![\"Glossary](\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-ap-v2i.applyflow.com\/jps-medical\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/appointment-book-blur-care-40568-700x467-1.jpg\")
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To follow are explanations for many of the abbreviations and acronyms that are used in relation to medical professionals in Australia, some of which are specific to IMG\u2019S.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ABN<\/b><\/p>\n Australian Business Number<\/b>. The <\/span>ABN<\/span> is a unique 11 digit identifying number that businesses use when dealing with other businesses. For example, you generally need to put your ABN on your invoices, or other documents relating to sales that you make. If you don\u2019t, other businesses may withhold 46.5% from any payment to you. You also need an ABN in certain dealings with the Tax Office and other areas of government. Registering for an ABN is not compulsory, but you will need one to register for the GST. Your ABN allows you to:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n AHOMPS<\/b><\/p>\n After Hours Other Medical Practitioners Program<\/b> \u2013 <\/span>DoHA<\/span><\/a>. The AHOMPs program provides access to the higher A1 <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> rebate to non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners providing after hours general practice services through an accredited general practice or an accredited Medical Deputising Service (<\/span>MDS<\/span><\/a>). Normally non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners would access the lower A2 Medicare rebate. Only doctors who are already participating on the AHOMPS can continue to access it from Jan 1<\/span>st<\/span> 2019. Doctors who are participating on the program will be able to continue accessing it until 30 June 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n AHPRA<\/b><\/p>\n Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency<\/b>. As of July 1st 2010, all State Medical Boards are no longer in existence as they have been replaced by one National Board which is the organization responsible for the registration and accreditation of 10 health professions across Australia. <\/span>AHPRA<\/span><\/a>\u2018s operations are governed by the <\/span>Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009<\/span><\/i>, which came into effect on 1 July 2010. This law means that for the first time in Australia, 10 health professions are regulated by nationally consistent legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n AMC<\/b><\/p>\n Australian Medical Council<\/b>. The Australian Medical Council (<\/span>AMC<\/span><\/a>) is an independent national standards body for medical education and training and has four core functions. The AMC:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n AMC MCQ<\/b><\/p>\n Australian Medical Council Multiple Choice Questions<\/b>. The MCQ consists of two x three and a half hour examinations administered in morning and afternoon sessions on the same day. Questions are multiple choice, with one correct answer to be selected from five.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ANZCO<\/b><\/p>\n Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations<\/b>. This is the list of occupations on the Critical Skills Shortage List in the Department of Immigration. We use the <\/span>ANZCO<\/span><\/a> Code 253111 \u2013 General Medical Practitioner to sponsor our clinicians on Temporary Resident 457 Visas. ANZSCO is also used within skilled visa programs, where it is a requirement for visa eligibility, as the standard by which a visa applicant\u2019s skills to undertake a specific occupation in Australia are assessed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n AON<\/b><\/p>\n Area of Need<\/b>. Areas of Need are determined by the State and Territory Governments and methods of defining them vary \u2013 not to be confused with <\/span>DWS<\/span><\/a> which are determined by Department of Health and Ageing. An Area of Need (<\/span>AON<\/span><\/a>) is any position\/location in which there is a lack of specific medical practitioners or where there are medical positions that remain unfilled even after recruitment efforts have taken place over a period of time. Area of Need applies to both public and private sector positions. Most overseas trained doctors (OTDs) are required to work in an Area of Need when they first come to Australia, unless they hold full Australian medical registration or have completed the standard pathway for specialist assessment or for GP\/family physician assessment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n CAT 1<\/b><\/p>\n Category 1<\/b>. GPs that hold:<\/span><\/p>\n Doctors who hold these qualifications are eligible for admission to Fellowship of the RACGP <\/span>ad eundum gradum<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n CAT 2<\/b><\/p>\n Category 2<\/b>. GPs that hold:<\/span><\/p>\n Doctors who hold these memberships\/qualifications are required to undertake the RACGP Fellowship exam. They have 2 years in which to successfully complete the exam.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n DoHA<\/b><\/p>\n Department of Health and Ageing<\/b>. The Department of Health and Ageing has a diverse set of responsibilities but they determine <\/span>DWS<\/span><\/a>, provide 19AA and 19AB exemptions and work closely with both <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> and the state Medical Boards to ensure compliancy with limitations and laws.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n DWS<\/b><\/p>\n District of Workforce Shortage<\/b>. A District of Workforce Shortage (<\/span>DWS<\/span><\/a>) is an area in which the general population\u2019s need for healthcare has not been met. DWSs are determined by the Department of Health and Ageing and are linked to the provision of <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> provider numbers. For the purpose of DWS evaluation, geographic divisions used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics are used. In general, a location is deemed a DWS if it falls below the national average for the provision of medical services. DWS only applies to medical jobs that need to provide services that attract Medicare rebates.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n EICS<\/b><\/p>\n International Credentials Service of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates of the United States (<\/b>EICS<\/b><\/a> verification)<\/b>. In order to be eligible to sit the <\/span>AMC MCQ<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>AMC<\/span><\/a> Clinical Examinations, doctors must have their credentials verified by the International Credentials Service of the Educational Commission. Generally the doctor is only required to provide their EICS number before sitting the exam, and the credentials will be verified before the exam results are released.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ENS<\/b><\/p>\n Employee Nominated Scheme<\/b>. This is the visa on which doctors are able to apply for Permanent Residency. See \u201cPermanent Residency\u201d under the visa section in this manual.