No 0830: August 28, 2008
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter sent to all GP practices
(with email addresses) within the
In this issue:
Aged Care Aged Care Access Initiative, Revise Your Aged Care Knowledge, Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Drug Trials, Palliative Care - What the GP needs to know
Chronic
Disease Management Strength Training and Diabetes, Support for patients with diabetes
Professional Development CPD events
HMR Wound
Healing in Older People
Immunisation Hiberix
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical Director
Tips and New on the Web
Items of
interest Bicycle
Victoria, GP Network News
Mental Health Seeking
referrals
News for Practice
Staff Nursing and midwifery
scholarships for re-entry and continuing professional education
Paediatrics RCH Clinical Services Directory
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Aged Care
Aged Care Access Initiative
Details of this new Commonwealth Government Initiative, which replaced the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative, are contained the guidelines which can be accessed at the link below. This updated version of the guidelines contains details of the GP incentive component. See in particular pages 5 and 6. The link to the update is here.
Revise Your Aged Care Knowledge with an Updated Educational Activity on GPLearning
Diagnosing and managing complex multiple pathologies is a major and growing general practice challenge in the care of older people in the community. The gplearning activity ‘Aged care part one multiple choice questions’ provides an interesting and interactive approach to help revise key issues in aged care. If you have 80% or more of the questions correct, you may print a certificate of completion which entitles you to two Category 2 QA&CPD points. To access this activity, visit http://www.gplearning.com.au or access via MyGeneralPractice.
Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Drug Trials
The Medical and Cognitive Research Unit (Austin and
BECC Series 2008 – Geriatrics for GPs
Palliative Care - What the GP needs to know: This session will provide you with up to date information on the current issues and practice in palliative care and provide assistance with your management of palliative care patients, including end of life issues, medications and support services.
Thursday 4 September 7-9pm (Registration & light refreshments 6:30pm) at Northern Division of General Practice training room.
Enquires to Jenny Dale on 8480 4610. Flyer on the website.
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Chronic Disease Management
Strength Training and Diabetes
The benefits of strength training on diabetes management are well documented. Deakin University in conjunction with Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute are conducting the Strength TRaining ONGoing (STRONG) study which aims to test the effectiveness of telephone support and guidance on assisting people who have, or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain a strength training program. The STRONG study is being launched at Functional Training Perspectives Group (98 Railway Ave, Ringwood East) on Sat 6th September 8.30am-12noon and at ESSFIT (1441 Main Rd, Eltham) on Sat 6th September 11am-3pm. All are welcome to attend and receive a free diabetes check. For further information please email Michelle Jorna.
Support for patients with diabetes
Patients who are supported in their own diabetes management have better health outcomes than those who are not. Your patients can benefit from the education and information provided in an inclusive environment amongst peers, family and carers via a Diabetes Support Group. For a list of support groups visit the DA–Vic website at www.diabetesvic.org.au and follow the support group link. For further information about the Community Network Program, please contact Sandra Leone on 03 9667 1721 or email sleone@diabetesvic.org.au. For information specific to type 1 diabetes support groups, please contact Kim Henshaw on 03 9667 1761 or email khenshaw@diabetesvic.org.au
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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
September 2 - Diagnosis & Management of Chronic Renal Disease - Dr Jonathan Snider.
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
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HMR
Wound Healing in Older People
Speakers: Prof Geoff Sussman, Wound Management Foundation,
Making HMRs, RMMRs (Items 900, 903) work
Wednesday 3 September 7-9pm. Refreshments from 6:30pm. Main speaker 7.30pm. At Northern Division Training Room.
Enquiries to Jenny Gowan on Tel. 8480 4611. Flyer on the website.
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Immunisation
Hiberix
Just a reminder to get your Hiberix
orders in now to ensure that you
have stocks available by 1 September 2008. Please fax your vaccine order to 1300 768 088 or email to immunisation@dhs.vic.gov.au
When do you use Hiberix vaccine?
Check firstly that the child has received Infanrix hexa as part of the six
month schedule and is up to date with all vaccines:
YES à
Give Hiberix vaccine at 12
months of age
NO à
Give Comvax vaccine at 12 months of age
UNSURE à Please call
the Immunisation Program on 1300 882 008 for
further advice
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Information Management
General Computer Tip - Google Maps Street
Chances are that there is a photo of your medical practice (or your house) on Google Maps Street View. Go into Google, click on the Maps link. By typing in your full address a map will appear showing a thumbnail photo of your house. Click on the Street View link to enlarge the photo and use the navigation tools to get a better view. Click on Full Screen for an even bigger picture. The thumbnail photo of your house won’t appear if your location isn’t on the Street View of Google Maps.
