ANF pay claim for practice nurses – Important update

Last year, the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) made an application to Fair Work Australia (FWA) for a low paid bargaining authorisation for practice nurses, which in effect seeks to impose an enterprise agreement on around 900 medical practices.

The AMA appeared in preliminary proceedings before FWA on 19 December 2011 to oppose the ANF’s claim and over 140 practices have provided the AMA with the authority to appear on their behalf in these proceedings.

Hearings will be held in the week beginning 25 June 2012, although an urgent hearing to address several defects in the ANF’s application has been scheduled for 1 June 2012 following a request from the AMA.

Many practices who are named in the ANF’s claim appear to have ignored it and are not currently represented before FWA. The claim at this stage affects practices in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW.

It is not too late for practices that have been sent the ANF claim to give the AMA an authority to act on their behalf. We will provide this representation at no cost for members. A pro-forma authority to act is available here.

The AMA has engaged a team of specialist industrial lawyers from Moray and Agnew to appear in these proceedings and it is anticipated that we will call 15 witnesses in the case, including expert economic evidence.

Practice nurses play a valuable role in caring for patients and their utilisation in medical practices has grown significantly, particularly in recent years. The ANF’s claim clearly has the potential to interfere with existing employment arrangements that are working well at the local level and, as a result, reduce patient access to care.

In this context, the AMA will continue to invest significant resources to resist the ANF’s claim to ensure that practices are able to negotiate appropriate working conditions that meet the needs of practices and nurses alike. The AMA is also concerned at the potential for this claim to spread to other practices.

If you have any questions regarding the ANF’s application for a low paid bargaining authorisation, please do not hesitate to contact your local state/territory AMA.

ANAO Conducting Audit Of GP Super Clinics Program

The AMA welcomes advice that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) last week commenced an official audit of the Government’s troubled GP Super Clinics Program. The AMA has been calling for the audit since October last year.

The ANAO will assess the effectiveness of the Department of Health and Ageing's (DoHA) administration of the GP Super Clinics Program, which was intended to support improved community access to integrated GP and primary health care services.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton said that the GP Super Clinics Program is a failed initiative in concept, design and implementation, and that a proper audit is overdue. He added that the AMA is not opposed to the establishment of GP Super Clinics, but they must be located in areas of community need, rather than in areas of political advantage.

“The public deserves answers about what is happening with a significant investment of taxpayer money. Hopefully the Auditor-General will get to the bottom of these problems.

“If the Program is found to be failing, the AMA recommends that the GP Super Clinic funding be redirected to support new infrastructure and services for existing general practices,” Dr Hambleton said.

Click here to view the full press release.

AMA calls for urgent meeting regarding Federal Budget PIP Cuts

Dr Hambleton wrote this week to the Minister for Health and Ageing, raising concerns about the impact of cuts announced in the 2012-13 Federal Budget to the Practice Incentive Payments (PIP) program, including the decision to remove access to the e-Health incentive unless practices participate in the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system.

The letter expressed disappointment that the engine room of the health system, general practice, is once again the target of funding cuts and that the cessation of the General Practice Immunisation Incentive withdraws essential support for practices to undertake a very pro-active approach to encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated.

Dr Hambleton stated in the letter that requiring practices to participate in the PCEHR to receive the PIP eHealth Incentive will undermine the Government’s efforts to make the PCEHR a success and that it is too early to force participation as there is still much work to be done before medical practices can confidently adopt the PCEHR into their day-to-day operations and meet the legal obligations imposed by the PCEHR legislation.

This is in addition to no funding being made available to support an important new service involved in preparing the Shared Health Summary (SHS).

AMA President address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia

Dr Hambleton addressed the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) - Health Industry Overview forum this week with a speech entitled “Health Reform – From Big Bang to a Whimper”.

Dr Hambleton said that the biggest element of health reform now confronting us is electronic health, specifically the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR).

“The AMA is a great supporter of, and advocate for, accurate electronic communication. It is the future.

“We support the introduction of the PCEHR – but it has to be the right PCEHR.

“Most AMA members are enthusiastic about the shared electronic health record vision. They know that, with the right system, they can improve the patient healthcare experience”, Dr Hambleton said.

