For all Division enquiries and further information, visit our website, or email or phone the Division’s
administrator Helene Keating on 04 550 2829.
From the former Council Chair, Dr Nina Stupples
Council Chairperson’s report for AGM divRHM, March 2013
This is possibly my last AGM as chairperson and a good time to summarise where the division is at in relation
to our strategic plan made in 2011.
We have made great progress in some areas and none at all in others.
Major achievements are:
1) Having developed a profile that is recognisable in the New Zealand health workforce and in the College;
people 'know who we are’.
2)
Having stability of staff in the College with Helene Keating being a key person who both RHM Fellows and
registrars can meet and have many of their questions answered by. Rhett Emery sticking with us through some
difficult times in the assessment and grandparenting processes and with his help (and a huge effort by Jenny
Dawson, Alan Murray, Greg van der Holst and Stuart Mologne), we are close to completing the grandparenting
process.
3)
We now have a full complement of 40 registrars in and through the training programme. The registrars
who have completed the training programme or progressed significantly through it have commented that the
programme meets their needs. Registrars who have been through summative assessment have done well and
found their New Zealand training appropriate to complete the ACRRM StAMPs exam.
4) We have support from the College in promoting RHM at an undergraduate level and PG level with PG
rural now being able to access placements in rural hospitals, RHM being discussed in GPEP seminar groups
and at the RMO roadshows.
5)
We have stayed within our allocated budget.
6) The Clinical Leaders have begun site visits to various rural hospitals applying to be accredited training
posts for RHM registrars.
7)
Relationships have gradually started to develop with ACRRM for a reciprocity agreement for Fellowships.
This still has a way to go before the reciprocity is secure. We also have made progress on developing a New
Zealand StAMPs exam (thanks again to Jenny Dawson’s efforts) by bringing ACCRM assessors and New
Zealand RHM Fellows together to work on this.
8) Development of a Pacific alliance spearheaded by Kati Blattner and Kiki Maoate and other key Cook
Islands personnel with several fellows of the College and of RHM spending time in Rarotonga over the last 18
months, as well as our first registrar completing a training run in the Cook Islands in 2012.
Outstanding issues identified as being important in 2011:
1) Ironing out funding issues for training registrars in general practice and outside DHB hospitals. This is still
a major problem and we have certainly thrown lots of time and energy at it to try to improve matters. Currently,
at best we are at status quo.
2) Funding has also not been secured for registrars wanting to do an elective run in the Cook Islands and
there is no administration funding to cover the large amount of work that has gone into the development of this
project.
These issues remain our number one 'bug bears' and any innovations that members may be able to contribute
to help resolve these issues would be greatly appreciated.
A new issue that has become problematic is that of difficult access to academic papers at Otago University in
the diploma of Rural and Provincial Hospital Medicine. The programme has developed considerably over the
last five years to an excellent standard and has become important for our Fellows as well as registrars. There is
a major bottleneck with a strict limit on places on the papers, which seems to be limited by funding issues from
HWNZ as well as the University. The division is involved in negotiations to try to expand the papers at Otago.
This issue is of high importance and potentially threatens the credibility of our training programme if it is not
resolved. The division will continue to advocate on this issue as a matter of high importance.
6 March 2013
Dr Nina Stupples
Former Chair of Council, Division of Rural Hospital Medicine
Annual General Meeting, 8 March 2013, Rotorua
REGULATIONS
Nina detailed the major suggested changes to the draft Regulations, which were distributed before the meeting:
1.
The status of the Division of RHM has changed from being a sub-faculty (of the Rural Faculty of the
College) to a Chapter with its own seat on the College’s National Advisory Council. This change is
reflected in the new regulations.
2.
Change to a new method of electing Council members; by nominations from industry and elections by
members at AGM. This approach would better represent the industry.
3.
Council Chairperson role will, under the new regulations, be filled from within and by the Council. This
will ensure full understanding of the role and current issues by the new Chairperson.
4.
Increase of total numbers of voting Council members, observing the following structure of council:
1. Five Council members will be full-time rural hospital doctors.
2.
Three Council members will be rural general practitioners with part-time rural hospital
appointments.
3.
One Council member will be the registrar representative.
The participants commented that:
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the approach of the Division’s leadership seemed pragmatic and in the best interest of the industry
the proposed new regulations seemed democratic and standard practice.
Voting result: Unanimous approval of new regulations.
CHAIRPEOPLE: RESIGNATIONS
Current Chair of Council Dr Nina Stupples stepped down.
Current Chair of Board of Studies Dr Jenny Dawson stepped down.
On behalf of the Division, James Reid handed out gifts and thanked them both for their insightful and neverfailing leadership, passion and energy over the last several years. The growth and progress of the Division is in
very large part due to the commitment of these two ladies who have put in a phenomenal amount of work.
