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Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue 3.01
National Rural Health Alliance E-forum - 17 January 2003
In this issue:
* RIPAA Calls it a Day!
* Comments on Ageing
* Share your rural health experience with interested medical students
* GPS Urge Action on Summer Doctor Crisis
* WA State Rural Health Conference
* Nurses to step into GPs' shoes
* New Services for the Health Industry
* University Readies E-Health Courses
* 7th National Rural Health Conference
* Contribution and subscription information and disclaimer.
* Full text of RIPAA Calls it a Day!
RIPAA CALLS IT A DAY!
The Remote and Isolated Pharmacists Association of Australia (RlPAA) has announced that it wou1d cease operation. After twelve very successful years lobbying and focussing on the issues facing pharmacists in rura1 and remote Australia, RIPAA has achieved the majority of its goals. The full text of the announcement is repeated below.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Interested in becoming a ?friend? of the Alliance? Become more involved with the work of the Alliance by becoming a ?friend?. ?friends? support the Alliance by being an integral part of the Alliance?s policy and evaluation process. They also receive other benefits. For more information on membership see http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/friends.htm
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +From: Michele Foley Michele@ruralhealth.org.au
Subject: Comments on ageing
The National Rural Health Alliance would like to include your comments in a submission we are compiling to the House of Reps standing Committee on Ageing, which has an Inquiry into Ageing. We have received a very generous extension to 14 February for our submission.
Given the importance of ageing in rural, regional and remote areas our submission is an important piece of work for us. We wondered if you could please send us some dot points and copies of existing information we should draw on (papers, media releases, other submissions) by Wednesday 29 January at the latest.
Michele Foley
Friends Manager
National Rural Health Alliance
ph 02 6285 4660
PARTYline is the official newsletter of the National Rural Health Alliance. Keep up to date with rural health policy information and good news stories on living and working in the rural health community. Available online on http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/partyline.htm or receive a hard copy by emailing michele@ruralhealth.org.au
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +From: Brett Drummond b.drummond@unimelb.edu.au
Subject: Share your rural health experience with interested medical students
The aim of The University of Melbourne Rural Medicine Vocational Mentoring Program is to encourage students to consider careers in rural medicine, and to incorporate an understanding of rural practice into all aspects of the curriculum. Recent research indicates that one of the most important factors for choosing a career in rural practice was "the positive experiences at formative times during a medical practitioner's early career". This program provides students with a comprehensive perspective on life as a rural practitioner and facilitates positive experiences of the rural environment.
We are currently looking to recruit GPs and Specialist from Victoria practicing in rural areas to become mentors for 2003.
By being a mentor you will
* Give students the opportunity to learn about all aspects of rural practice, and encourage them
to consider working in a rural area
* Contribute to the personal and professional development of future practitioners, and your rural
medical community
* Receive recognition of your experience and review your knowledge of the new medical curriculum
* Learn new skills and develop new relationships
Expressions of interest - please contact:
Brett Drummond
Department of General Practice
The University of Melbourne
200 Berkeley Street
Carlton VIC 3053
Telephone 8344 7195 Fax 9347 6136 Email b.Drummond@unimelb.edu.au
Website: http://www.gp.unimelb.edu.au/mentoring
GPS URGE ACTION ON SUMMER DOCTOR CRISIS
Dr Rob Walters, Chair of the Australian Divisions of General Practice, has called on Commonwealth and State Governments to improve access to GP services in popular tourist areas over the holiday period.
?Australia?s shortage of GPs gets worse over the Summer when many GPs also take holidays. This can be a particular problem in popular tourist areas, such as the South Coast of NSW, beachside towns along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, coastal resorts in Queensland and Victor Harbour in South Australia,? Dr Walters said.
Dr Walters also stressed the impact of the Summer GP shortage on hospital emergency departments.
?ADGP is calling on the Commonwealth and State Governments to jointly plan ahead for the Summer GP shortage to ensure adequate GP services are available in popular holiday areas through funding locum GPs, GP clinics at local hospitals and after hours GP services.
