Highlight news

All news

  • Virtual Care Update
    Sep 30, 2020
    There have been several new initiatives recently to help doctors support patients virtually rather than in person.
  • EOI: ACRRM Representative on Rural and Remote Medical and Dental Credentialing and Scope of Clinical Practice Committee
    Sep 28, 2020
    ACRRM is calling for Expressions of Interest from Fellows located in North West HHS, Central West HHS, South West HHS and Torres or Cape HHS to represent the College on this Committee, which supports these rural and remote hospital and health services in processing credentialing and clinical scope of practice.
  • Information on the telehealth measures
    Sep 23, 2020
    Extending until 31 March 2021, the temporary MBS telehealth items are available to GPs, medical practitioners, specialists, consultant physicians, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers, and dental practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
  • Roll out of electronic prescribing
    Sep 23, 2020
    Since the availability of electronic prescribing in May there has been a rapid increase in the number of prescriptions produced electronically instead of on paper. The recent focus of the roll out has been the greater Melbourne area and there are trial sites running in each state resulting in over 100,000 ePrescriptions generated so far.
  • UPDATE: Cessation of temporary arrangements for automatic 3GA program and 19AB extensions
    Sep 22, 2020
    Earlier this year, the Department communicated temporary changes to requirements around provider numbers and programs, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When designing the temporary measures, the key considerations were promoting a safe, quality health workforce; removing barriers and administrative obligations; and maintaining continuity of services to the community
  • Opportunity to contribute to the development of the Fifth NSW Cancer Plan
    Sep 22, 2020
    The Cancer Institute NSW is collaborating and consulting with a wide range of government, non-government, community and consumer stakeholders to inform the next Plan. The current plan can be found here. Consultation will include a series of co-design workshops, involving key government and non-government agencies, and community and consumer stakeholders.
  • Expression of Interest – Remunerated position - Review of Assessing Fitness to Drive
    Sep 22, 2020
    ACRRM has been invited to participate in the upcoming review of Assessing Fitness to Drive, including an invitation to nominate a representative to participate in the project advisory group.
  • Planning for the resumption of assessments under the National General Practice Accreditation (NGPA) Scheme
    Sep 21, 2020
    Resumption of on-site assessments to the RACGP Standards for general practices will occur from 26 October 2020 for practices that are at low risk of transmission of COVID-19.
  • Congratulations to bursary winner Juleen Schneider
    Sep 21, 2020
    In 2018 Life Fellow Dr Mark Craig generously created a bursary to further the professional development of ACRRM staff. The donation was made in recognition of the work staff at the College undertake each day to support rural and remote doctors.
  • Dr Rachel James discusses her experience in mandatory self-isolation
    Sep 17, 2020
    Dr Rachel James is a rural general practice obstetrician registrar who is currently undergoing two weeks mandatory isolation in order to return to Perth for family matters. Interested to gain fist-hand insight, we asked Dr James to discuss her thoughts about self-isolation, extended periods of quarantine, and mental health.
  • Member feedback welcome: Quality Use of Medicines and Medicine Safety in the Aged Care Sector
    Sep 16, 2020
    The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released a Discussion Paper on Quality Use of Medicines in the Aged Care Sector. This is part of a larger project to develop a national baseline report for the Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety National Health Priority Area.
  • A message from Primary Health Tasmania – COVID Guide for Aged Care Facilities
    Sep 16, 2020
    Primary Health Tasmania has created a COVID-19 guide for aged care facilities. In addition to the guide and to better enable communication between general practitioners and aged care facilities, a form has been designed to ensure facilities have access to relevant detailed contact information for GPs in the event of an outbreak.
  • Express interest for Director vacancies on the RWAV Board
    Sep 14, 2020
    The Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV) is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified applicants to fill Director vacancies on the RWAV Board for a term of three (3) years. Nominations close on Monday 28 September 2020 at 5.00pm and should be forwarded board@rwav.com.au
  • ePrescribing Case Study, Penguin, Tasmania
    Sep 9, 2020
    Dr Rachel Gaggin is a rural GP in Penguin, Tasmania and works closely with her local pharmacy to deliver GP services to her community of approximately 4000 people just west of Devonport. She has recently implemented the new ePrescribing system in her practice working closely with her local pharmacy to allow patients to present their prescriptions using their mobile phones, in preference to the old paper script.
  • Reminder from the National Immunisation Program – Influenza vaccines still available
    Sep 8, 2020
    The National Immunisation Program has issued a reminder that 2020 National Immunisation Program and private market influenza vaccines are still available from vaccination providers around the country. While there has been a record number of influenza vaccines administered in 2020, there is still an opportunity to offer the vaccine to those who have not already been vaccinated this season.
  • Invitation to join Project ECHO COVID learning module
    Sep 8, 2020
    Project ECHO is a free, interactive, online learning model that provides access to specialist advice, and aims to support and empower health, education and social service professionals to practice at the top of their scope, supporting people with complex, chronic and common conditions. Children’s Health Queensland will be hosting the series and further information about Project ECHO can be found on the CHQ website.
  • Consultation on the draft National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) Guide for Community Health Services
    Sep 2, 2020
    Consultation on the draft National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) Guide for Community Health Services is now open. The Commission will accept feedback on the consultation draft up to close of business on Friday 18 September 2020.
  • SPONSORED: 12-week paid placements with Remote Area Health Corps 
    Aug 27, 2020
    The Australian Government has extended the Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) to provide 12-week paid placements for General Practitioners in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations across Australia. Until recently the program covered paid placements of between 3 – 12 weeks in the Northern Territory only. The funding variation will cover the health professionals whilst on placement plus an additional two weeks where self-isolation is required.
  • MBS feedback requested
    Aug 26, 2020
    Members are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on the ‘implementation of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce recommendations relating to the computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the investigation of pulmonary embolism’ proposal. Please send any comments to Jenny Johnson by Monday, 7 September.
  • National Cervical Screening Program – consultation on potential changes to the self-collection policy
    Aug 25, 2020
    Members are invited to contribute to the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) consultation on policy modifications that will give all NCSP participants a choice to screen using either a self-collected or a clinician-collected sample. Both options would be accessed through a healthcare provider. This follows a recommendation in 2018 from the Standing Committee on Screening to change the self-collection policy.