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  • Connect

    Issue 16

  • Our latest edition of Connect magazine looks at cases that demonstrate how some small, day-to-day issues can escalate into big headaches for doctors and poor patient outcomes.

    We also cover tackling young doctor burnout, and advice to address administrative matters such as contracts and Medicare billings.

    Read the articles below or download the PDF with best practice insights to help you in your professional and personal lives.


    Welcome

    Back to usual practice
    Dr Beverley Rowbotham - Chair, Avant

     
    Our trusted profession  

    Avant’s Chair, Dr Beverley Rowbotham introduces Connect while highlighting how all issues, no matter big or small, can affect our
    day-to-day practice.

     

    Beating burnout
    Dr Nicola Campbell - Psychiatry registrar and Avant member, QLD

     
    Beating burnout nav image  

    Nicola is a psychiatry registrar at Toowoomba Hospital in Queensland, completing a Master of Public Health and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education. She shares her experience and views on tackling junior doctor burnout and suicide.

     

    A stitch in time ...
    Dr Patrick Clancy - Senior Medical Adviser, Advocacy, Education and Research, Avant

     
    Stitch nav image  

    Doctors strive for the best standard of care for their patients and often go the extra mile, but unwanted things happen. You face a range of medico-legal challenges and whether big or small, you may need good and timely advice to provide the best care.

    The big decisions

    Court vindicates doctor's patient management
    Hayley Daniel - Solicitor, Avant Law

     
    court vindicates nav image  

    Despite doctors’ best efforts, some patients won’t comply with the treatment advice they are given. When things go wrong for these patients, the doctor is often in the firing line, so there are important steps to take in managing these patients.

     

    Doctor faces tribunal for sharing patient’s information
    Stephen Grant - Head of Practice Civil Claims, Avant

     
    Doctor faces tribunal nav image  

    Sharing patient information with colleagues is sometimes necessary, but careful consideration is required in view of the privacy laws.

    Small but significant

    Reflection needed for a positive outcome
    Dr Peter Walker - Risk Adviser, Member Advisory Services, Avant

     
    Reflection needed nav image  

    A complaint made to a health regulator against you can be confronting and overwhelming. However, if dealt with appropriately the best outcome can be achieved, as one member experienced.

     

    Diagnosis issues drive GPs’ claims
    Melissa Yee - Research and Evaluation Manager, Avant

     
    diagnosis issues nav image  

    One in 10 GP members had a complaint or claim raised about their care in 2018-19. While the GP’s care was found to meet the standard expected in the majority of matters, facing an allegation is often stressful, even if your care is appropriate.

     

    Clinical decisions under pressure
    Dr Andrew Broad - Senior Medical Adviser, Avant

     
    clinical decisions nav image  

    It’s sometimes difficult to keep a clear head when facing urgent medical situations and pressure from family members. These situations can lead you to ignore your gut instincts and cloud clinical decisions, but how you manage them can make all the difference.

     

    What’s colouring your thinking?
    Justine Matthews - Solicitor, Professional Conduct, Avant Law

     
    Coloured thinking nav image  

    Sometimes a doctor’s desire to help a patient when empathising with their situation can backfire. Knowing when to say no and remain supportive, can often avoid medico-legal issues down the track.

    Business of medicine

    Contract conundrums
    Sonya Black - Special Counsel, Employment Law, Avant Law

     
    Contract conundrums nav image  

    Practices often find the situation tricky when an employee refuses to sign an updated employment contract. So how do you handle these situations, to get everyone on board?

     

    Common Medicare mistakes
    Dr Peter Henderson - Deputy Chief Medical Officer and General Manager, Medical Advisory Services, Avant

     
    Medicare nav image  

    Indiscretions or mistakes under Medicare can seem like a small issue, but can lead to penalties and disciplinary action, so it’s worth brushing up on the common issues.

     

    Lessons from the pandemic
    Dr Penny Browne - Chief Medical Officer, Avant

     
    Lessons nav image  

    The COVID-19 pandemic threw up a situation that neither our members nor the wider profession has experienced before.

     

    Phishing has gone viral
    Tanya Freeman - Chief Information Officer, Avant

     
    Phishing nav image  

    Wherever you work, viruses are a serious issue, and not just the sub-microscopic infectious agents. Viruses are disrupting life through infecting IT systems, with health service providers being the most common target.

    A doctor's life

    WhatsApp doc?
    Dr Vikram Balakrishnan - Colorectal and general surgeon, Co-founder, myBeepr

     
    Whatsapp nav image  

    For all the fantastic technology advances in medicine, the pager is still a mainstay tool for doctors, but this is changing. Research shows over 95% of doctors currently use private messaging apps to coordinate care, with tailored tools becoming available.

     

    Health insurance reforms insights
    Peter Aroney - Chief Executive Officer, Doctors’ Health Fund

     
    health insurance nav image  

    Two years ago, a series of reforms were introduced by the government to simplify private health insurance and address its affordability. Looking at this ‘first wave’ of a reform package that remains ongoing, there have been successes while some key objectives are yet to be met.

     

    Looking for a loan?
    James Ostroburski - Chief Executive Officer, Kooyong Group

     
    Looking for a loan nav image  

    When it comes to home loans, doctors need the right guidance to ensure being time-poor and under pressure doesn’t prove costly.

     

    Assessing the consent process
    Adam Golabek - Head of Avant Foundation, Avant

     
    Assessing consent nav image  

    Obtaining patient consent is a fundamental, yet tricky skill and some doctors don’t always get it right. Our data shows consent is a factor in one in 10 claims. The Avant Foundation was pleased to support members’ research into assessing trainees’ abilities in performing this task.

     
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IMPORTANT: Professional indemnity insurance and the Practice Medical Indemnity Policy available from Avant Mutual Group Limited ABN 58 123 154 898 (Avant Mutual) are issued by Avant Insurance Limited, ABN 82 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765 (Avant). Avant Cyber Insurance cover is available to eligible Avant Practice Medical Indemnity Policy holders up to the cessation of their policy and is provided under a Group Policy between Liberty Mutual Insurance Company ABN 61 086 083 605 (Liberty) and Avant. Private health insurance products are issued by The Doctors’ Health Fund Pty Limited, ABN 68 001 417 527, a member of the Avant Mutual Group. Avant arranges Avant Business Insurance as agent of the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850, AFSL 234 708 (Allianz) and may receive a commission on each policy arranged. Avant Travel Cover is available under a Group Policy between QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited, ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239 545 (QBE) and Avant Mutual. Avant Travel Cover is underwritten by QBE and Avant may receive a benefit for arranging cover.

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