GP Leader Online - Issue 11

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Welcome to the start of a new and exciting 2012 education year – and particularly to our new 2012 cohort Registrars. We appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that all our Registrars, Supervisors and Practices bring to AOGP.

Many Registrars are starting new training terms, in new locations and establishing new relationships. The AOGP team is enjoying getting to know the new Registrars and other new people, and keen to facilitate and assist their transitions and new beginnings. I am confident that the vital contributions of Supervisors, Practice staff and patient communities within the AOGP network - through induction, orientations, conversations and discussions - are highly valued in these new beginnings.

As we start this year, there are 151 Registrars in active training, in 75 training locations across Adelaide and rural South Australia. Great work is occurring through the placement process, seminars and focused out-of-practice training at AOGP to best prepare Registrars to start their new training terms and work.

We continue to challenge ourselves and our training collaborators to ensure that the learning and training at AOGP remains evidence-based, well supported, needs-focused, engaging and responsive.

In 2012, AOGP continues to offer further education and training to prevocational interns and residents through the PGPPP program and to support IMG doctors through the Fellowship Exam Preparation Program. 

An exciting new development beginning in 2012 is implementing undergraduate student clinical placements in nursing, psychology and medicine, to learn generic clinical competencies in a General Practice environment.

The AOGP team looks forward to a full and exciting educational year - working closely with you - to develop competent and confident health professionals.


- Lawrie McArthur
AOGP Medical Director

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New faces at AOGP in 2012 include: (Back) Massimo Cannavo & Jenna Post.
(Front) Minty Dunstone, Simone Frossinakis & Kristian Burchett. (Absent: Alex Smart)


Farewells

AOGP’s inaugural CEO and beloved leader, Linda Black has moved on to new adventures with co-conspirator, AOGP alumnus and Strategic Operations Manager, Dr Sarah Meertens. We wish them both the best in their new practice together and look forward to seeing it germinate, grow and flourish.

After 7 years with AOGP, Ahna Holland has moved - with her growing family - to her husband’s homeland of Canada. We wish her every happiness and look forward to meeting her new bub, due in May, via Skype!

Vanessa Ryan and her family moved to lovely Normanville last year and the impact of extended commuting has meant that after nearly 4 years, Vanessa has also moved on from AOGP. We wish her the best of luck in her new position, getting back to her clinical roots!


Strategic Operations

Two faces familiar to many at AOGP are making up the new-look Strategic Operations Team for 2012.

Long time Supervisor and Rural Medical Education Coordinator, Dr Tim Kelly started with us on 30th January 2012 as the new Strategic Operations Manager (replacing Dr Sarah Meertens). Tim will be working in a full time capacity and will be responsible for all of Sarah's portfolios as well as some of Linda’s strategic portfolios, the largest being the HWA-funded AOGP Health Student Clinical Training Program.

Michelle Pitot is the new Project Officer - Strategic Operations (replacing Vanessa Ryan). Michelle will support Tim in his role with assistance from the Education and Program Support teams when required.


Education Team

Kristian Burchett is the Acting Education Officer - Quality Assurance and Assessment Support, replacing Annabel, while she acts in Caroline Cullen’s role as Education Team Coordinator - Community based training (see below).

Simone Frossinakis takes over from Michelle Pitot (who has moved to Strategic Operations) as the Education Officer - Exam Preparation and Management Support. 

Alexandra Smart takes on the role as Education Team Coordinator - Hospital and Enhanced Training replacing Ahna Holland. 

While not officially ‘new’ faces at AOGP, there are also two positions in the Education Team which have changed people for a short time.

Chloe Thomas is acting in Sally McIntosh’s role of Education Officer - Registrar Training Delivery while Sally spends quality time with her new bub, Jemima.

Annabel Blain is keeping Caroline Cullen's desk busy, acting in the role of Education Team Coordinator - Community-based Training, while Caroline is enjoying her maternity leave in Ireland with little Oisin.


Program Support

Massimo Cannavo has ably taken on the role of IT Support Officer from Sharie Kamali. Sharie has accepted a Graduate position with the State Government and we wish her all the best.

Araminta (Minty) Dunstone also joined Program Support in January as the new Finance Officer. Araminta's role will be to assist Carolyn Cheah with AOGP finances, providing Carolyn the opportunity to concentrate on AOGP business and governance portfolios. Araminta will also take over Accounts Payable from Jessica Yee who will now have the opportunity to concentrate on the Human Resources and Event Management portfolios.

Jenna Post is the new face and voice of AOGP as she takes on the Administration Assistant/Receptionist position. 

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It is nearly time for another AOGP Education Weekend and the planning is well and truly underway.
Please make a note in your diaries and block out 25, 26 and 27 May to ensure you don't miss this fun and educational event for Registrars and Supervisors.

This weekend has been themed 'Dancing around disease and disaster' and several interesting and informative speakers have been secured.

The Education Weekend website is now up, www.adelaidetooutback.com.au/educationweekend2012 so you can keep up-to-date with the latest information and soon, register your attendance.

For more information, please contact either Bel Marwe (bel.marwe@adelaide.edu.au) or Roberta Morris (roberta.morris@adelaide.edu.au)


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On Saturday 21 January AOGP ran their annual orientation day for new cohort Registrars joining us to begin their training in 2012.

The theme for the orientation was travelling through training and after all Registrars had picked up their suitcase of travel information and their passports, the day kicked off with a guided tour (by Captain Dr Lawrie McArthur) through AOGP's philosophy, structure, region, training requirements and the AOGP Training Blueprint.