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FRACGP<\/b><\/p>\n Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners<\/b>. In order to become a Vocationally Registered GP in Australia, you are required to have either your <\/span>FRACGP<\/span><\/a> qualification or equivalent. The Fellowship exam is a long and involved process and requires a minimum of 4 years of GP experience, one of which at least must be in Australia in order to be eligible to enrol in the exam. The actual exam involves<\/span><\/p>\n A medical practitioner under the supervision of a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in a job recognised as leading to the award of Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n IELTS<\/b><\/p>\n International English Language Testing System<\/b>. <\/span>IELTS<\/span><\/a> is the world\u2019s proven English test. Over 1.2 million candidates take the test each year to start their journeys into international education and employment. IELTS is recognised by more than 6000 institutions across 120 countries. This is what is used in Australia for IMGs wishing to work, and the results are required as part of the <\/span>FRACGP<\/span><\/a> exams. <\/span>Note:<\/b> the IELTS does have an expiry date and doctors are often required to resit their IELTS or to have Statutory Declarations signed by 2 Australian Trained Doctors as affidavits to a doctors\u2019 English ability for the RACGP if their IELTS has expired.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n IMG<\/b><\/p>\n International Medical Graduate<\/b>. An International Medical Graduate (<\/span>IMG<\/span><\/a>) is someone who has gained their primary medical qualification outside of Australia or New Zealand and is now a registered and practicing general practitioner in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Locum<\/b><\/p>\n A locum is a medical practitioner who acts as a substitute for another medical practitioner while another practitioner is temporarily absent from their practice. Their periods of cover may vary from one day to a few months or even years. IPN and Gemini have several GPs who are registered as Roving Locums meaning they cover many areas, they are still required to have a provider number for each area they cover.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n MDS<\/b><\/p>\n Medical Deputising Service<\/b>. A medical practitioner, or group of practitioners, who provides after hours primary care, but not continuing care to the patients of the subscribing primary care medical practitioners. An <\/span>MDS<\/span><\/a> is usually after hours care, and part of the Practice Incentives Program (<\/span>PIP<\/span><\/a>) from <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> is that a practice provides after hours care for their patients and hence most Gemini and IPN practices are in agreements with MDS.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Medicare<\/b><\/p>\n Medicare<\/span><\/a> is the National Health Insurance Scheme.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n MMM <\/b><\/p>\n Modified Monash Model. The Modified Monash Model (MMM) is a recently developed geographical classification system, using up-to-date population data, which the Government can use to better address the maldistribution of medical services across Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Moratorium<\/b><\/p>\n The time in which you, as an overseas trained doctor, are required to work in an Area of Need or District of Workforce Shortage.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Non VR<\/b><\/p>\n Non Vocationally Registered<\/b>. <\/span>Non VR<\/span><\/a> doctors are those who obtained their Primary Medical Qualification outside of Australia and have not yet completed their RACGP pathway to become a Fellow. Currently the rebate differential stands at $6.60 for a standard consultation. Assuming that the average full time GP sees approx 8000 patients per year the Non VR GP is $52,800 dollars worse off by not being on the VR. Also except in certain circumstances non-VR doctors are not able to access <\/span>PIP<\/span><\/a> payments and other \u201cblended payments\u201d This is the yearly penalty the Government imposes on a Non VR GP. The vocational register has been deliberately designed to be difficult to access. It suites the Government to have a pool of financial disadvantaged doctors whom they can \u201cforce\u201d into the more difficult to fill positions (ie rural and outer suburban areas). The government allows GP\u2019s to access the VR rebate, provided they move towards Government perceived areas of need (<\/span>AON<\/span><\/a>). The VR rebate is held as an \u201cincentive\u201d to Non VR GP\u2019s to relocate. The current Rural Other Medical Practitioners Program (<\/span>ROMPS<\/span><\/a>) allows a Non VR GP to access the higher rebate provided they move to the country and give an undertaking to sit the exam in 4 years time.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n OMPS<\/b><\/p>\n Other Medical Practitioners Program<\/b>. The OMPs programs provide access to the A1 <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> rebate for non-vocationally recognised doctors who provide services in approved locations and meet other eligibility criteria specific to the particular program. Only doctors who are already participating on any of OMPS programs can continue to access them from Jan 1<\/span>st<\/span> 2019. Doctors who are participating on these program will be able to continue accessing them until 30 June 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n OTD<\/b><\/p>\n Overseas Trained Doctor (see <\/b>IMG<\/b><\/a>)<\/b>. This term is not used widely in Australia anymore since OTDs are now referred to as IMGs. They are one and the same.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n PESCI<\/b><\/p>\n Pre Employment Structured Clinical Interview<\/b>. A <\/span>PESCI<\/span><\/a> is one of the assessments of clinical knowledge and skills which an International Medical Graduate (<\/span>IMG<\/span><\/a>) must undergo as part of the nationally consistent assessment process for IMGs. It provides an assessment of an applicant\u2019s clinical knowledge and experience using a set of structured questions and scenarios, in an interview situation. Candidates who are not eligible for general registration via the \u2018Competent Authority\u2019 or Specialist Pathway with the Medical Board will usually progress via the \u2018Standard Pathway\u2019. Queensland Health will require all doctors progressing via the \u2018Standard Pathway\u2019 to be assessed as \u2018suitable\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n PIP<\/b><\/p>\n Practice Incentives Program<\/b>. This is an initiative generated by The Australian Government and <\/span>Medicare<\/span><\/a> where accredited practices are paid additional financial incentives for providing quality care to patients.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prescriber Number<\/b><\/p>\n\n
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