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A newsletter produced by AMA Queensland especially for Resident's and Registrars
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theroundsResidents & RegistRaRs
Would you rather be a MD?
Contact us
S orry to tell you, but your MBBS is way out of style. In 2014, medical graduates from the University of Melbourne’s new four-year program will be awarded a Doctor of Medicine
(MD). The University of Queensland (UQ) has announced plans to follow Melbourne’s lead. The Australian Medical Council (AMC) has accredited Melbourne’s new Masters level MD program, which is ranked at a higher level than the traditional MBBS within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Flying in the face of recommendations from the Bradley review, the University of Melbourne has re-introduced domestic full-fee paying places, with 50 domestic full fee places accepted this year. In this way, the University of Melbourne circumvents government policy that regulates domestic medical student numbers. Full-fee paying domestic graduates, who will pay more than $200,000 for their MD, are not guaranteed an internship at its completion.
The traditional Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, as currently offered by UQ and other leading Australian universities, is touted as the most prestigious academic award in medicine (equivalent to, or higher than, a PhD). Is your MBBS starting to look second best?
A two-tiered system of nomenclature for primary medical qualifications may have far-reaching consequences beyond flooding the market with yet more interns. Merit-based selection programs for house officers in Victoria and Queensland awards points to applicants holding higher-level degrees (such as a Masters). Masters degree graduates are also ranked higher than Bachelor degree graduates for entrance to some College training programs.
Future enterprise bargaining agreements may award a higher rate of pay to Masters degree graduates. And international recognition may be awarded to MD doctors, with MBBS holders disadvantaged. Maybe Medicare rebates will be higher for those with an MD. And perhaps discerning patients will prefer to be seen by someone with a higher level qualification.
The AMA is lobbying for national consistency of nomenclature of primary medical qualifications, in line with international moves towards standardisation (e.g. the European Bologna Process).
The AMA also advocates strongly for publicly funded domestic medical school places to ensure equity of access. When other universities take the University of Melbourne’s lead and start their own Masters level primary medical qualifications (and they will), the issue of full-fee paying domestic students will rear its ugly head once again. Money-based, rather than merit-based access to medical school may call into question the integrity of Australia’s medical education system.
It is imperative that these significant issues are addressed before other money-hungry educational institutions follow in the footsteps of the University of Melbourne.
RefeRenceS:
• Mitchell R, Bonning M, Markwell A. MD: the new MBBS? MJA 2011; 194 (7):375.
• Roberts-Thomson R, Kirchenr S, Wong C. MD: the new MBBS? MJA 2010; 193 (11/12): 660-661
Vanessa PalmerMembership and Communications Deputy Chair, CoRReMAIL: [email protected]
Dr Jen WilliamsChair, CoRReMAIL: [email protected]
OccuPAtIOn: Dermatology Registrar, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
StAR SIgn: Gemini
SecRet ObSeSSIOn: Glee
I am pleased to announce the recent release of the AMA Queensland Facebook page! As part of our push to keep AMA Queensland members informed and up to date, we have joined the world-wide phenomenon, allowing us to get important information out to you in a timely and accessible fashion. So hit ‘Like’ and tell your friends, and if you’re not on Facebook, join the other 750 million of us and get on board. We will be keeping the page up to date with all the details of upcoming functions and social events, pics from past events, as well as key dates for your calendar, including MOCA2 negotiations, opportunities for junior doctors and details of upcoming meetings. The page will also provide an opportunity to give your input on what you would like to see from us in the future, and provide a contact point for your local area or hospital representative. See you online!
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • V O L U M E 2
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therounds
I n the lead-up to MOCA negotiations, AMA Queensland is investigating factors around safe working hours and fatigue management.
The quality of medical handovers is strongly associated with patient outcomes. The importance of effective handover has never been so high, due to decreased hours of work and a concomitant increase in shift change overs, and due to ever increasing pressure on the hospital system to do more with less. Transmission of patient-related information from doctor-to-doctor may be distorted for reasons including time pressure, fatigue, frequent interruptions and lack of personal contact with the patient.
Good handover requires input from a variety of care-givers. Handover safety can be improved by measures including: cross-over of shifts, allowing adequate dedicated time in a suitable location, clear leadership, provision of appropriate information technology and support from all levels of the medical team.
In response to the belief that clinical handover can be better taught and practised, the AMA in 2007 developed a guide for Safe handover: Safe Patients. This document was to provide guidance to doctors on best practice in handover and provide examples of good models of handover from which doctors and managers can learn.
Effective communication is necessary to allow for pertinent information to be exchanged and to ensure patient safety, so that clinically unstable patients are known to senior and covering clinicians, junior members are adequately advised of concerns from previous shifts and tasks not yet completed are understood by the incoming team. These systems, based on a generic model, must be adapted to local needs.
