welcome to the May 2010 edition, in this issue:

North Coast Post enewsletter changes

Welcome to the May edition of the North Coast Post and the second in an electronic format. In this edition we've tried to make the newsletter easier to read by providing READ MORE links for the longer articles. This will make it quicker for you to scan and find the articles of interest to you.

Some readers had difficulty seeing the images in the last enewsletter. Just right click on an image box, select download pictures and they will appear. Alternatively, at the top of the newsletter, you can choose to view online and the complete newsletter will be displayed.

Again I would appreciate any feedback about the format and content of the new look NC Post so we can make it the best possible communication tool between you and NCGPT. Please end all comments to seano@ncgpt.org.au

Sean O'Meara

NCGPT Communications Manager 
 

Tell a friend! AGPT applications 2011

The 2011 AGPT applications open on the 14th May and once again NCGPT is busily recruiting the best possible registrars. We are very proud of the many outstanding registrars we have trained over the years and our research shows that many chose NCGPT due to recommendations from others.

In recognition of our quality GP training, GPET has recently allocated an additional 10 registrar places to NCGPT for next year. This increase of over 40% means we really need to get out there to promote our program and the region.

Word of mouth and referrals are our strongest recruitment  tools, so if you know anybody who may be interested in GP training next year, let us know and we will send them an info pack. Alternatively, email the following online info to any aspiring GP registrars so they can check out our website and new electronic brochure.

North Coast GP Training Information
Website: www.ncgpt.org.au
Electronic Brochure: (http://flipflashpages.uniflip.com/2/32383/58258/pub/index.html)
email: info@ncgpt.org.au  
Ph: 02 6681 5711

Education Update with Christine Ahern

Lismore UDRH medical students, with NCGPT medical educator Dr Peter Silberberg

This month's NCGPT education update from Dr Christine Ahern covers;

Supervisor workshops

Registrar shortage in Term 2

Educational sessions report

PGPPP developments

Exam Updates

Port Macquarie visit

Farewell to Jeremy Crawford

READ MORE  to view these updates

We’ve Heard You - Much ado about something called allocation!

Take Note - New allocation policies and procedures

Twice a year all RTPs must go through a process of allocating registrars to training practices and NCGPT is no exception. At the recent supervisor’s workshop and through discussions with registrars, we heard a number of suggestions for improvements to the allocation process. As a result we have revised our policies and procedures and made several changes that we hope will make the process even better.

This is important information that affects all registrars, supervisors and practices so click on the link below to view these changes.

Christine Ahern
Director of Training

READ MORE
 

RLO Report with Kirsten Patterson

New Registrar Liaison Officer Kirsten Patterson

Hi everyone. My name is Kirsten Patterson and I’ve been asked to briefly introduce myself to you all, as I’m new to the Registrar Liaison Officer role for North Coast GP Training. So here goes! I’ll do my best to be brief!!

Prior to starting GP training this year, I worked at the Gold Coast and Logan Hospitals after finishing Medical School at the University of Queensland in 2007. Before embarking upon a medical career, I taught secondary Science and Maths for 7 years, which included a two and a half year period of working and travelling overseas – mostly in Europe, Canada and Africa. But ever since my early high school days I wanted to be a doctor, particularly a GP, but never thought I was smart enough. Most days, I still don’t know if I’m smart enough to be a doctor!!......

READ MORE

email RLO Kirsten Patterson kruffles@hotmail.com

email KLO Katherine Dent  katdent10@hotmail.com  

RSO Report with Sue Gramza

Registrar Support Officer Sue Gramza

Hi Everyone

Well, you all would have received your allocations for next term….Hopefully you have contacted the practice and arranged an interview and all is going well.
 

I am heading to Sydney next week to meet and greet some of the new registrars coming up from Sydney who are joining us in July.
 

Last Thursday some of the Port Macquarie group of registrars including two 2 year olds, Christine Ahern and myself went to dinner at the lovely Bliss Restaurant. Service was quite slow, food was good and the company was great!
 

For registrars who live in the Coffs region, please put Friday 4th June in your calendar for our social get together for dinner.
 

Sue Gramza

SLO Update with John Vaughan

NCGPT Supervisor Liaison Officer John Vaughan

Thank you to all the supervisors who have given me such a warm welcome in my role as your SLO. It was inspiring to listen to your enthusiasm and commitment to GP training now and in the future.
 

It was an invaluable exercise for me to put faces to names at the recent supervisor's workshops and to hear of your concerns and needs with respect to continuing training in your practices.
 

I have forwarded feedback from you to the executive of SLO's relating to two principal concerns;

1. The need for a uniform wages and conditions policy to create a level playing field for registrars and practices.
2. The strong feeling that we need to stop amalgamations, as regional training works and a return to the old centralised system would be a disaster for supervisors and registrars.

I am keen to continue to receive feedback from you all either by email or phone and encourage you to contact me with your concerns either with GPET or with the RTP. Hilton Koppe is working hard on some creative ways for us to deliver training, perhaps in groups and aimed at exam preparation using TIP payments to improve quality of teaching and remuneration to supervisors.

Once again let me say that it was great to meet you all and I trust that I can work in your interests to improve conditions and thereby the quality of education that we deliver.

John Vaughan, SLO.

email: slo@ncgpt.org.au

 

Heidi Spillane with Medecins Sans Frontieres

Former NCGPT registrar and Byron Bay Doctor, Heidi Spillane, has been working since August 2009 for Medecins Sans Frontieres in China. She is based in the city of Nanning, in Guangxi province, in a project providing healthcare for HIV positive patients. This is Heidi’s second field placement with Medecins Sans Frontieres, having previously worked in Kenya.

