Course catalogue

Learning Centre

elearning Courses

eLearning coursesPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing principles: Part one — general prescribing issues Prescribing practices represent some of the most frequent mistakes in medical practice and can often lead to claims. This module outlines advice on how to best manage some of the key areas where mistakes are made. 
eLearning coursesPractising professionally
Managing professional boundaries – post measuring outcomes activity The Managing Professional Boundaries eLearning module aims to help you build on your knowledge for managing boundaries with your patients in keeping with the professional expectations in the Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia.
eLearning coursesDigital health
Managing professional boundaries The Managing Professional Boundaries eLearning module aims to help you build on your knowledge for managing boundaries with your patients in keeping with the professional expectations in the Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia.
eLearning coursesPatient communication
Consultation insights Communication issues are fundamental to good consultations. This module is designed to support you to consolidate your consultation structure and general communication skills so that your patients get the most value from their time with you, and you get all the information you need to treat the patient..
eLearning courses
Communication fundamentals Developing and maintaining skills in effective communication has benefits for both patients and practitioners. These include eliciting more information from patients, saving time and building a strong foundation that can assist with other difficult conversations.
eLearning coursesMedical records
Medical records: Chapter one — documentation

The requirements for medical records include clinical guidelines and legal responsibilities. They are also a key communication tool, important evidence of the care you have given for colleagues, to Medicare, during a complaint process, or in a court of law. Key requirements are outlined in this course.

eLearning coursesMedical records
Medical records: Chapter two — legal requirements

The requirements for medical records include clinical guidelines and legal responsibilities. Your legal responsibilities include the obligations for privacy, storage and retention of records. The key requirements are outlined in this course.



eLearning coursesMedical records
Medical records: Chapter three — activity

Welcome to the Avant online course Medical records: Chapter three – activity. The requirements for the documentation of a consultation includes having a systematic and contemporaneous account of the consultation.


eLearning coursesPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing principles: Chapter one - general prescribing issues

Australian law and medical practice reflect the fundamental ethical principle of autonomy: recognising that individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their medical treatment. Except in a life-threatening emergency, a patient with capacity needs to give voluntary and informed consent before undergoing any examination, investigation, procedure or treatment.

eLearning coursesPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing principles: Chapter two — opioids and other drugs of dependence

Australian law and medical practice reflect the fundamental ethical principle of autonomy: recognising that individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their medical treatment. Except in a life-threatening emergency, a patient with capacity needs to give voluntary and informed consent before undergoing any examination, investigation, procedure or treatment.

eLearning coursesConsent
Consent: the key issues

This course is no longer current. It has been replaced by https://www.avant.org.au/Consent__informed_consent_and_more/

eLearning coursesDigital health
Managing boundary Issues for patients with mental health issues

This elearning course describes the challenges associated with identifying mental illness in patients, and managing the practitioner-patient professional boundary. Breakdown in the professional boundary can lead to significant problems for patients, and is one of the major reasons for complaints against practitioners.

eLearning coursesMedicare
Cyber and privacy With so much of our personal and work lives connected to the internet the risk of experiencing a cyber incident is always increasing. This course will give an overview of best practice in privacy and cyber security practices. The program is entirely online and has 90 minutes of content with some additional reading as required. It is accredited with RACGP for three category 2 CPD points on completion of all elements
WebinarsPatient communication
Common medico-legal issues for GPs (2019)

This course explores common medico-legal issues that General Practitioners face in their everyday practice. It is based around a hypothetical case study about a GP’s failure to follow up a patient who was referred for investigation of a breast lump and includes discussion on test tracking and follow-up, delayed diagnosis, practice systems, doctor-patient communication, use of chaperones and managing of adverse outcomes.

eLearning coursesConsent
Consent: informed consent and more

Australian law and medical practice reflect the fundamental ethical principle of autonomy: recognising that individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their medical treatment. Except in a life-threatening emergency, a patient with capacity needs to give voluntary and informed consent before undergoing any examination, investigation, procedure or treatment.

