Software evolving
ASX listed health software company Medtech Global Ltd (ASX: MDG), big in NZ, claimed a 40-practice footprint in WA five or so years ago, having bought out two software packages developed in WA, Rx and Medical Windows. Medtech is following the IT trend with the development of population health analysis tools, a tele-health system, a patient held medical record, and a clinical audit tool to match its standard practice management and patient record software Medtech32. The company has gone relatively quiet since its rather aggressive launch across the Tasman a few years back, and Medical Forum last caught up with them in May last year when they were promoting their clinical audit tool at the RACS conference. CEO Vino Ramayah has just increased his personal shareholding in MDG.
Training young ’uns
The pressure is on WA Health to meet its commitment to find internships for a growing number of WA medical graduates. A record 280 graduates from WA medical schools will be offered internships in WA’s public hospitals next year, a 20% increase since 2009. Health Minister Dr Kim Hames says an extra id=”mce_marker”2.5m was allocated in 2011-12 for increased training and supervision, simulated learning, and medical education infrastructure at SCGH, RPH, and Fremantle Hospital, as well as WA Country Health Services, community clinics and private hospitals. Around 100 interns based at Charlies will be rotated to Joondalup Health Campus, Swan Districts, and Osborne Park Hospitals. Another 100 at RPH will get placements at Bentley Hospital and Shenton Park Campus. The 80 interns at Freo will rotate to Armadale-Kelmscott Hospital, Rockingham General Hospital, Peel Health Campus, and Kaleeya Hospital. Interestingly, all interns will rotate through country health services, community clinics, and private hospitals.
Simulation success
The new ECU Health Simulation Centre has delivered its first course with the help of people from St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and educators from the Australian College of Emergency Medicine. 12 ED consultant physicians from the major public hospitals in Perth took part, under contract arrangements with WA Health. ECU is an approved provider of the Advanced and Complex Medical Emergencies (ACME) Course for the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine – to develop clinical skills and team-based care for cardiovascular, airway, respiratory and complex emergencies. ECU is now looking to build a sustainable instructor workforce in WA.
Practice staff upskilling
Assisting practices is on a few people’s minds … Rural Health West (RHW) has developed a program to assist rural and remote practices, while the WA GP Network, through Primary Care Education Solutions (PCES), is focusing on accredited and nationally recognised qualifications for practice managers. Running a remote practice is challenging and by providing updates on the MBS, e-health initiatives, and related practice support, RHW hopes benefits will flow to health care in remote communities. Medical Forum’s February 2011 edition e-poll revealed that 45% of WA’s practice managers have no formal qualifications. The nationally-accredited Diploma of Practice Management course offered by PCES, with flexible delivery options, is facilitated by experts with local industry knowledge, and is one way to fill the formal qualifications gap.