Worlds divide the traditional Medecins Sans Frontieres project I imagine, and the context I find myself in here in Nanning in China, a sprawling city at the heart of consumerism. I live in a city full of skyscrapers and fluorescent lights. In stark contrast to my last project with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Kenya, where conditions were basic, electricity, running water and street lights a thing of the future! Internet at home, an unknown luxury on past Medecins Sans Frontieres placements, connects me to family and friends back home.

READ MORE

Koori Korner: Closing the Gap Initiative - Tackling Chronic Disease.

Welcome to the second edition of the Koori Korner, the content of this article will focus on the new Australian Government Closing the Gap Initiative: Tackling Chronic Disease. These new initiatives are designed to support general practices and Indigenous health services to provide better care for Indigenous Australians. 

 Several initiatives are already under way that will bring benefits both to those who deliver Indigenous health services and those who use them.

There are some specific criteria to make a practice eligible for these PIPs, once these criteria have been met the practice receives $1000.

READ MORE to find out what's in it for you, what's in it for the patients and points to consider.
 

Feasting on the can of worms – March Medical Educator day

NCGPT Baristers Neil and Rhonda and the "World Cafe"

NCGPT hosted the regular meeting of medical educators from NSW in Lennox Head last month. For the first time, we were also joined by our Queensland colleagues from CSQTC and TMT. As always, it was wonderful to have the opportunity to spend time with fellow medical educators from other regions.

We were greeted at the door by a bow tie adorned Neil Bambrook who, along with Rhonda O’Dell, were baristers for the morning. The welcome coffees served as a perfect introduction to the first session – World Café – a novel process for sharing ideas within a group setting. For more information about this process, go to www.theworldcafe.com

We were lucky to be supported during the day by two fantastic guest presenters. Molly Carlile, who has a background in palliative care education lead an inspiring session on teaching methods for introducing effective discussions about death and dying...

READ MORE
 

Hilton Koppe
Senior Medical Educator, NCGPT.
 

GPRA challenging cases competition

Have you seen a patient that was so intriguing it reminded you how exciting General Practice can be?
 

GPRA is running a monthly competition asking you to share your story. The best case each month will receive a $25 Myer Gift card and be published in the GPRA newsletter as well as the GPSN newsletter, promoting the diversity of General Practice to students.

SUBMISSION: Tell your case story in 250 words or less - Deadline The 1st of each month.

(Pictures in JPEG format can also be included)
 

email enquiries@gpra.org.au
 

Beyond the medical record – creative writing retreat for doctors.

Jacinta Halloran (far left) with some of the willing writers at the Lennox Head retreat

Last month, 20 doctors from as far north as Townsville and as far south as Melbourne gathered at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, for a 2 day creative writing retreat. We were lucky enough to be joined by award winning author and GP, Jacinta Halloran who helped me in facilitating the retreat.

During the weekend, we laughed and cried and told stories and asked questions and did a bit of writing as well. We used some very simple exercises which have been developed over the last four years. We wrote poems about challenging patients, stories about cats being run over, and played with voice and person and stream of consciousness writing.
 

These exercises have been designed to allow participants the opportunity to use creative writing as a means of more deeply exploring what it means to be a doctor, and how our work as a doctor impacts on our life in general. Through this creative process, it is hoped that participants are able to better (re)connect with the human element of working as a doctor.
 

The quality of the writing produced during weekend was outstanding. Highlights were the open microphone session over dinner on Saturday evening, and the final exercise on Sunday, which saw the transformation of a challenging clinical case into a magical performance piece filled with humour and pathos.
 

A collection of writings from doctors, many of whom have attended our workshops, is being put together. If you would like to contribute to this collection, or if you are interested in being notified about upcoming writing events, please contact me on hiltonk@ncgpt.org.au

Hilton Koppe
Senior Medical Educator, NCGPT.
 

Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP)

Dr Mahbuba Shampa (centre) with office manager Dianne Kerr and Dr Andrew Binns

The Toormina and Goonellabah Medical Centres have now completed their first PGPPP terms. Feedback from the PGPPP doctors was very positive about their experience and both practices were very impressed with the doctors on the program. An article about the Goonellabah experience by supervisor Dr Andrew Binns appeared in the April 9 edition of Australian Doctor. Andrew said “the scheme has worked well in our practice. I credit that to the high competence and work ethic of Dr Shampa, plus a strong commitment from our staff to make it work. … What’s most pleasing is that she is now considering joining a GP training program – possibly here on the north coast”
 

The Prime Minister recently announced a major increase in funding for additional PGPPP posts to be established in 2011 and beyond. If your practice is interested in finding out more about this program contact Bruce Barling at the office or bruceb@ncgpt.org.au
 

AGPT Policies 2010

The AGPT Policies 2010 are now available on the AGPT website. The new Policies are a result of a review of the current AGPT (Transition) Policies 2008 and were developed in consultation with stakeholders, including NGPSA and GPRA. The new policies reflect the maturity of the AGPT program and will form the foundation upon which regional training providers will shape their own policies and procedures. The new AGPT Policies will come into effect on 1 July 2010. To read the policies visit the AGPT website policies page*.

http://www.agpt.com.au/PoliciesPublications/RecentPolicyChanges/ 
 

*NCGPT Note: On certain issues such as full time and part time training, college standards and NCGPT policies must be adhered to.