Resources for Surgeons
National Registration and Accreditation
Expert from RACS Council Highlights, April 2010
The new registration processes start on 1 July 2010. It is important that all Fellows understand the changes ahead.
It is very important that you ensure that you are currently registered with the medical board in the state or territory in which you practise. This will ensure that you transition smoothly into the national scheme and are registered with the Medical Board of Australia. It is also important that you check that your contact details and mailing address with the current state or territory Board are correct.
In early May, every medical practitioner will receive a letter from the Medical Board of Australia. This letter will list your registration details as currently recorded by the medical board in the state or territory in which you are registered and your proposed registration type under the National Law that will apply after 1 July 2010. The letter from the Medical Board of Australia will also give information about your obligations under the national law.
It is essential that you take the time to check the accuracy of the information in the letter and promptly provide feedback if something is not correct to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the agency that is supporting the board.
Doctors who are registered in multiple jurisdictions may receive more than one letter, although data cleansing and de-duplication is being undertaken to reduce the likelihood of this occurring. All doctors who are registered on 30 June 2010 will be automatically registered in the national scheme until the end date of their current registration. Annual registration renewal for doctors with general registration with the Medical Board of Australia will be 30 September, regardless of the state or territory in which you practise. If you are due to renew your registration between now and 30 June 2010, your registration will be valid until the end date. The next time you renew in 2011 will be with the Medical Board of Australia and will be for a period that brings you in line with the 30 September registration renewal date for all medical practitioners. Different renewal timelines apply to International Medical Graduates with conditional or limited registration and interns.
Further information is available on the Medical Board of Australia website which is accessible via www.ahpra.gov.au or directly at www.medicalboard.gov.au
Patient Education Pamphlets
To assist communication with patients and provide a tool for achieving informed consent, a range of patient education pamphlets have been developed in a range of surgical specialties.
The patient information pamphlets are based on comprehensive research in consultation with the Specialty Societies and can be ordered in bulk. Patient education pamphlets for surgical procedures are available from Mi-tec Publishing and Specialist Management Services.
To order patient information pamphlets or a licence, please contact:
Mi-tec Medical Publishing
Mi-tec order form
PO Box 24
Camberwell VIC 3124
Tel: +61 3 9888 6262
Fax: +61 3 9888 6465
Website: http://www.mitec.com.au/
Email: orders@mitec.com.au
Specialist Management Services
Suite Level 1, 47 - 51 Camberwell Road
East Hawthorn VIC 3123
Tel: +61 400 090 436
Fax: +61 3 9813 2163
Website: http://www.smservices.net.au/
E-mail: info@smservices.net.au
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Click here to access the RACS CPD resources and tools.
CPD Online
CPD Online allows Fellows to record participation in CPD activities throughout the year using a web based personal online diary.
By accessing a personal CPD Online Diary, Fellows are able to regularly record participation in activities such as surgical audits, conferences and workshops, hospital meetings, teaching and involvement in research and publications within the categories of the CPD Program. Fellows will have immediate access to updated CPD totals to assist with planning to meet the minimum requirements for the triennium.
Fellows who use the CPD Online Diary will not be required to complete the annual hard copy recertification data form. The annual Statement of Participation confirming annual compliance and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development, confirming triennial compliance will continue to be issued by the Department of Professional Standards.
Click here to read the CPD Online Diary Fact Sheet.
The RACS Department of Professional Standards is available to provide telephone assistance and training for Fellows. Please contact Maria Lynch on +61 3 9249 1282.
Code of Conduct
Click here to download the RACS Code of Conduct.
Click here to download the RACS Code of Conduct: Handling Potential Breaches Policy.
Position Statement - Emergency Surgery
Click here to read the RACS Position Statement on Emergency Surgery.