supporting staff to form the new Health Professional Advisory Unit (HPAU) that will operate from 1 July 2010.
The HPAU was announced in the 2009-10 Federal Budget as part of the Better and Fairer Disability Support Pension initiative that aims to simplify procedures for Centrelink customers with a disability, illness or injury.
The new service managed by Centrelink will give referring organisations access to qualified medical advice where existing resources prove unsuccessful. The referring organisations can use this advice to make accurate and timely decisions for customers who claim or contest Disability Support Pension and medical exemption eligibility.
The HPAU medical professionals will review medical casework and provide advice and interpretation for Centrelink Customer Service Advisers, Authorised Review Officers and all Job Capacity Assessors.
The HPAU medical professionals will also contact treating doctors to discuss cases where needed. When this occurs, the HPAU will pay for the consultation with the treating doctor in recognition of the time they spend assisting Centrelink.
The HPAU will build and maintain relationships between Centrelink, referring organisations and the medical community. They will engage in community activities to enable a better understanding of the evidence requirements for disability related payments.
Information on the HPAU and available positions can be found at www.centrelink.gov.au
AEQUIS - Doug Davey
In previous articles, we have promoted the value and benefit of protecting your most important asset – YOU!
Given that around half of all Australians aged over 30 will suffer a health conditions that can lead to long-term disability and, consequently, a long-term loss of income*, this piece of advice is really just common sense.
When we have this conversation with our clients we know that while the loss of income and earning potential is a real concern, the other side of the equation is handing the actual medical diagnosis and the impact this has not only on you as an individual but your family, work colleagues and friends.
Imagine for a moment your doctor has told you (or someone in your immediate family) you’re seriously ill. As health professionals you know better than most the trauma this news brings.
We know that having Critical Illness insurance can help provide financial security, but we also know that the initial reaction at this emotional time is not to ask about money, but to focus on the medical diagnoses and to ask questions:
- Is the diagnosis correct?
- What’s the treatment?
- What are the best treatment options?
- What’s going to happen to me and my family next?
We are aware that one Critical Illness insurance provider on our recommended list has gained exclusive access to the medical advice services of Best Doctors. This is giving clients underwritten by this insurer great peace of mind being able to get additional advice, with assistance from their treating physicians, to better understand their diagnosis.
For many years Best Doctors has been helping seriously ill people all over the world gain some comfort about their diagnosis and treatment. Best Doctors was established to achieve one specific goal; namely to connect seriously ill people to a network of peer-nominated, leading specialists from around the globe.
Best Doctors will arrange medical advice about the critical illness, chronic or degenerative condition, regardless of whether it’s a listed condition under the Critical Illness insurance.
This case study shows the value of Best Doctors and how one family was able to benefit from their advice.
Alexis** was born with severe cardiac defects. By six weeks she had developed signs of respiratory distress, congestive heart failure, poor oral intake and failure to thrive.
The family was told there was nothing that could be done, and Alexis would soon die. Hospice care, high doses of morphine and cardiac medications were started.
To Alexis’ parents it seemed as if all their options has been exhausted until Alexis’ mother called Best Doctors.
The Best Doctors’ team connected Alexis and her treating physician with one of the world’s top Paediatric Cardiac Surgeons, chosen from the Best Doctor’s global network of 50,000 specialists.
The Best Doctors expert recommended a pioneering surgery that would not only save Alexis’ life, but also offer her full life-expectancy.
A few weeks later, after the complex surgery was successfully completed, Alexis heart was working properly and she was well on her way to leading a normal life.
Access to the Best Doctors advice services is an additional benefit available as part of our Aequis advice strategy.
At Aequis, our aim is to help you discover what matters most to you—exploring in depth your values and goals, challenges and opportunities. We help you identify what it is about money that is important to you and give you the support you need to fulfill your unique dreams. Aequis is Tasmania’s leading financial advice centre and a true fee-for-advice business. Please call us at our Rosny Park office on 6282 2822 to organise a complimentary welcome appointment.
Doug Davey and Aequis Pty Ltd are Authorised Representatives of GWM Adviser Services Limited ABN 96 002 071 749 Australian Financial Services Licensee Registered Office at 105 – 153 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060. GWM Adviser Services Limited is a Principal member of the Financial Planning Association.
This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal financial and taxation advice prior to acting on this information.
*Source: NATSEM. Health and Income in Australia, 2003
** The information contained in this case study is based on a real life case. However, in order to preserve the privacy of the patient the personal details have been removed.
