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Roxon outlines plans for health care reform

Discussion in 'Australia' started by LuckyLisfranc, Jun 11, 2008.

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  1. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    Clinton,
    This was because up until August only 9 professions were included in the national registration process (the 9 that have regulation in all states and territories) so Podiatry , not being regulated in the NT was not include. We are now, and the profession (Reg Boards and Associations) have been asked to list the titles that should be restricted to registered podiatrists. Podiatry and Chiropody will both be protected and others such as "foot health professional" might be.
     
  2. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    Third of GPs 'may quit' over pay cut

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24570868-12377,00.html

    By Melissa Jenkins | October 29, 2008

    MORE than a third of GPs may quit if the Rudd Government slashes payments to doctors who perform tasks that could be done by nurses or other professionals, a survey has found.

    In her Ben Chifley Memorial "Light on the Hill'' address last year, Health Minister Nicola Roxon suggested the Government might pay doctors less if they refused to "let go'' of simple tasks.

    "Doctors will need to be prepared to let go of some work that others can safely do,'' she said.

    "There needs to be an incentive for doctors to eschew less complex work, and focus on the work that does require their high-level skills and expertise.''

    In a survey of 150 GPs released today, 35 per cent said they would think about quitting the profession if they were penalised for performing simple tasks.

    Four in five said they disagreed with Ms Roxon's policy direction, but about half said they would adopt task substitution to avoid financial penalties.

    Just 11 per cent would adopt task substitution willingly.

    The survey, published in the latest edition of Medical Observer magazine, was conducted by market research company Cegedim Strategic Data.

    Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Chris Mitchell said patients received significant health benefits from a continuity of care.

    "General practitioners specialise in patients rather than diseases and as a consequence, the public health benefits that we see from general practice arise over a number of consultations,'' he said.

    Dr Mitchell said US research had shown a regular place for care was associated with a substantial reduction in hospital use.

    "These are the benefits that you get from a continuity of care and a continuing relationship over time with a general practitioner,'' he said.

    "The risk is that if you fragment that relationship you actually lose those benefits.''
     
  3. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    "General practitioners specialise in patients rather than diseases"

    So that's where I have being going wrong all these years!!! More focus on the disease, forget about the patient who really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things (until it comes time to settle the bill).

    Where has Medicine gone wrong over the years - Oh let me count the ways, starting with the above statement!!!!
     
  4. Kate Walter

    Kate Walter Member

    http://www.nhwt.gov.au/natreg.asp

    This is the Health Workworce Australia website. Upto date info re: NRAS


    plus

    http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/ween-7dr4dk

    Dated Apil 2008 - an interesting read as it outlines the concerns the AMA has over the NRAS.

    The “National Registration and Accreditation Scheme” is not just about registration and accreditation. There is a much broader agenda for workforce reform and regulation. The scheme will operate under the principle that the practice of a profession will only be restricted where the benefits of the restriction outweigh the costs5. What parameters or criteria will be used to determine this cost benefit analysis? Patient safety and quality of care must be taken into account.

    and.....

    The demand for health care in Australia continues to rise. The population is ageing and the prevalence of chronic disease and disability is increasing. With demand exceeding supply, governments will seek policies to correct the imbalance. COAG has sought to blend registration and accreditation, with the effect of lowering the health professional standards to address the demand for supply.

    This approach is based around the idea that the different health professions are close substitutes for each other. This is not the case at all. On the contrary, the various health professions have roles and responsibilities that are complementary to each other. High quality health care requires very strong teamwork with each profession enabled to do what they do best. Doctors have a very sharp appreciation of the impact on health outcomes that can be achieved through the skills and efforts of para-medical health professionals.

    Does the scheme seek to address medical shortages by allowing lesser-trained professionals to fill medical workforce shortages? As it is written, the AMA can only assume the predominant workforce reform agenda will facilitate other health professionals providing service for which they are inadequately trained.
     
  5. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    Doctors baulk at PBS nurse prescription plans

    Budget speculation is starting to build on the health implications.

    Perhaps economic hard times will give the Government and a good excuse to drive more reforms...

    From Australian Doctor:

     
  6. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member


    Almost in time for federal registration! Coincidence or cunning plan?
     
