• Rural Medicine Australia 2011
• Payment Schedule for Practice with first year GP Registrars
• Rural Medicine Advanced
• Farm Mortality
• 2011 Annual Conference College of Skin Cancer Medicine
• PEPA GP Update
• Information for Practice Managers
• PGPPP
• QRMLP

To view the QR me July/August 2011 Newsletter click here

To view QR me May/June 2011 Newsletter click here.

The Cunningham Centre Medical Education and Training Team are holding a one day Advanced Cardiac Life SUpport Workshop on 8th June (pre-RDAQ)  at the Sebel in Cairns. This course is accredited with RACGP (40 Category 1 Points CPR inclusive) and ACRRM (10 ALS, PRDP points).

If you are interested in attending, for more information visit the Cunningham Centre website.

Family Planning Queensland

Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) in collaboration with Health Workforce Queensland are developing a DVD learning resource which will feature scenarios exploring specific communication and consultation skills involved in working with young people with sexual health issues who attend general practice. The resource is for GPs, overseas trained doctors (IMGs), GP Registrars and practice nurses.

As part of the program FPQwill be running three Train the Trainer workshops in Cairns 17/09/2011, Rockhampton 27/08/2011, Brisbane 23/07/2011, designed to provide resources and support to a network of clinical leaders who will champion the use of the DVD resource in a range of ongoing learning activites, including workshops, seminars, small group learning and self directed learning across Queensland.

If you are interested in being involved please contact Zena Horton at zhorton@healthworkforce.com.au or call 07 3105 7800.

Australian Association of Musculoskeletal Medicine

39th Annual Scientific Meeting Palm Cove – 30th June – 3rd July 2011.  The conference will focus on the management of persistent musculoskeletal pain through a series of pre-conference workshops, clinical updates, peer reviews, expert presentations and skills sessions. Further information can be found on the website www.hwqevents.com.au/aamm.

RACGP North Queensland Conference 27-28 August 2011

The conference will showcase the best in clinical education and professional development to regional Queensland. This event will cover the latest developments that affect you, your patients and your practice.

Learn more and take advantage of the opportunity to update your clinical skills on a range of topics including:

• Sexual Health
• Dermatology
• Evidence Based Medicine
• Radiology
• Ophthalmology
• GP Research
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Please contact RACGP on 07 3456 8944 for more information.

ACRRM – NEW: Certificate in Primary Care Dermatology

The Certificate in Primary Care Dermatology is a comprehensive and flexible course comprising of 23 online modules and 2 practical modules (workshop and clinical experience).  It is specifically designed to provide GPs with the latest training to diagnose and treat skin cancers and other common skin conditions.  You can enroll in individual modules or the complete course, which you can finish at your own pace over three years.  Each module in the course attracts points toward Professional Development, based on the number of hours of work estimated for each module  For more information and registration forms, please visit the Dermatology page on the ACRRM website or by contacting ACRRM on 1800 223 226.

Light Box Radiology Education

for information on Light Box timetable   or please visit:

http://www.lightboxradiology.com.au/our-courses

Cunningham Centre Courses

The Cunningham Centre located on the Toowoomba Hospital campus, Queensland, has been involved in the education and training of health personnel in southern inland Queensland since 1989. As a Registered Training Organisation, the Cunningham Centre (at Freshney House ) provides a wide range of high quality innovative programs that meet the training and educational needs of rural and remote Queensland Health staff. For more information on events coming up, please visit the web site: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cunninghamcentre/default.asp

To view the Cunningham centre events site visit: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cunninghamcentre/html/calendar.asp

Health Workforce Qld. Medical Education and Training

Link to Health Workforce Qld info:

http://www.healthworkforce.com.au/main_calendar.asp?NodeID=27666 

Prostate Cancer Foundation Course

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre are honoured to welcome Dr Charles “Snuffy” Myers to Australia.  For Seminar Dates and Locations please visit the following link:

http://www.prostate.org.au/articleLive/articles/96/1/Dr-Charles-Snuffy-Myers-Lectures-in-2010/Page1.html

UQ Workshops

A  series of workshops available at the University of Queensland that cover subjects such as Motivational Interviewing & Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Workshops and HIV Medicine, Sexual Health for General Practitioners and much more. For more information email hivandhcvprojects@uq.edu.au or visit http://www.som.uq.edu.au/hivandhcvprojects/applications/applications.html

QRME Education Release Workshop

QRME recently held the first Education Release Workshop for 2011.  With Toowoomba floods impacting on the original workshop dates  in January the program was rescheduled for the 17th February.  Thank you to everyone involved in supporting these changes.  Registrars and QRMLP medical students attended the workshop week held in Toowoomba. 

