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New recognition for GPs with veterans’ health skills
To make GPs’ skillset in military medicine and veterans’ health ‘more visible’, the RACGP is launching a program to mark ANZAC Day.
The DVA’s Chief Health Officer said the new recognition aims to ‘encourage deeper skill development and make specialist GP expertise in veterans’ health more visible’.
A new area of the RACGP’s Recognition of Extended Skills (RES) program will launch on 25 April for ANZAC Day, providing a pathway to recognise GPs with an interest in military medicine and veterans’ health.
Dr John Norgrove, Senior Medical Advisor for Health Policy at Joint Health Command, told newsGP that competent and effective care of defence force members and veterans requires specific occupational medicine skills that ‘weren’t taught in standard college training or university courses.’
‘Interacting with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs [DVA] is different to dealing with Medicare, and medical officers are working with heart health programs, pharmacy programs, and physio programs that aren’t the standard ones,’ he said.
‘Being familiar with the member’s occupational needs, and asking relevant questions, is important. An infantry soldier is going to be different to a jet pilot, which is different to a clerk.
‘It’s about making sure they’re fit for duty and returning them to the job that they’re in.
‘The RES is something a medical officer could use as evidence when applying for a more senior role, or to provide to the DVA, or advertise on a practice website – to let veterans know this GP has an interest in veterans’ health, is happy to see them, and can provide expert and knowledgeable care for them.’
Dr Norgrove, who is also a Royal Australian Air Force medical officer and practising clinician, helped develop the new RES area, as part of collaborative working group coordinated by the RACGP Recognition and Education Lead.
The six GPs involved all have experience caring for veterans and defence force members in Australian Defence Force health facilities.
Military medicine and veterans’ affairs will join nine other fields in the RACGP’s skills recognition program, which allows GPs to submit evidence of their work to a panel of peers for assessment.
The RES in Military Medicine and Veterans’ Health is for GPs who have extensive experience and work:
- in a uniformed medical service
- as a civilian contractor in defence clinical contexts
- as a clinician in the Department of Defence, DVA or other government agency
- in independent primary care, caring for veterans
- any combination of the above.
The RES is not a qualification, but provides recognition of a GP’s commitment to professional growth and contribution to meeting patient and community needs in a given field.
Dr Steph Davis, the DVA’s Chief Health Officer, said the recognition is intended to encourage deeper skill development, support professional development, and make specialist GP expertise in veterans’ health more visible.
‘We hope this recognition will continue to encourage interest and expertise in military medicine and veteran health, improving continuity, consistency, and quality of care for veterans,’ she told
newsGP.
In caring for veterans, Dr Davis said GPs already have the listening and clinical skills that enable them to treat patients from different backgrounds.
‘General practice is often the first point of contact a veteran will have with the health system, and GPs can make a huge impact through providing long-term, coordinated, holistic care,’ she said.
‘With more than 580,000 veterans in Australia, you may have already treated a veteran and not known it.’
‘Identification is most important – ask the question “Have you ever served?”. The answer allows you to ask more specific questions or utilise veteran specific supports or funding.’
Dr Davis points to resources for supporting veterans, including DVA’s
GP quick guides, the
Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program, and the
Veteran Access Payment.
She also highlights the DVA could be billed for clinically necessary care through a veteran Gold Card, or for treatment of accepted conditions on a Veteran Card, with the rebate generally being 15% higher than the equivalent MBS item number.
Full details of the RES for Military Medicine and Veterans’ Health are available on the RACGP website.
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ANZAC Day extended skills military medicine recognition of extended skills RES veterans veterans’ health
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