New Chairpeople will be appointed at the first coming executive teleconference of the Council of DRHM (9 April
2013) and will be advised immediately after.
CHAIRPEOPLE: NEW APPOINTMENTS
New Chair of Council: Dr Steve Main, Hokianga
New Chair of Board of Studies: Dr James Reid, Queenstown
Congratulations and welcome to new Fellows of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine
The Rural Hospital Medicine family continues to grow. The following 13 doctors are new Fellows of the Division
of Rural Hospital Medicine (FDRHMNZ):
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Dr Jill Gibson
Dr John Simpson
Dr Joseph Scott-Jones
Dr Hameed Al-Ghanim
Dr Mark Lankshear
Dr Sarah Clarke
Dr Paul Trotman
Dr Mohemmed Kadry
Dr Peter Burgoyne
Dr Elizabeth Humm
Dr Phillip Barbour
Dr Keith Buswell
Dr Gregory Price
DRHM Registrar Training Programme 2014
Applications are open!
The next intake for the four-year RHM training programme starts in December 2013.
Places on this programme are limited, so be sure to apply early.
Applications close on 28 June 2013.
For an application form and more information, go to: www.rnzcgp.org.nz/training-and-recertification/
You are also welcome to contact administrator Helene on helene.keating@rnzcgp.org.nz or our two clinical
leaders, Dr Pragati Gautama: pragspall@world-net.co.nz and Dr Patrick McHugh: PatrickM@tdh.org.nz
DRHMNZ/Cook Islands Initiative 2012 update, April 2013
General Update by Dr Kati Blattner
The HSV frontline services project that started in March 2012 continues and is going well: Fellows of RHM and
the College are spending time in the Cooks for four or more weeks to work alongside local clinicians. There are
only one or two spaces left to fill before the end of the current funding arrangement in March 2014. Those gaps
are on Rarotonga. Travel and basic expenses are covered. If you are interested in one of these spots or in
further information, contact Helene. We are looking to fill a space on the project for September/October 2013,
preferably for a Fellow of RHM and/or the College, but would also consider someone who is close to achieving
Fellowship.It would be based in Rarotonga for four weeks minimum. Your costs would be covered, but there is
no salary. If you want more information or if you are interested and available, we would love to hear from you.
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At the recent Division AGM there was strong support for a working group made up of doctors who
have been to the Cooks on the project with continued interest and who are able commit some time.
We are calling this the DRHMNZ-Cooks working group and we are/will be working on various aspects
of the project. If you have not heard from me and want to be part of this, contact the Division
administrator Helene Keating (helene.keating@rnzcgp.org.nz).
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RHM registrar post: this will be an option for our senior registrars as a three to four–month elective
run; however, no funding is available currently. Draft recommendations for the run are being finalised
by the working group and will then pass to the BOS to finalise. The run is suitable for senior RHM
registrars (PGY5+) who have completed their rural GP component. For a registrar who is willing and
able to take this up, it is likely we will be able to find solutions for covering expenses. However, overall
funding will take longer to sort out, so in the meantime this remains a non-salaried position. If you
would like further information, contact Helene.
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Formalising the relationship between the College and the Cooks Ministry of Health: The College Board
has approved undertaking a work programme with the Cooks Ministry of Health to allow discussions to
identify how to further strengthen the relationship between the two organisations. This will be further
progressed at the Cooks Annual Health Conference in July 2013.
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The Cooks Annual Health Conference runs in Rarotonga from 10 to 12 July and Aitutaki from 15 to 16
July 2013; it would be great to see you there. Contact Helene if you need more information.
Thank you again to all of you who have spent time on the project – whether it has been filling a gap on the
roster or working towards some of the specific goals of the project; it has been great to see the various
contributions over the past year and see both sides slowly starting to move forward together.
Kati Blattner, Team Leader, Cooks project: kati.blattner@hokiangahealth.org.nz
University of Otago Diploma of Rural and Provincial Hospital Medicine
Papers being offered in 2014:
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GENX 724 – The Context of Rural Hospital Medicine – 15 points – First Semester
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GENX 725 – Communication in Rural Hospital Medicine – 15 points – First Semester
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GENX 726 – Obstetrics and Paediatrics in Rural Hospitals – 15 points – Second Semester
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GENX 727 – Surgical Specialities in Rural Hospitals – 15 points – Second Semester
Anyone interested in doing any of the papers above should contact the administrator for the programme (Bron
Hunt at bron.hunt@otago.ac.nz) as soon as possible, as there is pressure on places in some
papers. Decisions on placements will be made by November. Please also contact Bron if you have any queries
about next year’s papers.
