North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0805: February 28th, 2008
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the NEV catchment. The aim is to provide up to date information relevant to GPs and to disseminate the latest activities and resources from the division. All feedback and enquiries welcome and should be addressed to Patty Marshall. You can also visit our website at: http://www.nevdgp.org.au/.
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In this issue:

Chronic Disease Management         Neuropathy research         

Professional Development               CPD events          

HMR                                                 Rheumatoid arthritis          

Immunisation                                   Immunisation Encounter Form Post 1st March 2008, March schedule change

Information Management                includes Medical Director tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                               Men’s health: GP Summary Guides available, GPV Every Child Every Chance Project, NEMICS - Professional Development and Education grants, Labour Government Greater Focus on Prevention, Ear wax removal, GP Network news. BECC waiting times         

News for Practice Staff                    Ear Irrigation Training, The Nurse Scholarship Program: National Nurse Re-entry Scheme

Paediatrics                                      The Royal Children’s Hospital         

Women’s Health                              Clinical Guidelines to Support General Practice in the Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Cancer     

Positions vacant/wanted                     

Fun stuff                                              

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Chronic Disease Management

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, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. For more information please contact Dr. Rajna Ogrin or Andrew Jardine on 9496 2986

 

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CPD

Training opportunities for General Practice Staff – Invitation to Doctors, Practice Managers and Practice Staff

As a follow up presentation from the December Practice Managers end of year dinner, Vicki Bradford, Director Training & Professional Support, AMA Victoria and Sandra Mercer Moore, Training Consultant, Esset Australia will provide you with an outline of training opportunities for practice staff under their Health Training Solutions initiative and outline the various financial support programs available to assist with the cost of staff training.  Information about the various training programs offered can be located at www.healthtraining.com.au Tuesday March 18, 6:30pm- 8pm, in the Board Room, North East Valley DGP (Map)  Details and application form may be found on our website.

 

National Asthma Council - Future sessions for Practice Nurses and GPs

Spirometry Training:  An interactive 6 hour workshop with practical session which provides training in the application, measurement and interpretation of expiratory spirometry. The modules include spirometry, medications, allergy, paediatric asthma, other adult asthma, device technique and COPD. This comprehensive workshop is designed for both GPs and practice nurses. This course is an ANZSRS endorsed spirometry training course for GPs. Tentative date yet to be confirmed:  Saturday 10th May 08, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

A team workshop: This 2 hour workshop focuses on the Asthma Cycle of Care (the former Asthma 3+ Visit Plan) for GPs and PNs. This session will also cover 2-3 asthma topics which will be a flow-on from the Spriometry session. The session has been schedules for mid to late June. Date and time yet to be confirmed.

 

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

March 4 - Immunisation Update - Dr Peter Eizenberg (NB: Venue for this week only – Board Room NEV Division Office)

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

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HMR

Rheumatoid arthritis - and your questions about arthritis.

Wednesday 5 March 7.45pm (Light meal 6.30) at NDGP Training room with Dr Michelle Tellus, rheumatologist. See flyer 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

Immunisation Encounter Form Post 1st March 2008

At the recent Immunisation Update session at Rydges a query about how to complete the IMMU 2 form for e.g. Infanrix-Hexa when earlier doses were given as Infanrix-IPV was tabled. For the correct answer see example here.

 

March schedule change

Have you placed your vaccine order for Infanrix hexa to start the new schedule form 1 March 2008?

Infanrix hexa is used for babies at 2, 4 and 6 months of age instead of Infanrix IPV and Comvax vaccines.

Comvax vaccine will be used at 12 months of age only while the stock lasts.

Infanrix IPV vaccine will still be used at 4 years of age.

The vaccine order form is faxed with this information or it can be downloaded at: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation

 

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Create a pathology request item that includes several tests

You can add “user defined” items to the drop down list of tests to be ordered. From the Tools menu select Options and then Lists. Click on Pathology Requests. Type in the multiple request and/or specific request that exclude certain items and then click on the Add button. These items will be then included in the drop down list of pathology requests. You are restricted to 28 character (includes spaces) for the item name. If instead, you add the items to your top ten favourites, you seem to have unlimited number of characters, just remember to separate each test with a comma.

 

This weeks IM problem - Disappearing icons in MD toolbar

Question: The toolbar icons keep disappearing when in a patient’s record in MD. Short of closing and re-opening MD, is there a better solution?

Answer: This is a well-known problem in both MD2 and MD3. Here is the HCN answer: if the icons are disappearing from within MD when opening a patient’s record (which would seem to be what is occurring) then this issue is related to graphics handlers which Windows uses and may occur if:

·         there are graphics intensive screen savers being used. Try disabling them if they are. 

·         some other graphics intensive applications are being used.  Close these other programs

If disabling the screen saver does not fix the issue, the only workaround to help minimise this issue is to perform the following in MD2:

·         open MD2 and from the Tools menu, select Options

·         select the General tab

·         ensure that the option “Show icons on patient screen tabs” is not ticked

·         click Save.

The only other way around this issue is to close the patient’s record in MD and reopen, or you can click on Help, then About in the drop down menu and then OK and this should restore the icons.

 

New on the Web

1.   Nurse Education – details and link to the Lung Health Promotion Centre. Found under Nurse Education

2.   NEVDGP Welcome Kit – contains brochures, welcome letter and membership applications forms. Found under About Us.

3.   New MD template - a GP referral to the “Life - Taking Action on Diabetes" Program. Found under IM Resources – MD templates.

