North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0819: June 12th, 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:

Chronic Disease Management         National Diabetes Week Resources, Refering patients to a Life! course         

Professional Development               CPD events          

Information Management                includes Medical Director tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                               Stepping Stones Psychology, Health Privacy, GP Network News      

News for Practice Staff                    Practice Managers’ Network Meeting, The Essentials Involved in the Asthma Cycle of Care   

Paediatrics                                      Updated parent info factsheets, Referrals to the RCH, Referrals for routine circumcision   

Positions vacant/wanted                     

Fun stuff                                              

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Chronic Disease Management

National Diabetes Week 2008 Campaign Resources

Diabetes Australia will launch a new campaign on Sunday 13 July to mark the beginning of National Diabetes Week 2008. The campaign will focus on family history and overweight or obesity as key risk factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. Your general practice can order a campaign kit to support practice-based awareness activities. The kit includes: Information sheets, poster, Diabetes data information, tape measures. To download your order form visit www.diabetesvic.org.au/

 (under Latest News & Research) or call 1300 136 588.

How to refer patients to a Life! Taking Action on Diabetes Course.

Life! is a six session lifestyle modification course that has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes by 58% in participants. To help your patient prevent diabetes, follow these 3 steps:

1. Assess - Encourage your patient to complete the Diabetes Risk Test (DRT) which can be accessed at www.diabeteslife.org.au or order copies by calling 9667 1756.

2. Test - If your patient scores above seven on the diabetes risk test, exclude type 2 diabetes, through a fasting blood glucose or oral glucose tolerance test (if not completed in the past 12 months). Recalculate your patient’s risk test score with results from the blood test (question seven).

3. Refer - Refer your patient to the Life! course if they:

  • Score 15 or above on the diabetes risk test
  • Are aged 50 years or above, or are an adult Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
  • Do not have type 2 diabetes

Further information on course content and referral forms can be found under ‘Life Courses’ at www.diabeteslife.org.au. Fax the referral form to one of the following local Life! providers: Debra Thorpe, Banyule Community Health Service, 21 Alamein Road, West Heidelberg Ph: 9450 2095 Fax: 9499 9475 or Maria Hyde, Linda Hammond and Melina Linardtos, Nillumbik Community Health Service, 917 Main Road, Eltham. Ph: 9430 9170 Fax: 9341 1333. Or to Diabetes Australia – Vic on 9667 1778.

For further information about the Life! Program, please contact Angie Deegan on 9341 5247 or a.deegan@gpv.org.au   

Please note: As per Department of Human Services requirements, participants are required to make a $50 co-payment towards the course fee. However, this fee will be waived for people with health care cards, pensioners, or on low to medium incomes as determined by the Health and Community Care (HACC) criteria.

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CPD

The Essentials Involved in the Asthma Cycle of Care (only 12 places left)

An invitation to GPs and Practice Nurses. The National Asthma Council Australia together with North East Valley invites you to participate in this workshop, to be held on Thursday 26th June, 6:30 pm to 9:00pm  at John Scott Meeting House, Latrobe University. Presenters: Dr Tom Foo, General Practitioner and Ms Del Lovett, Asthma Educator. This workshop will provide education and training specifically around evidence–based best practice asthma management. Each participant will receive resources covering the following topics: Adult Asthma, including the elderly, Device use, Asthma and COAPD, Paediatric asthma.  Further information and registration click here, or contact Janina on (03) 9496 4333

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

June 17 Current Status of Anti-Inflammatory Medications - Dr Lionel Schachma

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

Austin Health - Division of Medicine Grand Round

Department of Nephrology - “Prevention of Contrast Induced Nephropathy” Speakers: Dr Darren Lee, Renal Registrar, & Dr Peter Mount, Consultant, Department of Nephrology

Wednesday 18 June, 2008 12:10pm at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance Townsend Building

Opposite Medical Library - followed by lunch in Zeltner Hall at 1:00pm

Northpark Private Hospital - 2008 GP Education Series

Tuesday June 24 - Dr Eccelstein - Cardiac

Tuesday July 29 - Professor Anne Buist - General Psychiatric Day program and Mother Baby Day Program, Dealing with Manipulative Patients in General Practice

Tuesday August 26 - Mr Mark Baldwin - Skin Cancer and Plastic Surgery – Early Recognition, Biopsy and Pathology

Tuesday October 28 - Speaker TBC - Paediatric Surgery

Tuesday November 25 - Speaker TBC - Mental Health in Young Adults

Each session will be held at Rydges, 205 Bell Street Preston. At 7-9pm (6.30pm registration).

Contact: Jo Robertson, Business Development, Healthscope Psychiatry Victoria. 0409 939 332 or jo.robertson@healthscope.com.au

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Information Management

Finding those patients that haven’t been immunised with Gardasil (May 29, 2008)

In eNews No 0817 (2 week’s ago) the hint was for a search for female patients 18-26 not having a Gardasil injection. Although I tested this and it worked on my very small database, I have been reliably informed (by 4 people) that it doesn’t work. You will be able to use the PEN Clinical Audit Tool to do this with a new release later in the year, when it has an immunisation tab. My apologies if I have wasted your time.

