North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0827: August 7, 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:

Aged Care                                       Government-Subsidised Aged Care Services           

Professional Development               CPD events          

Immunisation                                   Immunisation Catch-up Guide, SMS Reminders for Gardasil 

Information Management                includes General Computer Tips, Medical Director Tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                               MBS Items for Comprehensive Cancer Care, Expert Guide - Nutrition and Wound Healing, Do You Have Patients Who Have Trouble Sleeping?  GP Network News

News for Practice Staff                    Diabetes Update, APNA 2008 Best Practice Awards, Participants required for a survey, ADGP Nursing News, RCNA General Practice Nurse Conference, General Practice Nurse Leadership Program

NPS                                                 RADAR August 2008

Women’s Health                              Billings LIFE – Leaders In Fertility Education, Educational Updates by Victorian Cytology   

Positions vacant/wanted                     

Fun stuff                                              

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Aged Care

Government-Subsidised Aged Care Services

Information for patients (including multilingual) regarding aged care topics can be found at http://www.culturaldiversity.com.au/. Look under ‘Multilingual Resources’ > ‘Options in Aged Care’ for an easy to read description of government-subsidised aged care services, community care (HACC, CACP, EACH), respite care and residential care. The English version is available here too.

 

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CPD

Term 3 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

August 12 - Peripheral Vascular Disease  - Dr Henry Zeimer

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Austin Health - Division of Medicine Grand Round

Department of Endocrinology - “Endogenous and Exogenous Hypoglycaemia”. Speakers: Dr Sarah Pattison – Endocrinology Registrar & Assoc. Prof Richard MacIsaac, Consultant Endocrinologist. Wednesday 13 August, 12:10pm at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance Townsend Building, Opposite Medical Library - followed by lunch in Zeltner Hall at 1:00pm

 

Balint Groups in General Practice Training

The Balint Society of Australia invites you to a scientific meeting at “Glen Nevis”, 18 Erin St., Richmond

Tuesday, August 19, 8-9.30pm. Our guest speakers from the U.S.A. will be Donald Nease, B.A., M.D. and Frank Dornfest, M.D.

Admission $15 or $10 for Balint Society of Australia members. RSVP to Bill Betts, on williambetts@bigpond.com  or call 9819 1781 by August 10.

For information about the Balint Society of Australia, please go to www.balintaustralia.org

 

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Immunisation

Immunisation Catch-up Guide

The Quick Guide Catch-up for immunisation of people with no immunisation history has been updated and is now available on the Immunisation Program web site at:

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/240868/quickguidecatchup_08.pdf

The Guide has been updated with Infanrix hexa and Hiberix vaccines and dTpa vaccine as the first dose for a primary course of vaccine in people 8 years and over.

 

SMS Reminders for Gardasil

The cervical cancer website at: http://www.cervicalcancer.com.au/ provides a free SMS service to remind patients for their second and third Gardasil injections. Once on the site, click on the middle box on the left hand side that says “Free SMS/email reminders”. From there, patients (or clinic staff) can enter their details to receive reminders. An ideal time to register patients is post-vaccination before patients leave the clinic. It is a free service for the clinic and the patient and will be very helpful for those clinics that do not have the facility with their software to send SMS reminders. Further information c/- CSL Biotherapies: Nicci Green, Vaccine Account Representative (Part time – Tues. & Wed.) Mobile: 0447 533 790 Email: nicci.green@csl.com.au or Nadine Francis, Vaccine Account Representative (Part time – Wed, Thur, Fri) Mobile: 0422 000 308 Email: nadine.francis@csl.com.au

 

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Information Management

General Computer Tips - Windows Computer Tips - How to capture a screen

This is also known as a screen dump. Sometimes you want to capture a dialogue box and then insert it into a Word document. You could also capture an error message that has appeared on your screen and email it to the IT person.

1. Make sure the F Lock key is on (if you have one).

2. Press the PrtScn key, which is usually located just to the right of your <F12> function key – this takes a snapshot of your whole screen and stores it in memory (just like you have done a Copy).