4.   Associate Membership Form – for PMs and PNs. Found in the Welcome Kit in About Us.

 

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Items of Interest

Men’s health: GP Summary Guides available

Andrology Australia has produced a series of summary guidelines to help GPs in the diagnosis, management and treatment of their male patients in primary care with sexual and reproductive health problems. The GP Summary guides are available to download from the Andrology Australia website (www.andrologyaustralia.org) but are now also available in hard copies. Guidelines are only available to registered health professionals. To order your free set of the guides, please contact Andrology Australia on ph: 1300 303 878.

 

GPV Every Child Every Chance Project: We Need GPs

Approximately 2000 Victorian children and young people each year enter the care of the DHS through the intervention of child protection services. These children should have a health assessment soon after coming into care. DHS wishes to contract GPs to have a major role in the assessment of the health needs of these children and has agreed to pay a fee for service to undertake these assessments. I am keen to hear from GPs who would like to know more about this project and any who would consider being involved in these important child and adolescent health assessments. Contact Dr Clare Roczniok on 0439 449 993

 

NEMICS is offering Professional Development and Education grants for 2008.

Clinicians working in Primary Care can apply for PD grants to support activities related to improving services for people living with cancer. Grants of up to $6000 are available. Eligibility criteria apply. Applications close 28th March 2008.  More info on www.nemics.org.au

 

Labour Government Greater Focus on Prevention

The Rudd Government believes prevention should play a far greater role in the health system and has already taken steps in this direction. The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, was responding to the release on 13 February of an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report that showed there had been an 8 per cent decline in funding for public health in 2005-06, from $867 million the previous year to $797 million. To view the full media release click on here.

 

Ear wax removal

After 25 yrs at the Eye & Ear Hospital, specialist ear nurse, Shelley Straw has recently opened a private clinic specialising in ear wax removal using suction technology and instruments, as recommended by ENT specialists. Crystal Clear Ear Clinic is located at iDental, 3 Belmore Rd, Balwyn North. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm. Ph: 9859 7859. Visit www.crystalclearclinic.com.au

 

GP Liaison officer

Dr Lina Nido is the recently appointed GPLO at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. She is looking at focusing on letters of communication to GPs from outpatient clinics and Emergency department, as well as opportunities for GP teaching at the hospital. She will be at the RVEEH on Tuesdays and Thursdays and can be contacted by email at lina.nido@eyeandear.org.au or phone on 9929 8187. Your suggestions, comments and queries will be most welcome.

 

GP Network news

This edition contains AMA Council Of General Practice, GP Super Clinics, Simplified Medicare, Aged Care, GP MRI Referral. Full version.

 

BECC waiting times

Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions are currently approximately Gem 3 - 7 days, Rehab 0 days. Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109

 

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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

NB: The hours advertised on our website should read 9.00am - 3.00pm and not 8.45pm as previously mentioned.  

This will be the final GPDV sponsored Ear Irrigation Training offered for this year.

 

NB: See under CPD for further training sessions

 

The Nurse Scholarship Program: National Nurse Re-entry Scheme

This is an Australian Government initiative and is available for Registered/Division 1 Nurses and Midwives and Enrolled/Division 2 Nurses whose registration has lapsed and have not practiced for five years or more. Applicants must have been registered by a nurse registration body in an Australian State or Territory. This is a national program and targets all nurses including rural and metropolitan applicants. Scholarships are worth up to $6,000 each for up to one year of study and are aimed at applicants intending to undertake, or are currently undertaking, an accredited or approved Australian nursing program or course that will enable them to re-enter the nursing/midwifery workforce in an  Australian State or Territory. Childcare with a registered carer will also be considered for funding. For clarification of your eligibility under this scheme please contact us by email: scholarships@rcna.org.au or on free call number 1800 11 22 40.

This scheme will open for applications on 1 March 2008 and close on 25 April 08. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by July 2008.

 

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Paediatrics

The Royal Children’s Hospital

Paediatric resources online: Guidelines (pre-referral and clinical practice), Clinical services information, Continuing education, Referral forms, Key contacts, Kids Health Info(parent factsheets) www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo, Kids Connect (Primary Care Liaison) www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect. Telephone (03) 9345 4645

 

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Women’s Health

Clinical Guidelines to Support General Practice in the Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Cancer

The National Breast Cancer Centre’s Ovarian Cancer Program has developed a resource to help GPs assess the vague early warning signs of ovarian cancer. The new guide ‘Assessment of symptoms that may be ovarian cancer’ provides GPs with a step-by-step process to follow in the investigation of symptoms. Visit www.ovariancancerprogram.org.au/info/forhealthprofessionals.html

 

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Positions vacant/wanted

Positions vacant

Doctors

Cheltenham - We are looking for a VR GP to join our midsized accredited practice. Comfortable new rooms, fully computerised, flexible sessions, pathology, podiatry, physiotherapy and psychology all on site. Excellent remuneration, you will not be disappointed. Will suit subsequent trainees. For further information please phone Peter Enten on (03) 9584 9504

 

Ivanhoe Medical Clinic – sessions available for PT or FT VR GP. Large group (9 doctors), supportive collegues and nurses, computerized, mixed billing, CDMs, friendly, flexible, no a/h, good remuneration. Contact  Dr.Stephen Smith or Dr.David Doig on 9499 1245

 

Watsonia - Part-time GP required. Sessions negotiable. No after hours or week-end work. Practice Nurse, Fully computerised. Contact Dr F O'Donnell 9435 1191

 

See the website for all other positions vacant and wanted

 

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Humour

Banking Crisis in Japan

Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan.

In the last 7 days the famous Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up & the Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. 

Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song,

Today, shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived & 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop.

Analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal...

 

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