QRME End of Line Black Tie dinner was also held this week celebrating completion of training for fellowed Registrars.

QRME will conduct the Annual General Meeting after the RDAQ conference this year.  At this meeting, Board Directors will be elected as the usual 2 year term draws to a close. 

QRME AGM Nomination for Supervisor Board Appointment.  Please forward nominatons Professor Scott Kitchener . Please respond by COB Friday 29th April 2011.

Invitation to Attend:

Pre-RDAQ Conference Teaching on the Run Workshop Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June 2011

Teaching on The Run Information Program

Booking your place is essential, please contact Julie James.
If you would like to discuss the course content and benefits of the training, please contact Dr
Kay Brumpton.

Please viewPayment Schedule for Practices for first year GP Regsitrars.

AGPT resources for Supervisors

Please contact QRME Supervisor Liaison Officer Dr Tim Lloyd-Morgan for your Supervisor enquires.

Many of you will have heard me wax lyrically about tropical medicine in workshops.  Apologies, but there is a way for you to experience some of the enjoyment of travel and appreciate the health issues and care of people in tropical developing countries.  TropMedEx is a group that conducts “medical safaris” to East Africa that are safe and structured for learning.  They would certainly count for educational time in your program and be suitable for funding support from the QRME program depending upon other educational activities funded.  They are also potentially tax deductible.  These can also be part of an Expeditionary Medicine Extended Skill or be included in an Advanced Skill Training Program, or simply a working holiday…

To find more about an East African Medical Safari have a look at: http://www.tropmedex.com/newsletter/aktuell/Newsletter-E.htm

 Scott Kitchener

RLO news

Thank you to Dr James Telfer for his role as RLO for the past few years.  QRME recognises the importance of this role for Registrars and we acknowledge the time and effort James has given to this appointment. 

Welcome to the incoming RLO’s.  Dr Charles Mudimu, Dr Kit Haydock and Dr Chris Barry.  Please contact them with your Registrar enquiries at the following emails.  Dr Charles Mudimu – Goondiwindi RLOS@qrme.org.au, Dr Kit Haydock – Cooroy RLONC@qrme.org.au and Dr Chris Barry – Rockhampton RLONQ@qrme.org.au.

EXAM Season

GPRA offers a webinar for Registrar members to hear from 2 peers who have sat and passed the OSCE recently. The webinar covers what happened on the day, the do’s and don’ts, 3 sample case studies, and time for questions and answers.
Sessions: Thursday 7th April @ 7pm – 8:30pm (FULL)
               Thursday 14th April @ 7pm – 8:30pm (FULL)
               Thursday 28th April @ 8pm – 9:30pm (Open only to registrars sitting their OSCE in May 2011)

Exam Season – GPRA Webinar – Surviving (and passing) the OSCE

Australian Association of Musculoskeletal Medicine

39th Annual Scientific Meeting Palm Cove – 30th June – 3rd July 2011.  The conference will focus on the management of persistent musculoskeletal pain through a series of pre-conference workshops, clinical updates, peer reviews, expert presentations and skills sessions. Further information can be found on the website www.hwqevents.com.au/aamm.

Clarification from DHA about RRIPS Grandparenting

“Grandparenting arrangements for Registrars under the General Practice rural Incentive Program (GPRIP).  Grandparenting arrangements apply to Registrars who have received payments, or are qualifying for payments under Registrars Rural Incentives Payment Scheme (RRIPS) prior to 1 July 2010.  This includes all rural pathway Registrars in the 2010 cohort.  Grandparental Registrars will continue to be subject to the three year cap that existed under RRIPS.  Upon reaching the three year cap, any additional payments will be paid according to the GPRIP payment schedule.  As Grandparenting arrangements will remain in place until the end of the 2012 training year, all Registrars who have not reached the three year cap by this time will revert to the GPRIP payment schedule.  For further information regarding eligibility for the Registrar component of GPRIP contact the Department of Health and Ageing via the DoctorConnect website www.doctorconnect.gov.au  Registrars can contact Medicare (1800 010 550) to obtain registration and claim forms for all RRIPS eligible placements undertaken in 2010.

ACRRM – IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FACRRM TRAINING.  

