practice visits

Practice Visits Project

Overview

In 2005 /06 RANZCOG is running a pilot of practice visits in regional New South Wales and selected Victorian sites. Practice visits are designed to provide Fellows with a review of many aspects of their practice by two peers in a collegial and supportive manner. The process also includes interviews with the multidisciplinary team the Fellow works with and a review of the clinical work load, case mix and record keeping.

Practice visits aim to identify the strengths and assess relative risks within a practice which if modified may lead to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes as well as a reduction in medico legal issues for the Fellow concerned. The project provides an excellent opportunity for rural and regional fellows to gain collegiate support and feedback from colleagues who understand the context and challenges of working in regional practice.

Who's Involved?

Collaborators

The project is managed by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

A Steering Group has been set up to oversee the project, chaired by Dr Rupert Sherwood and involving Dr Diane Mohen (Provincial Fellows), Dr Ian Stewart (Project Champion), Dr Mark Insull (NZ Practice Visits), Mrs Valerie Jenkins (RANZCOG) and Dr Gabby Fennessy (RANZCOG).

What's Involved in the Process?

What is involved

Before the visit takes place each Fellow will complete:

• A memorandum of understanding in relation to the visit
• A practice profile questionnaire
• Part one of the RANZCOG patient satisfaction questionnaire
• A surgical audit of the last three months' worth of procedures
• A self assessment survey

During the visit each Fellow will:

• Be interviewed by two Fellows
• Be observed carrying out one major and one minor procedure in theatre
• Receive feedback about the visit and be given initial findings.

The reviewers will also talk to a number of key people who work closely with the visited obstetrician and gynaecologist, about the context of care provided in the organisation and systems issues.

After the visit:

• The results of the visit will be discussed confidentially by the Practice Visits Sub-Committee
• The visited Fellow will be provided with a report outlining positive aspects of his/her practice and areas of vulnerability with suggestions on practice improvement.

The Benefits

Benefits of participation

• Gain valuable feedback on how your practice is progressing
• Identify areas of vulnerability and reduce risk
• Receive a confidential report on your performance
• See how other practices operate (if you become a visitor)
• Find out where your surgery fits against a benchmark of peers
• Gain training and development in how to conduct peer review
• Contribute to the first Australian pilot of this initiative
• Have input into future direction of how practice visits happen.

Participating in the Project

Visitor or visited

The pilot project provides an opportunity for Fellows to be involved in an innovative project that will be rolled out to all Fellows in 2006. The College is seeking:

• motivated individuals to become practice visitors who will become involved in reviewing the practice of peers and providing feedback on areas of vulnerability and gain insight into how others practice
• individuals who are interested in receiving a practice visit.

Whether you would like to become a practice visitor or receive a visit, this pilot project offers both of these opportunities free of charge.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Points

Earning CPD points

You can earn CPD points by participating in practice visits.

Download PR&CRM points information flyer -Fellows Audited ( 186KB )
Download PR&CRM points information flyer - Fellows Visited ( 186KB )

Training and Development Event

20 May 2005

A training and development event was held in Sydney on Friday 20 May 2005 for individuals interested in becoming a practice visitor.

This event was designed to train and develop a small group of obstetricians and gynaecologists to improve and hone their skills as practice visitors, including looking at different aspects of practice as well as interviewing multidisciplinary teams and understanding what to look for on a practice visit.

This event was attended by 12 obstetrician / gynaecologists predominantly from NSW. Dr Mark Insull and Dr Denys Court were on hand to share their experience of practice review in New Zealand.

Practice Visits Sub-Committee Meeting

31 March 2006

A practice visits sub-committee meeting will be held in Sydney on 31 March 2006. This meeting will involve the practice visitors who have participated in the project. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the practice visits that have taken place and the associated reports to visited Fellows, as well as issues and challenges encountered during the pilot. Feedback about the process and documentation will also be discussed.

Qualified Privilege

Safeguarding information and practitioners

This project is covered under the Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme. This encourages health professionals to undertake efficient quality assurance activities in connection with the provision of certain health services. The Scheme has been designed to provide important safeguards by protecting certain information from disclosure and protecting persons involved in the activity from civil liability.

The Commonwealth Qualified Privilege Scheme under Part VC of the Health Insurance Act 1973 is designed to remove these fears and encourage health care professionals to participate in quality assurance activities by providing:

• for the confidentiality of most information that identifies individuals and which becomes known as a result of declared quality assurance activities
• protection from civil proceedings (apart from those relating to the rules of procedural fairness) for members of committees that assess or evaluate the quality of health services provided by others.

New Zealand Experience

A successful program in NZ

Practice visits have been running successfully in New Zealand for some years.

Read more ( 164KB) about the New Zealand experience from the September 2003 issue of O&G.

For Further Information

Contact the SSRS Project Manager

For further information please contact:

Dr Gabby Fennessy

© RANZCOG