Joining TMA – Information about TMA for doctors

TMA is an alliance of Independent Travel Medicine practitioners. It is owned and run by doctors. It was formed in 2005 to assist members to provide a better service to their travellers through:

1. Sharing of knowledge in this specialised area:

• web based newsgroup,
• resource program (incl Travax discount),
• clinic based training,
• journal club,
• phone support,
• annual medical / management meeting

2. Group purchasing to give members (only members – not everyone in the clinic where they work ) better prices and better access to products than may be achieved by a single member; i.e. vaccines, medical kits, mosquito nets, stationary, and promotional materials. We also have a more secure supply line for our vaccines so we often have supply when others have run out.

Who Are Our Members

• Members are individual doctors, (not a clinic) with expertise in Travel Medicine.
• Members must be Yellow Fever accredited.
• Members must have formal qualifications in travel medicine (e.g. the  ISTM certificate of knowledge or postgraduate education in travel medicine e.g. JCU   )
• Members must participate in ongoing travel medicine training, and must attend the annual TMA training meetings.
• Most members are general practitioners, many in smaller clinics doing travel medicine in a GP setting.
• Members who work in group practices are responsible to ensure other doctors in the practice who are working travel medicine sessions also join pro rata if the other doctors in their practice will be utilising the TMA member services, particularly using discounted vaccines.
• Members must not be a member of any of the other travel medicine groups.
• Members may not be in close proximity to existing members – this “distance” varies in different locations.
• Click here for current membership map

Relationship Between TMA And Members

• Members maintain independence of business
• TMA is not a franchise so there are no franchise fees.
• TMA is a club with a detailed membership agreement.
• There is financial transparency as TMA is not for profit

Fees/Charges (*Prices do not include GST)

• Joining fee is $2,000* to cover starter pack of kits/ books / gear
• Membership fee $1,200* per year ( pro rata for subsequent doctors in the same clinic )
• Vaccines and supplies are purchased direct from suppliers at discounted prices. Members are not obligated to participate in special deals, however members usually find that the savings on vaccines and goods covers the membership fee.
• Membership includes conference fees for the member to attend the annual meeting and dinner.
• Travel Medicine Advanced Training for doctors and nurses who are members of TMA can be provided at Dr Deb’s Brisbane clinic at cost ( eg $400 ) per day to cover the staff time spent training

Publicity/Marketing

Members are added to the website, national 1300 phone number, and the link to the website yellow fever.com.au

TMA believes that the most effective marketing is local. We refer between clinics and we share ideas about how to spread our message of healthy travel more effectively. We share resources, but we do not spend funds on big national advertising campaigns.

Further Information

IMPORTANT

If your goal is purely to access cheap vaccines, this is really not the organisation for you.

We are not at liberty to divulge our special prices to everyone who asks. Strict confidentiality is part of our arrangement with our suppliers. We understand it is necessary for you to know the prices, in order to determine if it is ‘worth joining’. However you will need to to complete the application and confidentiality form and go through the process. We also keep a physical distance between fellow members, to ensure we are not competing for patients. This distance varies in different places and is at the discretion of the existing members.

This organisation also requires participation, eg writing the group newsletter once every two years, undertaking training and assisting other members. The ultimate goal is giving our travelling patients the best possible service.

If this sounds like a ‘good fit’, we look forward to hearing from you.

Doctors interested in finding out more about joining need to complete the attached forms and send with their resume IN CONFIDENCE to:

Dr Deborah Mills
TMA Support office
GPO Box 2832, Brisbane, Qld, 4001
Fax: 07 3221 7076 Email: info@travelmedicine.com.au