Topic: Workforce

As the deadline for GPs to meet 2024 CPD activities nears, South Western Sydney PHN has invited the RACGP CPD Program Coordinator to lead a webinar providing guidance on meeting annual CPD requirements. Presenter Kimberly Coulton will review CPD requirements and discuss how to record your Measuring Outcomes (MO) and Reviewing Performance hours before the 31 December 2024 deadline, at the webinar on Wednesday, 13 November at 7pm.

 

Register for webinar

 

What has changed?

In January 2023, the Medical Board of Australia changed the minimum Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements to meet registration standards with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Previously, GPs needed to accrue a certain number of CPD points over a triennium.

Now they must now complete a minimum of 50 hours of CPD hours per year across three different types of activities:

• • A minimum of 12.5 hours of Educational Activities
  • A minimum of 25 hours of Reviewing Performance and Measuring Outcomes activities (with a minimum of five hours of each)
  • The remaining 12.5 hours is the GP’s choice from the three types of CPD activity (Educational Activities, Reviewing Performance Activities and Measuring Outcomes Activities)

MO is the most challenging of the three types of CPD activities because it requires GPs to track changes in their practice data before and after a set period of time.

 

Why should you attend the webinar?

A significant number of GPs did not meet their minimum requirements at the end of 2023. As a result, a grace period was granted to allow GPs more time to meet these requirements. The Medical Board of Australia has indicated there will be no further extensions.

Did you know many GPs already meet the MO criteria without realising it? Our webinar will show GPs how to more efficiently identify and claim MO hours and provide guidance on how to upload those hours digitally. It will also highlight resources to support you in meeting these hours.

If you’re having trouble reaching your CPD hours, please join our webinar for assistance.

 

What other resources are available?

Step-by-step RACGP Measuring Outcomes Tool

CPD Solutions Measuring Outcomes

Mini Audit/Audit Template

Your RACGP CPD Solutions

Do you need CPD – Measuring Outcomes hours? On-demand webinars

CPD Program Provider Handbook

RACGP CPD Activity Standards

RACGP – FAQs

Are you struggling to obtain Measuring Outcomes hours?

The RACGP’s new Measuring Outcomes Tool could assist you in obtaining those hours.

The Measuring Outcomes (MO) Tool helps GPs describe any changes or improvements they have implemented in their practice as an outcome of a CPD activity they’ve completed, to claim MO CPD. The tool is available to GPs members online through their myCPD.

Here are the steps to access and complete the MO Tool:

• Log-in to myCPD
• At very top of myCPD, click on ‘Log’
• From drop-down menu, click on ‘Measuring Outcomes Tool’
• Complete the form by entering:
  • Descriptive activity title
  • Number of hours required to complete MO activity
  • Start and completion dates
  • Describe the improvement or change implemented in practice
  • Discuss the impact or outcome you expect as result of the change(s)
  • Describe how you will evaluate the effectiveness of change(s)
  • If applicable, upload documentary evidence
  • Confirm declaration
• Once you have completed the form, go to top of form and click ‘Submit’

Thanks to those practices who’ve returned their General Practice Census. 

For those who haven’t, please return your completed General Practice Census and help create a ‘snapshot’ of the current workforce climate in our region. 

The General Practice Census is made up of a practice-wide survey followed by a health practitioner survey.  

Practice managers (or those nominated as the primary contact for your practice) were sent a unique link to your practice-wide survey on 1 August. The health practitioner survey will be distributed from September. 

The survey aims to gather data which is recent, relevant and accurate, creating a ‘snapshot’ of the current workforce climate in South Western Sydney. 

This ‘snapshot’ will enable us to identify factors which influence the recruitment and retention of primary care providers in our region, and future challenges, like an ageing workforce. Your responses will support us in developing strategies to address these challenges.  

You will also be ensuring we have the reliable data we need to tailor training programs to fill gaps in workforce knowledge and skills, and to advocate for increased funding and improved healthcare infrastructure in our region.  

