The imminent CPD changes are a great outcome for the specialty, says AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid.

In a statement just released on behalf of the AMA, Dr Khorshid highlighted the fact that finally, GPs will be given the same freedoms and controls with regard to their CPD as afforded to all other specialists.

“From the 16^th of June, GP access to Medicare will no longer be linked to your College membership,” he said.

“Medicare eligibility for all doctors will be automatically linked to registration status and not subject to whether you continue to be recognised as a fellow of your college,” he added. Just as it is with every other specialty.

Once a GP obtains their fellowship and is registered in the specialty of general practice with AHPRA, that registration status will be maintained provided the GP continues to meet the Board’s requirements, including the Board’s CPD requirements.

Importantly, GPs can choose a self-directed program of CPD provided that program meets the standards set by the relevant College. GPs will not need to be a member of the College. However, if a GP chooses to manage their own CPD independent of the College it will be their responsibility to report their CPD to the medical board annually.

Dr Khorshid went on to detail an option the AMA has developed to help doctors with managing their own CPD. It is a customised, online digital platform that acts as a CPD tracker, available from doctor portal learning.

Basically it is a tool doctors can use to track and report against multiple CPD requirements. It allows the recording of all completed CPD activities, including those that involve self-reflection, stores evidence of that learning and enables streamlined reporting of this evidence when required.

This CPD tracker has been available to non-GP specialists for some time, and now GPs might find it useful. It can be found on the doctor portal learning site (dplearning.com.au) and is available to both AMA members and non-members for free.