welcome to the August 2010 edition, in this issue:

Communication and Consultation Skills Workshop

Are you seeking to improve your chance at SUCCESS in the FRACGP examination?
Communication and consultation skills are proving to be one of the major barriers for OTDs in passing the FRACGP.
 

North Coast GP Training is providing you the opportunity to improve your communication and consultation skills whilst simultaneously increasing your chance of FRACGP clinical examination success. Being understood and understanding others, particularly your patients, and knowing the right words to use at the right time can make a critical difference. Your written and oral communication skills are as important as your clinical knowledge when it comes to patient care and that all important Fellowship examination.
 

Improve your skills by attending our workshop at Breakfree Aanuka Beach resort in Coffs Harbour on 25th and 26th September,2010.
 

Our excellent team of Medical Educators led by Dr Rob Trigger and Dr Christine Ahern, NCGPT Director of Training, will ensure that the workshop content is tailored to meet your individual learning needs. You will experience simulated OSCE and clinical case scenarios as well as having the opportunity to network with your colleagues.
 

There will be:
• Interactive case studies in medical domains where communication skills have proven to be problematic for OTDs taking the FRACGP;
• Effective communication strategies and language phrase tools that can be quickly implemented in the workplace;
• Language tools for compiling patient history;
• Language for discussing treatment, presenting options and assessment;
• The language of persuasion for effective management and preventative health consultations; ... and MUCH MORE!
 

For further information please contact:
Sharyn Corben: sharync@ncgpt.org.au
or Rhonda O’Dell: rhondao@ncgpt.org.au
Ph: 6681 5711

Updates from Rural Doctors Network

National Medical Board - Specialist Register Update
A national register has been published for each of the 10 health professions regulated by the national medical registration scheme.
GPs can check their registration status online at the 'Register of Practitioners'. Go to www.ahpra.gov.au/en/ 

Once you have found your name (or the name of the practitioner you are searching for) click on the practitioner name for more information.
Remember, all health practitioners will have a new registration number under the national scheme. Old registration numbers will not work when searching the national register.
 

Prostate Cancer Workshop for GPs
What: General Practice and Prostate Cancer: Controversies and Conundrums
One day workshop at the 11th National Prostate Cancer Symposium
When: 13th August 2010
Where: Melbourne
Registration:   www.prostatemeeting.org.au   and refer to the Programme for GPs
Contact: Ph 03 8699 0468 or email  emma.stonham@racgp.org.au  
 

Rural GPs Conference
GPs, GP Registrars and medical students are invited to the 2010 Rural GPs Conference.
Please save the date to ensure you don’t miss out!
What: NSW Rural Doctors Network/Rural Doctors Association (NSW) ‘Rural GPs Conference’
When: 26th to 28th November 2010
Where: Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla ACT
Contact: Johanna Stewart - Ph 02 8337 8100 or email conferences@nswrdn.com.au
NB: Programs/Registration Forms will be mailed to all rural GPs and GP Registrars in NSW in August

National Rural Health Conference
Call for abstracts is now open until 23rd August 2010
What: 11th NRHA Conference
"Rural and Remote Australia - The Heart of a Healthy Nation"
When: 13th to 26th March 2011
Where: Perth, WA
Registration: $990
Contact: Ph 02 6285 4660 or email  conference@ruralhealth.org.au
Web: www.ruralhealth.org.au

Raising Cultural Awareness for GPs and Practice Teams

Raising cultural awareness for GPs and practice teams

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has received funding from the Department of Health and Ageing to support cultural awareness orientation for its members and general practice teams. This funding is provided as part of the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive.

The RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health will use the funding to assist general practices to participate in the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive and to provide more culturally appropriate and effective healthcare services to their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, especially through initiatives of the ‘Close The Gap’ campaign.

The College is developing an online orientation activity through its gplearning platform, which will satisfy the requirements of the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive. The PIP Indigenous Health Incentive requires at least two members of the practice (one of whom must be a GP) to undertake cultural awareness education within 12 months of joining the incentive. The online activity will be available free of charge to RACGP members and general practice teams and will be launched at GP10 – the RACGP’s annual conference – in October this year.

What's On in August and September

AUGUST 2010
 

Sydney CAREX 2010. 11 & 12 August. Rosehill Racecourse.

 www.totalagedservices.com.au/sydney.asp

Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association conference. 12 - 14 August. Rydges Lakeside, Canberra. www.cdesign.com.au/ACRA2010 

Pushing the Boundaries. Family Planning NSW Annual Conference. 14 August. Family Planning NSW Office, Sydney. www.fpnsw.org.au/pushingtheboundaries2010

 6th Annual National Australian Disease Management Association Conference.

19-20 August. Crown Promenade, Melbourne. www.adma.org.au
 

Australasian College of Skin Cancer Medicine Annual Conference. 27-29 August.

Bond University, Gold Coast. www.skincancercollege.com

SEPTEMBER 2010

Creative Writing for Burnout Prevention. 14  September. Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. 40 Cat 1 RACGP PD points. Details at  www.uws.edu.au/mentalwellbeing

Doctor Connect

The Federal Government has updated their Doctor Connect website with the District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) and Inner and Outer Metro maps. You can also find your new RA classification using Google Maps with Fact Sheets on the May 2009 Budget changes to the rural incentive programs.

RLEAP

The Department of Health and Ageing has contracted the RACGP and the ACRRM to pilot the Rural Locum Education Assistance Program (LEAP) in 2009/2010. Grants are available to urban general practitioners (GPs) who undertake emergency medicine training and commit to a four week (20 working days) rural GP locum placement within a two year period. Successful applications will receive up to 3 days of emergency medicine training at $2000 per day.

Preparing for your Fellowship examinations

Have you joined a study group yet?

Studying with your colleagues is an excellent way of revising and consolidating your knowledge. You can be part of a group by meeting together  or just making phone contact on regular basis.

How To Treat

You will find this useful as a study tool. It can be found in  every edition of Australian Doctor. At the end of each topic you will find a quick quiz.  You can also complete how to treat  quizzes online at www.australiandoctor.com.au/cpd

Therapy Update

Therapy Update is also found in each edition of Australian Doctor. Each topic is covered quite extensively and is very relevant to your studies and everyday work.