3. Better still is to hold down the Alt key while you press the PrtScn key – this takes a snapshot of your active window only, instead of the whole screen, which could be an open dialogue box (including an error message)

4. Open Word and select Paste (Edit >Paste or Control + V) - this “dumps” the graphic into Word.

Please note: You may wish, firstly, to paste the graphic into the Paint program to manipulate and then Copy and Paste into Word

 

Medical Director Tip - Adding multiple measurements to a referral

If you wish to add BP, Height and Weight measurements to a referral you can do this in a very simple way.

1.   Insert the cursor where you want to insert the BP, Height and Weight measurements.

2.   From the View menu select Data Toolbar (or Control + D).

3.   Click on the + sign next to Clinical Details in the Data Toolbar and then double click on Measurements to display all the Measurements (as shown opposite).

4.   Click on BP (Sitting), hold down the Control key and then click on Height. Keep holding the Control key and scroll to the bottom and click on Weight (this is called a non-contiguous selection). Let go the Control key and then press OK. The fields will then be place in your referral template as displayed below.

 

Date

BP (Sitting)

Height

Weight

3/06/1999

120/70

190

77

4/08/2008

125/72

190

79

Please note: the gridlines won’t print.

 

This weeks IM problem - How to record past history items

Question: I am interested in reading about suggestions to help decide what goes into the past history versus what should just stay as "reason for visit" so that we can get some consistency across the practice.  Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: I suggest you download a cheat sheet from the NEV website “Histories and summaries cheat sheet” found at Information Management > IM resources > “How to sheets”. This “cheatsheet” explains how to record history and reason for contact items. How this works need to be understood (and adhered to) by everyone!

To be more specific my suggestion is this:

1.   If it is an important history item (such as Asthma) leave the first occurrence of a condition or diagnosis as a summary item in the patient’s history and any subsequent visits for that reason could be recorded as “Reason for Contact” in the Progress Notes (remove the tick from Save in PMH). This saves clutter in the past history lists and avoids repetition of the same condition, e.g. asthma occurring 10 times in the history list of a referral.

2.   If it is a less important item (such as URTI) you may wish to leave all occurrences in the past history but leave a tick off the Summary box – this way you can quickly see recurring infections but they won’t print in a history summary. Or you may wish to leave such occurrences only in the Progress Notes and recorded as “Reason for Contact”.  A team meeting is best to discuss and try and get this process understood and adhered to by all clinicians. The key is, of course, to have consistency by all clinicians.

 

New on the Web

1. New Medical Director templates:

            - new improved recall letter, includes the date of the recall. Under Other templates

            - referral to Eye and Ear Hospital. Under Hospital referrals

Found under IM Resources – MD templates

 

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Items of Interest

MBS Items for Comprehensive Cancer Care

Cancer Australia through the Cancer Service Networks National Demonstration Program, (CanNET) has developed a resource – Medicare Summary Sheet to facilitate the delivery of comprehensive cancer care. The four page summary sheet summarises the available MBS items and their associated claim requirements. Pages three and four have been designed to be used as a stand alone reference guide to assist health care providers involved in cancer multidisciplinary case conferencing to better utilise the reimbursement items. The resource can be downloaded here.

 

Expert Guide - Nutrition and Wound Healing

A new evidence-based resource on Nutrition and Wound Healing has been developed by a group of Australian experts in wound care and nutrition. This Expert Guide presents the evidence for the role of nutrition in healing and provides practical guidance for wound management. “Evidence shows that nutritional support needs to be considered a fundamental part of wound management and while this is a simple way to help manage non-healing wounds, until now there has been no clear and simple information available in one resource” (Associate Professor Michael Woodward, Geriatrician, Austin Hospital Victoria, President, Australian Wound Management Association). For a free copy of the Nutrition and Wound Healing Guide call 1800 671 628.

