AMA calls medical chiefs together to discuss safety and quality of medicalpractice in Australia
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, will tomorrow host a meeting of the heads of the most senior and influential medical groups in the country to discuss the way forward in improving the safety and quality of medical practice in Australia.
Dr Glasson said today that the standard of health and medical care in Australia is already the safest and best in the world.
"Australians can be proud of the standard of health care in this country and the skills and expertise of our doctors and other health professionals," Dr Glasson said.
"But we can always do better.
"The AMA has called this meeting to ensure that everyone in the profession is united in our commitment to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.
"This involves quality control and auditing of every step in a patient's diagnosis, care, procedure, and recovery, and ensuring that our clinical and hospital processes are world's best practice.
"The outcomes of our meeting will complement the work of Health Minister Tony Abbott's medical indemnity review committee.
"It is our duty to do whatever is possible to reduce the number of medical incidents by improving training, standards, monitoring and related activities," Dr Glasson said.
Dr Glasson will be available to talk to the media immediately following the meeting at 1.00pm outside the Ballroom, Stamford Sydney Airport Hotel. A list of attendees is attached.
Participants
AMA
Dr Bill Glasson, President, Federal AMA
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, Vice President (Chair of Meeting), Federal AMA
Dr Andrew Pesce, Chair, AMA Medical Professional Indemnity Task Force, Federal AMA
Dr Martin Nothling, Psychiatrist Nominee on AMA Federal Council
Dr Robert Bain, Secretary General, Federal AMA
Mr Laurie Pincott, Executive Director, AMA(NSW)
Medical Colleges
Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC)
Dr Jonathon Phillips, Chairperson
Mr Les Apolony, CEO
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
Prof Hugh Dickson
Prof Jim Hyde, Director, RACP Health Policy Unit
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)
Dr Raymond Chan, College Councillor
Dr Lawrence Bott, Honorary Secretary
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
Dr Andrew Child, President
Dr Tony Frumar, Chairperson, NSW Committee
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Professor Michael Kidd, President
Mr Ian Watts
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
Dr Julian Freidin, President Elect
Dr Yvonne White
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (RANZCA)
Dr Richard Willis, President
Dr Mike Martyn, Treasurer and Chairman of Executive
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
Mr Russell Stitz
Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
Dr Peter Roberts
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
Mr Donald Swinbourne, CEO
Australasian College of Dermatologists (ACD)
Dr Stephen Lee, Honorary Secretary
Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
Dr Alex Hunyor (Jnr)
Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
Medical Societies/Associations
Australian Society of Anaesthetists
Dr Jim Bradley
Dr Peter Lawrence
Dr Nigel Symon
Australian Association of Consultant Physicians
Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
National Association of Specialist Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
Dr David Molloy
Council of Procedural Specialists
Prof Don Sheldon tbc
Australian Association of Pathology Practices
Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association
MDOs
Mr Mike McLeod, CEO, UMP
Dr Robert Walters, MPIS(Tas)
Dr Peter Simpson, CEO, MIPS NSW
Other
Dr Rohan Hammett, Director of Healthcare Improvement Projects, NSW Institute for Clinical Excellence
Mr Peter Somerville, CEO, ASMOF
Dr John Vinen, Emergency Physician, Royal North Shore Hospital
Australian Doctors Fund (ADF) representative
**List current as at 10.00am, Friday 31 October 2003