No 0803: February 15th, 2008
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter
sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the
In this issue:
Editorial PEN offer to practices
Chronic
Disease Management Life! is
everywhere…, Neuropathy research
Professional Development CPD events
HMR Rheumatoid arthritis - and your questions about
arthritis
Immunisation Fluvax Vaccine Supply, Immunisation Newsletter, Important changes to the Victorian Immunisation Schedule, 9th Edition Handbook, HPV Reminder
Information
Management includes Medical Director tips
Items of interest GP
Network news, Road Trauma Support Team
News for Practice
Staff Ear Irrigation Training
Paediatrics RCH website for GPs
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A Word from the Editor
PEN offer to practices
The division has purchased an annual licence of the PEN Clinical Audit tool
which allows you to analyse your clinical data and help with the necessary data
cleansing of your clinical records. We are contacting you with this offer to register
you and help with the installation of the PEN Clinical Audit Tool before the
end of February. We can also provide a practical demonstration of the
program at your practice, if you so desire. The division had
employed a new project officer, Mr
If you want to proceed, simply email Noel
with the name of the principal contact (the person who will oversee the use of
this tool). If that person is a GP, please include his/her provider number.
Once we
hear from you we will organise the next steps.
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Chronic Disease Management
Life! is everywhere…
Advertising for the Life! Taking Action on Diabetes Program is well and truly underway. Ads have appeared in local newspapers, on regional radio, as well as the back of toilet doors! The ads encourage the general public to think about their risk of type 2 diabetes and complete the Diabetes Risk Test. If they score above seven they are advised to see their GP. Statewide advertising starts on March 2nd – ads will appear in the Herald Sun, television and radio stations 3AW, Gold FM and Magic FM.
You will receive a comprehensive Life! information pack next week. It will answer any questions you may have about the Program. Please be aware that the media campaign may increase the demand on your practice. For further information on the Life! Program, to pre-register a patient or to order Diabetes Risk Tests or other resources to deal with this demand, please call 1300 136 588 or visit www.diabetesvic.org.au.
Neuropathy research
New research in a possible treatment for neuropathy associated with
diabetes, using painless nerve stimulation. We are looking for patients to take
part in a 12-week study. Inclusion criteria: • Between 55 – 75 years old • Have had diabetes
for 10 years or less • Non-smokers •
Peripheral neuropathy. The study takes place at the Endocrine Centre of
Excellence,
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CPD
Scanning solutions and PEN Clinical Audit
For GPs and Practice Managers -
Details and application forms can be found on the website.
Term 1 GP Lecture Program
Meetings are held each Tuesday starting at 12.30 in the
Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor, Pathology Building, Repatriation Hospital,
Austin Health, West Heidelberg. Lunch is provided. Course Leader: Dr Vin Nursey Phone: 9457 1736
February 19 - Lymphoedema - Dr Yvonne Zwar
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
The Balint Society of Australia
Saturday
March 1st, 2008 At “Glen Nevis”,
Turtles All the Way Down:The
use of Balint groups in all stages of professional
development of doctors. With Dr Shake Seigel and Dr Bitty Muller. Admission
$15 or $10 for Balint Society of
RSVP to John Barton by 24th February (for catering purposes). Email: jbarton@aapt.net.au or phone (03) 9480 6335.
For
further information about Balint groups and the Balint Society of
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HMR
Rheumatoid arthritis - and
your questions about arthritis.
Wednesday 5 March at NDGP Training room. Light meal
6.30-7pm. 7.45pm main lecture
Dr Michelle Tellus, rheumatologist. Flyers on the website or call Cherry Braine to register 9416
7678 or Email cherry.braine@ndgp.org.au
All HMR enquiries contact Jenny Gowan 0417 506 944
or jenny.gowan@ndgp.org.au
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Immunisation
Fluvax Vaccine Supply – 2008 season
(CSL Biotherapies information dated 8th February 2008). CSL advise that as a result of manufacturing issues, the supply of Fluvax vaccine into the PBS and private market will commence in April, well before the influenza season begins. Supply of Fluvax vaccine to the Government for the Influenza Vaccine Program for Older Australians will commence in February as in previous years in order to make available influenza vaccine to those members of our community generally most at-risk: people aged 65 or over.