eLearning coursesManaging patient incidents
Open Disclosure This course highlights the importance of the open disclosure process for medical practitioners working in the Australian health care setting. Patients, their families and carers and clinicians are often dissatisfied with open disclosure processes. This course provides an overview of the Open Disclosure framework including types of clinical incidents, and clinician and organisational responses to incidents. Included are practical tips on how to apply the framework in your clinical setting, acknowledging that effective open disclosure is a key component in meeting professional obligations around quality and safety.
eLearning coursesPatient care
Gathering Diagnostic Information

This module aims to refresh communication skills that may assist the medical practitioner to gather appropriate and useful diagnostic information during a consultation.

eLearning coursesDoctors' health and wellbeing
Communication strategies for challenging patient behaviours

The relationship between a doctor and patient is at the core of a clinical consultation. This course aims to refresh skills to assist the medical practitioner during a consultation with a difficult patient.

eLearning coursesPatient communication
Effective communication

This module aims to refresh core effective communication skills, including the background and theory of effective communication.
This field contains html.

You may learn about:

  • Cats
  • Dogs
  • Monkeys


eLearning coursesManaging patient incidents
When patients complain: A urology case study

This course explores common medico-legal issues that Urologists face in their everyday practice. This course is based around the hypothetical case study of a 78 year old male who consults Dr Burns regarding his prostrate. Mr Young's surgery has unexpected adverse outcomes and a complaint is made.

eLearning coursesMedical records
On the record: medical records and documentation

The Medical Records eLearning course aims to help you build on your knowledge and experience in the management of health records in Australia.

eLearning coursesConsent, Doctors' health and wellbeing
Managing patient expectations: a plastic surgery case study

This course is based around the hypothetical case study of a 21 year old aspiring model who consults Dr Mark Field a plastic surgeon for a cosmetic rhinoplasty. Chantal has tight deadlines for her surgical outcomes and when those outcomes don't meet her expectations, she complains to Dr Field and seeks compensation.

eLearning coursesManaging patient incidents
Managing adverse events for registrars

This course is based around a hypothetical case study. Dr Lai, a cardiothoracic surgery registrar, transects a patient’s costochondral cartilages during surgery. The hospital receives a complaint from the 70 year old male patient. Dr Lai discusses the situation with the consultant surgeon and the Director of Clinical Governance but is unsure of how to respond. The hospital ultimately is delayed in providing a response and the patient issues a claim against all parties.

Webinars

eLearning coursesPatient communication
Insights and strategies to manage difficult patient situations (h5p)

This webinar will give an overview of current knowledge and best practice in relation to managing difficult patient situations. Topics covered include:


eLearning coursesPatient communication
Insights and strategies to manage difficult patient situations

This webinar will give an overview of current knowledge and best practice in relation to managing difficult patient situations. Topics covered include:


WebinarsDigital health
Treating staff members, family and friends

Guidelines issued by the Medical Board of Australia say that whenever possible, doctors should avoid providing medical care to anyone with whom they have a close personal relationship.

Recorded on 26 August 2020, this webinar explores the issues arising from this statement giving practical advice and exploring case scenarios.


WebinarsPatient communication
Test PV More than words: communication and clinical-handover

TEST PV COURSE SUMMARY The webinar will be entitled “More than words: communication and clinical-handover”.

Learning objectives:

  • Discuss the reasons clinical handover is an important quality safety standard.
  • Describe the tools available to clinicians around effective clinical handover.
  • Identify the patient risks associated with poor clinical handover and how to reduce these risks.
WebinarsPatient care
Sand, surf and surgery. Medical tourism and its impact on Australian healthcare

The webinar will be entitled “Sand, surf and surgery. Medical tourism and its impact on Australian healthcare”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Outline the ethical issues associated with medical tourism
  • Discuss the clinical and legal issues of medical tourism
  • Provide an overview of current strategies to minimise the risk of medical tourism on Australian Medical Professionals.
WebinarsConsent
How to overcome obstacles in gaining consent testing 8/12

