FPM Board election
The Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) received five nominations for two elected vacancies on the 2024 FPM Board and proceeded to an election in January 2024. TWe're pleased to announce that the following two candidates were successfully elected to the FPM Board:
- Dr Irina Hollington (SA).
- Associate Professor Susie Lord (NSW).
The result of the ballot will be formally ratified at the FPM Annual Business Meeting to be held on Sunday 5 May 2024 in Brisbane, at which point the new members will commence their term as a board member.
FPM committee restructure
Following outcomes identified from the regional/national forum held at the 2023 FPM Spring Meeting, the board have made the decision to:
- Disband the Professional Standards Committee.
- The Australian regional and New Zealand national committees will report to the board.
- The CPD Officer and Safety and Quality Officer will become members of the FPM Professional Affairs Executive Committee (PAEC).
- The FPM Mentoring Program Officer will become a member of the FPM Training and Assessment Executive Committee.
- Oversight of professional documents will be via the DPA FPM Professional Affairs to FPM PAEC.
In addition, to build on the relationship between the board and the FPM regional and national committees, the following is proposed:
- For an annual forum to be held with FPM regional/national committees and the board.
- Formalise the process of inviting two regional committee chairs (or nominee) to each board meeting.
- Formalise the process for ex officio board members to attend their local regional/national committee meetings and report on outcomes and key issues.
The faculty would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Professional Standards Committee for their contributions.
Flexible approach to training in expanded settings (FATES)
FPM has successfully applied for funding to develop flexible accreditation pathways for pain medicine training in rural settings. We've developed an activity plan and will recruit a project officer shortly.
Medicine shortages
The faculty has been made aware of sustained shortages and discontinuations of opioid medicines in Australia. This is impacting patients in palliative care who are increasingly unable to access appropriate opioid analgesia due to the withdrawal of multiple opioid formulations within the last year. The faculty will respond to a submission request for feedback from the Therapeutic Goods Administration on the issue of medicine shortages in Australia.
Strategic projects and initiatives
Implementation of an opioid stewardship toolkit is underway with a soft launch planned by the Australian Pain Society (APS) at their conference in April 21-24. A hard launch is planned for the May ANZCA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).
The inaugural National Pain Leadership Group has met for the first time, with the FPM Dean as the faculty representative.
ANZCA has signed up as a member organisation of the Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance.
Paediatric pain medicine
In late 2023, FPM fellows in paediatric pain units within Australia and New Zealand were approached to identify their key issues and requirements, with following identified:
- The need for more paediatric pain featured in the 'general' curriculum.
- Professional standards for paediatric pain, to align with FPMs clinical care standards.
- The need for training opportunities.
The board will progress discussions on these proposals following implementation of the assessment review.
Procedures Endorsement Program (PEP)
Following a strategic reset workshop held in November 2023, changes have been made to the practice assessment pathway application form and to the Procedures Endorsement Program Handbook. The importance of gaining and maintaining momentum was identified as a priority to embed into the program.
Participants highlighted the importance of encouraging participation in the program to grow the number of endorsed fellows. A marketing and implementation strategy will be developed to promote the revised process and highlight the value of endorsement. Further information can be found on the college website.
SIMGs
We strongly encourage FPM fellows to consider volunteering in assisting with the process of applications for fellowship by specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs). There is a growing need, particularly in NSW and Queensland for applications to be assessed. If interested in being involved, please contact us at FPM@anzca.edu.au.
2024 Australia Day Honours List
The faculty extends its congratulations to Professor Steven Faux, AM, FAFRM(RACP), FFPMANZCA (NSW) who was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to rehabilitation medicine, and to medical research.
Off-label prescribing
The faculty is working on developing an off-label prescribing position statement, based on the Council of Australian Therapeutic Advisory Groups (CATAG) guidelines.
The faculty recognised the passing of Professor Emeritus Robert (Bob) A Boas, ONZM, FFARACS (1968), FANZCA (1992), FFPMANZCA (2005) who passed away on 2 February 2024.