?A good example of this is the funding provided by the South Australian State Government for a locum GP service over the Summer in the popular beachside town of Victor Harbour,? Dr Walters said.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +From: Rommie Masarei cppawa@arach.net.au
Subject: WA State Rural Health Conference
Registrations for the State Rural Health Conference in Western Australia are still open. The conference is being held at Rendezvous Observation City on 31 January and 1 February 2003. Contact Rommie Masarei 0417979867, masarei@arach.net.au
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +NURSES TO STEP INTO GPs SHOES
(Extract from ?The Courier-Mail?, 16 January 2003)
NURSES will take on tasks previously performed only by doctors under a six-month trial aimed at addressing GP shortages in rural and regional Queensland. (The full text of the article is available at http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5845009%255E952,00.html)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +BUSH CRISIS LINE - 1800 805 391
Bush Crisis Line is a twenty-four hour confidential telephone support and debriefing service for multi-disciplinary remote health practitioners and their families. It is staffed by qualified psychologists with remote and cross-cultural experience, is toll free and available from anywhere in Australia. For more information http://www.crana.org.au/pandp_psn.html
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +From: Zyg Kulesza zkulesza@ozemail.com.au
Subject: New Services for the Health Industry
The Australian Healthcare Association (AHA) recently upgraded its website http://www.aushealthcare.com.au with four new modules to keep members and the general public informed and the opportunity to contribute to debate and discussion on issues relating to the health industry. Services include
* Events and Conferences
* Discussion
* Chat
* Mailing Lists
* News
* Publications
If you would like your organisation?s news items and media releases posted on our site simply add admin@aha.asn.au to your electronic distribution list.
Please feel free to let your members, colleagues and contacts in the health industry know of these services. For further information on the services above or other services provided by AHA please contact me.
Zyg Kulesza
Manager SA Branch
Australian Healthcare Association
PO Box 546
Kent Town SA 5071
Ph: 08 8364 3800
Fax: 08 8364 3808
Mob: 04033 09057
Email: zkulesza@ozemail.com.au
From: Elizabeth Sturgeon Elizabeth.Sturgeon@hunter.health.nsw.gov.au
Subject: ARCHI Toolkit Seminars
The Australian Resource Centre for Hospital Innovations (ARCHI) is a Commonwealth funded program that supports the implementation of effective innovations in clinical management that can enhance quality and/or efficiency in Australian hospitals and related health services. ARCHI Toolkit Seminars have proven an effective vehicle for information exchange. In 2002-2003, twelve Toolkit Seminars will be held in Australian capital cities and regional centres. The focus of the seminars is on sharing know-how so that innovations can be refined and replicated as appropriate for local implementation.
31 January - Bed Management: Improving Patient Flows, Wellington, NZ 28 February - Emergency Demand: Thinking Outside Access Block, Perth, WA 28 March - Information Technology: Achieving Efficiencies in Clinical Management, Melbourne, VIC 23-24 April - Innovations in Health Workforce Management, Alice Springs, NT 30 May - Hospital Innovations in Service Delivery in Rural and Remote Australia 20-21 June - Clinical Decisions, Ethical Challenges, Port Douglas, Far North Queensland 27 June - Quality Use of Medicines: Challenges for GP, Hospital and Community, Adelaide, SA
For further information about the ARCHI Toolkit Seminar program, visit http://www.archi.net.au or contact: Elizabeth Sturgeon on 02-49 85 3371 or email: elizabeth.sturgeon@hunter.health.nsw.gov.au
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +The ?Australian Journal of Rural Health? is a refereed journal with a national and international reputation for quality scholarship. Its focus is multi-disciplinary and it includes articles of interest to general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, health administrators, universities and rural health units. Reduced rates apply to members of some organisations. For more information see http://www.blackwell-science.com/ajr
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +UNIVERSITY READIES E-HEALTH COURSES
(Extract from THE 2003 UPDATE AuNz Net and Information Industry Briefs, 12th January 2003)
The education sector continues to adapt to information technology developments in key areas. For example, this year a new degree at the University of Wollongong is focused on e-health.
UoW's School of Information Technology and Computer Science is offering new postgraduate courses in health informatics. The courses are aimed at practising healthcare professionals and IT professionals interested in specialising in healthcare informatics.
The programme aims to equip graduates with an understanding of the health sector, and of the application of relevant systems, in order to take on key roles in strategy development and health systems projects.
Web: http://www.itacs.uow.edu.au
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +7th NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
The 7th National Rural Health Conference is to be held at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart Tasmania from 1 - 4 March 2003. For the first time, online registration for the Conference is now available while the Conference program and details of associated events are also available at the Conference website at http://www.nrha.net.au/nrhapublic/publicdocs/conferences/7thNRHC/introduction.htm
There are special registration deals for friends of the Alliance, those wishing to join friends, all the 120 or so paper givers, students, and day registrations.
For further information, contact Lyn Eiszele Conference Manager or Fiona Patterson, Conference Secretary (02) 6285 4660 email conference@ruralhealth.org.au
PROCEDURAL RURAL MEDICINE: INTERACTIVE SYMPOSIUM
The number of doctors providing obstetric, anaesthetic and surgical services to rural communities is declining. Indemnity is only part of the problem. Come and help work out some practical solutions with consumers, rural doctors, nurses, midwives and Commonwealth, State and local Government.
Organised by RDAA and ACRRM with the Rural Workforce Agencies, the symposium will be held at
the beginning of the 7th National Rural Health Conference.
