Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 – QAA 5/2017 (Cth)

Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 – QAA 5/2017

I, ANTHONY HOBBS, delegate of the Minister for Health, make this declaration under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Dated:                 13 November 2017

Dr Anthony Hobbs

Acting Chief Medical Officer

Department of Health

Contents

PART 1           PRELIMINARY3

1            Name of Declaration3

2.           Commencement3

3.           Cessation3

4.           Authority3

5.           Declaration of quality assurance activity   3

SCHEDULE    4

Part 1          Preliminary

1. Name of Declaration

This Declaration is the Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 – QAA 5/2017.

1. Commencement

This Declaration commences on the day after registration.

1. Cessation

This Declaration will cease to be in force as if repealed at the end of 5 years after it is signed.

1. Authority

This Declaration is made under the section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

1. Declaration of quality assurance activity

A quality assurance activity described in the Schedule to this Declaration is declared to be a quality assurance activity to which Part VC of the Health Insurance Act 1973 applies.

Schedule

Declaration of Quality Assurance Activity under section 124X of the Health Insurance Act 1973 – QAA 5/2017

1          Title

Practice Visits: A Peer Review Activity for Specialists Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Australia

Description:

Practice Visits: A Peer Review Activity for Specialists Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Australia is carried out under the authority of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).  The activity focuses on a quality framework which is used to assess and evaluate the individual practices and competencies of RANZCOG Fellows. 

The activity consists of peer review activities which are voluntarily undertaken by obstetricians and gynaecologists.  The activity includes completion of a surgical log book, patient satisfaction questionnaires following patient appointments, a practice profile questionnaire completed by the Fellow. This is followed by a peer visit by two independent RANZCOG Fellows who assess and evaluate the Fellow’s practice and competence based on key performance indicators, observations of major and minor surgery, and interviews with the Fellow’s colleagues. The visitors provide the Fellow with feedback at the end of the visit outlining positive aspects of work and areas of vulnerability from a risk management perspective, and prepare a report on the Fellow’s performance, including recommendations about the provision of services.  Where changes to practice or a program of training are recommended, the visitors may follow up with the Fellow as part of the activity. The activity aims to provide individual Fellows with recommendations in improving the quality and risk management of their practice and provide peer support and feedback from Fellows working in similar circumstances.

Within twelve months of the initial practice visits, the RANZCOG will monitor recommendations implemented with a follow-up questionnaire, with all information recorded in a database.

The RANZCOG Steering Committee oversees the activity.  The process and outcomes of the activity will be published in the RANZCOG publication the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; and/or O&G Magazine.  The activity will be presented at the Provincial Fellows Annual Scientific Meeting and/or the RANZCOG Annual Scientific Meeting.