Dr Hambleton expressed concern over the Government’s requirement that general practices participate in the PCEHR in order to attract ehealth practice incentive payments.

“There is plenty of commentary recognising that general practice will have to make the most investment in the PCEHR both in time and money and will realise the least amount of benefit from it.

“Doctors need greater support than what is on offer if the PCEHR is going to truly work to improve patient care and reduce waste and risk in health care”, Dr Hambleton said.

Click here to view AMA President’s speech to CEDA.

Changes to the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program

New restrictions to the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) were announced in the 2012-13 Budget. From 9 May 2012, no new organisations or nurses can join the Program unless existing participants leave, and organisations and nurses will need to maintain client services at existing levels.

Additional funding of $16.5 million for MHNIP was provided in the 2012-13 Budget, but this was only to ensure 2011-12 service levels are maintained throughout 2012-13, while an evaluation of the program is undertaken.

The changes mean that the MHNIP, which allows eligible organisations who engage mental health nurses to assist in the provision of coordinated clinical care for people with severe mental disorders, will be prevented from delivering benefits to a significant number of patients in need.

This Program has been in great demand, with over 40,000 people being provided with a MHNIP service in 2010-11. That is 4,000 more than originally anticipated by the Department of Health and Ageing. Based on current uptake, according to the Department, the annual number of people receiving a service may exceed 47,000 for the 2011-12 financial year.

Guidelines and resources on prescribing drugs of addiction

The AMA Therapeutics Committee has developed a ‘one-stop-shop’ web page for AMA members providing links to key guidelines, resources and other information available to support medical practitioners prescribing drugs of addiction.

The links include:

• The latest independent drug information about opioids and treatments provided by the National Prescribing Service;
• the ‘Dr Shopper Line’ operated by the Department of Human Services;
• the RACGP guidelines on prescribing benzodiazepines;
• steps to follow when ending the doctor-patient relationship produced by MDA National;
• statistical information on pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence produced by AIHW; and
• State and Territory government funded drugs of dependence units.

You can view the Prescribing drugs of addiction support page at: http://ama.com.au/prescribing-drugs-addiction-members-support-page. (Remember you need to log in with your member details first.)

A direct link to the page is also located on the AMA members' home page in the box titled AMA information and resources.

Tell us how you protect your work files, media, programs and data to go into draw to WIN a $500 gift voucher.

We speak with hundreds of local doctors and medical practices about their IT back-up needs and here are our top 5 tips for backing up your critical data.

Health Budget Reflects The Economic Times

AMA President, Dr Steven Hambleton said on Tuesday night that the government had done the right thing by sparing health from broad funding cuts to provide a budget for tough economic times and to fund a budget surplus.

“This budget means that health costs should not add further pressure to the cost of living for Australian families.” Dr Hambleton said.

“The AMA welcomes new funding for aged care, bowel cancer screening, dental services, health infrastructure, and electronic health initiatives.

“We have strong objections to changes to Practice Incentive Payments (PIP).

“The General Practice Immunisation Incentive has ceased. This has serious public health implications.

“More broadly, we support funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and key health services for Indigenous Australians under the Stronger Futures program. We still have concerns about the lack of medical care programs or funding in the aged care package, and the lack of incentives for doctors to embrace the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR).” said Dr Hambleton.

Click here to view the full media release.

Budget Cuts to Practice Incentive Payments (PIP) Penalise GPs and Pose Public Health Risks

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said that Tuesday’s Budget cuts to Practice Incentive Payments (totalling $83.5 million over four years) have the potential to pose serious public health risks and undermine successful preventive health programs that are providing health benefits to many Australians.

The Government introduced in the Budget a requirement that general practices must choose to participate in the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system if they are to continue receiving e-health PIP funding.

Dr Hambleton said “This is not a requirement, it is a threat, and it comes on top of the Government’s failure to provide any new funding for the new clinical service that GPs are being asked to provide in helping patients prepare a shared health summary as part of the PCEHR.”

Dr Hambleton also said the decision to discontinue the GP Immunisation Incentives Scheme is a public health risk of the highest order.

“Australia is a world leader in childhood immunisation rates but this decision could undermine that reputation and undo a lot of hard work by parents, GPs and other health professionals who promote the importance of immunisation in the community and in schools.

