Welcome to this week's edition of the AFOEM eNews.

These ebulletins are best viewed in html. Simply click on the item of interest (left) and you will be taken straight to that item.

An archive of all previous Newsletters (since 2002) are available on the Faculty website.

As always, if you would like to contribute an item to the next eNewsletter please email a paragraph to afoem@racp.edu.au by Tuesday of the publishing week.

Contact us

Senior Executive Officer AFOEM
Andy Messner
(02) 9256 9602
Andrew.Messner@racp.edu.au

Executive Officer AFOEM
Joanna Oakley
(02) 9256 9608
Joanna.Oakley@racp.edu.au

Administrative Officer AFOEM (Part Time: Mon, Weds, Fri)
Daniel Cheung
(02) 9256 9603
Daniel.Cheung@racp.edu.au

CPD Administrator | AFOEM, AFPHM & AFRM
Natali Vlatko
(02) 8247 6239
Natali.Vlatko@racp.edu.au

Project Officer | RACP Faculties & Chapters (Part Time: Weds - Fri)
Neridah Callaghan
(02) 9256 9636
Neridah.Callaghan@racp.edu.au

Letter From The Editor-in-Chief

Three hours sleep, two large coffees and a slice of banana cake later, we have the AFOEM Newsletter. By the time you read this, I will either be enjoying a cocktail at some sun-bathed beachside resort at the Maldives or rocking myself to sleep in foetal position mumbling some incoherent mumbo jumbo. I'm banking on the latter.

Registration has closed for the Annual Training Meeting, Faculty Training Day, and Faculty Dinner. For all those who have registered, look forward to a feature packed weekend. And don't forget to welcome our new Fellows at the College Ceremony!

Extra Extra - Read All About It

We Interrupt Your Reading With This Breaking News - Minister Roxon To Speak At WCIM 2010!

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Federal Minister for Health, will be addressing the World Congress of Internal Medicine at 10am on Monday March 22. If you still haven't registered to attend the Congress your last chance to do so is physically at the Congress! See www.wcim2010.com.au for full details.

AFOEM Annual Members' Meeting

This will be held on Sunday 21, March 2011 during the Faculty Training Day.

• Download the Agenda (PDF | 104KB)

The AMM will be helding during lunch, with the announcement of the Ramazzini Prize recipient made towards the conclusion of the AMM.

Your Policy & Advocacy

Announcements RE: Specialist Training Places

There were a series of announcements made this week about funding for additional medical College training places. None of these mentioned additional places for RACP training programs.

 The College made a short announcement to the media on Monday:

“The RACP welcomes the increased focus by the Rudd Government on training and education for Australia’s physicians as part of the overall reform proposal to strengthen Australia’s health and hospital system. The College will continue to work with the Government to ensure that we tackle the issues confronting the training of our physicians and that together we develop the health workforce for the future.”

and will be following this up with discussions with the appropriate people.

Key issues identified for discussion include:

• management of the increased numbers of medical graduates, with the general issue of their vocational training and in particular the allocation of resources for Supervisors through non-clinical contact time;
• training needs such as “Protected Teaching Time” and coordination of rotations;
• increase in funded training places for specialties already identified by the College such as general medicine and public health medicine (amongst others); and
• provision of funded places such as the proposal developed by AFPHM.

The Policy and Advocacy Team working with the Deanery to finalise a briefing paper that will also serve as a Discussion Paper for use by the College.

Proposed Regulations For The Healthcare Identifier Service - Consultation Paper

As part of further consultation in the regulatory support for the Healthcare Identifiers Service, the Minister for Health and Ageing has released exposure draft regulations on the Healthcare Identifiers Service for comment. In addition, a Consultation Paper has been released by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council to support stakeholders in making a submission.

Both documents can be found here.

Expert Witness Register - Discussion Paper

The Medico-Legal EAG has been asked by the College Board to prepare a report canvassing the issues relating to the expert witness. The Board could use this report to assist it in its deliberations as to whether the RACP should set up a register of expert witnesses. The discussion paper is available here (PDF | 33KB).

