CPD content
eLearning Courses
This course is based on a hypothetical case study about a GP's failure to follow up a patient who was referred for investigation of a breast lump. The delays in diagnosis and treatment led to the patient requiring surgery and chemotherapy. The prognosis was poor and the condition becomes palliative.
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.
The Exploring challenging patient interactions eLearning course aims to assist you to continue developing communication skills in some of the more challenging situations you face in your practice.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This module explores the documentation requirements for a medical record and covers:
- what to include in a medical record
- your professional obligations for documentation
- Medicare-related documentation requirements
- specific considerations for electronic records and AI generated clinical notes
- the importance of medical records as a medico-legal defence tool.
This course is part of a two-part series with Medical records_ part two - managing medical records.
This module outlines the key compliance requirements regarding:
- security, storage, retention and disposal
- access to medical records by patients and responding to third party requests
- ownership and transfer of records.
This course is part of a two-part series with Medical records: part one - documentation.
Diagnostic errors are a significant issue in clinical practice, with serious implications for patient safety and medico-legal risk. This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to address these errors effectively. You will explore their prevalence and causes, focusing on cognitive and systemic factors. Through practical activities, you will learn strategies to mitigate risks, enhance your clinical decision-making, and improve diagnostic accuracy. The course also provides guidance on how to effectively respond to diagnostic errors, including communicating with patients and reflecting on your practice. By the end of the course, you will feel more confident in delivering safer and more reliable care.
The Sexual boundaries course 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.
It follows on from the Professional Boundaries course which should be completed before commencing this module.
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.
This module aims to explore workplace communication issues. Content covers:
- Communication within teams
- Written communication
- Handover
- Communicating with your supervisor/trainee
This course is part of a two-part series with Workplace communication: part 2- discrimination, bullying and harassment.
This module aims to explore workplace communication issues. Content covers:
- Bullying, disruptive behaviours
- Discrimination, racism
- Sexual harassment
- Bystander effect, allies and role-modelling
This course is part of a two-part series with Workplace communication: part 1 – communicating with colleagues.
Webinars
In this webinar, we navigated a case scenario to address common medico-legal challenges.
In this webinar, our Avant experts discuss the technology that supports an AI scribe tool. We also review the implementation of that technology.
Watch this webinar where we follow a medical clinic’s journey implementing AI scribe technology and the challenges they encounter. This scenario-based session explores real-world problems doctors have faced with AI scribes, tracing a series of cascading consequences — from an AI-generated referral error to a patient complaint and strained professional relationships.
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
This webinar will give an overview of current knowledge and best practice in relation to managing difficult patient situations. Topics covered include:
- General advice when managing a difficult patient situation
- Types of difficult patient situations
- Patient complaints and responses
- Ending the doctor-patient relationship
Medicare compliance activity can take several different formats ranging from education to audits. This webinar explores ways you can reduce your risk of Medicare compliance activity and maintain best practice. Topics covered include:
- Medicare compliance and requirements
- Advice to reduce the risk of a Medicare audit
- Documentation requirements for Medicare
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.
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.
In this medico-legal webinar, Avant experts, take you though a prescribing scenario with a series of cascading events that result in serious consequences. The scenario helps highlight important considerations when a friend or family member needs medication and asks you for a prescription.
Our experts discuss:
- issues associated with treating family or friends
- prescribing drugs of dependence
- need for authorities
- real time prescription monitoring.
Avant experts will also detail the consequences from the cases so you can understand how the regulators viewed such situations.
In this medico-legal webinar, Avant experts take you through a series of escalating patient concerns that could have been avoided. Using insights from patients and other research, we'll help you understand what a patient really wants when they complain to a doctor or practice, and how this may affect whether or not they make a regulatory complaint.
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
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.
Measuring Outcomes
The AI scribe audit eLearning course helps ensure the safe and compliant use of AI scribe tools in clinical practice. It covers medico-legal principles, privacy, consent, and documentation accuracy, providing practical strategies to enhance workflows and maintain regulatory compliance.
In this activity you will develop and implement some techniques to reduce prescriptions errors or other prescribing issues. .
The Real-Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) eLearning course is designed to help you ensure safe and compliant prescribing practices for high-risk medications. This course provides essential knowledge of RTPM regulations and application across different states and territories in Australia.
This is an optional post Measuring Outcomes activity for those who have completed Activity #1153326 (eLearning – Reducing diagnostic errors).
In this activity you will develop and implement some strategies to reduce your risk of diagnostic error.
The referral and specialist letter audit eLearning course helps you refine your communication practices. You'll learn to assess referrals against a standardised template to ensure clarity, completeness, and relevance. The course provides practical strategies to enhance your documentation quality, improve patient care, and align with professional standards.