The ISML will continue to provide continuing medical education to GPs. The ISML believes there are opportunities for a greater role for Medicare Locals in leading General Practice training and ongoing education.

Training for practice staff has been provided since October 1999.

With the creation of the Community Consultative Committee in 1999, consumer education has become an important activity.

ISML Education Program Goals

• To provide ongoing planned education opportunities for GPs
• To provide ongoing planned education opportunities for GPs’ practice staff
• To provide relevant and topical information for the community
• To facilitate an integrated education program involving medical students, GP Registrars and GP members

ISML GP Education Program for 2012 - Link to Calendar of Events     

Southern Sector Meetings

This area covers from Lake South, south to Gerroa and includes Albion Park and Oak Flats. Dr David Grant, the Southern Sector Coordinator, coordinates a monthly meeting for GPs at the Sebel Harbourside Kiama, with topics based on GPs’ requests from the Southern Sector Survey. Link to Calendar of Events

Grand Rounds     

GPs will be able to attain Category 1 points for participating in 6 hours of education delivered at Grand Rounds.  Over a 12 month period 10 case presentation sessions will be conducted in the Central Sector and 8 in the Southern Sector, from which GPs will choose 6 sessions to count towards points.

Australian Primary Care Collaboratives Program 

The Australian Primary Care Collaboratives is a national quality improvement program providing a tried and tested approach to achieving successful change.  The program encourages and supports general practice teams to deliver rapid, measurable, systematic and sustainable improvements in patient care and business efficiency.   The program aims for improvements in 3 areas:  Diabetes, CHD and Access and Care Redesign.

The methodology is user-friendly and simple for practices to apply.   It involves a step-by-step method for implementing change in small manageable cycles (Plan-Do-Study-Act) that allow practices to see benefits in a short period of time.   Data is collected on diabetes and CHD indicators and on practice capacity and demand, for quality improvement purposes.  Practices are provided with reports which help them identify areas where change is needed and measure the improvements made.

Five Illawarra practice participated in an 18 month 'State Wave' which ended on 31 December 2009. Support for practices to undertake Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and to collect and analyse their practice data will continue to be provided by the Practice Support Team under the PEN Clinical Audit Tool initiative.

The Organisation of Educational Events is the responsibility of the Primary Care Support Team. If you have any education inquires please contact ISML on 4220 7600.