In Practice: how patients can be part of advocacy efforts

This week’s round-up also includes applications opening for the GP mentoring program, updated clinical care guidelines, and CPD activities and compliance updates.
 
Updated poster and patient fact sheet
The RACGP has developed a poster for general practice waiting rooms and a patient factsheet that highlight the ongoing lack of investment in general practice and rising healthcare costs.
 
The poster and factsheet were recently updated with the latest Medicare and inflation figures, and advise patients to ask their GP about how they can write to their local MP.
 
The college has also developed a letter template that can be pre-filled by GPs and given to patients to send to their local MP.
 
All resources can be downloaded and printed from the college’s billing resources webpage.
 
Expressions of interest for the RACGP’s Mentoring Program
The college’s Mentoring Program provides early career GPs with an experienced GP mentor to provide professional and personal guidance on how to manage the challenges that may arise in general practice.  
 
The program is seeking experienced GPs who are passionate about their profession and interested in supporting GPs in the early stages of their career, as well as early career GPs who would benefit from the support of a GP mentor. 
 
Applications to join the program open in October. More information is available on the RACGP website.
 
Focussed Psychological Strategies CPD compliance
Registered providers of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) are required to complete an accredited FPS CPD course within each triennium, in order to maintain their FPS status and continue to use the relevant FPS item numbers.
 
Providers of FPS who have not completed FPS CPD this triennium are advised to visit the RACGP MyCPD dashboard to view available courses. Any questions can be directed to the GPMHSC secretariat.
 
New My Health Record security and access policy template and e-Learning module
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), in collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), has developed a security and access policy template to assist healthcare providers to comply with their obligations under Rule 42 of the My Health Records Rule 2016.
 
Rule 42 requires healthcare provider organisations to establish, communicate and enforce a written security and access policy in order to register, and remain registered, with the My Health Record system.
 
The ADHA has also developed an e-Learning module to accompany the security and access policy template. The module is designed to support healthcare providers in using the template by outlining practical steps that should be followed when drafting a security and access policy for their organisation.
 
The policy template is available on the OAIC website, and the e-Learning module can be accessed via the ADHA’s training website.
 
Updated diabetes glycaemic management algorithm
This month, the Australian Diabetes Society updated the Type 2 diabetes glycaemic management algorithm.
 
The algorithm outlines the risks, benefits and costs of available therapies and provides an approach for how to incorporate older and newer agents.
 
GPs can also find more information about medication management of glycaemia in the RACGP’s Management of type 2 diabetes: A handbook for general practice.
 
Clinical care standard for low-back pain
The first national Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standards has been launched by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC).
 
According to the ACSQHC, low-back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with the burden increasing, despite a burgeoning number of treatment options. In addition, back problems and pain are the second most common reason Australians seek care from their GP, and one of the top five presentations to emergency departments.
 
Early appropriate management of people experiencing an acute episode is important to reduce the chance of developing chronic low-back pain.
 
How to publish your research: Demystifying the process
Webinar: Wednesday 14 September, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
Register online.
 
Presented by Professor Stephen Margolis OAM, this webinar will clarify the process of getting research published and provide guidance on developing strategies for successful publishing.
 
Diagnosis and management of non-melanoma skin cancer and melanomas
Webinar: Wednesday 21 September, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
Register online.
 
GPs in training, New Fellows and early-career stage GPs can build their confidence in detecting and treating skin cancers through this webinar, which focuses on developing core skin cancer skills within general practice.
 
This practical webinar will explore common types of skin cancers and includes the diagnosis and management of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
 
It will also cover non-surgical treatments for the management of keratinocyte dysplasia and the role of the pathologist in the diagnosis of skin cancer. An interactive session, participants will be encouraged to ask questions and discuss examples they encounter in practice.
 
Demystifying dementia webinar series
Webinar: Wednesday 21 September, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
Eligible for 2 RACGP CPD points
Register online.
 
This three-part webinar series, presented by RACGP Specific Interests and Dementia Training Australia, offers a practical and stepwise approach to improving knowledge, skills, and confidence in diagnosing and managing dementia in general practice.

Presented by three GP specialists in dementia, the second webinar in the series – ‘Dementia diagnosis demystified: A stepwise approach to diagnosing dementia in general practice’ – will present an overview of dementia and describe a practical approach to support GPs in diagnosing.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

clinical guidelines CPD general practice funding In Practice mentoring