By participating you’ll: 

• ensure SWSPHN has accurate and current data which will allow us to tailor the support we provide to your practice’s specific needs. For you, this means better guidance, resources and assistance, ultimately leading to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness 

• be easily identified as eligible for various incentives, as they are released. These incentives can significantly benefit the practice financially and operationally 

• empower SWSPHN to advocate effectively on your behalf at strategic and policy levels 

• easily identify areas for improvement within your practice 

• help to capture comprehensive and wide-ranging data about practices and their workforce. This includes information about their staff, hours worked, opening hours of the practice and services provided 

If you have questions about the General Practice Census, please contact our Primary Care Workforce team at primarycareworkforce@swsphn.com.au

SWSPHN’s Primary Care Workforce team attended the RACGP inaugural Registrar NSW Rural Showcase, on Wednesday, 7 August.

The initiative, the first of its kind nationally, was strategically held in conjunction with a training event for GPT1 and GPT2 RACGP registrars.

The primary aim of the showcase was to spotlight the unique opportunities rural regions of NSW offer to new GPs, both in terms of lifestyle and clinical experience.

The event sought to address a pressing issue: workforce shortages which are prevalent not just in rural areas but across all primary care settings in NSW.

 Throughout the day, registrars had the chance to engage directly with rural providers, experienced clinicians and local government stakeholders from across the state.

The showcase provided a platform for these emerging doctors to gain insight into the professional and personal rewards of practicing in rural areas – regions often marked by a profound need for dedicated healthcare professionals.

The RACGP also hosted a workshop tailored for the showcase stallholders, which proved to be an invaluable session.

Providers came together to discuss the multifaceted challenges, potential opportunities and notable successes experienced by rural healthcare providers.

The collaborative environment highlighted the stark contrasts and similarities in workforce challenges between metro and rural settings in NSW, emphasising the critical need for ongoing collaboration to bridge the gap in healthcare equity.

For SWSPHN, which serves a diverse region encompassing both metropolitan and rural areas (MM1- MM5), the showcase was more than just an opportunity to meet with the newest registrars placed across South Western Sydney.

It was a chance to forge stronger connections with other providers, exchange innovative ideas and explore potential collaborations which could lead to sustainable solutions for the workforce shortages affecting our region.

As SWSPHN strives to better understand the current landscape of the primary care workforce, events like the Registrar Rural Showcase play a pivotal role in our strategy.

By actively participating in these discussions and networking opportunities, we are better positioned to advocate for and implement policies that ensure equitable healthcare access for everyone.

The George Centre will present a GP Education Dinner on Thursday, 29 August at Nova on the Grange in Kearns.

Three specialists will give presentations on the latest management and treatment of incontinence.

Urologist Dr Eddy Wong will talk about The Overactive Bladder – Urological Incontinence Update, gastroenterologist Dr Christine Verdon will give a medical perspective on faecal incontinence and colorectal surgeon Dr Assad Zahid will discuss The Role of SNS in Incontinence/Colorectal Surgery.

Registration is at 6.30pm and the presentation will kick off at 7.05pm. 

For catering purposes RSVPs are required by COB on Friday, 23 August to leza.turnbull@acurio.com.au.

You can also call 1300 022 290 or 4610 5997 for more information.

GP Educational Dinner

Black Dog Institute will hold an Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention workshop at the Holiday Inn, Warwick Farm on Saturday, 21 September from 9am to 5pm.

The free event is funded by SWSPHN for GPs and allied health professionals in South Western Sydney.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea is included.

The workshop aims to increase health professionals’ skill and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide.

It also provides practical tools for health professionals managing the full spectrum of suicide risk presentations, including the acute suicidal crisis, care after a suicide attempt and assisting families experiencing suicide bereavement.

The workshop is suitable for GP registrars, GPs, multi-disciplinary, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals.

It is eligible for one day of funding under the Emergency Medicine component of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.

Accreditation is 7.5 CPD hours for GPs and psychologists, which includes 4.5 hours education activity and 3 hours reviewing performance.

Learning objectives include: undertaking an effective suicide risk assessment; developing a collaborative safety plan; implementing a team approach to treatment planning; providing effective management following a suicide attempt; and responding to the needs of people bereaved by suicide.

Find out more