Assessing risk in obstetrics and maternity anaesthesia

This project assisted obstetricians and anaesthetists in objectively evaluating adverse obstetric and anaesthetic outcomes within a safety and quality framework, and were provided with support to manage these difficult situations.
This program allowed participants to access information in a manner of ways: print, email, on-line, video-conferencing, CD-ROM presentations and at times face to face.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Developing your personal communication style

Communication is a core competency in the delivery of health care and improving specialist’s delivery methods fast tracking the consent process via Participate in Video-conferencing workshops. 

The aim was to assist medical administrators, obstetricians and gynaecologists and anaesthetists to:

• Learn how to identify difficult patients and develop management skills 
• Understand the difference between the patient specialist relationship that anaesthetists and obstetricians have
• Receive a patient information package

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

National remote area videoconferencing of case review meetings

This project allowed radiologists, to participate in the Alfred Hospitals Radiology Department monthly Case Review Meeting through video conferencing.These sessions invloved unusual and complex cases and encouraged a sense of camaraderie through sharing information and joint problem solving as well as strong educational benefits.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Pamela Taylor

National videoconferencing of RANZCR Victorian Branch’s monthly scientific meetings to rural radiolo

Monthly Scientific Meetings by the RANZCR Victoria Branch via videoconference allowed participants to support each other through sharing information and joint-problem solving. They learnt the latest techniques and also had access to web streamed images and materials within a CPD framework, enabling the radiologist to study these in their own time.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Pamela Taylor

Further education and training (FEAT) for paediatricians and paediatric advanced trainees

Paediatricians Australia wide where invited to participate in F.E.A.T the program. This project provided continuing education workshops for rural paediatricians and other health professionals via the use of telemedicine.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Clinical leaders: clinical practice improvement and evidence based practice education for rural spec

A number of one-day training workshops where held Australia wide for rural Clinicians to undertake self-directed learning and apply practice improvement strategies within in their own workplace and also practical information about developing projects and quality improvement strategies. This was a joint project by RACP, ACD, RANZCP, RACS and AFPHM.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Connecting rural and remote physicians – Community Acquired Pneumonia

The aim of this project was to develop a sustainable model of a clinical Practice Improvement for improving the process of care and service delivery within rural hospitals for patients presenting with Community Acquired Pneumonia. This was done through a variety of methods; Face-to-face presentations, tele-conferencing, quarterly dinners and journals.

The outcomes of this project where that there was reduced length of patients stay in hospital, appropriate uses of antibiotics, adherence to antibiotic guidelines, improved access and ; understanding of the CPI and encouraged networking & collaboration amongst rural physicians.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Grant Phleps

A project for enhancing professional skills of rural physicians using telemedicine

Telemedicine has a demonstrated role in bridging this gap and providing an interactive forum for the presentation of relevant data to physicians at a remote site. The Saturday morning program of Continuing Education Workshops has been conducted by the Scientific Committee of the Victorian State Committee, RACP over a number of years. The product has been continuously refined and the current emphasis on updates has proved very popular with up to 26 sites across Australia attending by videoconference. These Workshops are undertaken on four Saturday mornings each year approximately 3 months apart.

This project has aimed to increase the number of rural physicians attending CPD activities via videoconference by between 30% and 50%.

Some of the topics covered included;

Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Neurology, Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Workplace and Health Assessment Module (WHAM)

The interactive web based module WHAM was developed by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine, after it was recognised that medical practitioners practising in rural and remote areas have fewer opportunities for supervised training in workplace and health assessments and this makes it difficult to ensure competencies in these areas are maintained. The Faculty encourages all health professionals involved in workplace and health assessments as well as other regulating bodies to view the modules to ensure they are up to date with the latest information. This module can be used by employers and employees to gain an understanding of what is involved with Workplace Health Assessments. Visit www.wham.org.au

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine

Continuing education and practice development program for rural and remote rehabilitation physicians