 

Do You Have Patients Who Have Trouble Sleeping?

A clinical trial of a new experimental drug treatment vs placebo is being conducted at The Institute for Breathing and Sleep at the Austin Hospital.

     Are they aged 18 years or over?

     Have they had trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep for at least 3 months?

     Are they otherwise reasonably healthy?

If you are interested, please contact Jenny Kaiser on: 03 9496 3876 or jennifer.kaiser@austin.org.au. This study has been approved by the Austin Health Human Research Ethics Committee

 

GP Network News

This edition contains Clarification of Level C and D MBS Items with a link to Fact Sheets. Full version.

 

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News for Practice Staff

Diabetes Update for Busy Practice Nurses (only 25 places available at each session, you are welcome to attend both or just one which is of interest)

Session 1 (Introductory) Thursday 18th September Topics covered: What is diabetes, possible complications, MBS Item Numbers (including new item numbers), Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care, Use of Medical Director and the PEN Clinical Audit Tool, Self Monitoring and Practical Sessions with Glucometers.

Session 2 (Follow up) Thursday 25th September Topics covered: Current Management of Diabetes, Medications, Self Management, Footcare, Practical session with Insulin Pens and Monofilaments

Both sessions: 6.30pm – 9.00pm at John Scott Meeting House. To register download invitation

These workshops will provide education and training specifically around evidence based best practice diabetes management. Please note that these two sessions are one week apart.  For further information contact Janina or telephone 9496 4333.  

 

The Australian Practice Nurses Association 2008 Best Practice Awards Applications Are Now Open!
The APNA 2008 Best Practice Awards seeks to identify and pay tribute to those nurses working in general practice who are ‘champions’ in any one of the award categories. The Awards are open to all APNA members who can either be nominated by their peers or self-nominated. All nominations are judged by an independent panel of industry experts and the two finalists for each Award are invited to attend the APNA Best Practice Awards Presentation Dinner, where the winners are announced. The Presentation Dinner is attended by practice nurses, sponsors, government officials and other key stakeholders with an interest in practice nursing. In 2008 the Best Practice Awards will be offered in six categories:

·         Immunisation

·         Chronic Disease Management

·         Innovation and Commitment to Nursing in General Practice

·         Wound Management

·         Women’s Health

·         Quality Improvement

The winner of each Award category will receive between $1000 - $5000 to contribute towards the further development of their careers. Please see the nomination forms for each Award for further terms and conditions http://www.apna.asn.au

 

Participants required for a survey on Education and Career Pathways in Primary Care Nursing

Dr Rhian Parker and Professor Helen Keleher of Monash University are conducting a pilot project on education and career pathways for primary care nurses. The project will seek the views of primary care nurses about what education and career pathways would be attractive to them to encourage them to stay in the primary care setting. If you are a nurse working in general practice or primary care, are you willing to spend 30 minutes completing an anonymous survey? Would you like to be one of 100 nurses who complete the survey to receive a $20 gift voucher? If you are willing to complete the survey please contact Rhian Parker on rhian.parker@med.monash.edu.au. AGPN is pleased to provide support for this exciting project.

 

ADGP Nursing News August 2008

This edition includes: - Special Ceremony to acknowledge the first cohort of Graduates in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (General Practice), RCNA General Practice Nurse Conference, National Introduction to general practice nursing program and National Skills Based Orientation Program for nurses new to general practice; Development and Delivery of an e - Learning Training Package to Support Medicare Item 10997; National Resource Library (NRL); Advertisement for recruiting participants for a survey on Education and Career Pathways in Primary Care Nursing; MBS Items for Comprehensive Cancer Care; Expert Guide – Nutrition and Wound Healing

 

RCNA General Practice Nurse Conference

The 2008 RCNA General Practice Nurse Conference will be held from 25-27 November at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour. Abstracts are now being called for. Please note the deadline for abstracts has now been extended to 8 August. http://www.rcna.org.au/UserFiles/file/RCNA%20GPN%20CFA%20for%20email.pdf    