“Similarly, there has been no consultation on the increase in targets for the PIP Cervical Screening Incentive and the PIP Diabetes Incentive, and this will put the brakes on successful prevention and care programs that are helping thousands of people.” Dr Hambleton said.

Click here to view the full media release.

Senate Hearing into Factors Affecting the Supply of Medical Workforce in Rural Areas

AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton and Chair of the AMA Rural Medical Committee Dr David Rivett are giving evidence today to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Hearing into factors affecting the supply of medical workforce in rural areas.

At the hearing, the AMA will reiterate its support for the five solutions to help bolster medical workforce in regional and rural Australia listed in the AMA Position Statement ‘Regional/Rural Workforce Initiatives 2012”: These solutions focus on the need to:

• Provide a dedicated and quality training pathway with the right skill mix to ensure GPs are adequately trained to work in rural areas.
• Provide a realistic and sustainable work environment with flexibility, including locum relief.
• Provide family support that includes spousal opportunities/employment, educational opportunities for children and subsidies for housing/relocation and/or tax relief.
• Provide financial incentives including rural loadings to ensure competitive remuneration.
• Provide a working environment that would allow quality training and supervision.

CMO’s PIP Breast Implant Report and associated fact sheets

Australian Government Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Baggoley this week released his report into PIP Breast Implants. This report aims to present the information available at the moment, to provide answers to common questions and to assist women who have to make choices about their own PIP breast implants.

The report indicates that so far, scientific tests have identified some differences between the PIP breast implants and other brands of silicone breast implants, but these differences are small and do not indicate that there is an increased safety risk associated with PIP implants.

According to the report, as of 12 April 2012, the TGA had received 288 reports of rupture of PIP breast implants of which 250 were confirmed, 38 were unconfirmed due to insufficient information to uniquely identify the patient, the implant used or to verify that a rupture has occurred.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration and international bodies will continue to accumulate evidence as part of their ongoing activities and Professor Baggoley expected that there will be more information to review.

Click here for the CMO’s report and the associated fact sheets.

Short Course: Dealing With Difficult People and Situations (for practice staff) – Register Now!

There are times when all of us will find ourselves in situations where the behaviour of people around us impacts on us in a negative way.

This could be when dealing with a discourteous, demanding or aggressive patient, employer or employee. Regardless of who the person with the challenging behaviour is there are specific strategies, which can be used to better manage the situation. Those often-uncontrolled emotions of anxiety, negative thoughts, anger, lack of patience and avoidance can all be managed.

We encourage you to enrol your practice staff in this course to equip them with the skills and confidence to deal with these difficult situations.

There is a discounted enrolment fee for practice staff of current AMA members.

Date: Wednesday 30 May
Time: 12.30pm - 4.30pm
Location: AMA House, 293 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria.

Register online now or by calling (03) 9347 3373.

Free tool to track registration requirements (AMA CPD Tracker)

The AMA has developed a free online tool to help doctors to keep track of the information they need to meet the Medical Board of Australia’s annual continuing professional development requirements. Each September practitioners, when renewing their Medical Board registration, may be required to provide evidence they have complied with the Board’s continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.

The AMA CPD Tracker has been developed to enable doctors to progressively gather and organise the information needed to substantiate declarations made to the Board about CPD, so that evidence can be quickly and easily produced on demand.

The AMA CPD Tracker can be used to:

• list courses completed, including the organisation that accredited the CPD activity;
• store all certificates of completion; keep a log of practice-based reflective activities, including clinical audits, peer reviews and performance appraisals; and
• log hours spent on online learning, reading journals, teaching and other activities.

The system keeps a tally of hours, enabling practioners to keep track of what needs to be completed before the end of the registration year.

The Tracker has been developed taking full account of the requirements set out in the Medical Board’s Continuing Professional Development Registration Standard.

The service is free to AMA members. Non-members can subscribe for an annual fee of $250.

Click Here to register for AMA CPD Tracker.

$20 OFF CAR RENTAL FOR AMA MEMBERS

Getting away from it all is good for you, and now Hertz is making it cheaper for AMA members with a special new offer - $20 off rentals of four days or more.