Please provide comment to Mary Osborn. Deadline for comment is Friday 26, March 2010.

NHMRC External Clinical Guideline Development Review

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) encourages the development of evidence-based guidelines by expert bodies (such as by the College), and approves guidelines developed by third parties that meet NHMRC process and methodological requirements. NHMRC is reviewing its procedures and requirements for those clinical practice guidelines developed externally. NHMRC has sought the College's views on this, particularly in relation to ensuring issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are appropriately addressed. For more information, visit NHMRC website.

If you wish to receive the consultation documents, please contact Colleen Smyth. Comments are due with the College by Wednesday 31, March 2010.

Electronic Referrals Release 1.0

The eReferral Release Package 1.0 has been developed by NeHTA and is intended to foster the ongoing development of a series of national specifications and methods to support the appropriate exchange of clinical and administrative information between clinicians. The package contains 3 documents, set out below, and the eHealth EAG are seeking feedback on the content of these documents.

1. The Business Requirements and Specifications document describes the high level requirements for the creation, delivery and receipt of referrals for patient, typically between GPs and specialists.
2. The Solution Design document defines national guidelines and specifications in order to allow future interoperability.
3. The Core information Components document defines the information components being recommended for use when exchanging referrals within Australian.

The eReferrals package can be found at here. Deadline for comment: Tuesday 13, April 2010.

Food Labelling

The Ministerial Council and COAG are conducting a Review of Food labelling Law and Policy. This review covers a broad spectrum of issues, many of which will be of interest to College members. These include the following:

• Consideration of the relationship between labelling and public health;
• The use of health claims (on both food and complementary medicine products);
• Whether alcohol products should be regulated as food,
• Front-of-pack labelling;
• The food advertising and the Food Standards Code; and,
• Whether the system should be self-regulated or co-regulated.

The ‘Issues Consultation Paper’ and the ‘Questions Paper’ are available here. More information on the Review is available at www.foodlabellingreview.gov.au.

The College policy on front-of-pack labelling is available. The College submission on Health Claim usage is also available.

Should you wish to provide feedback on this paper, either generally or in response to the specific questions outlined, then please send to Karen Steadman, by COB Monday 26, April 2010.

Call For Nominations To Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) - Code Of Practice

The GMiA adopted a Code of Practice in March 2010 and is seeking a nomination for a member, with knowledge and interest in the area of codes of conduct.

Fellows of the College are invited to apply to represent the College on the GMiA - Code of practice Committee. The terms of reference set out by the College include:

• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge and experience in the Quality Use of Medicines;
• Articulate an extensive working knowledge of the College policy on ethical relationships between physicians and industry;
• Participate in the established reporting pathways;
• Previous experience in complaint handling and review procedure is desirable; and
• No previous or current professional or personal connections with generic medicines or non-generic medicines companies that may give cause for a perceived conflict of interest with GMiA, Code Complaint Committee (CCC) or RACP.

Please forward nominations to Mary Osborn. Please include the nominee's name and occupation, contact details, and covering letter addressing the terms of reference.

Deadline: Thursday 8, April 2010

Dates For Your Diary

2010 AFOEM Annual Training Meeting

• Saturday 20, March 2010
• Melbourne, VIC

2010 AFOEM Faculty Training Day (Including Supervisor Workshop)

• Sunday 21, March 2010
• Melbourne, VIC

2010 AFOEM Annual Faculty Dinner

• Sunday 21, March 2010
• The Terrace, Melbourne, VIC

AFOEM P&A Committee Meeting

• Monday 22, March 2010
• 1.30PM - 3.00PM

AFOEM Coal Services Virtual Reality Training Course

• Friday 21, May 2010
• 9.00AM - 4.30PM
• Click for further details

External Events

Occupational Medicine - Getting Patients Back to Work

• Wednesday 24, March 2010
• Coal Mine Research Training Facility, Wollongong, NSW
• Contact Rebecca Clancy (03 9249 1106) for further information