Advanced Specialised Training Curricula Published.  The curricula for Emergency Medicine and Remote Medicine were published in late 2009. Population Health and Indigenous Health curricula are expected to be published shortly. Curricula may be found at http://www.acrrm.org.au/advanced-specialised-training-curricula

Emergency Medicine Advanced Specialised Training – Registrars who commenced Advanced Specialised Training (AST) in Emergency Medicine in 2010 are required to meet the requirements outlined in this Emergency Medicine curriculum. Supervisor report template and procedural skills logbook can be found at http://www.acrrm.org.au/assessment  

Emergency Medicine StAMPS will be run annually in mid November.

Remote Medicine Advanced Specialised Training – Registrars who commenced training in 2010 and have not previously had an individual plan approved are required to meet the requirements outlined in the Remote Health curriculum.

RACGP Exam Information 2010.2

Get Involved In Your Local Division

AGPT General Information for Registrars (useful Information and Applications Forms)

Australian GP Registrar is a monthly electronic newsletter published by the GPRA. The newsletter is free (FOR MEMBERS) and aims to keep you up to date with training issues from a Registrar perspective. Colleges, training providers and other interested stakeholders may subscribe by clicking here.    Click to View Current Edition

New Medicare Form – Individual General Practitioner -to link registrar to PIP   Link for Individual General Practitioner Form

Useful Hints and Information for Practice Managers by Gina Hawker 

CEOs/Practice Managers/Practice Staff should be aware of the new ruling for part time staff working hours. 

The Federal Government has ruled under the terms and conditions of 2010 Health Professionals and Support Services Award , part time employees will receive normal rates for time worked between 7.30am and 9.00pm, even if these hours are over and above those stated in their current employment contract. 

I would urge practices to review their employment contracts. 

Practice induction folder for commencing registrars inclusive of the following:- 

×          Map of local area showing hospitals, nursing homes etc

×          List of categorised health professionals for referral basis

×          After hours information sheet

×          Local division membership booklet e.g. GP Connections

×          Allied Services wait list

×          Frequently used numbers including staff contacts

×          Medicare item numbers

×          Pathology Services collection centres

×          Radiology Services request forms detailing sites and facilities

×          Support Services within area e.g. Leukaemia Foundation

×          Indigenous Health Practices

×          Hospital telephone numbers / ward numbers 

Useful websites – Dandenong Casey – General Practice Association

                              R Health

                              NEVDGP (North Eastern Valley Division of General Practice) 

If you would like to share useful information for practice managers or include anything in future newsletters for this section, please contact Moira on 4638 7999 or via email Moira Pearl

In collaboration with the University of Queensland, QRMLP medical students recently had the opportunity to work with a staged trauma scenario which provided a valuable learning experience. QRMLP medical student Lyndal Phelps shares her experience at the scene.

 “Doctor, a 45y.o male was brought into ED by QAS, after a work accident involving farming machinery causing amputation of his left leg above the knee joint. He is hypotensive, tachycardiac and unresponsive”.

This scenario was one of many given to the Queensland Rural Longlook Medical Program Students (QRLMP) at a recent workshop held in Brisbane by the QLD Ambulance Service. Cases such as this are a reality for rural doctors throughout QLD and it was a fantastic opportunity for us to practice management of them.

QRLMP students arrived at the bedside to find a pulsating amputated leg, BP 70/40, HR 140, RR 12 and an incomprehensible patient. Working as a team, we applied a tourniquet to the groin to slow blood loss and inserted a large bore cannula to administer 2L NS, only to achieve a relentlessly plummeting BP and subsequent VF!! CPR was initiated, however bag-valve-mask resuscitation was not causing chest expansion and a laryngeal-mask airway (LMA) had to be placed in situ. Thankfully this resulted in increased oxygen saturation. However, 2 minutes later the LMA became obstructed and the student-doctor in charge resorted to cricothyroidectomy to secure an airway and save “Sim-Man”s life.

Use of “Sim-Man” for this scenario allowed us to learn airway management, fluid resuscitation and practice CPR in an environment that mirrors the emergency departments we are currently working in. Additionally, it gave us the confidence to use the skills and knowledge learnt throughout the night.

Throughout an eight-hour period the QRLMP Students were put through 7 different scenarios of a traumatic nature. Initially all of us were in shock and as a result were slow to act. The QAS Ambulance officers let us work our way through the scenario as best we could and then they would critique our efforts, and then show us an appropriate way to approach the scenario.

The workshop was invaluable to our learning and has given us the confidence and experience to perform skills that we would never be able to practice on real patients in a busy Emergency Department at this stage in our education!