This offer is in addition to your exclusive discounted AMA rate, and free membership to Hertz #1 Gold which offers priority service for frequent renters.

The discount is available to AMA members at participating Hertz rental locations around Australia and when renting specified vehicle types. Simply call Hertz reservations on 13 30 39, or visit www.hertz.com.au and quote your Customer Discount Programme #283826 and Promotion Code 171835.

No extra MBS funding for preparing Shared Health Summaries

The AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton met with the Department of Health and Ageing, the RACGP and other medical groups earlier this week to attempt to clarify the uncertainty about Medicare rebates for the Shared Health Summary for the PCEHR.

At that meeting, Departmental officials confirmed that:

• There is no extra MBS funding for preparing Shared Health Summaries;
• There has been no change to the descriptors of existing MBS attendance items to specifically accommodate the preparation of a Shared Health Summary; and
• Billing MBS items will always be at the discretion of the medical practitioner, depending on the clinical circumstances of the consultation.

Consequently, the Government has not found it necessary to do any financial modeling on the impact of an increased use of items, or an escalation in the use of the more complex items (Level C and D), because of the introduction of the PCEHR and its key feature - the Shared Health Summary.

In practice, this means that preparation and maintenance of a Shared Health Summary is inconsequential to a clinically relevant consultation that meets the complexity and time requirements of the existing MBS attendance items.

The AMA advises its members to continue to bill MBS items according to the time and complexity requirements of the items, and to keep clinical notes that can substantiate the time and complexity of the patient consultation to the item billed.

The AMA has introduced specific time-based items to prepare and maintain Shared Health Summaries that may be billed by any medical practitioner in addition to any patient consultation that might occur at the same time.

The AMA believes that the Government should introduce similar items to the MBS to recognise this important new clinical service. Specific Commonwealth funding for this service is needed to ensure that the objectives of the PCEHR to reduce adverse events, avoid duplication, and improve coordination of care are met.

AMA welcomes further steps towards a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The Government announcement that the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will commence from July next year has been welcomed by the AMA, which has been pushing for such a national long-term care scheme for the severely disabled since 2003.

“When fully implemented, the NDIS will provide fairness, equity, and a better quality of life for people with a disability, their families, and their carers,” Dr Steve Hambleton, AMA President, said.

“The benefits for these members of our community, who are often overlooked, will be tremendous. For the first time, they will have certainty that their care needs will be met”.

The AMA is preparing to work closely with the Government in developing and implementing the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) for people who are severely injured and require the same levels of support.

“Over time, there is scope for both schemes to be integrated so that all Australians have access to early intervention and support, based on need, regardless of the cause or type of disability,” Dr Hambleton said.

Click here to view the AMA press release.

Health program targets veterans with greatest needs

A major mail-out to GPs with patients most likely to benefit from the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program is being sent during early May by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

Gold Card holders with chronic conditions and a high risk of being admitted to hospital are being identified through analysis of DVA’s client data. Letters are being sent to these identified candidates and their GPs.

The CVC Program has been running for one year and has over 8,200 enrolments. Many of the participants have been identified by their GP. The AMA understands that analysis of the DVA data indicates that the candidates identified through the data analysis generally have a higher risk of hospitalisation than those identified by GPs.

DVA is encouraging practices to focus on the patients listed in the targeted letters when considering potential participants for the CVC Program. Information about the CVC program for both patients and GPs is available at www.dva.gov.au/cvc.htm

Report Highlights Critical Shortage Of Training Positions For Medical Graduates

A report released by the nation’s Health Ministers on 27 April 2012 shows there is a looming shortfall of training places for medical graduates and therefore a desperate need for Governments to fund extra pre-vocational and specialist training places, in order to keep pace with the number of graduates emerging from medical schools.

The AMA had lobbied hard for the review, Health Workforce 2025, to be undertaken, and President Dr Steve Hambleton said Governments needed to act urgently on its findings to ensure Australia’s medical workforce met the community’s future health needs.

According to the report, in 2016 there will be 3867 doctors who require a first year advanced specialist-training place, whereas the most recent data shows that there are currently only 2817 positions available. Even factoring some growth in these places, Health Workforce 2025 is still projecting a shortage of 451 training positions, highlighting the need for urgent action.