DHS advise that these manufacturing issues do not apply to the other suppliers
Immunisation Newsletter January 2008
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/newsletter
In this issue:
· Changed immunisation schedule from 1 March 2008
· The when, who, what and why of the schedule changes
· Tables indicating transition from Infanrix IPV® to Infanrix hexa® in the primary schedule
· Scenarios for 1 March 2008 schedule change
· Infanrix hexa®
· Hiberix®
· What happens when Comvax® runs out?
· ATAGI advice to the impending Comvax® shortage
· Prevent Comvax® wastage
· HPV vaccine resources
· National HPV Vaccination Program
· School based vaccine program – 7 tips to avoid mass psychogenic illness
· HPV catch-up when doses are missed
Important changes to the Victorian Immunisation Schedule affecting all babies, commencing March 1, 2008
Session 1 will be on Tuesday, 19th February 2008 at ‘Rydges on Bell’commencing at 7.00pm and concluding at 9.00pm. (Refreshments will be served from 6.30pm)
Session 2 will be on Tuesday,
4th March, 2008 at the
Detailed information for the February session has been circulated to practices by fax.
Attendance at the lunchtime session on 4th March is limited to around 30.
9th Edition Handbook
The 9th edition of the immunisation handbook is on its way! We are hoping that it will be available in the next couple of months and have been assured by the Department of Health and Ageing that all providers will be sent a copy as soon as it is released. If you do not receive one after it has been released please contact the division, your local state or territory health department or you can order on line at: www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/publications
HPV Reminder
The funded HPV vaccine will be available for 18 to 26 year old women until June 30 2009. As the course of the immunisation takes 6 months it is important to remind women in that age group to take advantage of the offer of the free vaccine as soon as possible.
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Information Management
Medical Director Tip - Including Comments in the history summary items
You
may wish to have the comments included in your history item lists.
1. Open LetterWriter and from the File menu select Modify template and select a relevant template (such as the Standard referral letter).
2. Locate the history field that looks like this:
<<Clinical Details:History List>>
3. Right click on the field and
select Properties.
4. Add a tick to the Include Comments box.
Note the other ways you can change the appearance of the listed patient past history items.
This weeks IM problem - Printing a list of specific specialists
Question: How can one print a page of a list of specialists e.g. Cardiologist. When we filter a category and then print, the whole address book prints. At previous practices where I worked, only the page on view, i.e. the specific list of specialists would be printed. We could then give it to the patient to make an appointment with the specialist of their choice. We contacted MD, but they say that it cannot be done!!!!
Answer: Last week I gave the wrong answer – use this method instead. Thanks to Dr Titi Tang for supplying me with the correct answer.
1. Choose Filter by category, eg Cardiol
2. From the File menu select Print
3. Choose print By category by ticking second circle
4. Click on the Print button.
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Items of Interest
GP Network news
This edition contains Pharmacy Guild
Guidelines For Medical Certificates, Diabetes
Road Trauma Support Team Victoria
A state wide counselling, education and support
service for people who have been affected by road trauma. Services are provided
to bereaved family members, drivers, passengers,
witnesses, and their family and friends. Counselling
and support services are provided free of charge. Call 1300 367 797.
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News for Practice Staff
Ear Irrigation Training
Saturday March 15 for Practice Nurses at La Trobe uni. Details and application forms can be found on the website.
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Paediatrics
Kids Connect – RCH website for GPs
Bookmark the RCH GP access website: www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect for pre-referral guidelines, OPD clinics list, generic referral form & fax number, paediatrician listing for private referrals, parent factsheets and more. For clinical advice call switchboard on (03) 9345 5522 and ask for the relevant fellow or consultant on call.
Kids Connect (Primary Care Liaison) tel (03) 9345 4645 / susan.jury@rch.org.au
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Positions vacant/wanted
Positions vacant
Doctors
Ivanhoe
Medical Clinic - Sessions for PT or FT VR GP, large supportive group (9
GPs), FT nurses, computerized, EPCs, no A/Hs, friendly ,flexible, mixed billing. Contact:-
Dr.Stephen Smith or Dr.David
Doig on 9499 1245
Practice staff
See the website for all other positions vacant and wanted
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Humour
Ooops!!
Two young medical students were standing on a street corner observing people as they passed and discussing any abnormalities with each other that they may have seen in passers-by. They watched an elderly fellow sort of duck waddling down the street at a slow pace.
The two students introduced themselves to the gentleman and told him that they didn’t agree with each others diagnosis of the old mans problem.
One says, “My friend thinks you have a bad case of haemorrhoids, and I think you have a hernia.”
The old man said, “Well I thought it was just wind, but it looks like we were all wrong.”
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