Public Hospital (Medical Officers) Award

 

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Application by Health Services Union NSW, Industrial Organisation of Employees.

 

(No. IRC 940 of 2013)

 

 

VARIATION

 

1.         Insert after subclause (x) of the award published 24 April 2009 (367 I.G. 1300), the following new subclause in clause 12, On Call and Call Back, the following subclauses:

 

(xi)       For the purposes of subclause (ix) "clinical appraisal remotely" means as provided in either (a) or (b) below:

 

(a)        Assessing (by an on-call resident medical officer or registrar) a patient's physical condition to make a diagnosis or a differential diagnosis away from a hospital that incorporates all of the following:

 

1.         The taking of a telephone call or calls, or receiving an email or emails, from a medical practitioner on duty in a hospital about a patient.

 

2.         Receiving the history of the patient so that the patient's current medical condition and any relevant past medical history including previous surgery and use of medications, if known, is provided.

 

3.         Discussing with the medical practitioner on duty the patient's current medical condition and asking questions in respect of the condition as necessary such that the information provided enables an evaluation of the patient's physical condition.

 

4.         Directing further examination to be conducted as clinically required, and obtaining other clinical information or opinion from other medical practitioners as necessary.

 

5.         Identifying the likely cause of the patient's condition and providing a diagnosis and a prognosis based on the information provided from undertaking 1 to 4 above.

 

6.         Ensuring that there is a sufficient clinical justification for the proposed treatment including, if relevant, admission to hospital.

 

7.         Instructing the medical practitioner on duty in a hospital what course of treatment should be followed including ensuring the proposed treatment is not contra-indicated, being satisfied that such treatment is able to be determined, and can be properly implemented, without requiring the return of the on-call resident medical officer or registrar. This would include developing or confirming a management plan, or varying an existing management plan with the endorsement of the staff specialist or VMO responsible for the care of the patient.

 

8          Directing follow-up requirements and subsequently reviewing the patient, if appropriate, based on those requirements.

 

9.         Complying with relevant NSW Health and local policies, procedures and directions.

 

(b)        The provision of a report by an on call registrar on images forwarded electronically in circumstances where:

 

1.         had the communications technology involved not been utilised the registrar would have had to have returned to the workplace to provide that report; and

 

2.         there has been prior approval at the facility level to the use, and the conditions of use, of such technology by the registrar.

 

(xii)      A clinical appraisal provided remotely pursuant to subclause (xi)(a) above shall attract a minimum payment of one hour at the appropriate overtime rate only in circumstances where, if it had not been provided remotely, the on-call resident medical officer or registrar would have otherwise needed to have returned to the workplace. Any additional requirement to provide further clinical appraisal falling within the hour from which the initial clinical appraisal commenced shall not attract an additional payment. Any time worked beyond the expiration of one hour shall be paid at overtime rates. Time where work is not being performed will not be counted as time for the purposes of overtime payment.

 

2.         This variation shall effect on and from the first pay period after 20 December 2013.

 

 

 

C.G. STAFF J

 

 

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Printed by the authority of the Industrial Registrar.