Dr Hambleton said implementing the training plan will require significant funding, planning and coordination, which can only be achieved with support at the highest level across all Governments. The AMA strongly supports crucial work to be undertaken by Health Workforce Australia in drawing up an implementation plan.

Click here to view the AMA press release.

GP Rural Incentives Program - overpayment adjustment

The AMA was this week alerted to a problem with payments made by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to some GPs through the GP Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) in August 2011. According to the DHS, a significant number of GPs, 293 in fact, were overpaid. These GPs have recently received advice from DHS to this effect and that their next payment would be adjusted by the overpayment.

Concerned about the cash flow impact this could have for GPs, the AMA has confirmed with the DHS that practitioners so affected can arrange an alternative payment schedule. To do so, GPs should call the DHS on 1800 010 550.

A smaller number of GPs (40) were underpaid the GRIP-GP payment but have since been reimbursed.

Red Tape: Centrelink Forms Improved

Following feedback from the AMA Red Tape Survey, the AMA has been working closely with the DHS to improve the forms for the Disability Support Pension Medical Report and the Centrelink Medical Certificate. The forms have been revised and are currently being tested ready for a June release.

Changes to the forms include removal of duplicate questions, improvements to the clarity and logical flow of questions, and clarification under the reimbursement section that the time taken to complete the report counts towards the length of the consultation claimed. In addition, practitioners will be encouraged to complete and lodge the forms via HPOS. By completing the Disability Support Pension Medical Report via HPOS for example GPs will only see the questions they are required to answer.

Going forward, the AMA and DHS are working on pre-population of forms and using previously created reports/certificates as the basis for generating a new report/certificate for that patient.

AMA 2011 Annual Report Released

The AMA has released its 2011 Annual Report. A copy is available at: 

http://ama.com.au/ama-annual-report-2011

We welcome your comments and suggestions as well. Please tell us what you think.

The AMA CPD Tracking service is available to all medical professionals to help manage CPD recording requirements. This service is available free to AMA members and at a small cost to non members.

With $0 annual Card fee, $0 Supplementary Card1 fee and a choice of two great Rewards programs, the benefits of the AMA Gold Credit Card really add up – up to $300^ in value for our members. Find out more

Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited. Credit provided by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 1088 952 085). Australian Credit Licence No. 291313. ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company.

^ Indicative value only. The $300 value is comprised of: a $200 David Jones Gift Card if you apply, are approved and spend $500 on your Card within the first two months of receiving your Card (offer ends 31 December 2012), no annual Rewards program fee saving you $80 p.a and no annual Supplementary Card fees saving you $20 p.a.

From the Chair

Australia’s ignominious history in regards to workforce planning took a step towards recovery last week with the release of the landmark report Health Workforce 2025.

In terms of the training pipeline, HW2025 predicts a shortfall in registrar posts of 404 by 2015 and 1,265 by 2025. This means that a considerable bottleneck at the point of entry into vocational training is imminent. The other major findings of the report are summarised below.

HW2025 demands a response from Health Ministers, and our challenge now is to ensure that we get a satisfactory one. They have indicated that reform is necessary, but how that agenda will be progressed remains unclear.

In the immediate future, governments (with advice from medical colleges) have their work cut out for them in identifying and funding the required number of vocational training positions. We have already started thinking about how the AMA can report on progress against the targets implied by HW2025.

The report also has implications for those proposing new medical schools. The predicted lack of training positions certainly doesn’t help their cause.

In some respects, HW2025 poses more questions than it answers. But at least we have a blueprint for training a health workforce that is capable of meeting the healthcare needs of all Australians.

On that note, it’s my time to sign off as your monthly correspondent. It’s been an honour holding the Deputy Chair and Chair positions and I thank members for the opportunity. Federal Council will ratify the appointment of the next Chair when it meets in a few weeks. I suspect that doctors in training will find themselves in very capable hands.

Regards,

Rob

Health Workforce 2025 highlights shortage of training positions

The first two volumes of Health Workforce 2025 (HW2025) were released on 27 April. The report modelled a number of different workforce scenarios, with the baseline scenario suggesting that by 2025 Australia will have progressively moved to a medical workforce deficit of 2700 doctors. The report also shows that Australia is likely to continue to be very reliant on International Medical Graduates. These numbers pale in comparison to the predicted shortfall of nurses. The report suggests that, Australia will need 109,409 more nurses by 2025 on the baseline scenario.