The expectations and obligations of training were brainstormed by the group and articulated by 'the Captain'. These have been written up and will be emailed out to all new cohort Registrars.

The main portion of the day saw Registrars rotating through a number of interactive stations, which represented different elements of training at AOGP. This gave the Registrars an opportunity to sample these different elements, meet a number of key people who will assist them through their training, ask questions and have a lot of fun along the way.

A regional quiz was an added component this year based on last year's feedback and the evaluation told us that 95% of Registrars were now confident that they understood the AOGP region.

We are very pleased to report that 100% of Registrars felt a sense of excitement about beginning their training at AOGP, and we feel a sense of excitement about getting to know you all better throughout your training journey with us.

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After the Orientation for the 2012 Cohort, 12 Registrars who were about to move to their first rural community placement, attended a Rural Orientation Workshop. The workshop was run by Rural-based Medical Education Coordinator Dr Ben Abbot, AOGP Registrar Dr Liz Kennedy and Education Team Coordinator Annabel Blain.

Registrars at this session were going to various training posts across our region, including Wudinna, Clare, Port Lincoln, Jamestown and Ardrossan. 

Before attending the workshop, participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire based on their concerns about working in a rural area and these issues were discussed with the group. Participants were looking forward to being a part of a supportive rural community and the variety of work as part of their rural placement. We discussed other opportunities and benefits to their rural placement as well as upcoming events the Rural Registrars will attend as part of their Out-of-Practice training. 

AOGP Registrars have wonderful opportunities during their training to explore the depth and breadth of General Practice in many different locations. We encourage Registrars, as part of their service requirement, to challenge their skills and undertake a placement in a rural post, allowing for enriched educational experiences in a variety of aspects, including:

  • managing inpatients, 
  • the diversity of on-call emergencies, 
  • participating in wider hospital work and activities, 
  • developing specialised skill sets, and 
  • gaining procedural competencies as desired.
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Monday 6 February 2012 saw 20 University of Adelaide 2nd year Bachelor of Nursing students attend the inaugural rural placement orientation as part of the new AOGP Health Student Clinical Training Program.

The orientation was designed to introduce the students to training in the General Practice environment, highlighting the key issues of professionalism and communication, as well as an orientation to health care in the rural primary care setting, where they will be placed for the next three weeks.

Based on the evaluation conducted with the students, the orientation was very successful in helping the students understand rural primary care. Many students commented on their excitement in seeing what the rural setting has to offer, thanks to the efforts of the orientation facilitators, Cathy Pearson (Primary Nurse Supervisor, Cummins) Dr Tim Kelly (Strategic Operations Manager) and Michelle Pitot (Strategic Operations Officer).  

In the coming weeks medical and psychology students will also commence placements with AOGP Practices as part of this exciting new program.


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In 2011, AOGP distributed iPads to all new cohort Registrars to pilot whether iPads could enhance Out-of-Practice education. The evaluation revealed that 83% of responding Registrars reported that it somewhat to greatly added value, with an average of 3.97 overall, (1= not at all and 5= greatly).  The main area Registrars reported where the iPad added value was as a tool to access resources quickly and efficiently during the teaching session. 93% of Registrars rated the use of the iPad for case based scenarios and resource searching as useful to very useful and 90% reported it useful to very useful for the evaluation of the teaching session. 86% of Registrars reported it was useful to access handouts, the limitation being an inability to write on handouts.

Given these results, it was decided that in 2012 we would continue to use iPads to enhance our Out-of-Practice education. Based on the feedback from the 2011 pilot, AOGP purchased styluses to accompany the iPads and trained new cohort Registrars in how to take notes on the iPad and how to annotate presentations and handouts.

Based on the 2011 evaluation, 87% of the Registrars recommended the use of iPads by future Registrars during In-Practice or for self-directed learning. However, the consensus was that there needed to be more guidance and support from AOGP about how they could best be used In-Practice:

 “It could be really helpful, but I’m unsure about good apps and not great with technology.”

Therefore, in 2012 we will extend our pilot to determine whether iPads can also enhance In-Practice and self-directed learning.

With 2012 already upon us, iPads have now been distributed to all new cohort Registrars at their orientation, and basic iPad training has occurred. Further training will be integrated throughout the Out-of-Practice education. AOGP will be speaking with Supervisors at the Supervisor workshop in March regarding the pilot project and the potential use of iPads to enhance In-Practice training.


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AOGP's Michelle Pitot gladly gives up $5 to eat birthday cake during No-junk-vember!

AOGP Board and staff well and truly got behind a special cause in late 2011.

As many of you know, the GPET Chief Operating Officer, Rodger Coote died a sudden and untimely death, leaving behind his wife and three young sons. The members of the GPET Board resolved to establish an education trust for the benefit of Rodger’s wife Ingrid and their three children, Nicholas, Thomas and William.

AOGP set about various fundraising activities including  'No-junk-vember' to raise funds to contribute to the education trust.  The funds raised from these events, as well as staff and Board contributions, came to the grand total of $4,635.

This money has gone directly to the 'Coote Children Education Fund' and will help ease the family's mind for the future.

Well done everyone!


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Stay updated:

Previous Newsletters

Upcoming Events:

AOGP Education events can be found in the AOGP Education Calendar (PDF).

AOGP Education Weekend
25-27 May 2012