No 0823: July 10, 2008
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter sent to all GP practices
(with email addresses) within the
Editorial Urgent Alert
Chronic
Disease Management National Diabetes Week 2008
Campaign Resources, Life! Take action on Diabetes
Professional Development CPD events
HMR Dual
diagnosis - Dementia, depression and more
Immunisation Gardasil® vaccine pre-filled syringes, Pneumococcal septicaemia in a preterm baby, RotaTeq® Vaccine Administration, Cold chain breach summary report
Information
Management includes Medical Director tips and New on the
Web
Items of
interest Victorian
Statewide Referral Form + - call for GP testers, Clinical Visits to the
Cardiology Unit at the
News for
Practice Staff Preventing Osteoporosis and Reducing Fracture Risks, RCNA General Practice Nurse Conference, PapSmears
NPS Seminar
- Fat People Eat Too Much? The Ethics of Obesity, NPS Programs - Comings
& Goings!
Women’s Health The Royal Women's Hospital CPD event
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A person using the name Nicholas Daglas (34 years) has reportedly presented fraudulent letters, which purport to be from various medical practitioners at the Maroochy Waters Medical Practice in Maroochydore. The drug being sought in this case is Oxycontin.
This type of behaviour, using the details of real or fictitious interstate clinics, appears to be becoming more prevalent.
Please contact the Department of Human Services to provide details of any recent patients who are thought to be associated with this or similar behaviour and/or contact the police in the event you are consulted by the patient described above.
For further information and/or to report activities relating to this patient, please contact Justin on 9096 5062 or 1300 364 545
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Diabetes
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, or
contact Maria at mkambourakis@diabetesvic.org.au
ph: 9667 1747 or fax 9667
1778. A new website www.diabetesinfamilies.com.au
will go live to coincide with the launch of the campaign which will take place
in
Dr Virginia Boyden a GP member of the Division has been accredited to
deliver the Diabetes Australia-Victoria Life program which aims to prevent
people from developing type 2 diabetes. Patients must
be 50 years or over, have completed the Risk Assessment Test and been seen by a
GP to confirm their risk. The GP then refers the patient using the designated
referral form to a life program. The program requires that the patient attend 6
sessions of approximately 1.5 hours each. The first 5 sessions are fortnightly
over 3 months with a 6th session (review) at the 8th
month. Initially sessions will be conducted at the Northern Division’s office
on the corner of
Dr Boyden has vacancies in her first program commencing on Monday 28th July. For more detail contact Dr Boyden on 0417 104 060
If you require help in identifying patients who qualify for the program the
Division offers a search and identify program at your practice on request (PEN
audit tool or Medical Director). Contact
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Saturday August 16, 9am – 4.30pm (Refreshments and meal
provided) at John Scott Meeting House,
Meetings are held each Tuesday starting at 12.30 in the
Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor,
July 15 - Treatment of Burns in General Practice - Dr Jim Goutzamanis
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
Wednesday
16 July, 2008 12:10pm at John
Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4,
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Dual diagnosis - Dementia, depression and more... the Can Do program
Speakers: Prof Michael Woodward,
Case study – HMR substance abuse and an older person, HMRs, RMMRs (Items 900, 903)
Wednesday 6 August, 7.00pm - 9:00pm. Refreshments from 6:15pm. Main speaker 7.30pm at Northern Division Training Room.
Enquiries to Jenny Gowan on Tel. 8480 4611. Flyer.
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Gardasil vaccine for the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program will no longer be presented in vials. HPV vaccine from July 2008 will be presented in pre-filled syringes. Single packs and packs of 10 can be ordered for the vaccine program. The pre-filled syringes do not contain a needle for administration in the packaging.
The vaccine packs in singles and packs of 10 will be presented in packaging that will be considerably larger and take more space in the vaccine refrigerator than the packaging of the vials. The Immunisation Program recommends ordering vaccine stock for about one months use at a time. This will allow for good air circulation in the fridge and frequent turn over of the vaccines. The Gardasil vaccine catch-up program for girls and women aged 13 to 26 years ceases 30 June 2009. After this date the vaccine is no longer free for this age cohort.
A 14 month old preterm baby born at 26 weeks gestation presented with a
three week history of intermittent fevers, lethargy, poor oral intake and upper
respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms. Pneumococcus
bacteria were isolated from blood cultures. Intravenous antibiotics and fluids
were commenced and the baby quickly improved. This baby had received Prevenar (7vPCV) vaccine at two, four and six months of
age. The baby had not received the additional dose of Prevenar
vaccine at 12 months of age recommended for premature babies born less than 28
weeks gestation. An additional pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax
23) is recommended to be administered at four to five years of age to provide
added protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Preterm babies
born less than 32 weeks gestation or less than 2000 gram birth weight require
an additional dose of hepatitis B vaccine as they do not respond as well as
term babies. This baby should also have been given an additional dose of
hepatitis B vaccine at 12 months of age. Please refer to The Australian
Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, page 89, (iv) Preterm babies, for
further information.
