North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0814: May 8th, 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                                           Vale Dr Andrew Fraser      

Aged Care                                       Gastroenteritis and Acute Illness in Residential Care Facilities          

Chronic Disease Management         St. Vincent's HARP, Diabetes Australia – Vic Health Professional eNewsletter, Neuropathy research   

Professional Development               CPD events          

Immunisation                                   Immunisation CPD

Information Management                includes Medical Director tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                               Meanings of RVEEH abbreviations, Medical Practitioner's Survey, NEMICS, GP Network News       

Mental Health                                  Mental Health Nurse Program        

News for Practice Staff                    Staff Development Day 08: Planning for Success     

NPS                                                 Osteoporosis CPD - Final Reminder, Heart Failure – NPS Audit Reminder, Survey from NPS about complementary medicines

Women’s Health                              Osteoporosis Women's Health Update        

Positions vacant/wanted                     

Fun stuff                                              

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A Word from the Editor

Vale Dr Andrew Fraser

Dr Andrew Fraser passed away on Thursday 1st May 2008. Andrew was a long time GP in the Ivanhoe area at the Ivanhoe Medical Centre in Livingstone Street. He was active in the affairs of the RACGP from its inception and held many positions within its administrative structure. He was the founding chair of the General Practice Clinic at the Austin Hospital and strongly supported the educational activities of the Division from day 1. He was a GP who demanded only the best of practice from himself and others and would stridently question arguments that he felt lacked solid supporting high level evidence.

May he rest in peace.

 

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Aged Care

Gastroenteritis and Acute Illness in Residential Care Facilities

For GPs who provide medical care to Aged Care Home residents: Gastroenteritis in residential care facilities: preventing/identifying & managing dehydration and Acute illness in residential aged care facilities. Speaker: Associate Professor Michael Woodward, Head of Aged & Residential Care Department Austin Health

Tuesday 27 May 7.00pm - 9.00pm Registration/Light refreshments 6.30pm. At North East Valley Division of General Practice Board Room. Click here for Flyer

For further information call Clare Chiminello/Dr Alison Sands on 9496 4333

 

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Chronic Disease Management

St. Vincent's HARP

Visit St Vincent’s GP Access website for more information on providing chronic disease and complex care management for your patients who are at risk of presenting to hospital. Click here

 

Diabetes Australia – Vic Health Professional eNewsletter

DA-Vic has recently launched the Health Professionals eNewsletter. This is a bi-monthly eNewsletter, tailored specifically for health care professionals and provides the latest diabetes news and events. The eNewsletter includes: upcoming events for health professionals, upcoming events for people with diabetes such as supermarket tour dates and locations, and education resources. If your practice is interested in receiving the eNewsletter, please email your details to hpmaillist@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, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. For more information please contact Dr. Rajna Ogrin or Andrew Jardine on 9496 2986

 

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CPD

Term 2 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

May 13 - Sinus/Nasal Problems - Dr Theo Sdralis

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Austin Health - Division of Medicine Grand Round

Clinical Governance Unit - “The Coronial Process” Reportable deaths in hospital – clarifying the “unexpected death”, identified priorities for the Coroner, major themes arising from reviewed cases & lessons learned. Speakers Amanda Charles, Clinical Liaison Service; Michelle Skinner, Clinical Educator

Wednesday 14th May 12:10pm at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance Townsend Building, Opposite Medical Library - followed by lunch in Zeltner Hall at 1:00pm

 

New preventive care online learning activity from the RACGP

A new online learning activity will help to support general practitioners and members of their teams, including practice nurses, to boost preventive care for our patients. The new activity is available on the online education portal of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP); gplearning which can be accessed at www.gplearning.com.au 

 

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Immunisation

Immunisation CPD

GPs and Nurses are invited to an Immunisation Update at La Trobe university on Wednesday 4th June at 6.30pm. Expression of Interest forms to be mailed in the next few days.

 

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Attaching documents to a referral

When emailing a referral (or other template) you are able to attach any document or graphic) that is stored in your documents folder – where scanned documents are saved.  Complete the referral and click on the email button, fill out the recipients email details and then click on the Attach Documents button. You will then be given a list of all the documents. Click on the square box next to the document and it will be attached to your email. Note that the selection only includes the document Date, File Type and Type, not the document description.

 

This weeks IM problem - Recording a patient’s wish “Not to be resuscitated”

Question: A patient has requested that in the event of a major CV event they do not wish to be resuscitated. Where do I record this?

Answer: Without going into the ethics, morality and legality of this issue, there is a simple solution to this request. Add this to the Warnings and then it will appear on the patient’s printed summary.

 

New on the Web

1.   Mental Health Nurse Program – found under Mental Health

2.   Life Diabetes Referral and Life Diabetes “at risk” Recall templates – found under IM Resources- CDM

 

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Items of Interest

Meanings of RVEEH abbreviations

In response to requests received from GPs to explain meanings of abbreviations used in some discharge summaries from Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, a list of explanations of abbreviations is now available online in the GP resources section of the Eye and Ear hospital website at http://www.eyeandear.org.au/healthprofs/abbreviations.asp. A hard copy can also be obtained by telephoning Health Information Services at the RVEEH on 9929 8230.