The Impact of Pain

• Sunday 28 - Wednesday 31, March 2010
• The Australian Pain Society and the New Zealand Pain Society Combined Annual Scientific Meeting
• Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD
• Click for Flyer (PDF | 265KB)

AMREP World Health Day Conference - Health and the City

• Wednesday 7, April 2010
• Ormond Hall, Melbourne, VIC
• Click for futher details

Fatigue Risk Management 2010 - Reducing the Costs, Risks, and Liabilities of Human Error in Today's Workforce

• Tuesday 13 - Wednesday 14, April 2010
• Sofitel on Collins Melbourne, VIC
• Click for further details
• 2010 Circadian Seminar Schedule

HFESA Free Professional Development Seminar: Rocking & Warehousing Systems

• Wednesday 5, May 2010
• 6.45PM for 7.00PM (no RSVP required)
• 222 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC

4th ARPA National Injury Management Conference

• Sunday 16 - Tuesday 18, May 2010
• Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, NSW
• Click for further details

Basic Principles In Occupational Hygiene

• Monday 14 - Thursday 17, June 2010
• Darwin, NT
• Click for further details

ITAC 2010 - Smart Aged Care: The E-Health Revolution

• Monday 26 - Tuesday 27, July 2010
• Melbourne, VIC
• Click for further details

Clinical Research Excellence 2010

• Thursday 5 - Friday 6, August 2010
• Melbourne, VIC
• Click for further details

HIC 2010 - Informing the Business of Healthcare

• Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26, August 2010
• Melbourne, VIC
• Click for further details

28th Annual AIOH Conference & Exhibition: "Green but Clean"

• Saturday 4 - Wednesday 8, December 2010
• Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart TAS
• Click for further information

Call For Health And Climate Change Action - NOW

What Do We Want? Call For Health & Climate Change Action. When Do We Want It? NOW!!!

Health groups are calling on Australian governments to implement a set of specific measures to address the impact of climate change on health.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) say any political stalemate over strategies to reduce global warming must not be allowed to distract attention from the very real effects that climate change will have on health and action that should be taken now.

According to the RACP’s spokesperson on climate change, Professor Robyn McDermott, “The impact of climate change on human health is a matter of serious concern. The time has come for specific actions to reduce this  impact. Action must also be taken to help people adapt living and working practices in the light of the changes that are the result of an increasing carbon footprint. Working with the Public Health Association of Australia on a population-based approach, we have identified a number of actions than can and should be taken immediately”.

Michael Moore, CEO of the PHAA added, “It is important to understand that there will be – and already are – health impacts of gradual climate change and of extreme weather-related events. While the political debate continues, people concerned about health shouldn’t be sitting on their hands”, he said “There are things that we can do now that will have a positive impact.”

The two organizations point out that forthcoming elections in South Australia and Tasmania provide ideal opportunities to raise these issues with candidates, MPs and governments. “We will be working together to reach candidates at these elections and to ask them to commit to taking action,” said Mr Moore.

Immediate actions should include:

• Committing to a green health care system with a reduced carbon footprint
• Developing active (healthy) transport systems
• Supporting a national population policy for a sustainable population
• Understanding the significance of a Healthy Food, Healthy Environment approach and developing anational food policy
• Recognising coal as a health hazard and supporting alternative energy sources like wind and solar
• power.

“Health leaders should take the first steps in their own back yards,” said Professor McDermott. “As they start to reduce the carbon footprint of health systems, they can use their own achievements to influence others. The important issue is that there are things that can be done now and commitments from across the political and bureaucratic spectrum can help to reduce the adverse health impacts of climate change.”

Position Vacant

IBM, Sydney or Melbourne

A vacancy for an Occupational Physician has become available at IBM.

The role is part time and hours are negotiable . Trainees as well as Fellows of the College will be considered. The position may be based in either Sydney or Melbourne. The Occupational Physician is responsible for providing occupational health services to IBM. These include management consultation and advice on occupational medical issues affecting the workplace, emergency medical response oversight, travel health advice, administration of IBM policies, programs and practices related to the health and safety of employees.