As mentioned in the Chair’s report above, HW2025 also predicts a burgeoning bottleneck at the entrance to vocational training. It shows that the increases in medical student numbers since 2004 are having a positive workforce impact and that there is no real case to justify the opening of new medical schools, particularly in light of the lack of prevocational and vocational training places.

In response to the report, the AMA has called on the Government to convene a Council of Australian Governments meeting specifically to reach agreement with the States and Territories on boosting pre-vocational and specialist medical training places in line with HW2025 projections. More specific modelling of each medical speciality is expected to be released in June.

Read the AMA media release on the report and Volume 1 of the report itself on the Health Workforce Australia web-site. You may also be interested in reading some commentary from The Australian.

AMA Leadership Development Dinner: book now!

Have you booked a ticket to the 2012 AMA National Conference and Leadership Development Dinner (LDD)? Don’t miss out on attending this once a year event, which promises to be thought provoking and inspiring. 2011 Australian of the Year Simon McKeon (Chairman of Macquarie Group’s Melbourne office, CSIRO and Business for Millennium Development) is the guest speaker at this year’s dinner, which will be held at Chapter House, 197 Flinders Lane, Melbourne on Friday, 25 May 2012 from 7:30pm until late. The cost is $65 for students and $75 for doctors in training. Go to the AMA National Conference website to register.

Don't miss out on this special offer for DiTs to attend National Conference for $500. That's half price! Register now

“Like us” on Facebook

The AMA Council of Doctors in Training has created a new Doctors in Training (DIT) Network page at www.facebook.com/amacdt. Feel free to contribute to the discussion there.

New plan to bolster the rural medical workforce

The AMA recently released its position statement on Regional/Rural Workforce Initiatives, which sets out a practical achievable plan to attract doctors and medical students to live and work in rural and regional Australia.

The statement highlights five key priority areas for national policy development and urges the Government to:

• provide a dedicated and quality training pathway with the right skill mix to ensure GPs are adequately trained to work in rural areas;
• provide a realistic and sustainable work environment with flexibility, including locum relief;
• provide family support that includes spousal opportunities/employment, educational opportunities for children’s education, subsidy for housing/relocation and/or tax relief;
• provide financial incentives including rural loadings to ensure competitive remuneration; and
• provide a working environment that would allow quality training and supervision.

The Position Statement also makes clear the AMA’s views on the Bonded Medical Places program, and its support for the HECS Reimbursement Sheme. Further, it highlights the significant ongoing concern at the way in which the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) is being applied to determine the distribution of financial incentives.

Guidelines and resources on prescribing drugs of addiction

The AMA Therapeutics Committee has developed a ‘one-stop-shop’ webpage for AMA members seeking advice on prescribing drugs of addiction. The page includes links to:

• the latest independent drug information about opioids and treatments provided by the National Prescribing Service;
• the ‘Dr Shopper Line’ operated by the Department of Human Services;
• the RACGP guidelines on prescribing benzodiazepines;
• steps to follow when ending the doctor-patient relationship produced by MDA National;
• statistical information on pharmocotherapy for opioid dependence produced by AIHW; and
• State and Territory government funded drugs of dependence units.

View the Prescribing drugs of addiction support page on the AMA website (Remember you need to log in with your member details first).

A direct link to the page is also located on the AMA members' home page in the box titled AMA information and resources.

Comments are welcome. Just use the section at the bottom of the page.

Survey follows doctors as they build their careers

Did you know that 34% of medical students who ranked surgery as their preferred area of practice in medical school changed their preference to specialist areas such as anaesthesia and emergency medicine by the time they entered their intern year? Such is the information we can access through the Medical Schools Outcomes Database and Longitudinal Tracking (MSOD) Project.

The MSOD Project provides unique insights into the needs and aspirations of medical students and junior doctors. All students and doctors are encouraged to complete the surveys to provide the most reliable dataset possible.

The MSOD Project publishes bi-annual newsletters to provide participants, stakeholders, medical schools and other interested parties with updates of project activities. Read the latest newsletter here.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please tell us what you think.

