North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0808: March 20th, 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/.
To subscribe to eNews click on subscribe. To be removed from the eNews distribution list click on Unsubscribe

 

In this issue:

Editorial                                           The Division welcomes a new member practice        

Chronic Disease Management         Life! Taking Action on Diabetes      

Professional Development               CPD events          

HMR                                                 Seeing is believing - common eye conditions in the aged      

Information Management                includes Medical Director tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                               World Kidney Day,             Melbourne Medical Locum Service

News for Practice Staff                    ADGP Nursing News February 2008           

Paediatrics                                      Referrals to the RCH, Referrals for routine circumcision        

Women’s Health                              Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Cancer        

Positions vacant/wanted                     

Fun stuff                                              

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A Word from the Editor

The Division welcomes a new member practice

Dr Ahmed Al-Haidary and his team are proud to announce they have commenced practice at 42 Separation Street, Northcote. They are a multidisciplinary practice situated inside the Darebin Community Health Centre adjacent to Northcote Plaza. Dr Al-Haidary has come to Melbourne from the country town of Birchip after successfully operating a solo practice in the town for four years. Dr Al-Haidary said, “ It was time to spread my wings and I hope to achieve the same success and continue in the same vein with my new practice as with Birchip. I have called my practice ‘Darebin Health Medical Centre’ and I will strive to gain the confidence and trust of the community”.

The contact details are: Darebin Health Medical Centre, 42 Separation St., Northcote, 3070. Phone: (03) 9403 1221 Fax: (03) 9403 1259 email: DHMCentre@gmail.com

 

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Chronic Disease Management

Statewide advertising for Life! Taking Action on Diabetes

Statewide television advertising for the Life! Program commenced on Sunday 9 March, and will run until the end of April. The Life! initiative is an important part of the Victorian Government’s ‘Go for your life’ strategy and has been developed to support Victorians aged 50 years and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Ads will appear on Channels 7, 9, 10 and 31 as well as regional stations. The Life! Program includes a lifestyle behaviour change course of six group session for 90 minutes, over a period of eight months. GPs can refer eligible patients who have completed a diabetes risk test and scored 15 or more, and do not have diabetes. A Medical Director referral form for the course can be found on the NEVDGP website under IM Resources – 4. Chronic Disease Management.

 

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CPD

Using Decision Support Tools - Working Smarter not Harder

For GPs and Practice Managers and Practice Nurses. The evening will look at TWO new and exciting developments in general practice – the Practice Health Atlas and the Pen Clinical Audit Tool. You will be able to sign up for one or both on the night.

Wednesday April 23, 2008, 6:30pm – 9.00pm (dinner provided), John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University, Bundoora (Entry via Car Park 7). [Application Form]

 

Short Course in HIV Medicine

GPV, in consultation with the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM) and the Alfred Hospital, will be hosting a short course in HIV medicine on Friday 18 – Sunday 20 April 2008. The course is free of charge to all interested GPs, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals in Victoria. 9am – 5pm daily at Burnet Institute Boardroom, Commercial Road, Prahran.

Course enquires should be directed to Michelle Wills (SH3ED Program Consultant – GPV) by email – m.wills@gpv.org.au or phone - 03 9341 5226, or Linda McKenzie by email – l.mckenzie@gpv.org.au or phone - 03 9341 5224.

 

Term 2 GP Lecture Program

There will be no Tuesday lecture next week. The next lecture is on April 8.

 

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HMR

HMR Group/ Aged Care panels:  Seeing is believing - common eye conditions in the aged

Wednesday 2 April at NDGP Training room. Light meal 6.30-7pm. 7.45pm main lecture

Dr Alice Rota- Bartelink, specialist in vision disorders . Flyer on the website or call 9416 7689 to RSVP.

All HMR enquiries contact Jenny Gowan 0417 506 944 or jenny.gowan@ndgp.org.au

 

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Changing the template field properties of an existing template

If you have an existing template you may wish to change the allergies field to display reactions.

·         Select Modify template to open an existing template.

·         Right click on the <<Clinical Details-Allergies>> field and select Properties

·         Click in the Include reactions? box and click OK

You can also change the field properties of the History List and Allergies. There are field properties for the Medication List in MD3 but not in MD2.

 

This weeks IM problem - Adding height, weight and BMI to a template

Question: One of our GPs has married and taken on a new surname. I have changed her user details in MD but her recalls are still under her old name. How do I fix this?

Answer: You need to re-assign her recalls to the new name. Make sure that MD is closed on all work stations and open the Maintenance program.

·         MD2 – Data Management à Merge Search Lists à Recall List (Dr) – use the Replace and With fields to re-assign the recalls

·         MD3 – Database Tasks à Medical Director à Merge Search lists à Recall List (Dr) – use the Replace and With fields to re-assign the recalls

 

New on the Web

1. March 2008 Hardcopy Newsletter (pdf) – Found under Latest News on the Home Page

2. AGPN Nurses News February 2008 – Found under Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) - Nurses Network

3. Clinical Audit/Practice Health Atlas CPD session (April 23, 6:30-9:00 PM, John Scott Meeting House) – see under Calendar of Events

 

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Items of Interest

New Medicare claiming systems

Medicare Australia is here to help practices currently using Medclaims choose the best electronic channel for their future needs, as the Medclaims claiming channel is wound up.

Medicare Australia realises that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ claiming method, which is why a choice of electronic claiming channels is available. Practices have the choice of internet-based claiming using Medicare Online (formally known as HIC Online) or EFTPOS-based claiming through Medicare Easyclaim, or a combination of both.

