Executive Director’s Report

John Jannese

This issue of COCA News marks the anniversary of my second year as Executive Director of the College. I would like to take this opportunity to say, that it has been my pleasure to serve the COCA Executive and our members, during this period.

A year ago, I wrote of COCA’s achievements and detailed the professional issues the College dealt with during the year. In a similar vein, I thought readers might also like to know which professional issues COCA responded to, during 2003/04.

COCA comments upon professional issues
As a stakeholder organisation in the professions of chiropractic and osteopathy, the College is often asked for its opinion or input pertaining to professional issues impacting upon the professions.

During the year COCA made submissions to:

• The National Health Privacy Working Party,
• The Queensland Health Department and Queensland Minister for Health,
• The National Health and Medical Research Council,
• Workcover authorities in NSW and Victoria,
• Department of Human Services in Victoria,
• The World Federation of Chiropractic, and
• COCA responded to calls for comment on publications from numerous state chiropractic and osteopath registration boards, pertaining to professional issues.

Professional Indemnity insurance negotiations
Over the last year, I have attended meetings with our insurers QBE Australia and brokers Aon Professional Risks, with the aim of delivering members and supporters an attractive professional indemnity insurance product, for next year.

I am pleased to report that once again, QBE Australia will support chiropractors and osteopaths - and have indicated that they even see premiums ‘trending down’ in the longer term. QBE Australia acknowledge that COCA’s risk management program has made a significant contribution to making health professionals a better insurable risk.

Aon Professional Risks will be in contact in the coming months, to provide an indicative premium to meet your professional indemnity insurance needs for next year.

COCA membership decal and poster
In the last issue of COCA News, I foreshadowed that members will receive a decal and poster. Membership decals and posters have been designed and will be printed soon.

When you receive your decal and poster please consider prominently displaying your college membership to your patients, colleagues and members of the public. Each year, it is our intention to provide you with a membership decal, denoting the currency of your COCA membership.

COCA member services & endorsed products
Elsewhere in COCA News, members will note that we have dedicated several pages to COCA supporters and endorsed products. Consider supporting the providers of these products and services because, by embracing them you are directly supporting COCA.

Any monies received from endorsement and marketing activities are indirectly returned to you, as COCA is a not-for-profit organisation.

COCA launches Practice Accreditation Program
It is my pleasure to announce that COCA will formally launch our new practice accreditation program initiative at our AGM to be held on 12 November 2004.

Ably lead by our Practice Accreditation Committee Chairman Dr. Jo-Anne Maire, we believe that COCA has developed a practice accreditation program that will benefit the professions of chiropractic and osteopathy. By embracing the programs principles and requirements your practice will not only further benefit your patients, but health care management in Australia.

Consider the programs advantages for your practice, if it is accredited by the Chiropractic & Osteopathic College of Australasia.

• With COCA’s practice accreditation program you will be able to market your practice professionalism to your patients and to the wider public.
• Consider also, the potential financial advantages and competitive edge a COCA practice accreditation program could bring to your practice.

To order your practice accreditation manual, complete the order form on page 11 or by visiting COCA’s website www.coca.com.au or contact me at COCA on 1300 13 99 50 for a confidential discussion, to discuss how the COCA practice accreditation program may meet your needs.