Annual Report 2011 - ACEM

FACULTY REPORTS
Australian Capital
Territory
This year has been another interesting
and challenging year for the ACT
Faculty. One of the highlights was
hosting the Annual Scientifi c Meeting
in November 2010 at the National
Convention Centre. The conference
was well attended, and we were both
informed and entertained by our
keynote speakers, Art Kellerman and
Jonathon Benger. Special thanks go to
Lisa Bell as the Convenor, but many
Faculty members contributed to the
success of the meeting.
Activity continues to increase at both
emergency departments. We are also
starting to respond to the challenges
posed by the National Emergency
Access Target. At TCH, there have
been a number of changes. Mike Hall
has taken over as DEM, with Nick
Taylor as DEMT. We have seen the
opening of the Surgical Assessment
and Planning Unit, and the fi rst
anniversary of the Walk-in Centre,
with the expected controversy over
the effectiveness of both units.
At Calvary, Garry Wilkes has been
appointed as DEM. The future of
Calvary continuing to run a public ED
now seems settled, with a new ICU/
CCU opened this year.
Finally, I would like to thank all Faculty
members for their efforts, both
clinically and for the College during
the year.
Andrew Singer, Councillor and
Faculty Chair
New South Wales
Garling recommendations
There has been continued
activity in relation to the Garling
Recommendations. The NSW
Department of Health states that it
has met the timelines of approximately
60% of the recommendations,
although this has not included any of
the recommendations that will have
signifi cant impact. The major issue for
EDs has been reluctance of wards to
accept patients with vital signs outside
the ‘normal’ range and some
pressure is being placed to amend
the criteria for clinical review prior
to ward transfer.
Emergency Care Institute
Also related to the Garling report is
the establishment of the Emergency
Care Institute to bring emergency
medicine in line with other clinical
specialty groups in NSW. The ECI
will have a role in research as well
as quality and safety, particularly as it
pertains to models of care and process
improvement. Sally McCarthy has been
appointed to the half-time director
position and commenced the role
earlier this year. There will also be a full
time ECI manager and some funding
of project offi cers. This is an important
appointment and there will be a need
for the ECI director to work together
with the NSW Faculty and the
Ministerial Taskforce for Emergency
Care. Sally has been active in visiting
a large number of sites, including
rural hospitals, and meeting with key
stakeholder groups. A current survey
has been widely disseminated to
gauge the key concerns of emergency
clinicians in NSW.
The Committee of NSW Faculty
Chairs (ACEM and other colleges)
The Faculty Chairs remain keen to
provide clinical feedback and input
into the NSW implementation plan for
the National Health Reform agenda,
including the implementation of the
‘four hour rule’.
ACEM ASM November 2011
in Sydney
The organising committee, under the
leadership of Sue Hertzberg, has put
together the scientifi c program and
is working hard to fi nalise all other
details. Abstracts have closed and have
been ranked and allocated to oral or
poster sessions.
NSW Audit offi ce
The NSW Faculty was approached
by the NSW Audit Offi ce as a key
stakeholder in relation to an audit of
the planning of staff specialist and VMO
positions across the public health
sector in NSW. A detailed response
was provided which included compiling
data on the FACEM: population ratio
for Australian states and territories
over time.
Alcohol related violence
The NSW Faculty has been
approached and is continuing to liaise
with the Royal Australasian College
of Surgeons in NSW in relation to
promotion of responsible use of
alcohol and of the impact of alcohol
related violence.
NSW Election
The Liberal party won the State
election in a landslide victory in March
2011, defeating the Labor party which
had been in government for 16 years.
There have been a number of
implications of this in the short term:
the appointment of a new Director
General of Health, Dr Mary Foley;
a series of recently concluded audits
into multiple aspects of health, to
direct future policy; an external review
conducted into the implementation
and utility of FirstNet, the Cerner ED
module being rolled out state-wide by
the Dept of Health; and development
of a public website indicating ED
waiting times, which went live in
the fi rst week of June 2011.
Another key election promise was
a review of the increased intern
numbers and provision of adequate
supervisors/supervisory time. We are
yet to see this being progressed.
The fi nancial position of the state
remains dire and the poor economic
situation is likely to retard progress
in many key areas, including health,
even if the political will to make
changes is present.
Richard Paoloni, Chair
ACEM Annual Report 2011
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