Date: Saturday 1 March 2003
Time: 12 noon to 4.45pm
Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, Tasmania
For more information about this not-to-be-missed symposium email policy@rdaa.com.au
SOUTHERN SIGHTS AND SERVICES STUDY TOURS
While you?re in Tasmania for the 7th National Rural Health Conference, why not take the opportunity to see Tasmanian collaborative rural health services in action, as well as experience the uniqueness that is Tasmania - historic sites, beautiful wild scenery, gourmet foods, fine wines and friendly people!
For further details of the pre and/or post study tours, contact Jenny Barns at the University Department of Rural Health, Tasmania on phone (03) 6324 4000, email Jenny.Barns@utas.edu.au or visit the study tours website at http://www.ruralhealth.utas.edu.au/NRH7tours/
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +CONTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMER
The NRHA e-forum is edited by a third party moderator, Jim Groves. Contributions are sought on any topic relevant to rural health concerns. Please send contributions to the moderator at grovesc@winshop.com.au.
As such, the Alliance does not control postings and the contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Alliance. Nor do postings necessarily reflect the view of Jim Groves or any organisation he is associated with. Jim Groves can be contacted at grovesc@winshop.com.au.
The e-forum is sent to a mailing list of the Alliance and those have indicated interest through the subscription box at the NRHA Web site (http://www.ruralhealth.org.au). This issue is going to 1,178 recipients. Please forward a copy to any colleague you think may be interested.
To subscribe, send a message saying ?subscribe NRHA eforum? to grovesc@winshop.com.au. To unsubscribe, send a message saying ?unsubscribe NRHA eforum? to grovesc@winshop.com.au. The archive of the newsletter is available at http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/newsletter.htm
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +RIPAA CALLS IT A DAY!
The Remote and Isolated Pharmacists Association of Australia (RlPAA) today announced that it wou1d cease operation. After twelve very successful years lobbying and focussing on the issues facing pharmacists in rura1 and remote Australia, RIPAA has achieved the majority of its goals.
?The issues are still there, they are just being handled differently? Mr Patrick Mahony, RIPAA President since 1998 said. ?RIPAA achieved a great deal for rural pharmacy, not just the one pharmacy town pharmacies, by putting forward issues, ideas and solutions to Governments, the Guild and to other rural health professionals.?
?In 1988 and 1989 when there was great turmoil in pharmacy ranks, most pharmacists did not notice that rural health was also in turmoil. The system was not working. So much so that the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, was besieged at Mt Isa, a Labor stronghold, and made to promise he would fix it. The fix started with the first Australian Rural Health Conference in Toowoomba in February 1991.? Mr Mahony said.' ?In the meanwhile, the Guild was negotiating with the Commonwealth with the first 5 year agreement. The Government was looking for concessions and the Essential Pharmacy Allowance and the Isolated Pharmacy Allowances were in their sights. They were small savings but would look good on the deal sheet.
RIPAA members successfully lobbied to retain these allowances. RIPAA also worked closely with growing rural health lobby to keep abreast of this rapidly changing political scene. ?We wanted to keep ?rural? on the pharmacy agenda ad pharmacy on the rural agenda.? Mr Mahony said.
Some of the issues in which RIPAA has been successfully involved in include-
* Maintenance of the Essential Pharmacy Allowance;
* Maintenance of the Isolated Pharmacy Allowance;
* Establishment of pharmacy campuses in rural areas;
* RHSET grants to pharmacy organisations including the appointment of a rural research officer at
the Guild and AIPM;
* Establishment of the Section 100 arrangements for Aboriginal Medical Services Initialising the
undergraduate externship grants;
* Collaborating with the Rural and Remote Pharmacy Workforce Development project; and
* Collaborating with the Guild in the submissions for the $75m rural pharmacy package.
?R1PAA could have lingered on in its present form for several more years? Mr Mahony said. ?executive decided that it was better to take the strategic withdrawal option and focus on supporting all the initiatives which are now well managed by others.
?I hope we will be missed. I believe we did make a difference. It is just a factor of time, money resources and energy. RIPAA is an acronym which stuck, involved in important issues for a small number of pharmacists. It was a very worthwhile project.? Mr Mahony said. ?We had a lot of help along the way from the National Rural Health Alliance, the Pharmacy Guild and the Pharmaceutical Society. We appreciate this support and thank everyone involved.?
?The last word must to the executive (past and present), all of whom contributed during drought, floods childbirth, family tragedy, hard times and good times. We all benefited from the experience. Thank you to all the members who willingly paid their fees, donated money and provided comments and criticisms. We were all in this together and we achieved together.? Mr Mahony said.
RJP- RIP AA
For additional information contact Patrick Mahony on 02 6785 1651
Please Note
During the afternoon of 20 March at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference 2003, there
will be an opportunity for rural pharmacists to meet and discuss common issues.
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