General practice must be funded to help implement the PCEHR

 At a meeting in Canberra today, United General Practice Australia (UGPA) leaders unanimously expressed concern about the lack of preparation for the practical implementation at practice level of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR), which is due to be introduced on 1 July this year.

UGPA members have been working tirelessly with the Government and agencies for some time to ensure the PCEHR becomes a reality.

The UGPA leaders agree that individual general practices and individual GPs must be properly funded and supported by the Government to assist in the smooth implementation of the PCEHR.

The PCEHR is a great opportunity for patients and the community, but it is in danger of being lost or impaired unless there is coordinated action to meet the deadline for implementation.

A mechanism to encourage GPs and patients to quickly sign up to the PCEHR is needed as a matter of urgency.  General practice can assist in this process, but must be properly supported.

The UGPA leaders also raised concerns about two reviews currently being conducted into non-medical prescribing.  Both Health Workforce Australia and the National Prescribing Service are looking into issues around prescribing by non-medical health professionals including nurse practitioners, podiatrists, physiotherapists, and optometrists.

To ensure consistent high national standards, a national curriculum and a national assessment framework are required for prescribing.

UGPA is otherwise concerned about patient and community safety with non-medical prescribing and is urging strong linkages with medical practitioners to avoid fragmentation of patient care.

UGPA recommends that an overarching existing national agency should be commissioned to manage and oversee all activities and reviews concerning non-medical prescribing.

UGPA comprises the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, the Australian General Practice Network, General Practice Registrars Australia, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.

1 March 2012

For further information:

RACGP        Prof Claire Jackson          0413 277 058

AMA            Dr Steve Hambleton        0418 731 570

AGPN           Dr Emil Djakic                 0428 256 563

GPRA           Dr Holly Deer                 0427 596 119

ACRRM        Dr Richard Murray            07 3105 8200

RDAA           Dr Paul Mara                   0466 665 933

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