This issue - AMA Tasmania

Dean's Desk
TA s M A N i A N s C h O O L O F M e D i C i N e
M e s s A G e f r o m T h e D e A N
Training and recruitment in the
Tasmanian health service of the future
are key issues to be addressed by the
DHHS Clinical Services Plan and Primary
Health Services Plan.
With the Tasmanian health system again under
review, the Faculty of Health Science has been
involved in ongoing discussion with State
government colleagues about the future of the
State’s health services.
The Faculty has submitted responses to both
the Clinical Services Plan Issues Paper and
the Primary Health Strategy Discussion Paper,
stressing the importance of teaching and
research, together with health service delivery,
as pillars of a public health service committed
to safety and quality.
When finalised the Clinical Services Plan and
Primary Health Services Plan will together
provide strategic direction for the future
development of Tasmanian public hospitals
and the interfaces between them and primary
health care providers.
As the fastest growing Faculty in Tasmania’s
only university, the Faculty of Health Science is
committed to providing clinical education and
training, and health research opportunities, in
all three regions of the State and to meeting
health workforce needs.
For this to be done well, there must be an
appropriate mix of services and a stable health
workforce at the major public hospitals, and
in the community, to support the Faculty’s
Statewide programs.
The three Clinical Schools, rural hospitals and
centres, and other agencies such as aged care
TA S T a l k A P R I L 2 0 0 7
facilities, general practices and community
organisations, must continue to play a vital
role in providing education and training for the
Faculty’s health professional students.
The importance to Tasmania of strong links
between training and recruitment cannot be
underestimated, and the Faculty looks forward
to working with the DHHS, by way of the
Partners in Health agreement, to progress
long-term plans to ensure the sustainability
of the health system, including the medical
workforce.
Accreditation Visit
An AMC accreditation assessment team will
visit the TSoM for three days in October
(Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th).
The team will be chaired by Prof. John Nacey,
Dean of the Wellington School of Medicine and
Health Sciences at the University of Otago.
Prof. Nacey chaired the assessment team
which visited the TSoM in 2005, following
which the School was granted accreditation
for its courses until 31 December 2011.
The 2007 team will be small and will focus on
the implementation of Years 1 and 2 of the
five year course and detailed plans for Year 3.
The team will also review Years 4 and 5, which
are being evolved from Years 5 and 6 of the six
year course.
A rehearsal visit, again undertaken by Prof. Ian
Simpson, former Chair of the Medical School
Accreditation Committee, assisted by Prof.
Peter Stanton of the TSoM, will take place for
three days in August (Wednesday 1st to Friday
3rd).
PROFESSOR ALLAN CARMICHAEL
Dean of the Faculty of Health Science and
Head of the Tasmanian School of Medicine
As part of the accreditation process, the
TSoM reports annually to MedSAC and the
2007 report will initially be submitted to the
assessment team for consideration in early
August.
TaSMAC
During an accreditation visit, the assessment
team meets with key School committees, in
particular the Tasmanian School of Medicine
Advisory Committee (TaSMAC).
TaSMAC was established in 2005 to provide a
forum through which representatives of major
stakeholders could provide support, assistance
and advice to the Head of School on matters
affecting its activities.
Members receive briefings from the Head of
School and provide feedback to him from their
organisations which include the Department of
Health and Human Services, the University, the
Medical Council of Tasmania, AMA Tasmania
and the Tasmanian branches of medical colleges
and associations.
Since 2002, as recommended by the AMC,
TaSMAC has been chaired by the Secretary
of the DHHS.
This role was ably filled by Mr John Ramsay
for nearly four years and more recently by
Dr Martyn Forrest who moved on from the
DHHS at the end of March.
On behalf of the TSoM, I thank Dr Forrest for
the energy and enthusiasm he brought to the
role and wish him well in his new position as
leader of a challenging overseas education
project.