Contact person:
Bron Hunt
Rural Postgraduate Administrator Department of General Practice and Rural Health
Dunedin School of Medicine
University of Otago
Phone: (03) 440 4345
Mobile: 021 263 2635
rural.postgrad@otago.ac.nz
CME – Conferences, courses and seminars
World Summit – Rural Generalist Medicine 2013
Cairns, Australia 30–31 October 2013
Be part of the discussions that explore and define the future of rural generalist medicine.
Key speakers and workshop facilitators will lead the deliberations towards actionable outcomes.
Register your interest in attending at: www.ruralgeneralismsummit.com
Advanced Paediatric Life Support – Courses 2013
11-13 July - Dunedin
22-24 August - Wellington
4-6 September - Auckland
23-25 October - Hamilton
27-29 November - Auckland
To sign up for a course please contact:
Jo Jones
NZ Executive Officer
APLS NZ
Phone: (07) 312 9574
E-mail: jo@apls.org.nz
Website: www.apls.org.nz
Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)
ALSO has been running in New Zealand for more than 10 years and is based on international ALSO teaching.
It covers emergency care aspects of obstetrics from first trimester to medical and birth emergencies to neonatal
resuscitation. The course is available twice per year. It has been endorsed by the College for 16 hours of
CME/MOPS for GPs.
For more information please see here or contact:
Suzanne Page, Director
Tel/fax: (09) 459 6665
Email: enquiries@also.co.nz
Website: www.also.co.nz
University of Otago: Rural Hospital Medicine Update 6–8 September 2013
This weekend is an opportunity for doctors who have completed the Diploma, or are fellows of the Division of
Rural Hospital Medicine or senior medical staff in rural hospitals, to attend a refresher workshop.
It will be similar to the workshop last year in the Cook Islands, but with different topics. It includes a range of
sessions taken from papers taught in the Postgraduate Diploma in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice;
approximately 15 hours of continuing medical education.
The workshop will be limited to 20 people.
Where: Wellington School of Medicine
When:
12pm Friday 6 September until 1pm Sunday 8 September 2013
Cost:
$1800 + GST (includes lunches and dinners)
To register your interest or for further information, email Michelle Muir at michelle@uie.co.nz.
Ultrasound Workshop – with Wendy Finnie and Jill Muirhead
This workshop is a review of basic ultrasound topics for people who have completed formal training in Clinicianperformed Ultrasound.
Where: Wellington School of Medicine Building, Wellington
When:
10am-5pm Saturday 29June and 9am-3pm Sunday 30 June 2013
Cost:
$1800 + GST per person
For more details and how to register, please click here.
Vacancies for RHM registrars
Thames Hospital
Thames Hospital wants to plan for 2014 and welcomes expressions of interest from registrars for a great rural
hospital run. A rural hospital registrar can expect to enjoy inpatient work, rural emergency medicine and is likely
to have the opportunity to gain some ETT, minor surgery and anaesthetic experience.
CONTACT: Dr Jenny Dawson
Email: Jennifer.Dawson@waikatodhb.health.nz
Website: www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/page/pageid/2145838879/Thames_Hospital_and_Family_Health_Team
Taupo Hospital
Rural Hospital Medicine Specialist, Permanent, full-time
Fantastic work–life balance in idyllic setting
Taupo Hospital, as part of Lakes District Health Board, offers an exciting variety of work and will be newly
renovated in 2013.
The Lakes district is well known for outdoor recreational options, including tramping, cycling and mountain
biking, as well as lake and river water sports, such as trout fishing, boating and kayaking. Taupo is less than
one hour’s drive from the ski fields and two hours from a coast that offers superb surf and diving.
All this with a lower cost of living, easy commute to work and top schooling. What more could you ask for?
What are we looking for?
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Rural Hospital Medicine specialist, or
Someone on the pathway for vocational registration with the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine
What is in it for you?
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Competitive salary coupled with lower cost of living
Great work–life balance
Work within a great hospital team with support from Rotorua Hospital
CONTACT: Michelle Easton, Medical Staff Recruiter, (07) 343 8711
Email: michelle.easton@lakesdhb.govt.nz
Websites: www.greatlaketaupo.com/ and www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/
COMPLETING YOUR FELLOWSHIP OF RURAL HOSPITAL MEDICINE?
Can we help you locate a position in a rural location?
Our networks are extensive and being rurally based ourselves, we have excellent relationship contacts
throughout New Zealand.
Please advise details of your needs to info@triagelocums.com or phone and discuss with Cherie on (03) 445
1104.
If you wish to advertise runs for Rural Hospital Medicine registrars, please contact Division
administrator Helene Keating on helene.keating@rnzcgp.org.nz
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Level 3 ► 88 The Terrace ► Wellington 6011
PO Box 10440 ► Wellington 6143
www.rnzcgp.org.nz
DDI: +64 4 550 2862 ► TEL: +64 4 496 5999 ► FAX: +64 4 496 5997