For further information and a copy of the job description , contact Camilla Hasloch at chasloch@au1.ibm.com, or phone +61 2 9462 5017.

Changes To OMJ Subscription Process

Change Is Inevitable Except From A Vending Machine

The OMJ, Oxford University Press, UK, is an optional extra given to all Faculty members. Through the AFOEM, our members receive a significant discount for a 12-month subscription.

In order to ensure that all Faculty members only pay every 12-months for an annual subscription to the Occupational Medicine Journal we have removed the option to subscribe to the OMJ on your RACP Fellow Annual Subscription Invoice.

A renewal notice will be emailed to you within 6 weeks of your subscription expiration. Should you wish to continue your OMJ subscription, please return the renewal notice at your earliest convenience. Please take this opportunity to verify your postal address for delivery purposes.

Update: Renewal notices for expiring (or expired subscriptions) will be issued shortly via email.

Recap of Previous Editions (Deja Vu)

AFOEM Coal Mine Virtual Reality Course.

This one-day course planned for trainees at Coal Services (Wollongong, NSW) is expected to be held on Friday 21, May 2010. Final details including program, learning objectives, and registration will be available later this week with a flyer to be circulated at the 2010 ATM.

CPD Grants For Remote Specialists

The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS) is now calling for applications for CPD Grants of up to $5,000. These Grants are available to support individual medical specialists to access education and professional learning opportunities. It is available to specialists living and working in towns and regions classified as Rural Zone 2 - 3 or Remote Zone 1 - 2, according to the ‘Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification’ (RRMA).

Funding for this final round of SSRS Stream C requires that funds are expended and invoiced to the SSRS Program Management Unit by 30 June 2010. Funds can be used to support costs associated with participating in CPD activities, such as CPD event registration, travel, accommodation and locum cover.

Applications must be submitted to the College by Friday 26, March, 2010.

For further information or copies of the application form, please e-mail rural@racp.edu.au.

Medical Review Officer Course (Includes Examination)

This course, designed by Australasian Doctors experienced in MRO practice, specifically addresses the issues which confront MROs in Australasia. The course runs across two days: Thursday 25 - Friday 26, March 2010.

The course runs over 13 presentation and is followed by an MCQ examination which will credential successful candidates as having passed the examination and be eligible to join the Australian Medical Review Officers Association, AMROA. It will also credential the successful applicant as possessing an examined body of knowledge and be a credible MRO in Australasia.

The course numbers are strictly limited so be early with your registration and payment.

• Registration Form (PDF | 45KB)
• Draft Program (PDF | 44KB)

The course is being underwritten by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The course is approved by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. The examination is also being administered under auspices of AFOEM and AMROA.

If you have specific queries, do not hestitate to contact me on sleigh@ssc.net.au.

Dr Kevin Sleigh
Course Convenor

Position Vacant (Sydney, NSW)

Primary care, involving general practice and occupational health.

Available Monday to Friday

• Part-time: 8.00am - Midday or
• Full-time: 8.00am - 500pm

Starting April 2010.

Perfect training position for Occupational Physician.

Please contact Dr Andrew Keller for further information: (02) 9667 4355 or 0412 105 113.

Permanant Impairment Assessor (WorkCoverSA)

Only medical practitioners accredited with WorkCoverSA are able to assess impairment impairment.

To be eligible to apply, you must be:

• registered with the Medical Board of South Australia
• currently in practice (either in clinical or medical-legal work) at least two sessions per week
• able to demonstrate that you are active in continuing professional development
• covered by medical indemnity and public liability insurance.

Successful applicants must undertake training as outlined in the WorkCover Guidelines for evaluation of permanent impairments. The training includes a compulsory introductory model that provides background to impairment assessments. Applicants must also choose one or more modules (eg, upper extremities, spine etc) depending on their area of clinical practice.

The introductory module is AUD $286 and the other modules are $396.