The AMA CPD Tracking service is available to all medical professionals to help manage CPD recording requirements. This service is available free to AMA members and at a small cost to non members.

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Leading for Difference

Women in Medicine - Christine Bennett

A reflection on the number and position of women in medicine 50 years ago, some of the outstanding women leaders in medicine over the last 50 years and a look to the future: women in medicine over the next 20 years.

Leading Medical Workforce Development - Jim McGinty

The growth and development of the medical workforce over the last 50 years, planning for the medical workforce past and present and how the medical workforce will change over the next 20 years.

Global Health on our Doorstep

Health care needs and obligations are not always confined to national borders in a globalised world of developing and developed nations, where war, political oppression and natural disasters are, sadly, regular features. Australia and Australian health care professionals have a substantial history of providing health and medical assistance in the international context. That assistance has ranged from involvement in international humanitarian interventions, through to the challenges of providing appropriate health and mental health care to those who are in Australia seeking asylum or who have refugee status. These challenges include, among other things, the diversity of refugees in Australia, the spectrum of medical conditions involved, and the cultural and linguistic barriers to care.

Sometimes it is also in Australia’s interests to support its neighbours in dealing with health issues that may otherwise become threats to the Australian population. This is currently the case with TB in certain areas of Papua New Guinea.

This conference session provides an insight into these aspects of global and refugee health, and the role of medical professionals.

Applying lean thinking to your practice 

Lean systems improve processes, eliminate waste, reduce delays and improve both quality and productivity.  Implementation of Lean concepts can help you provide transformational leadership and a better organisation that provides improved service.  

Participants in this workshop will gain insights into:

- methods used to identify areas of inefficiency and waste in their organisation or business

- practical approaches that can be used to improve efficiency and reduce waste

- ways to improve access to medical care

- ways to improve the patient experience of medical care

The focus will be on application of the five principles of Lean to medical practices and hospital settings.

Practice Development Lifecycle

This session will outline the following phases of business as it applies to medical practices:

• Start Up 
• Growth 
• Expansion 
• Maturity

Key components of each stage will be considered. This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the tipping points that occur at each stage that lead to success or limitation in growth of the organisation

The key roles played by the medical practitioners will be outlined including their leadership skills and their ability to foster a successful team.

Health and the Environment

The phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ has had many applications since it was popularized in the 1960s by the environmental movement. Its application to health and healthcare is still as relevant as ever today. The issue of climate change and global warming has become very prominent in public and policy debate, including the potential adverse impacts of climate change on people’s health. An increasing emphasis in the public discussion of this global issue is what individuals, professionals and organisations can do at a local level to minimize these impacts, particularly with regard to reducing CO2 emissions.

People’s health is not only shaped by the character and quality of the natural environment, but also by the built environment. Not only do our urban environments produce CO2 emissions, the design of the built environment influences individuals’ behaviours and the health risk factors they are exposed to. There are many ways that sustainability and better health can be built into the urban environment.

This conference session will examine both of these relationships between health and the environment

How to be an Effective Meeting Participant

Leaders and advocates are inevitably required to attend meetings and this workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to make the most of them.  In order to simulate an actual meeting, participants will seated in boardroom style and everyone will be invited to share their insights and experiences. As a result, the workshop will be restricted to no more than 30 participants.

The AMA Indigenous Health: Progress to Date and the Challenges that Remain

The AMA has a strong history of advocating for improvements to the health of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. One of the major vehicles for this advocacy is the publication of the AMA’s annual report cards on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. Since 2002, these Report Cards have focused on a particular aspect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, investigated the facts and evidence, and made sound policy and program recommendations for long-term improvement.  

This conference session will reflect on what the Governments’ policies and actions have been over the years in relation to the AMA’s recommendations regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. A short audit of AMA progress to date and challenges that remain will be released by the AMA President, and Chair of the AMA Taskforce on Indigenous Health, Dr Hambleton

Each year, the AMA has also offered a scholarship to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student to complete his or her studies in medicine. Many recipients have gone on to solid and successful careers in medicine, often working in Aboriginal communities.

The AMA President will also take the opportunity at this session to formally present the AMA’s Indigenous Peoples’ Medical Scholarship to the 2012 winner.