Medical Director Tip - Finding which progress notes have diagrams
In your Progress Notes the Diagrams button is greyed out and only becomes “active” when there is a diagram or diagrams attached to a particular progress notes. Clicking on each past progress note and seeing if the Diagrams button becomes active is an inefficient way of finding diagrams. Instead, click on the Search button of the Progress notes and type in bitmap. Any Progress Note that has a diagram will now be listed in red.
This weeks IM problem - What do the symbols mean under the # column
Question: In the MD3 medication screen what do the Ls and C stand for?
Answer: Medications with an icon in the # column will be printed once only. Variations in this column include:
|
|
A drug prescribed as a limited medication (prescribed for a limited period
of time and/or treatment) |
|
|
A drug prescribed as a limited medication that has expired |
|
|
A compliance warning for a long-term medication (prescribed for a
undefined period of time and/or treatment) that has elapsed. If the product
was supplied elsewhere, compliance checking does not apply |
New on the Web
1. Austin Health Neuroscience Laboratory Referral - a Medical Director template found under IM Resources – MD templates (Hospital Referrals).
2. Business modelling by
analysing item number usage – excel spreadsheets that allow you to check income
from chronic disease and nurse item numbers – found under Information Management –
Practice Health Atlas
3. Number
Crunch - a reprint of an article by
4. NEVDGP
Associate Membership Form – for PMs and PNs, this application form has been
updated to have the correct phone number. Found under Practice
Support Division Associate Membership Form
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Items of Interest
Bicycle Victoria
Bicycle
GP Network News
This edition contains: GPs get the big thumbs up from patients; AMA Federal Council backs GPs’ concerns on funding for general practice programs; AMA puts its case on primary health care reform to the 2008 Australian Health Congress; Safety review of medicinal products that contain rosiglitazone. Full version.
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Mental Health
Seeking referrals
for group program for teens of parents with mental health issues. Age group:
12-18years Time: 6-7.30pm for 8 weeks (Term 3) Day of week: to be worked out by
participants. Venue; NEAMI
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News for Practice Staff
Nursing and midwifery scholarships for re-entry and continuing professional education
The Australian Government this week called for eligible nurses and midwives
across
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Paediatrics
RCH Clinical
Services Directory - NEW!
Launched 13th August 2008 - the RCH Clinical Services Directory where you can look up services by keyword, clinic name or specialty. Each clinic links to pre-referral guidelines, parent information factsheets and other online useful tools and resources where available.
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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
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
Broadmeadows - Mental Health Nurse, Registered Nurse, Grade 4 - Full Time or Job Share considered. Fantastic opportunity to move into community mental health after working in inpatient services and gaining knowledge/understanding of services offered. We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated and innovative Mental Health Nurse to work closely with GPs and other health providers in delivering therapeutic, best practice mental health services. For further information see www.dianella.org.au or ring Roslyn Borg on 8345 5399 or 0402 425 109. Email application to: joseph.mizzi@dianella.org.au. Closing date Friday 15th Sept.
Bundoora - Part time position available for experienced receptionist to work for medical centre. Practice 2000 SQL and Medical Director 2.94 experience preferred. Must be flexible and may be required to work occasional weekends. Shifts: Monday 10am to 6pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2pm to 6pm. Must be friendly and willing to work within a supportive team environment. Please e-mail - Nadia Dalla Riva - Nadia587@bigpond.com.au
Thornbury - Practice Manager
required for busy fully Accredited, computerised Practice of 5 GP's.
Hours and salary negotiable. For more details please contact Faye
Stokes 9484 2580 or, if you are interested in applying, email resume to dundasdr@bigpond.net.au.
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Humour
75+ health check
An 80 year old presented to her doctor for her annual 75+ health check. Once completed, the doctor suggests that she encourage her husband to come in for his free health check as well.
“Just make sure he brings along a urine sample, a stool sample and a sperm sample”, says the doctor.
“That’s easy,” replied the wife, “he can bring a pair of his underpants”.
(Thanks to one of the NEVDGP board members for this contribution)
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