To be accredited by WorkCover, medical practitioners will be required to successfully complete competency assessments for all body system modules undertaken.

Participants will need to purchase a copy of the American Medical Association's Guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment, 5th edition.

If you would like an application package, please email pia@workcover.com and specify if you want the pack emailed or posted to you.

Applications must be submitted by Friday 19, March 2010.

2010 CPD Grant: Call For Applications

As one of the key initiatives set up by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the CPD Grant is designed to promote and support education initiatives for Fellows’ Continuing Professional Development.

The grant serves as a seed fund to provide financial assistance for the development of educational activities involving a community of Fellows that will contribute to the future continuing professional development of Fellows of the RACP.

The nature and complexity of proposed activities will vary and therefore the grant itself may not cover all costs involved.

An amount of up to $5,000 will generally be approved for any application. However, this may vary at the discretion of the CPD Committee, funds available and the number of applications. We are delighted to announce that the total amount of grant funding the College is making available for the 2010 year is $40,000 for Australia and $15,000 for New Zealand.

All Fellows of the College from the Divisions, Chapters and Faculties in Australia and New Zealand are eligible to apply for a grant.

Please Note: The funding is intended to support organisation of CPD activities for a community of Fellows eg. regional scientific meetings, updates, etc, and therefore is not available to individual Fellow’s CPD undertakings.

Applications will be assessed according to the following principles, with precedence given to those that align closely to the following;

• Exhibit innovation in content, design and/or method of delivery
• Support as many Fellows as possible
• Focus on assisting those who are unable to access the more usual channels of CPD
• Provide the College with an enduring continuing education resource
• Provide value for attendees and contribute to their continuing professional development

For more information or to obtain a copy of the 2010 CPD Grant Application Kit, please contact the CPD unit of the Education Deanery via email mycpd@racp.edu.au or phone 02 8247 6239.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 31, March 2010. Unfortunately applications received beyond this date cannot be considered.

Newsletter Input

For Occupational Physicians. By Occupational Physicians

Contributions to the AFOEM Newsletter is always welcome (the monkey has apparently run out of jokes so we're counting on you now!). Whether it be an event that you think would be of interest to fellow colleagues in the same field, or a position vacancy within your organisation, or even a report on a course you had attended and found worthwhile, please email a paragraph to afoem@racp.edu.au by Tuesday of the publishing week for inclusion into the Newsletter.

Changed Your Contact Details Recently?

Postman Pat & His Black and White Cat

AFOEM hopes to maintain a lifelong relationship with you, but to do so it is important that we keep your up-to-date details. Please notify us if you have recently changed your contact details.

Find A Consultant

As a Fellow of the AFOEM, you may have your business contact details published on the Faculty website for the general public to search. Should you wish to be featured on the AFOEM "Find A Consultant" tool (found on the Faculty website), please write a short email addressed to Daniel Cheung with the required information you wish to be published. Please note that you will not be added to the webpage unless you have provided consent to the Faculty Office.

The Fine Print

Disclaimer

Although AFOEM takes all reasonable steps to ensure this email does not contain malicious software, AFOEM does not accept responsibility for the consequences if any person's computer inadvertently suffers any disruption to services, loss of information, harm or is infected with a virus, other malicious computer program or code that may occur as a consequence of receiving this email.

There may be websites and/or events linked to and from this communique that are operated or created by or for organisations outside of The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. Those organisations are solely responsible for the operation and information(including the right to display such information) found on their respective websites.The linking to or from this communique does not imply on the part of the AFOEM any endorsement or guarantee of any of the organisations or information found on their respective websites.

The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environment Medicine does not assume and is not responsible for any liability whatsoever for the linking of any of these linked websites and/or events, the operation or content of any of the linked websites nor for any of the information, interpretation, comments or opinions expressed in any of the linked websites. Any comments or inquiries regarding the linked websites and/or events are to be directed to the particular organisation for whom the particular website and/or event is being operated.

Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views of the sender and not the views of AFOEM.