The SA Department of Health and Wellbeing is inviting feedback on proposed amendments to the Consent to Medical Treatment & Palliative Care Act 1995 and the Mental Health Act 2009. These proposed amendments are very similar to those which were provided for consultation in 2017 but which were unable to be progressed at the time.

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From January a 2021, the Australian Government will prohibit the importation of e-cigarettes containing vaporiser nicotine and nicotine-containing refills unless on prescription from a doctor1. ACRRM has been invited to provide input into communication of the proposed reforms, and educational activities to support understanding of the changes to prescribing and accessing e-cigarettes containing vaporised nicotine to GPs. If you are interested in participating on a voluntary basis, please read more for information.

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Rural Australians are being urged to ensure they are not avoiding important medical checks for chronic conditions or other potentially serious illnesses during the COVID-19 crisis. ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) warned today that delaying important health checks now could have serious implications in the months to come.

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For nearly 20 years James Cook University (JCU) has been calling on people like yourself to assist us in selecting the future medical workforce for regional, rural and remote Australia, and that time has come again. Regional, rural and remote communities suffer from poorer health outcomes than their metropolitan counterparts, and have less access to healthcare. The need in these communities for high quality, affordable healthcare as close to home as possible, requires a broadly-skilled medical workforce that is prepared to live in and serve those communities.

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Electronic prescribing is being implemented in General Practices and Community Pharmacies across Australia through a managed approach of testing and continuous improvement across a growing number of electronic prescribing Communities of Interest (COI) according to the Australian Digital Health Agency. Communication between local pharmacies and local practices is critical - to ensure both are ready to rollout electronic prescriptions. The functionality is now available in Best Practice, Medical Director and Zedmed and Members interested in getting started should contact their software vendor.

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ACRRM announces Dr Sarah Chalmers will lead the College as President from October 2020. Dr Chalmers will succeed Dr Ewen McPhee whose two-year tenure as President ends at the College’s Annual General Meeting.

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The rapid spread of COVID-19 through aged care settings in Victoria is an early warning bell for aged care providers everywhere to urgently assess their lines of defence against coronavirus, Australia’s peak rural medical bodies said today. ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have warned that now is the time for aged care facilities, regardless of their location and size, to critically review their current infection control protocols.

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This week 86 enthusiastic Independent Pathway registrars attended their week-long education workshop, which was held online for the first-time. Over the duration of the week, registrars were engaged in various sessions relevant to the Rural Generalist curriculum including acute rheumatic fever, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Cultural safety, Communication and consultation skills, Diabetes, Mental health, Men's health, Dermatology, ENT emergencies and many more.

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ACRRM has been invited to nominate a member to the Reference Committee for this review, which will be coordinated by the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance (ASHA) together with the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM). If you would like to nominate for this position, please contact Jenny Johnson as soon as possible, and before Wednesday, August 11, including a copy of a recent resume or a short outline of any relevant qualifications or experience.

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Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being sought for members of the proposed Resources Medical Advisory Committee (RMAC). RMAC will provide independent, strategic medical advice to Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) that will support the regulatory framework in place to protect the occupational health of Queensland’s resource sector workers.

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Australia’s peak rural medical bodies have urged rural Australians to ensure they are looking out for their mental health as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and heightened restrictions return in some states. ACRRM and the RDAA said those concerned about their own mental health, or that of their family or friends, should ensure they get help as soon as possible, rather than holding off.

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With 10 Victorians in their 20s in intensive care with COVID-19, it’s clear that it’s a killer for young and old alike, Australia’s peak rural medical bodies warned today. ACRRM and RDAA are urging young rural Australians to take social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene messages very seriously.

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Australia’s peak rural medical bodies say now is an ideal time for families to ensure their relatives in rural aged care facilities are well prepared for potential lockdowns in the weeks and months ahead. ACRRM and RDAA said while lockdowns may not eventuate, it is better for families to be prepared early.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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