Practices will receive a lump sum payment of between $750 and $1000 to assist them move to either Medicare Online or Medicare Easyclaim. They will also receive 18 cents for each bulk bill and patient claim transaction (except pathology claims) made electronically between September 2007 and December 2009. A special support arrangement for pathology has been developed in consultation with the industry. To find out more about the claiming options and how they fit with the individual needs of a practice.

Visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au or call the eBusiness Service Centre on 1800 700 199.

 

Men’s health: GP Summary Guides

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.

 

World Kidney Day

March 13 was World Kidney Day, and the Divisions Network has been working closely with the Kidney Check Australia Taskforce (KCAT) to promote educational material to better inform GPs of chronic kidney disease (CKD).  On World Kidney Day AGPN Chair Dr Tony Hobbs said, “CKD is as big a problem as the diabetes epidemic and is taking its toll, both financially and socially on the Australian community. We know that one in seven Australian adults have CKD and it’s the seventh most common cause of death in Australia. One in three Australians is at risk.” People who have one or more of the following: are obese, have high blood pressure, smoke, have type 2 diabetes, have a family history of CKD, are aged over 50 or are of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander heritage, have a greater risk of developing CKD. Dr Hobbs said despite these risk factors there is good news about CKD. “Screening for CKD is fairly simple. Your kidney check includes measurement of blood pressure, a urine test and a blood test.

For more information on World Kidney Day, go to: http://www.worldkidneyday.org/ and for information on AGPN and division involvement, please phone AGPN Communications Manager Kathryn Conroy on 0416 428 678

 

Melbourne Medical Locum Service – MMLS

Providing comprehensive quality after hours care for your patients has never been easier. MMLS, established 30 years ago, provides a complete back up facility for your practice with patient care the mutual prime objective.  We work quietly in the background to help you provide24 hour access to care for your patients. We are RACGP Accredited and all doctors have FULL VMPB registration. MMLS is an RACGP Accredited CPD provider and a DoHA approved medical deputizing service. MMLS has an excellent workforce and has recently extended its coverage beyond the metropolitan area. Our sophisticated software allows us to offer Practices a service tailored to their needs.  Our staff are fully trained and screen each call to ensure that every patient receives the most appropriate and timely medical care.    

MMLS Directors, Josie, Julian and Adam - are an institution in after hours deputizing and pride themselves on an ethical service run with integrity and diligence.

Melbourne Medical Locum Service, PO Box 2084, Richmond South 3121. Tel: 9429 5677 Fax: 9427 1014 email: julian@mmls.com.au website: www.mmls.com.au

 

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News for Practice Staff

ADGP Nursing News February 2008

This includes PIP Domestic Violence Initiative, Nursing in General Practice Program 2008-2012, Medicare Benefits Schedule- Healthy Kids Check 2008, General practice Nurse

Leadership Program, Network Resource Library, Other News - AIHW Publication, The Alfred Practice Nurse Courses, National Prescribing Service, Remote Indigenous Australian, Asthma Action Plan, Asthma Council satellite broadcast program, Rural and Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Chronic Disease Conference. Click here

 

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Paediatrics

Referrals to the RCH

Typed referrals are easier for triage staff to read, especially after faxing. The RCH and VSRF (Victorian State-wide Referral Form) referral templates can be downloaded to your desktop software or can be saved as a word document. Choosing a clinic is optional, RCH triage staff choose the best clinic with the shortest waiting list. See Kids Connect online www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect > Outpatients. Parents tel (03) 9345 6180 to enquire about a referral, to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancelling or rescheduling appointments helps us improve outpatients access by making valuable appointments available to others.

 

Referrals for routine circumcision
In accordance with DHS policy, the RCH does not accept referrals for routine male circumcision.  Referrals need to be made to an appropriate private surgeon. For more information: See the Victorian Government website www.health.vic.gov.au  or call Information Victoria, tel 1300 366 356. To find a private general paediatric surgeon: Kids Connect online www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect see > "Find a paediatrician".

 

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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. Two additional modules will be available in the coming months covering breast cancer in younger women and communication skills.

For more information or to order Assessment of symptoms that may be ovarian cancer contact Janelle Webb on janelle.webb@nbocc.org.au  or 02 9357 9400. To download the guide click here. As new modules become available they will be sent to those who have previously received the first module.

 

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Positions vacant/wanted

Please note: only new ads will be posted here. All other ads can be found on the website

 

Positions vacant

Doctors

Montmorency Medical Centre – requires GP coverage for 1 week in April from 14th to 20th inclusive. Please contact Carolyn Jacklin on 9434 4411 or 0411 431 087.

Positions wanted

Northern, North Eastern suburbs – experienced and enthusiastic receptionist/practice manager seeking a PT position in general practice. I currently work in a medical and dental centre and I have been involved in this field for the past 7 + years. I am now looking for new and exciting challenges. I offer a wide range of experience in handling all general office duties including telephone enquiries, typing medical correspondence, ordering office and medical supplies, have excellent communication with patients, do all recalls, processing bulk and private billing and total secretary support to doctors. Call Christine on 0402 035 896

 

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Humour

Doctor John had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he couldn’t. The guilt and sense of betrayal were overwhelming. But every now and then he’d hear an internal reassuring voice in his head that said: “John, don't worry about it. You aren’t the first medical practitioner to sleep with one of their patients and you won't be the last... And you're single. Just let it go.” But invariably another voice in his head would bring him back to reality.

 

Whispering...

 

 

John...

 

 

 

John...

 

 

 

John...

 

 

 

…you're a vet John.

 

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