 

Medical Practitioner's Survey - notification of infectious diseases

A joint project between GPV and the Department of Human Services is being undertaken to identify the barriers that prevent medical practitioners from notifying all confirmed or suspected infectious diseases listed as ‘notifiable’.

GPs response to this anonymous, three-minute survey will inform a state-wide communications effort to improve notification rates of infectious diseases by medical practitioners. Please guide our efforts to reverse this trend by responding to the eleven questions online here: www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas

 

NEMICS

Attached is the latest newsletter from North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Service. Newsletter. The document is also accessible on our website

GP Network News

This edition contains Rudd Must Invest In Health, Time for Action on Rural Health, The Cold, Hard Truth About ‘Ice’ and ‘Speed’. Full version.

 

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Mental Health

Mental Health Nurse Program

North East Valley Division of General Practice has employed a full time mental health nurse for you to access (at no cost to you or your patients) in your management and treatment of patients with severe and enduring mental illness. Services will be provided by the nurse in a range of settings including clinics or patients homes. All referrals will be responded to within 5 working days of receiving the referral. No referrals will be turned down. To make a referral see Mental Health Nurse referral template in the IM Resources page.

For more information call Nicky or Janine at the division on (03) 9496 4333 or click here.

 

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News for Practice Staff

Staff Development Day 08: Planning for Success

AAPM Victoria invites you to participate in Staff Development Day 2008, to be held on Saturday 14th June. This year The Sebel: Albert Park plays host to this exciting event, providing an all-encompassing program for practice managers, practitioners and practice staff.

Titled ‘Planning for Success’ the program for this event includes a wide range of workshops, from team building to quality assurance, which reaches out to the practice team.

Further information and registration visit http://www.cdesign.com.au/aapm2008, or contact Penny Archer of Conference Design on (03) 6231 2999

 

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NPS

Osteoporosis CPD - Final Reminder

The NPS & HMR groups are offering a Case Study CPD evening session on May 21st with Professor Peter Ebling looking at ‘Preventing osteoporosis and reducing fracture risk’. The session covers current topical issues including osteonecrosis of the jaw, how long to treat and the long term risks and benefits of bisphosphonate therapy.

Contact Dr Mary Levidiotis on 9496 4333 or mary@nevdgp.org.au for information. Download enrolment form

 

Heart Failure – NPS Audit Reminder

Please find attached (add link to flyer attached) a Flyer for the NPS Clinical audit: Management of systolic chronic heart failure.  Enrolment will also be available in PPR 41 or online at www.nps.org.au/healthpro. This is the second audit available for the QPI year: 1 May 2008 - 30 April 2009.  The enrolment deadline is Friday June 13th 2008.  Audit submission deadline is Friday 11th July 2008. NOTE: Participation requires data for 10 patients only.

 

Have you received a survey from NPS about complementary medicines?

The NPS is currently conducting an important survey about information needs of health professionals and their preferences regarding complementary medicines. Surveys were sent to a random sample of GPs and pharmacists across Australia. If you have received a survey and have not had the opportunity to complete it, please help NPS by finding a few moments to respond (note: survey closing date has been extended to 16 May 2008) With your help, NPS will use this research to improve access to balanced and accurate information about complementary medicines and to develop the skills of consumers and health professionals to ensure the quality use of complementary medicines.

More information about the research into complementary medicines being conducted by NPS can be found at here or by contacting Jared Brown on (02) 8217 8603 or jbrown@nps.org.au .

 

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Women’s Health

Osteoporosis Women's Health Update

GP & HP Videoconference presented by Professor Peter Ebeling and Dr Robin Daly. Tuesday 20 May 6.15pm - 8.30pm at RACP, Level 2, 417 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Easy registration Email: events@telehealth.com.au  Online: www.telehealth.com.au  Tel: 9927 7777 or call Kellie Armstrong on 1800 151 441.

 

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Positions vacant/wanted

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

 

Positions vacant

Doctors

Mercy Hospital for Women - Lymphoedema Clinic: An exciting opportunity exists for a medical practitioner to consult for one session per week or fortnight at our assessment clinic at PANCH. Enquiries to: Penelope Sanderson, Manager, Mercy Lymphoedema Clinics on 8458 4981 or psanderson@mercy.com.au 

Applications including a Mercy Application for Employment Form, Curriculum Vitae and Covering Letter to: Janine Martin, Administration, Mercy Hospital for Women, 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg, 3084 or email recruitmentmhw@mercy.com.au 

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Humour

Aussie in London

Two English businessmen in London were sitting down for a break in their soon-to be, new store. As yet, the store wasn't ready, with only a few shelves set up.

One said to the other, “I bet any minute now some thick tourist is going to walk by, put his face to the window and ask what we're selling.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious Australian walked to the window, had a peek, and in a broad Australian accent asked, “What are you selling here?”

One of the men replied sarcastically, '”We're selling a***-holes.”

Without skipping a beat, the Australian said, “You’re doing well... Only two left!”

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