Inside News

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Clinical Radiology
42 Inside News
This year’s Faculty of Clinical Radiology
Forum will consider the often
controversial realm of role extension
for allied health professionals within
the clinical radiology team. Guest
speakers have been invited to give their
perspectives of the advantages and
disadvantages of role extension. I hope
to see you there.
New Screening Program for Coal
Workers Pneumoconiosis
As noted on page 27 in this edition, coal
workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) is still a
major political issue for the Queensland
Branch and the College. You will have
seen a number of media releases from
the College on this issue during 2016.
In July, the Queensland Government
implemented a new screening process
with double reading, which we
support as good practice in healthcare
screening, much like BreastScreen.
Regrettably, the Queensland
Government has also insisted that the
second reading be done by a B-reader
in the United States of America.
The College has made a number of
representations stating that we do not
feel that unregistered practitioners
should be allowed to practise medicine
in Australia. We will continue to advance
the view that CWP be dealt with
sustainably within our own healthcare
system.
New Bodies within Faculty
of Clinical Radiology
The Faculty is continuing to evolve its
governance structures to ensure that
we align with our key strategic priorities
and remain responsive to external
developments. As the President notes in
his piece in this issue, an Interventional
Radiology Committee has been
established to provide advice to the
Faculty of Clinical Radiology Council on
this rapidly advancing area of practice.
A series of new bodies have been
established to develop College policies
in the following areas:
• Safety, Quality and Standards
Committee
• Acute Stroke Working Group
• Teleradiology Standards Working
Group
• Written Report Guidelines Working
Group
Expressions of interest are placed on
the College website for vacancies on
these and other bodies
au/members/get-involved). We need
your expertise, skills and perspectives
to ensure that we develop the right
policies that align with best practice and
establish a firm foundation for the future.
In due course, policies developed by
these bodies will be shared with the
membership for input. If you cannot
spare the time to get involved in Faculty
bodies directly, you can still provide
your advice through these member
consultations. Please feel free to contact
the Faculty at any time on fcr@ranzcr.
If you have any questions or
comments about this article, please
contact Mark Nevin, Senior Executive
Officer, the Faculty of Clinical
Radiology on