Members briefing
An exclusive e-newsletter for members of the AMA in Tasmania
Book mark or add to favourites the "AMA Tasmania" website www.amatas.com.au
Online OHS and HR systems for Medical Businesses
Medical Practices and Hospital can no longer delay implementing systems to protect their employees, contractors or visitors and their bottom line.
Repeatedly we see cases in the news which have devasting effects on not only the individuals but also to the profitability of the business. Online Compliance Systems offer cost effective solutions to OHS and HR issues that every business can implement.
Take the first step today and see how Online Compliance Systems can benefit your business. Both these systems utilise a fully integrated database system that is easy to set up and use, customisable to any size organisation.
This package is specially designed for AMA members and can save doctors and business owners a lot of grief. Click here for more information.
Great Rates for AMA Members
AMA Tasmania has secured great rates for telephone plans for both Mobile phones and landlines. Telecom Australia, a Tasmanian based firm, with partnership arrangements with Trinity Telecom, have come up with some super deals for AMA Members. Click the links below to see these amazing rates.
Click here for contact details.
Another chance for Say on Local Hospital Networks
Between June and September 2010 the National Health Reform Implementation Team has visited hospitals and healthcare sites across Tasmania to hear views on national health reform from clinicians, nurses, healthcare workers, industry representatives and the community.
In total, more than 40 discussion forums and meetings were held, and more than 70 written submissions were received. These discussions provided valuable information on what works well in our current health care system and what we should take into consideration when making decisions about the implementation of these reforms in Tasmania.
A number of common themes arose in the consultation process for Local Hospital Networks. These key issues have been consolidated into a paper for consideration of the public and healthcare stakeholders. To view the document click here .
If you have any final comments in relation to the Key Issues paper or if your comments have not been accurately captured, please contact the National Health Reform Implementation Team via email to health.reform@dhhs.tas.gov.au, by phone on (03) 6233 8533 or by mail addressed to:
The Director, National Health Reform Implementation Team
Department of Health and Human Services
GPO Box 125, Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Comments will be accepted until close of business on Friday 12 November 2010.
Collaborative Care Guidelines
From 1 November 2010, Commonwealth Government reforms mean that eligible midwives and nurse practitioners will be able to provide some services that are funded through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and prescribe certain medications subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These reforms have passed through the Parliament and are found in the Health Insurance Act 1973 and associated regulations (HIA).
It is a requirement of the reforms that eligible midwives and nurse practitioners who wish to take advantage of these changes must meet certain criteria with respect to their skills and qualifications. They must also have in place a collaborative arrangement with a medical practitioner(s) in relation to the provision of services to patients.
For collaboration to work well, the AMA believes that the arrangement should be well documented and clarified in advance to ensure that every member of the team knows exactly what their role is and how they need to work with each other. This will ensure high quality patient care and minimise the potential for fragmentation of patient care. The AMA has produced this document to ensure this is the case. Click here.
AMA WELCOMES REVIEW OF ASSESSMENT PROCESSES FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES
The AMA welcomes the Medical Board of Australia’s review of assessment processes for international medical graduates (IMGs) working in Australia.
The Board has announced it will work with the Australian Medical Council to determine the terms of a review of the assessment pathways for IMGs, which came into effect on 1 July 2008.
AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that the AMA had raised concerns with the Board about the assessment pathways in August and again last week.
“Our members have been telling us for some time that they were aware of unnecessary delays in the assessment of IMGs seeking to commence or continue working in Australia, including in areas of need,” Dr Pesce said.
“We have discovered that most of the concerns relate to the registration and renewal requirements for IMGs who have limited registration to work in areas of need and who are then facing long assessment delays.
“In addition, it would seem that the Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview assessment is being heavily relied on to reassess IMGs who are required to renew their registration instead of more thorough performance assessments with appropriate opportunities for reskilling and mentoring.
“The AMA continues to fully support a robust assessment process to ensure that only competent and qualified doctors can work in Australia.
“However, we believe the review is needed to ensure that we have fair and appropriate assessment arrangements that don’t prejudice these doctors or the communities they work in or seek to work in,” Dr Pesce said.