  7. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    The draft exposure of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 has been released through the NHWT website:

    There are some very important things to be aware of.

    Firstly, title protection. "Doctor" is not protected. "Specialist" is, unless there becomes some recognised podiatric specialties over time. "Podiatrist" and "chiropodist" are protected for us.

    Thankfully, there is no evidence of a restriction of any practice on any work that a podiatrist does (eg invasive procedures etc). Other areas such as dentistry and spinal manipulation have been protected though.

    All podiatry undergrad students will need to be registered.

    There is much more to digest...everyone should scrutinise this!

    LL
     
  8. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    This indicates that all states will need to continue to lobby their state governments for expansion of prescribing rights.
     
  9. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    But this was always going to be the case - we identified this almost two years ago.

    Just because federal legislation changes doesn't mean state legislation will. The issue is, Victoria will still be the only state where as a Podiatrist you are legally allowed to prescribe scheduled medications - and even they haven't worked out how it is going to roll out yet!

    This will have a flow on effect to all sorts of Podiatrically related issues - from the basics (funding) to the complex (individual rights of specialist Podiatric groups).

    So let me ask the question - exactly what has changed? On the surface, probably not very much.

    It is time for APodC to start throwing around some cash and political weight to facilitate this in each state for a unified national response. We just need a bigger broom to clean the mess up with, thats all! With amalgamation of the Boards hopefully we will have some political pulling power within, and with enough pressure applied from outside sources and interests we can get this calamity sorted out over the next 10 years or so. That is of course if Podiatry in Australia survives the next 10 years or so! GULP!
     
  10. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    What has changed is that the playing field is levelling out.

    Whereas non-medical professions tended to be completely marginalised by organised medicine dominating government policy, the current (Commonwealth) government has turned this on its head.

    We now have nurse practitioners and midwives on Medicare and the PBS. AND this was directly at the expense of specialist obstetricians (in part). This is a quantum leap, that should instill confidence in other professional groups.

    Nurse practitioners, midwives and their respective associations/unions got their sh*t together, and developed policy, modern curriculums and persuasive arguments. The APodC, schools of podiatry and most interest groups in our profession are light years behind on this stuff. They barely talk to each other from what I see.

    The AMA, and other groups are very disturbed by this trend. They see National Registration and Accreditation, the NHHRC, the National Health Workforce Taskforce and other reform agencies as a big threat to their dominance of health care. You can see this by reading their submissions to these various agencies, which are all posted on the net. They are mobilising money and effort into fighting this "labor scurge".

    Fore example, this week the Senate was doing an enquiry into the new Health Workforce Australia Bill 2009. Take a look at what the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons sent in here. This is one of many examples.

    All the main players, even osteopaths, sent a submission in. Total from podiatry = 0.

    We need a stronger, better funded and more sophisticated executive.

    I see the current situation as a once in a generation opportunity, but we need to get our voices heard.

    LL
     
  11. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    I could not agree more! The submission by the ASOS was simply them protecting their turf, the sad part about this fact is that APodC should also have written a submission defending our turf.

    This is simple politics - in my opinion Podiatry needs its own "sophisticated executive" to use Tony's words. APodC should be funding this as a priority. We need a group that is pro-active, understands all the relevant issues surrounding Podiatry/other health stake holders as well as being a group who has the time to do this. It should be a paid committee of the right people.

    In saying that, the committee should not be made up of sole stake holders who have one specialization in mind (sorry Tony but the whole Australian Pod Surgery thing here gets my support generally, but with matters like this its best checked at the door before entering).

    Has anyone asked APodC why there was not a submission forthcoming? Maybe its time the reps from APodA's around the country to APodC started dictating agenda's more precisely to the CEO so delegation surrounding important issues such as this can be started!

    I would love to think my professional federal representation was actually working on my behalf here. I would also love to think that they were assisting in organizing each state Association to drive the legislation requirements needed instead of leaving them all out on the line to dry!

    UNIFICATION PEOPLE! GET ON THE PODIATRY BANDWAGON!
     
  12. Heather J Bassett

    Heather J Bassett Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the update BUT what is definition of soon?

    Cheers
     
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