The webinar will be entitled “Sign here: how to overcome obstacles in gaining consent”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Identify issues which may complicate the consent process
  • Illustrate the provisions surrounding implied consent
  • Illustrate the provisions surrounding consent in the emergency setting
  • Identify risk management strategies which can be implemented to help obtain consent in difficult situations
WebinarsWorkplace & employment
Hanging up your stethoscope: thinking about, preparing and planning for retirement

The webinar will be entitled “Hanging up your stethoscope: thinking about, preparing and planning for retirement”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Identify important factors to consider when determining an optimal time to retire
  • Identify the factors related to ageing that increase your level of risk
  • Outline the legal requirements of selling or winding down a practice
  • Implement strategies to make a smooth transition from practice to retirement
WebinarsWorkplace & employment
At the front line: risk management for practice managers

Risk management is a crucial part of good practice and should be integrated into a practice's philosophy, policies and strategic plan, rather than viewed as a separate program or 'add-on' only if time permits. All staff have a responsibility to be involved actively in practice risk management. As a leader, practice managers can play a key role in creating a positive quality improvement culture. When this is achieved, risk management becomes a priority for everyone in the practice. Join Avant in this webinar to explore issues relating to risk management for the practice manager.

Note: You will receive a certificate on completion for this course, though it no longer has pre-approved CPD/CME points.


WebinarsDigital health
Professional morality: difficult ethical issues in medicine

With our ageing population and the increasing expectation of patients that medicine will cure all, helping patients with decisions can be an ethical minefield for clinicians, especially when the patient lacks capacity or at the end of life. This is compounded by the existence of different laws around Australia. In this webinar we explore the difficult legal and ethical issues that can arise, particularly at the end of life, and discuss practical ways you can assist patients in advance care planning.

Note: You will receive a certificate on completion for this course, though it no longer has pre-approved CPD/CME points.

 


WebinarsCourts & reports
Predicting medico-legal risk: latest research and its application to practice

The webinar will be entitled “Predicting medico-legal risk: latest research and its application to practice”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Describe the distribution of formal patient complaints across Australia’s medical workforce
  • Identify characteristics of doctors at high risk of incurring recurrent complaints
  • Identify quality improvement interventions to help reduce adverse events and patient dissatisfaction in medical practice.
WebinarsCourts & reports
Reducing your risk - practical strategies from the science of reliability

Through extraordinary innovation and advances in technology, modern healthcare has utilised the scientific method to produce life transforming interventions for patients. There is now an expectation that this same scientific rigour will be applied to ensure that all care is implemented as safely and reliably as possible. The serious burden of avoidable adverse outcomes and the associated patient dissatisfaction arising from failures of reliable delivery means that understanding and utilising the science of reliability is now a significant risk management strategy for all doctors

Note: You will receive a certificate on completion for this course, though it no longer has pre-approved CPD/CME points.


WebinarsPatient communication
Your ticket to play: Competition, trade practices and advertising in private practice

In this webinar on19 August 2012, Angie Di Re and Dr Jill Thomlinson provide insights from current Interns and Doctor in Training and hear what it’s like in the real world of practising medicine.

eLearning coursesPatient communication
What to expect in your first year as an intern

In this webinar on19 August 2012, Angie Di Re and Dr Jill Thomlinson provide insights from current Interns and Doctor in Training and hear what it’s like in the real world of practising medicine.

WebinarsPatient care
Dial M for Medicare: Getting it right to manage your risks

What would you do if you were contacted by Medicare? Would your practice protocols, processes and multidisciplinary team support a Medicare audit?

In this webinar on 24 October 2012, Jan Chaffey from Camp Hill Healthcare discusses how medical practitioners should prepare for and interact with Medicare.

eLearning coursesPatient communication
Medico-legal matters and doctors: the impact on your health and practice

In this webinar on 27 August 2012, Dr Louise Nash and Prof. Simon Willcock look at how medico-legal matters can impact your health, your practice and the safety of your patients.

