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Agenda

 
Day One: Monday 24th October 2011
| Day One | Day Two |
8.50
Opening remarks from the chair
International keynote address
9.00
International perspective
Pathology: new challenges, new opportunities
  • Why is the status quo not acceptable?
  • How do we protect service quality while reducing costs?
  • What service and business options will deliver the required benefits for patients?
  • Where is the best practice information and evidence that QIPP/consolidation can deliver?
Mr Ken Barr, MBA MPhil FIBMS, Pathology QIPP Network Director, National Health Service (UK)
9.45
Setting the appropriate MBS rebate
  • Does the current schedule reflect current practice?
  • Does the current schedule reflect reasonable costs of delivering the service?
  • How to set the rebate for new items?
Professor Katherine McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Association of Pathology Practices (AAPP)
10.30
Morning tea
11.00
panel discussion
Allowing competition whilst maintaining profitability: the dilemma of deregulation
  • In July 2010, the federal government lifted the cap on the number of medicare-eligible pathology collection centres so that there is no limit on the number of centres a provider can operate
  • Prior to July 2010, the number of collection centres allocated to providers was based on a formula connected to the volume of medicare services. Under the old system the biggest providers were allocated the most collection centres
  • Some parties have expressed concern that deregulation has caused existing pathology collection centres to suffer significant financial loss, and that it runs the risk of lowering the quality standards that currently exist
  • Arguments have also been made that deregulation would drive up costs for the industry, without reaping any benefits to profit margins
  • Others have argued that increased competition will benefit patients, giving them greater access to pathology services
Professor Katherine McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Association of Pathology Practices (AAPP)
Ms Sarah Watt, Project Manager, Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)
Mr David Low, Senior Healthcare Analyst, Deutsche Bank
Mr Nick Champness, Chief Operating Officer, Australian Pathology, Healthscope
12.00
Lunch
Pathology operations
1.00
Consumer Perspectives on Quality Use of Pathology
  • Consumer views on genetic testing
  • Consumer choice of pathology provider
  • E-health and pathology
  • Access and costs issues for consumers
Ms Sarah Watt, Project Manager, Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)
1.45
The public perspective
  • The new commonwealth funding agreement
  • The impact of commonwealth health reform policies
  • The national e-health agenda
Mr Scott Jansson, President, National Coalition of Public Pathology (NCOPP)
2.30
Afternoon tea
3.00
Maintaining Laboratory Accreditation Standards
  • Deregulation of the number of medicare-eligible pathology collection centres a provider can operate has seen more than 1000 extra pathology centres open in australia
  • What are the requirements for NATA accreditation?
  • How will standards of accreditation be maintained in the future?
  • Quality services
Andrew Griffin, Acting Manager, Medical Testing, National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia
3.45
Scientist Careers and the Supervision Dilemma
  • Workforce shortages mean diminishing numbers of staff possessing relevant qualifications to undertake supervisory roles
  • Potential impact on service delivery in rural and regional laboratories
  • How can we ensure an adequate supply of scientists and senior scientists for the future of Pathology?
Peter Vervaart PhD DipFLMgt GradCertPSM FAACB FFSc(RCPA)
Principal Scientist, Pathology Services, Royal Hobart Hospital
Vice President - Education & Training, Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (AACB)
4.30
Closing remarks from the Chair
5.00
Networking drinks
 
Day Two: Tuesday 25th October 2011
| Day One | Day Two |
8.50
Opening remarks from the chair
International keynote address
9.00
The Advancement of Global Pathology Education: The Role of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP)
  • What the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) stands for
  • IAP educational programmes
    • Support for IAP divisions/ countries - especially underserved countries
    • Bursaries for young pathologists in training
  • Interaction between IAP divisions and schools of pathology
  • Future plans
Professor Kristin Henry, MB.BS. FRCP. FRCPath, Professor of Pathology, Imperial College London, Honorary Consultant Histopathologist, Charing Cross Hospital, and President, International Academy of Pathology
Reform
9.45
Genetic Services in Australia: An opportunity for success
  • Current issues and concerns
  • Inequity of access
  • The opportunity we have with a national approach to genetic services to develop best practice service delivery available to all australians
Associate Professor Julie McGaughran, Immediate Past President, Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA), Director, Genetic Health Queensland
10.30
Morning tea
11.00
Patient Choice of Pathology Provider
  • From 1 July 2010, restrictions were lifted that had previously required patients to attend the pathology provider listed on their pathology request form in order to be entitled to medicare benefits for pathology services
  • Problems this creates for patients
  • Problems this creates for GPs
  • 16 months on – the effect of patient choice
  • Effect on cumulative reporting
Professor Paul McKenzie, President of the College, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
11.45
The Australian Pathology Workforce: Crisis or Contentment?
  • Workforce statistics
  • Future demands
  • The problem
  • Workforce Solutions
Dr Michael Harrison, FRCPA, Managing Partner/Chief Executive Officer, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology and Chair, Quality Use of Pathology Committee (QUPC), Chair, Medical Testing Accreditation Advisory Committee, Qld State Councilor, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
12.30
Improving Data Collection and the Use and Value of Pathology Testing in Australia
  • Analysis of patient rebates for pathology services from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) provides limited and misleading information about the use of pathology in patient care
  • There are other national and international sources of data which could be used to determine if pathology testing provides value to patient care
  • Healthcare policy needs to be based on the value not the volume of pathology services
Dr Beverley Rowbotham, Immediate Past President of RCPA, Federal Councillor (Pathologists Craft Group), Australian Medical Association
1.15
Lunch
2.15
“IVD Regulation – current and future issues”
  • Current Status of the IVD regulations
  • What will happen in June 2014
  • What is happening regarding in-house assays
  • The developing issues of Point of Care and Personalised medicine
Dr Peter Harman, Chief Executive Officer, IVD Australia Limited
Technology
2.55
Pathology Informatics - the PCEHR and terminology
  • The PCEHR and pathology
  • New electronic messaging standards for pathology
  • Standardisation of units and terminology in pathology reporting and requesting
  • Progress of the National Pathology Standardisation Plan
Professor Michael Legg, Michael Legg and Associates and University of Wollongong
3.35
Point of Care Testing
  • The focus on POCT in rural and remote Australia
  • Benefits for pathology service delivery for the patient
  • Examples of working models in Australasia
  • Challenges for sustainability of POCT
Associate Professor Mark Shephard, PhD, OAM, Director, Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing, Flinders University
4.15
Closing remarks from the Chair
4.20
Afternoon tea
5.00
End of conference
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