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  • Communities of Excellence Program in Emerald
    Jul 9, 2020
    ACRRM is working closely with the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) and other stakeholders to keep rural communities connected with the improved integration of digital health. The Communities of Excellence Program connects healthcare providers to the national My Health Record system, along with secure messaging and telehealth for patients.
  • Supporting senior Australians during the coronavirus pandemic
    Jul 9, 2020
    Senior Australians are at greater risk of more serious illness if they catch coronavirus. As we move towards a COVIDSafe Australia, it is important for people at greater risk to take extra steps to protect themselves.
  • Maternity services during COVID-19
    Jul 8, 2020
    The Clinical Excellence Queensland Maternity team is interested in understanding you, your colleagues and consumers experiences during the coronavirus period (i.e. after 1 March 2020) by participating in a survey. The results from these surveys will help inform discussions about the future direction for maternity services and maximising the value of lessons arising from changes to service models.
  • Attention Vic Members: College representative to provide input into skin cancer strategy
    Jul 7, 2020
    Cancer Council Victoria is seeking to interview a College representative to discuss identified gaps in skin cancer prevention and detection in the health workforce with a goal to plan and deliver strategies to help fill these gaps over the coming 3 years. Specifically, these discussions will help to inform resources, training and other types of support for health professionals engaging in skin cancer prevention and early detection.
  • Recognition for inaugural National Rural Health Commissioner Professor Paul Worley
    Jul 2, 2020
    This week marks the end of Professor Paul Worley's term as the inaugural National Rural Health Commissioner. The College takes this opportunity to acknowledge and commend the work of Professor Worley's leadership and commitment to rural and remote medicine, which has been crucial to bringing a National Rural Generalist Pathway (NRGP) to life.
  • Engagement Report to inform Close the Gap National Agreement released
    Jun 30, 2020
    As a member of the Close the Gap Steering Committee, the College is pleased to support the newly released Report on Engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to inform the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
  • NDSS Registration and Product Access Forms - Inclusion of Practice Nurse Option
    Jun 30, 2020
    The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is implementing changes to allow Practice Nurses (enrolled and registered nurses) to complete the certifier section of relevant NDSS registration and access forms following written confirmation of the diabetes diagnosis from the General Practitioner/medical practitioner.
  • Help your asthma patients stay well this winter – Refer to Asthma Australia
    Jun 25, 2020
    Many people experience an increase in asthma symptoms and find their asthma harder to control during winter. Among adults and children with asthma, emergency department presentations and hospitalisation rates peak during the winter months which is likely due to the increase in respiratory infections and the annual winter flu season.
  • Expression of Interest – review content for Child Mental Health Training (remunerated)
    Jun 25, 2020
    The College has been invited to nominate a representative to join the Emerging Minds GP Special Interest Group to assist with reviewing content for an eLearning on Child Mental Health Skills Training (4hrs). The course is currently in development and comprises four modules covering identification, assessment, care planning and support required for children aged 5-11 at risk of or experiencing mental health difficulties.
  • Changes to Opioid Prescribing
    Jun 19, 2020
    To minimise the harm caused by opioid prescription medicines to Australians each year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is continuing to implement a number of regulatory changes which aim to ensure the safe and effective prescribing and use of opioids while maintaining access for patients who need them.
  • Feedback for College submission to Qld Health regarding system reforms post-COVID
    Jun 18, 2020
    Queensland Health has established a Reform Planning Group to prepare advice for the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services on how best to harness opportunities from Queensland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • ACRRM welcomes new telehealth providers
    Jun 17, 2020
    With over 1300 providers offering telehealth at either the patient or distant end of the consultation, the ACRRM telehealth provider directory is one of the most comprehensive multiple speciality directories’ in Australia and is used extensively in rural and remote general practice. We’re pleased to welcome new telehealth providers who recently registered in the ACRRM telehealth provider directory.
  • National Immunisation Program changes from 1 July 2020
    Jun 11, 2020
    From 1 July, there are a number of changes to the National Immunisation Program coming into effect. The changes are being implemented following recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and other clinical experts and are designed to improve protection against meningococcal and pneumococcal disease.
  • ACRRM Fellow elected as RDAQ President
    Jun 10, 2020
    The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the formal announcement of Fellow Dr Raymond Lewandowski as President of Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ).
  • Reducing Opioid Harm project - clinical input invited
    Jun 10, 2020
    ACRRM, in partnership with the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) will be managing a project to provide rural and remote prescribers about the changes to the opioid prescribing protocols and associated issues such as the implications for rural and remote prescribers and communities; and pain and addiction management. The project has commenced and is scheduled for completion in June 2021.
  • Nominations requested - Topic Working Group developing a clinical care standard for management of low back pain
    Jun 4, 2020
    The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care will shortly commence the development of a Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard and has invited the College to nominate a representative to the Topic Working Group advising this work. Please contact Jenny Johnson (j.johnson@acrrm.org.au) by Monday 8 June, if you are interested in nominating for this position.
  • College lodges submission to Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
    Jun 4, 2020
    ACRRM has provided a detailed submission to the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The College submission covered a range of issues including the responses that were effective, and suggestions for improvements where these are required. Consideration was also given to the policy initiatives which should be retained in some form into the future and the longer-term implications for the rural health workforce recruitment, training and retention.
  • Regulatory changes to reduce harms caused by opioid prescribing
    May 27, 2020
    The Australian Government, through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), is implementing a number of regulatory changes in order to minimise the harms caused by opioid prescription medicines to Australians each year. The changes will ensure the safe and effective prescribing and use of opioids while maintaining access for patients who need them.
  • Have your say on Australia’s draft National Injury Prevention Strategy
    May 21, 2020
    The Australian Government is developing a National Injury Prevention Strategy in recognition of the ongoing and substantial burden of injury and following expiration of the previous National Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Action Plan (2004-2014).
  • Dr Teena Downton on the ACRRM Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education (DAAE) program
    May 8, 2020
    Dr Teena Downton is a FACRRM and current Medical Educator with the College. We caught up with her to discuss why the program is important for rural doctors…