Message from the Chief Medical Officer

Medical Services, Executive Director: Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook

In our busy clinical work, I acknowledge that some clinical support and administrative functions can be delayed.

I am writing to draw your attention to a few key items to be attended to in the short term:

1. 1. COVID-19 Vaccination Status. We are now collecting details of staff third and subsequent COVID-19 vaccination. Currently 15% of medical staff have updated their third vaccination. To update your COVID vaccination status, you will need a copy of your vaccination status (either your Immunisation history statement or COVID-19 digital certificate) from MyGov/Medicare. Please then visit the COVID 19 Vaccination Hub (this can only be accessed on QH devices), click on the + Booster Vaccination button and download your certificate.
   2. Strengthening Continuing Professional Development. The Medical Board has recently announced a range of changes with an updated Continuing Professional Development (CPD) registration standard which takes effect on 01 Jan 2023. You can read more here. Changes include:
      1. All doctors will be required to have a CPD home and participate in its CPD program. The Australian Medical Council will accredit CPD homes. For doctors that already co-ordinate and manage their CPD through a specialist medical college, this change will be managed through their current program. These changes do not apply to Interns in accredited intern training programs and PGY2s participating in a structured program that leads to a certificate of completion.
      2. All practising doctors will need a professional development plan (PDP) to give their learning purpose. PDPs can be in a variety of formats. If you don’t already have a PDP in place, please consider setting one up with your supervisor in the next few weeks. You can use a framework provided by your College or Metro North PDP framework. In the coming months we will also have a dedicated PDP site for Medical Officers. I will advertise this widely when it becomes available.
      3. Change to the type of CPD – there is a range of minimum requirements within your 50 hours of CPD per year. More information is available on the Medical Board of Australia – Strengthening Continuing Professional Development
   3. BloodSafe training. I am the Metro North executive lead for NHSQHS Standard 7 – Blood Management. I commend to you all (and more specifically for all RMO, and for SMO/VMO that use blood or blood products in their clinical practice) the requisite training BloodSafe Clinical Transfusion Practice.  If you haven’t done this before, you will need to sign up with your QH details. There are also a range of other courses on this website that may be relevant to your practice. Why not consider some of these courses as part of your PDP?

   I am in awe and grateful each and every day at the amazing work that you do. I look forward to working together on ensuring that we are focussed on and delivering effective, safe care each and every day.

   Regards,

   Liz