 

General Practice Nurse Leadership Program

The 2008 General Practice Nurse Leadership Program has generated strong interest. The program is specifically targeted at nurses who are engaged in primary health care services, being: nurses employed in private and public general practices; and nurses employed by Divisions of General Practice. The course recognises the current substantial growth and development of the Australian general practice nurse workforce. It aims to develop their leadership skills, to enable their effective involvement in the planning and delivery of primary care services and the development of their profession. Further information email Lesley: l.czulowski@gpv.org.au

 

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NPS

RADAR August 2008

A new edition of RADAR is available on line at http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/publications/nps_radar/issues/current/august_2008

Reviews include:

- Sitagliptin (Januvia) for type 2 diabetes (new product PBS listed AUG 2008) 

- Memantine (Ebixa) for dementia in moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease (new product PBS listed JUL 2008)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for major depressive disorder (new product PBS listed JUN 2008)

- Escitalopram (Lexapro, Esipram) for generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder (social phobia) (new indications PBS listed AUG 2008)

Brief articles on: Zolpidem; Change to methotrexate pack sizes due to safety concerns; Rivastigmine (Exelon) patch PBS listed for Alzheimer's disease; Lercanidipine with enalapril (Zan-Extra) fixed-dose combination tablets PBS listed for hypertension; Palliative care drugs added to the Emergency Drug (Doctor's Bag) Supplies

 

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Women’s Health

Billings LIFE – Leaders In Fertility Education

Menarche to Menopause – Health Advantages of Monitoring Fertility: A seminar for Health Professionals – Saturday, 30th August, 9.30 - 4.30 at Metropole Hotel, 44 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Presented by Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia Ltd  (OMR&RCA).  OMR&RCA has applied once more to be an approved Accredited Provider with the RACGP. General Practitioners attending this Active Learning Module will be eligible to receive 40 Category 1 (Women’s Health) points in the RACGP QA&CPD Program (points approval pending). For further information and booking: ph 1800 335 860 fax: 03) 9887 8572 or email: thebillingsmethod@woomb.org. Click here for flyer.

 

Educational Updates by Victorian Cytology

Pap Test Guidelines & Technique, HPV Etiology and Vaccine plus Chlamydia & other STI’s - these sessions can be tailored to suit individual clinic needs or small learning groups and are presented by Sexual Health Physicians, Dr Stella Heley or Dr Siobhan Bourke. 

Education is free of charge – please call Lyndal on 03 9250 0360 or 0407 363 822 or email lritchie@vcs.org.au

 

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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

           

Ivanhoe Medical Clinic - sessions for PT or FT 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.

Practice Staff

Ivanhoe - Part Time RN Div 1 required for computerised  friendly GP Clinic. Shifts Thursday 4.30 pm- 7pm and Saturday 8.30am-12pm. Ability to relieve as required times flexible. Preferably computer literate and have the ability to do care plans & assist with Health Assessments for over 75 year olds would be an asset, training available, we pride ourselves on being a family friendly practice. Post resume: Attention Meri, Livingstone Street Clinic, 9 Livingstone St, Ivanhoe. 3079  or email to admin@livstclinic.aushealth.biz Ph 9497 1188

Positions wanted

Diabetes Educator in Diamond Creek Area - Anna (Linda) Zingg is a qualified provider of diabetes self management education and a credentialed Diabetes Educator. She works from the Diamond Creek Medical Centre, providing individual consultation. She is also a recognised DVA and Medicare provider. Bulk bill only. She will provided people with the knowledge, skills and motivation to effectively manage their condition and works with other members of the health team and provide feedback to achieve mutually agreed clinical targets. More information or referral contact Anna on 9438 1911.

 

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Humour

Leather

When a woman wears leather clothing, a man's heart beats quicker, his throat gets dry, he goes weak in the knees and he begins to think irrationally.

Ever wonder why?

Because she smells like a new ute!       

 

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