ARCS Australia Ltd, the peak body representing professionals in the MedTech and Pharmaceutical sector, this week announced a series of significant changes at its annual conference.
Dr Tim Boyle, CEO of ARCS Australia Ltd speaking to Australian Health Journal says, “These initiatives are central to strategy to build professionalism within the sector, increase capability and enhance the professional standing of its members.”
ARCS has launched a comprehensive Core Competency Framework tailored for the Medtech and Pharmaceutical sectors. The framework is designed to ensure members possess the specialised knowledge and skills required to excel within the sector, aiming to set benchmark for professional excellence.
“Our Core Competency Framework is a milestone in our journey to elevate professional standards for those working within the sector,” said Dr Boyle,. “It provides a structured pathway for continuous professional development common to all sectorial occupations and ensures our members are equipped with the expertise needed to meet professional demands.”
Expanding upon the Core Competency Framework, ARCS has also established international partnerships with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), and the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) to recognise their occupation specific competency frameworks and accreditation standards. These partnerships aim to facilitate the creation of professional training pathways aligned with globally recognised best practice for sectorial occupations.
“Our alliances with ACRP, RAPS, and ISoP are pivotal in offering our members access to globally recognised professional pathways and raising the standard of Australian professionals through globally recognised professional accreditation,” said Dr Boyle.
“These collaborations help raise the bar and advance the professional standing of Australian Medtech and Pharmaceutical professionals on a global playing field.”
In recognition of professional excellence, ARCS will now issue postnominals to professional members based on their expertise. The aim of this designation is to underscore a member’s commitment to the highest standards of practice and their specialised expertise.
“The initiatives we are announcing today mark a new era for ARCS,” Dr Boyle concluded. “By establishing a robust competency framework, recognising professional excellence through postnominals, fostering international collaborations, and honouring our distinguished Fellows, we are setting a new standard for professionalism within the Australian Medtech and Pharmaceutical sectors.”
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Improving access to osteopathic services and integrated care models
The Chief Executive Officer of Osteopathy Australia, Antony Nicholas spoke with Australian Health Journal about:
– Involvement in the Strengthening Medicare Task Force
– The unique skills osteopaths have that can address the chronic disease burden
– Current workforce issues around osteopaths and if enough are coming through via student placements
– How uploading data to My Health Record by osteopaths could assist team-based care of patients
– How the value of osteopaths in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) could be better understood and better access for residents
– The recommendations around aged care access to allied health services, including osteopathy
– The recommendations around consumer access to osteopaths and GP referrals
– Other osteopathy recommendations in the upcoming Federal BudgetIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Synopsis, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
Talking to the Australian Health Journal, Professor Russo states there is a particular concern in joint operations, such as hip or knee replacements, as infections in these areas can have severe consequences, including the removal of the infected joint, prolonged treatment, and significant costs for both hospitals and patients. Despite the substantial impact of surgical site infections, Australia lacks a national surveillance program for these infections, making it challenging to obtain accurate data. However, an estimate suggests that around 45,000 surgical site infections occur annually in Australia, resulting in approximately 900 deaths.
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Detection and prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Professor Vicky Vass serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Research Australia, which is based in Perth, Western Australia. Australian Health Journal met with Professor Vass to hear of the organisation’s mission to solve the mysteries surrounding Alzheimer’s disease, and focus on detection as the key to their efforts.
