The first day of Australia's premier annual conference GP25 features a host of leaders and experts discussing how best to secure the future of general practice care.
Speakers at the conference today include the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing The Hon Mark Butler MP, and Australia's Chief Medical Officer and former Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President Professor Michael Kidd. Day one will feature the College's President Dr Michael Wright taking a close look at the future of general practice care, and high-profile ABC journalist Leigh Sales examining how people manage life's uncertainties.
Dr Wright said that GP25 was an opportunity to reflect and share insights on the future of general practice care.
"We must plan for the future. Our high quality of patient care must be maintained, and we need to ensure that new technology supports access to care rather than fragmenting it." he said.
"Today, I'll be delivering a keynote address on the future of general practice and primary care. I'll be highlighting the increasingly complex care we are managing in the community and outlining or strategy for patients across the nation to access the care they need, when they need it, in their local community
"One of Australia's most respected and well-recognised journalists Leigh Sales will also offer her insights on how people deal with the uncertainties of life, and how this impacts others helping them to pick up the pieces. Given recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis, I can't think of a more important time to take a careful look at these matters.
"The day will conclude with a tribute to a giant of Australian general practice care – Emeritus Professor John Murtagh. As I said when I learnt of his passing, Professor Murtagh leaves a lasting legacy of transforming general practice care and family medicine in Australia, and across the world. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy never forgotten."
The RACGP President said today's conference will showcase new technologies and innovations that are transforming general practice.
"We must explore, and carefully execute, any and all new opportunities to improve patient care," he said.
"The first day of the conference will zero in on emerging technologies, including AI innovations. Dr Sean Stevens is a former RACGP Western Australia Chair and now Chair of the RACGP Digital Health and Innovation Special Interest Group. He's doing a tremendous job educating GPs and practice teams on digital health, AI, and practice innovation.
"There will also be a presentation on bridging the gap between research and impact so that new innovations can have a practical, positive effect on patient care. One session will examine 'rapid fire research and innovation' and another on AI scribes, which are becoming an increasingly prominent component of GP consults."
Day one of GP25 also focusses on health inequities and how to best address barriers holding many patients back from receiving the care they need.
"GPs are always keenly focussed on ensuring that all patients can access high-quality care," Dr Wright said.
"There are so many promising events at GP25 today, and it highlights why our annual conference is so important. It enables experts from all fields of general practice medicine to offer their insights and for those attending to share their own experiences. Together, we can improve general practice care."
Sessions today include:
Queensland Deputy Chair Dr Aileen Traves and rural and remote GP and author Dr Sonia Henry looking at all angles of health equity and improving health literacy in rural and remote areas
Dr Claire Mohr and Dr Amelia Stephens discussing how to ensure abortion care is accessible for all women and girls, and this includes equipping GPs so that we can provide the highest standard of reproductive healthcare. Abortion care is healthcare, and we must ensure it's available for all patients, no matter their postcode
several respected panellists, including the College's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair, Dr Karen Nicholls, will talk about a topic that unfortunately doesn't receive enough attention – the impact of climate change on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
~