WebinarsPatient care
Understanding Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic error is a clinical event that is reported to occur in approximately 10% of all cases. For the majority of these cases there is minimal impact to the patient, but in some situations the impact can be significant. In this discussion, with international expert Dr Mark Graberand Avant's Dr Owen Bradfield, we explore practical advice to help reduce the frequency of diagnostic errors and improve patient safety.

WebinarsPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing perils Part 2: Drugs of dependence

The webinar will be entitled “ Prescribing perils Part 2: Drugs of dependence”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Outline the techniques to minimise the risk to patient safety with schedule 8 & 4 prescriptions
  • Discuss the clinical and legal issues of prescribing drugs of dependence
  • Provide an overview of current strategies to minimise the risks associated with prescribing drugs of dependence.
WebinarsPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing perils: opioids, polypharmacy and medication errors

The webinar will be entitled “Prescribing perils: opioids, polypharmacy and medication errors”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Outline the techniques to minimise the risk to patient safety with schedule 8 & 4 prescriptions
  • Discuss the clinical and legal issues of prescribing drugs of dependence
  • Provide an overview of current strategies to minimise the risks associated with prescribing drugs of dependence.
WebinarsManaging patient incidents
Creating a just-culture supporting the disclosure of human errors and near misses lessons from the aviation industry

The webinar will be entitled “Creating a just-culture supporting the disclosure of human errors and near misses lessons from the aviation industry”. Specifically, the topics for discussion will include:

  • Provide an overview of what is meant by a Just Culture
  • Outline some of the main issues surrounding Just Culture in the aviation industry and how these lessons learned are reflected in the medical industry.
  • Describe strategies to support the implementation of a Just Culture to improve patient safety within your healthcare organisation or workplace.
WebinarsDigital health
Ethics obligations knowledge and skills: Professionalism in Medicine

Because medicine is a profession and healthcare practitioners are professionals, it is important to have a clear understanding of what 'professionalism' means. This webinar will focus on ethics, competency, duties, and responsibilities involved in the medical profession


WebinarsDoctors' health and wellbeing
Demands expectations and complaints: Managing difficult patients

A complaint by a patient can be a very distressing situation for the practitioner as well as the patient and dealing with difficult relationships is often part of the complaints process. This webinar explores what drives patients to lodge a complaint and provides practical advice on how to manage difficult doctor-patient relationships

WebinarsPrivacy & confidentiality
Prescribing perils Part 3: An update

This webinar provides an update on prescribing issues such as real time prescribing and other opioid prescribing changes

  • Explore the clinical indications for opioid prescribing
  • Identify the legislative requirements for opioid prescribing
  • Discuss the role of alternative treatments
WebinarsDigital health
Professionalism in medicine: exploring the code of conduct

This webinar discusses the Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia as the foundational document that establishes the professional framework for medical practitioners in Australia. The code of conduct was updated in late 2020 and this discussion brings attention to the aspects of the code that have been amended or added as well as a general discussion of the key concepts. It includes:

  • The key principles of professionalism as it relates to the medical profession.
  • The role the code of conduct has in guiding professional standards.
  • The key standards and expectations discussed in the code.

Interactive

VideosCourts & reports
Preparing a statement for the coroner
VideosPatient communication, Medicare
Medicare Audits and Compliance

Handbooks

HandbooksPatient communication
When Patients Complain This handbook explores how to deal with different types of complaints that you may receive in your practice. Avant’s Medico-legal Advisory Service receives many requests from our members asking for advice after they have received a patient complaint. As this handbook will make clear, the response depends on the type of complaint.
HandbooksCourts & reports
The whole truth: responsibilities when providing evidence

As a benefit to members, medico-legal expertise is available 24/7 in emergencies through our Medico-legal Advisory Service telephone advice line. One of the most common types of calls we receive is about how to respond to requests for information for use in legal proceedings or for a medico-legal purpose. Many doctors are uncertain about how to respond to these requests. As this handbook will make clear, there are different obligations and requirements for different types of medico-legal information requests.

Avant Assist

Surgeon

eLearning coursesPatient communication
Avant Assist for surgical specialists!!

GP

eLearning coursesPatient communication
Avant Assist for general practitioners