The key to the handover system is continuity of care based on continuity of information (in lieu of continuity of personnel), to protect patient safety. Handover is of little value unless tasks are prioritised, appropriate actions taken and plans for further care put in place in a timely manner.
From 1 July 2011, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is now in operation. It has been established as an independent, statutory authority under the National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011. Its role is to lead and coordinate improvements in safety and quality in health care across Australia, to achieve safer, more effective and more responsive care for consumers. They have a focus on research and engagement with patients, consumers and their carers. Clinical handover will undoubtedly be one target area.
AMA Queensland would be interested in hearing about your experience of clinical handover. We encourage you to think about procedures in place at your hospital, and to ensure the safety of your patients through optimised handover processes.
t he University of Queensland (UQ) announced in August that they are giving serious consideration to
replacing their existing 4 year MBBS medical program degree with a 4 year MD Program.
“The current UQ MD degree is, however, a “research higher doctorate program”, and the MD terminology is common especially in the UK and in some Australian universities. If the University does decide to introduce an MD Program, the name of the current research doctorate will be amended to avoid any confusion.
Recent changes in the Australian higher education sector provide an opportunity to make this change. Some competitors have decided to introduce an MD, with the first starting in 2012, and others are planning similar changes. UQ is seriously considering doing the same, and are exploring the pros and cons, and timelines involved. The MD could also be considered the “international standard” as it is the preferred form used in Europe and North America.
For more information, visit: http://www2.som.uq.edu.au/som/OurSchool/Pages/mdprogram.aspx
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UQMS considering Md program
Medical handover and patient outcomes
therounds
H O S P I tA L R e P R e S e n tAt I V e e M A I L
RbH Tanya Trinh
Pat Pearce
Andrew Hutchinson
PA Ross Fowler
Andrew McAllister
PRInce cHARLeS Paul Bryan [email protected]
cAbOOLtuRe Vanessa Grayson [email protected]
ReDcLIffe Katie Buzzacott
Megan Evans
MAteR Matthew Cranstoun [email protected]
LOgAn Chris Ioannou [email protected]
IPSWIcH James Ware [email protected]
gOLD cOASt Liz Hodge
Claire Cuscaden
tOOWOOMbA Richard Ong
Alistair Hamilton
tOWnSVILLe Rachel Collings
Allan Davies
bLAckWAteR Manu Nithianan [email protected]
MOunt ISA Peter Floros [email protected]
Do you know your CoRR Hospital Representative?
Friday 30 September 2011 • 6pm-8pmQueens Arms Hotel, James Street, Fortitude Valley
Bar tab and nibbles provided
RSVP to: [email protected]
Drinks & DItS
therounds
$395 back in your pocketWhen you take out or refinance any homeloan with Investec. To find out more about this limited offer contact AMA Queensland members services team on 07 3872 2205 or [email protected]
Investec Professional Finance Pty Ltd ABN 94 110 704 464 (Investec Professional Finance) is a subsidiary of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited ABN 55 071 292 594 AFSL/ACL 234975. *Home loan interest rates are variable and subject to change without notification. Valid for loans greater than $250k at 80% LVR. Rate current as at 16 August 2011. Investec Professional Finance is not offering financial or tax advice. You should obtain independent advice as appropriate. All finance is subject to our credit approval criteria. Terms and Conditions, fees and charges apply. AMA gift of $395 goes directly back the member. All enquiries must be made via AMA and must quote member number. Valid for enquiries made throughout August and September (must settle before 31 October 2011). Gift issued by the end of November 2011.
Junior doctors’ society 2011 OrationTUESDAY 2 AUGUST 2011
Your CoRR
Andrew turner Manager, Workplace Relations AMA Queensland
eMAIL: [email protected]
Jen Williams Chair Council of Residents and Registrars
eMAIL: [email protected]
Who else is on CoRR and hoW you Can ContaCt them:
Matthew Palmer Education [email protected]
Vanessa Palmer Communication [email protected]
Saul felber Industrial [email protected]
Alex kippin Rural and regional [email protected]
HOW tO COntaCt Us:
FACEBOOKAMA Queensland is now on Facebook! Search for us and ‘like’ our page, drop us a line on our wall and check out latest photos.
SkYPeOur CoRR meetings are going to be conducted using Skype. If you wish to participate please email Andrew Turner at the address below.
TWITTERFollow AMA Queensland President Dr Richard Kidd on Twitter.
ADDReSSeD By ASSOC PROF NOeL HAyMAN AND DR MeLANIe UNDeRWOOD
PrincESS AlExAnDrA HOSPiTAl
