News
In Practice: Updated PSR Guide
The new guide outlines what doctors referred to the Professional Services Review can expect at each stage of the proces.
The updated PSR guide is more comprehensive than the previous version.
This week’s In Practice also includes a clarification related to verbal consent for telehealth, examples of acceptable cosmetic surgery advertising, information regarding a host of upcoming webinars, and an invitation to complete a questionnaire about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Updated PSR guide
The Professional Services Review (PSR) has published an updated guide to the PSR process for those referred to the government agency.
The updated guide is more comprehensive than the previous version and outlines what doctors can expect at each stage of the process, from the initial review of servicing by the PSR Director to the finalisation of a case.
Assignment of benefit and signature requirements
Earlier this week, information on the Services Australia website related to the way patients assign their benefit to a GP when receiving a bulk-billed telehealth service was briefly changed to remove the reference to obtaining verbal consent.
The RACGP subsequently sought advice from the Department of Health and Aged Care, which clarified that GPs can still obtain patients’ verbal consent to assign their benefit for bulk-billed telehealth consultations.
This continues as a temporary measure, with no confirmed end date at present, and applies to MBS telehealth items introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Services Australia website has now been corrected.
Visual examples of cosmetic surgery advertising
New guidelines for medical practitioners who advertise cosmetic surgery, announced in April, will be in place from 1 July.
All advertising is also required to comply with requirements contained in the National Law and Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service.
To help practitioners comply with the new guidelines, AHPRA and the Medical Board of Australia have developed visual examples and frequently asked questions.
These examples do not represent all of the requirements and should be read in conjunction with the guidelines. More information is available on the Medical Board’s website.
Dementia – driving assessments and medication management
Webinar: Monday 19 June, 7.00 – 8.00 pm (AEST)
Driving assessments for older adult patients can be difficult, but GPs supporting people living with dementia need to be confident about starting the conversation, as well as managing patient and family expectations.
Equally, medication management, particularly deprescribing, can be a cause of anxiety for patients and their families.
The RACGP Specific Interests and Dementia Training Australia webinar will examine these two topics and help equip GPs with the tools needed to confront these difficult patient interactions.
Register online.
Addressing family abuse and violence in migrant and refugee communities
Webinar: Thursday 29 June, 12.30 – 1.15 pm (AEST)
Family abuse and violence is a common presentation in general practice.
This webinar – presented by GP medical educator Dr Elizabeth Hindmarsh and Bijaya Pokharel, a registered nurse and PhD Scholar at La Trobe University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery – will focus on how to address family abuse and violence in migrant and refugee communities, as well as the GP’s role in identification and providing support.
This educational activity has applied for CPD points.
Register online.
Strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families involved in abuse and violence
Webinar: Wednesday 12 July, 8.00 – 9.30am (AEST)
CPD: 1.5 EA hours
This webinar will be presented by GP Medical Educator Dr Elizabeth Hindmarsh, Dr Renee Fiolet, a Deakin University Research Fellow, and Dr Karen Nicholls, Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Learning outcomes:
- Discuss how to initially respond to a patient who discloses family abuse and violence
- Identify the process of how GPs can manage their patients who are a victim/survivor long term and provide ongoing support
- Identify increased barriers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience accessing family and domestic violence services
Register online.
Dermatology Surgery Workshop scholarships
Workshop: 15–16 July at the All Seasons Resort and Hotel in Bendigo
The RACGP and the Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria (RWAV) are offering 30 scholarships to Victorian GPs in Modiļ¬ed Monash Model (MMM) 3–7 areas, or GPs working in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to be part of the Dermatological Surgery Workshop.
Travel and accommodation will be reimbursed by RWAV at the completion of the workshop (conditions apply).
Attendees must be able to complete DermCert 4: Practical procedures in dermatology course prior to attending the two-day workshop.
Full terms and conditions and the application form are available
online.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder clinical guidelines questionnaire
The University of Queensland is inviting GPs to complete a questionnaire about clinicians’ awareness and current utilisation of the
Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
This questionnaire will help to ensure people diagnosed with FASD in Australia can receive appropriate and timely clinical diagnosis into the future. They would also like to hear from GPs who do not have any awareness of, or have never used, the guidelines.
It should take no more than 20 minutes, and responses will be anonymous unless participants choose to share their contact information.
GPs with questions regarding the study can contact
fasdguidelines@uq.edu.au.
Log in below to join the conversation.
bulk billing cosmetic surgery dementia family violence FASD Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Professional Services Review PSR telehealth
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