Victorian IPD notification rates for vaccine age groups by serotype, January 2002 – May 2008
Recent data from ACIR indicates babies and children are receiving oral RotaTeq vaccine after the recommended cut-off age of 32.9 weeks (7.5 months). If a baby has not received the first dose of RotaTeq by the end of the 12th week no ‘catch-up’ doses should be administered. For further information please refer to The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, page 272; Adverse events (i) Intussusception (IS).
A summary of cold chain breach reports between January and June 2008 indicates that 82% of breaches related to vaccines exposed to high temperatures. Vaccines are recommended to be stored between 2˚C and 8˚C. A purpose built vaccine refrigerator is the preferred storage refrigerator. Further advice about vaccine storage can be found in the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines, Strive for 5: http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/provider-store
45% of cold chain breaches reported were from preventable causes. Breaches can usually be avoided by introducing simple measures such as:
• Sign over power point reading “Do not disconnect or turn off”
• Tilt the front of the fridge back slightly to assist the door closing
• Ensure when staff are absent, back up staff understand the vaccine management processes
• Domestic refrigerator shelves should be mapped for varying temperature ranges
• Check the accuracy of the Min/Max thermometer annually by doing an ice slurry test and battery replacement.
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Medical Director has a set of “supplied” templates which you access by clicking on the Supplied tab when opening a new template. You may wish that these appear in the User defined set of templates.
1. Open LetterWriter and from the File menu select Modify template.
2. Click on the Supplied tab
3. Double click on one of the templates (e.g. Vic – Statewide Referral Form Jan 06)
4. Make changes (if necessary)
5. From File menu select Save as template, type in the filename and then Save
Now when you select a New template the template will be in the User defined list.
Question: I want to add Vitamin B12 injection as “Reason for contact”. Should I use the “Free text (uncoded)” to do this?
Answer: No!! Go to the Progress Notes and click on the Reason button. From the coded picklist type in “b12” (without the quotes) and from the list select “B12 injection (given)”.
Remember to uncheck “Save in PMH” so that the only place it goes is the “Reason for Contact” in the Progress Notes.
1. Four Year Old Healthy Kids
-
2 MD templates for the Healthy Kids assessment, one with
- a Recall Letter to send out to eligible patients
Found
under IM Resources – Health Assessments
2. PEN First report template – this has been changed so you can record the dataset for each doctor of the practice. Found under Information Management – PEN.
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GPs are invited to participate in the testing of these templates and the activity will need to be completed by the middle of August.. The GP time commitment is two hours or less. The remuneration is $240 (2 x $120 per hour) and the work can be done at the GPs convenience. GPs will be required to:
· Use the provided mock patient data and the new electronic VSRF + template to generate 5 referrals for one type of clinic from your Medical Director. (i.e. either produce 5 maternity referrals, or 5 urology).
·
Reflect
on the referral process and data requirements and complete a questionnaire. The
key question is “Is the referral template useful, feasible and realistic?”
·
Provide
the printed referrals and completed questions to the project team.
All the templates and tools will be available on the NEVDGP website.
A/Prof. Omar Farouque, Director of Cardiology at Austin Health has offered the chance to 8 GPs to attend the unit on the following Thursday mornings…
July 17, August 14, August 21, September 25 & October 2. The limit is 2
GPs per visit. Start time at
about 10am. Attending GPs should come to Department of Cardiology, Level 5
North of the
GPs will see angiograms,
angioplasties (possibly even acute infarct angioplasties - unpredictable) and
in the echo lab, stress echocardiograms, transoesophageal
echocardiograms are also possible. If you can definitely attend one of
these dates ring
Should there be a significant interest additional dates will be available later in the year. Category 2 points apply at 2 points per hour of attendance.
A new elective Surgery Centre will open at Austin Health in July 2008. The centre is expected to treat 6000 elective surgery patients a year. Including surgical procedures in Urology, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Vascular, Breast and Plastics will be treated at the centre. It is anticipated this will decrease the waiting times for these patients to 10 weeks from the booking date. No emergency surgical procedures will be performed at the centre.