The project engaged rural and remote Rehabilitation Physicians in continuing education activities including regular Journal Club teleconferences, skills workshops and peer audit reviews. The project was designed to provide access to mix of educational and support activity combinations that cater to the particular requirements of rehabilitation physicians who require a broad range of clinical, management and teaching skills.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

Peer review network for rural and remote physicians

This project engaged rural public health physicians in a structured Continuing Professional Development activity to improve their practice in relation to Quality Improvement. Case material based on adverse events and other identified areas of risk be assessed and peer review groups review the events in accordance with a specific model for Quality Improvement and use this information to improve their practice.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine

Management skills to simplify work

This project included the development, piloting and implementation of 2 further web based modules for clinicians involved in management and the preparation of all 3 modules on a CD Rom. In addition a FAQ site was expanded. The delivery of 3 further face to face management skills courses in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Dr Lee Gruner

Development of a handbook for rural medical administrators

A web-based handbook for rural medical administration in Australia has been developed and is available to all rural specialists interested in improving their management and administration skills These are available at: http://www.racma.org.au/quizshock/education_module/index.htm

Target audience:

For more information, contact Dr Lee Gruner

Training rural specialists in clinical crisis resource management

Following on from its successful workshops held in Orange and Cairns in 2003, six workshops in 3 locations where held in 2004. They provided training for rural specialists and their team about clinical crisis resource management using a simulator in their own environment.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Jill Humphreys

Risk management workshop program for rural specialist

A series of risk management workshops for isolated rural specialists where held throughout 2004. These where facilitated by the Cognitive Institute. Aimed at increasing the ability of specialists to mange medico-legal risk within their practice and apply risk management principles to improve patient care and reduce the risk of litigation claims. The program focused on why patients sue communication strategies to improve patient satisfaction and the consent process.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Alicia Eaton

A video-linked case discussion group for non-metropolitan surgeons in Nth Queensland

This program involved 2-hour case discussion meetings held monthly. These involved General Surgeons in Cairns, Mackay, Atherton and Mount Isa. Videoconference was used to present and discuss complex clinical cases in a prospective manner, along with associated knowledge updates (journal club and topic presentations)

Target audience:

For more information, contact Alicia Eaton

Facilitating audit and peer review for isolated procedural specialists

A series of regional training workshops addressing issues related to audit and peer reviews where conducted. The project culminate with a series of peer review meetings with the aim of allowing surgeons and ophthalmologists the opportunity to discuss outcomes, reflect on how their data compares with peers and how practice can be improved.

Target audience:

For more information, contact Alicia Eaton

RCPA videoconference sessions (RPA Pathology update)

Videoconference transmission of RCPA NSW Branch Pathology Update lectures from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) in Camperdown, Sydney, and NSW.

Topics included; Glandular Lesions of the Cervix, Head and Neck Pathology, Best Practice in Autopsies, Non-neoplastic Liver Diseases, A Diagnostic Approach to Pancreatic Tumours, Ductal Carcinoma Insitu of the Breast, Lung Cancer, Fluid based cervical cytology, Approach to bone marrow pathology and Diagnostic uropathology.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia

Enabling rural dermatologists to access teaching hospital clinical meetings via CD Rom

This program enabled rural dermatologists' to access Teaching at Hospital Clinical Meetings, increased rural dermatologists' participation in CPD activities, increased their ability to meet the requirements of the ACD CPD program and decreased the feeling professional isolation. This was achieved through Web forum's, email correspondence with other fellows and recorded hospital clinical meetings via CD-ROM

Target audience:

For more information, contact Claudia Casson

Tutorial supported refresher program for rural psychiatrists

This project ivvolved the utilisation of flexible learning CD-Rom modules that are supported by specialists tutors. This gave up to 40 rural Psychiatrists in Australia the opportunity to gain specific training and increased understanding of particular areas of psychiatry.

Target audience:

For more information, contact The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists