With more than 500 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Victoria yesterday, and NSW continuing to battle outbreaks, rural doctors say all Australians – including those in rural communities – need to take COVID-19 seriously and treat it like the killer disease it is.
On behalf of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, we express our deepest sympathy to the family, colleagues and peers of RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon, who passed away yesterday, 26 July 2020.
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the announcement the government has committed further funding to support Rural Generalist training as part of its commitment to deliver better health outcomes for rural communities.
The Australian Digital Health Agency’s free electronic prescription eLearning course is available online and provides an introduction to electronic prescriptions to increase your awareness of how to use them within your daily workflow.
The College submission to the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into the Australian Government’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has now been released by the Committee and is available on the College website. Based on the COVID experiences to date, ACRRM’s submission notes what has worked well, and makes a number of recommendations both for future disaster planning and management and within the broader medical policy context.
With more cases of COVID-19 being confirmed in regional locations, rural Australians must remain vigilant in protecting themselves, their families and communities, ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) warn.
Australia’s peak rural medical bodies have warned rural Australians that, while most of the recent COVID-19 cases have been in metropolitan areas, there is significant potential for new cases to present in rural communities in the coming weeks. Both ACRRM and The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have urged those living in, and travelling through, rural communities to ensure they don’t drop the ball on COVID-19 and are being COVID safe at all times.
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.
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.
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.
It’s more important than ever to adopt safe practices including downloading the COVIDSafe App to minimise the spread of coronavirus, say peak rural medical bodies ACRRM and Rural Doctors Association (RDAA). And, without acting now, it could be too late.
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.
The appointment of Associate Professor Ruth Stewart as the National Rural Health Commissioner will keep the implementation of the National Rural Generalist Pathway (NRGP) on track and ensure all rural and remote Australians have access to the healthcare they deserve, says the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
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.
While masks can play an important role in preventing the spread of coronavirus, the ‘gold standard’ defence against COVID-19 is still social distancing and hand-washing – and it is critical that all Australians continue to follow these measures diligently, ACRRM and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) said today.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With the NSW and Victorian ski resorts starting to open for the 2020 ski season, rural doctors are warning skiers and snowboarders that they must do everything they can to be COVID safe. Peak rural medical bodies, ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), have warned that includes self-isolating and getting tested - even if you are already partway through your snow holiday.