The centre is due for completion soon and will operate from Monday to Friday at the Repatriation Campus on the 1st floor of the Centaur building. The new centre includes four theatre suites (on the 2nd floor of the Old Pathology Building), one endoscopy suite, a recovery unit, 12 overnight short stay beds, a same day surgery ward, and a diagnostic infrastructure.
The current process of referring patients to the Outpatient Department for assessment and management is unchanged, fax referrals to 9496 2097, email gpopreferral@armc.org.au or mail to Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, 300 Waterdale Rd, Heidelberg Heights 3081.
If you have any questions or wish to view the centre, please contact Dr. Wendy Fisher, GP Liaison Officer, Austin Health - email wendy.fisher@austin.org.au or ph 9496 2681.
The purpose of the Healthy Kids Check is to ensure that every four year old
child in
The NEVDGP has produced:
·
2 MD templates for the assessment, one with
· Recall Letter to send out to eligible patients
Found under IM Resources – Health Assessments.
Steps you need to do
1. Order copies of the Get Set 4 Life – habits for healthy kids (max 100 copies) through resourcekits@health.gov.au.
2. Download the MD template from the NEVDGP website.
3. Download the Healthy Kids recall letter from the NEVDGP website.
4. Do a database search for all 4 year olds and mail merge with the recall letter
5. Train reception staff for enquiries, key points being:
- it is a one off
- kids MUST be immunised to be eligible (bring evidence of having received 4 y.o. immunisations)
- done before they attend school
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Preventing Osteoporosis and Reducing Fracture Risks –
Invitation to Practice Nurses
Dr
25-27 November
2008,
Enquires from nurses interested in presenting ‘Stories from the Frontline” should be directed to Toni Rice on trice@agpn.com.au or (02) 6228 0850.
If you wish to secure a copy of the previous publication of ‘Stories from the frontline’ please email Janina, noting your practice and the number of copies required.
Are you interested in becoming a PapSmear
Provider?
– there are three nurse Pap test training providers in
PapScreen
Advance notice! PapScreen
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Convened by Professor Jeffrey Zajac, Head, Dept of Medicine, Austin Health & Northern Health, Melb Uni.
With a contentious title, this seminar will explore the ethics of obesity from the personal, medical, social and commercial viewpoint. It will examine the widespread discrimination against obese individuals in all areas of life - including access to medical care. Is this problem to be fixed by social change, government policy, new drugs, better medical services or patient education? Nothing is clear. Session includes presentations followed by a lively panel discussion with the opportunity for audience participation, as well as afternoon tea.
Friday 25 July 2.00 – 5.00pm Sunderland
Lecture Theatre, ground floor
RSVP & Further information: mdhs-rsvp@unimelb.edu.au (03) 8344 9800 (free)
The current NPS program titled ‘Preventing Osteoporosis & Reducing Fracture Risk’ is due for completion this month. If you have not received a visit or case study meeting and are still interested in doing so, please contact the division immediately.
A NEW NPS visit program will commence in the months of July/August titled: Early use of Insulin & oral antidiabetic drugs. Both practice visits and case study meetings will be available. Regular recipients of NPS program participants will contacted by the division to schedule a meeting time.
If you are not a regular NPS program participant and would like an Osteoporosis
or Diabetes visit or alternatively an introductory visit to have the program
explained, please contact either Dr
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Management of Common Breast Symptoms, Lumps and Updates on Breast Screening
- Covers common breast issues seen in general
practice, including updates on breast screening and the place of breast MRI.
Brief hospital tour after session. Wednesday 16th July 7.30pm - 9.15pm
light refreshments from 7pm, at the New Royal Women’s Hospital.
RSVP: by 5 days prior on 8345 2064 or email ines.rio@thewomens.org.au.
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Please
note: only new ads, paid ads or resubmitted ads will be posted here. All other
ads can be found on the website
Doctors
Ivanhoe
Medical Clinic - sessions for female 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.
Royal
Children's Hospital - Seeking new GP consultant: Are you interested in
changing the world? Perhaps in making a difference at the interface
between general practice and the RCH for paediatrics in
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.
Practice
Staff
Ivanhoe - Part Time
RN Div 1 required for busy computerised GP Clinic. Shifts Thursday pm and Saturday
am plus ability to relieve as required. Must be computer literate and have the
ability to do Care Plans & assist with Health Assessments for
over 75 year olds would be an asset.
Post resume: Attention: Meri, Livingstone Street
Clinic,
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Go to the following site: http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/
1. For males - type your first name on the 1st line and a female friend’s name on the 2nd line – for females type your male friend’s name on 1st line and your name on 2nd line
2. Skip your e-mail address and the last line
3. Click on “VIZUALIZAR” and watch what happens ...
…& don’t ask us how they do that!
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