Medical Director Tip - Using HCN Messenger to send messages between users

In MD3 there is a system called HCN Messenger which allows instant text-based communication between any practitioner or other users on the network such as nurses and practice staff. This is set up via HCN Maintenance:

·         Locate and double-click on the HCN Maintenance icon from your desktop.

·         Select the Database Tasks Common menu item.

·         Double-click on HCN Messenger.

·         Enter your Username and Password.

·         The HCN Messenger activates and an icon appears on the task bar.

You can now send messages between different users on the network.

This weeks IM problem - Continuing a saved health assessment

Question: I am a nurse and got halfway through a health assessment and ran out of time to complete it. How do I get back to it?

Answer: Do not open LetterWriter! Click on the Letters icon in the patient record (between Results and Old scripts).

This will show the patient’s documents (assessments, care plans, referrals, recalls etc) in chronological order. Double click on your name (not the document name) and this will open the document in LetterWriter. Now simply continue with the assessment, remembering to save and print at the end. When the GP needs to review the assessment s(he) goes through the same process as above. Once complete the GP will be prompted to overwrite the file or save it with a different name. S(he) should give it a different name, leaving your version intact and so keep an audit trail of the work done on the assessment.

New on the Web

1.   Emergency Triage Education Kit - produced by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. Found under Practice Support – Practice Managers’ Resources.

2.   Practice Managers’ Network Meeting Wednesday June 25.  Introducing Argus Secure messaging, working with diabetes “at risk” patients and SMS for recalls/reminders. Interested GPs and nurses welcome. Found under Calendar of Events.

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Items of Interest

Stepping Stones Psychology - Child and Adolescent Psychological Services

A new psychological service providing high quality support for children, adolescents, and families for a range of psychological issues. Please call us to discuss taking the first steps towards a brighter future. Dr Emma Little: 0400 570 865 at “Envitalize” 13 Grimshaw Street, Greensborough or Tracy Bentin: 0419 529 236 at 219  Glenlyon Rd, Brunswick  Email: steppingstonespsychology@bigpond.com  

Also on offer: Specialist consultation to preschools, childcare centres and schools to assist in the development of comprehensive programs or management plans; Supervision for APS college membership or professional development to psychologists and provisional psychologists: Workshops and Seminars - Individualised information and training sessions provided for schools, parent and community groups.

Health Privacy

5 new information sheets available from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner on Health Privacy. These sheets are intended to assist private sector health service providers in fulfilling a range of obligations under the Privacy Act 1988(Cth) relating to use, disclosure and individual access to health information. See the website http://www.privacy.gov.au/publications/index.html#I

GP Network News

This edition contains GP Super Clinics, Aged Care, GP Re-elected as AMA Treasurer, GP Honoured at National Conference, Snapshot of Australian Primary Health Care Research, General Practice Week Activities   Full version.

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News for Practice Staff

Practice Managers’ Network Meeting

Wednesday 25th June 7-9pm (registration and dinner from 6.30) at John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University. (Map) Topics include Argus Secure Electronic Clinical Messaging, Working with Diabetes ‘at risk’ patients and Using SMS for Recalls/Reminders. Presenters: Gary Tucek, Angie Deegan, Noel Stewart and NEVDGP Practice Managers. Contact Noel on 9496 4333 or see flyer.

The Essentials Involved in the Asthma Cycle of Care

An invitation to Practice Nurses – see under CPD

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Paediatrics

Updated parent info factsheets

Acne / Constipation / Fever / Haemangiomas / Hives / Insect bites and stings / Itcycosis / Mastocytosis / Medicines for children / Molluscum / Plagiocephaly / Rheumatology conditions / Scabies / Thalassaemia / Undescended testes / Warts … These and more great factsheets for parents have just been updated on Kids Health Info
Remember to add this website to ‘My Favourites’: www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo    

Referrals to the Royal Children’s Hospital
Typed referrals are easier for triage staff to read, especially after faxing. RCH accepts referrals on your own, the VSRF (Victorian State-wide Referral Form) or RCH templates. The RCH and VSRF 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 356To find a private general paediatric surgeon: Kids Connect online www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect see > "Find a paediatrician".

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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

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 or peterenten@bigpond.com  

Kensington Doutta Galla Community Health Centre Medical Clinic is seeking VR GPs, part-time and flexible sessions available. In addition to general medicine other areas include Mental Health; Youth, Young Adults; Refugee and CALD communities. Fully accredited and computerised practice with Nurse Support: Practice, Community Health, Refugee Health and Mental Health Nurses on staff. Attractive salary including salary packaging or percentage of billings (excluding PIP). Research and special interests supported. Please contact: Janina on (03) 8378 1621 or email: janina.desilva@dgchs.org.au 

Ivanhoe Medical Clinic - sessions for PT VR GP. Modern, large group with supportive colleagues and full time nurses, computerised, CDMs, mixed billing, flexible, friendly, no A/H, good remuneration. Contact Dr.Stephen Smith or Dr.David Doig on 03 9499 1245.

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Humour

Cliff Explains the Buffalo Theory

In one episode of 'Cheers', Cliff is seated at the bar describing the Buffalo Theory to his buddy, Norm.
Well you see, Norm, it's like this . . . A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

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