General Topics

PIP QI – AGPA makes progress

The PIP QI program went live on 1 August 2019.

The AGPA and a group of concerned Doctors reviewed the data collection arrangements for the program and determined that there were significant privacy issues for patient and Practice information.

The Department of Health has now released a new set of guidelines which addresses many of the issues raised by the AGPA.

A win for common sense.

Read more

Why changing the GP model is worth the effort

By Julie Lambert

Sydney GPs shifting to a new integrative care model are reporting better morale, happier patients, and some uncertainty about investment returns. The burden on general practices adopting the “patient-centred medical home” (PCMH) model is a heavy one, according to a new report from the WentWest Primary Health Network. Read more

Train GPs in the Bush for the Bush: Deputy PM

By Michael McCormack*
It’s simply not good enough. That is your first thought when you meet the people affected by Australia’s rural doctor shortage.
The people who travel for hours on country roads or who wait for weeks or even longer just to see a doctor. Those who do their best – who rally local business communities to help, who open their arms to a new recruit and make them welcome – just to make sure the doctor stays. Yet this is the reality in many country communities around Australia. Read more

Australia comes out well in 11-nation health study

Australia’s health system comes out very well in a recent US study comparing health care system performance in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Read more

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2018

Member Communication and Practice Support

As we mentioned in our December newsletter we have been working to try to improve communication and support our members who are spread across the country.

In February we trialled an online interactive seminar (read Webinar you can hold a discussion in) for the Queensland members and some other Queensland practice owners. The topic was Changes to the Cybersecurity Legislation and the Requirements for Reporting Security Breaches. We had a very good presentation from Redfish and a great discussion. Read more

Department to look at pathology blow-out and GP conduct

The rising number of tests and scans at major clinics and medical centres is under investigation by the Federal Department of Health, according to a report in The Australian. It will focus on whether the cause is inappropriate financial arrangements. The department will look at compliance and whether GPs are getting unlawful kick-backs to request pathology services, especially where the services are co-located. Read more

Historic agreement landed for rural practice

A landmark agreement has been reached (Feb 2018) to develop a national framework for Rural Generalist medical specialty. The agreement has been delivered by the National Rural Health Commissioner Professor Paul Worley and announced at the rural and regional health forum in Canberra. Read more

Concern over charges to private health funds

The Federal Government is very concerned about the growing practice of private health insurance being charged by public hospitals for treatments that should be free, according to the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt. Figures released (Dec 2017) by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) show that state governments and hospitals are continuing to actively encourage patients to use their private health insurance to boost hospital revenue. Read more

What to do with GPs’ mine of data

Dr Edwin Kruys*

General practice has been sitting on a goldmine of digital data, locked away on hard drives in our practices all over the country. And while we were busy looking after our patients, others have quietly started mining it for us. Read more

New cervical cancer screening test

From 1 December, Australian women will benefit from a new and more effective screening test for cervical cancer — it’s more accurate and requires testing less often. The new human papillomavirus (HPV) test will prevent up to 30 per cent more women from developing cervical cancer because it detects HPV, an early risk indicator for cervical cancer. The current Pap test detects cervical abnormalities after they occur. Read more