North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0839: November 13, 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                                       Postgraduate Studies in Ageing

Chronic Disease Management      Telephone Interpreting service for CALD communities 

Professional Development           CPD events         

HMR                                                Increase in HMR Item 900         

Immunisation                                 Health (Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 

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

Items of interest                            New Medicare items related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, GP Network News, BECC waiting times      

Mental Health                                Our words and their music: a Balint perspective for clinicians, Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice

News for Practice Staff                 Final end of year sessions for Practice Nurses and Practice Managers, New Medicare items related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

NPS                                                 Last audit open for enrolment, Now visiting on type 2 diabetes

Paediatrics                                     New GP Consultants at the Royal Children’s Hospital  

Positions vacant/wanted                

Fun stuff                                            

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Aged Care

Postgraduate Studies in Ageing

LaTrobe University is offering new gerontology courses in the field of ageing. The courses are focused on the knowledge and skills needed to work in the aged care field. These courses are relevant to a wide range of professionals including health and welfare administrators, medical practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals. LaTrobe are offering both a Graduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology, developing the student’s knowledge and skills for promoting a positive approach towards working with and improving the quality of services for older people.

For enquires please contact Ms Jane Schleiger, Postgraduate Administrative Officer, AIPC on 03 9479 5828 email: j.schleiger@latrobe.edu.au or visit LaTrobe University.

 

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Chronic Disease Management

Telephone Interpreting service for CALD communities

Diabetes Australia – Vic is committed to providing vital information and support to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD). If you have CALD patients asking about diabetes, whether it is prevention or management, please be aware that you can refer them to the Diabetes Australia - Vic Multilingual Infoline telephone numbers which connects the caller with an interpreter and a DA–Vic health professional (Diabetes Educator, Dietitian and/or Advocacy Officer).

This service is FREE and easy to use. Please refer to direct telephone numbers below:

·        Arabic                                      9321 5428

·        Chinese                                   9321 5429

·        Greek                                       9321 5430

·        Italian                                      9321 5431

·        Turkish                                    9321 5432

·        Vietnamese                             9321 5433

·        Other CALD languages           9321 5438

 

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CPD

Term 4 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

November 18 - Management of Fractures in General Practice - Mr Cameron Norsworthy

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Starting out in general practice – What you need to know from a financial, insurance and employment perspective

Sunday 23 November 2008 - The RACGP New Fellows Committee is conducting a family-friendly education seminar at the Royal Melbourne Zoo to assist new Fellows who are starting out in general practice. This seminar will provide information from practice owners, financial experts, insurance experts, GP supervisors and other new Fellows. It will also draw on the RACGP Employment Kit. Bring your family for an afternoon of socialising and interactive education. For more information contact Victoria Faculty Events on 03 8699 0563 or email vic.events@racgp.org.au. Click here for flyer and registration.

 

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HMR

Increase in HMR Item 900

Please note a small increase in HMR Item 900 (HMR/DMMR) remuneration for GPs. For a copy of the key concise document click here.

Or contact Jenny Gowan PhD, HMR Facilitator on 8480 4600

 

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Immunisation

Health (Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

All GPs in Victoria are currently being sent a letter from the Communicable Disease Prevention & Control unit of DHS regarding the Health (Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. The amendments to the regulations are as follows:

·        List varicella-zoster virus infection (chickenpox and herpes zoster) as a Group B notifiable disease.

·        Add the collection of country of birth and if born overseas, year of arrival in Australia to Schedule 4 of the regulations.

·        Amend the school exclusion table (schedule 6) for Influenza contacts to read “Not excluded unless considered necessary by the Secretary”.

The amendments will assist in the effective evaluation of the varicella vaccination program, result in the ability to better identify the health needs of new arrivals in Victoria, and improve the management of pandemic influenza in the school community, should a pandemic arise. Further information and a fact sheet are contained within the letter

It is also clearly details for GPs their obligations in notifying cases of infectious diseases within Victoria. Further information on what and how to notify can be found on the IDEAS (Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance) website.

 

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Information Management

General Computer Tip - Adding sites to the Links toolbar

The Links bar is located next to the Address bar in Internet Explorer, and is a convenient place to add links to a few Web pages that you use frequently. Much better than using Favourites. Just click the link to display the page.

You can add a page to the Links bar in a variety of ways:

Drag the icon for the page from your Address bar to your Links bar.

Drag a link from a Web page to your Links bar.

Drag a link to the Links folder in your Favorites list.

Note:

1.   If the Links bar does not appear on the toolbar, on the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Links.

2.   You also can organize your links by dragging them to a different location on the Links bar.

3.   You can rename a link by right clicking on the “link” and select Rename. Deleting a link uses the same method.

 

Medical Director Tip - Modifying summaries

The Summaries menu in a patient file provide many quick and useful summaries, ranging from Limited history to Complete Record. When you select a Summary it opens in LetterWriter and when you close it, it takes you back to the patient record. You are able to modify these Summaries:

1.   Open LetterWriter and from the File menu select Modify template

2.   Click on the Summaries tab and select the template you wish to change

3.   Once the changes are complete form the File menu select Save.

When you later go back into the Summaries from the patient record these changes will be there.

 

This weeks IM problem - Changing misspelt immunisations

Question: The doctors are typing the immunisation names themselves instead of choosing from the drop down list. The result is a mess. How do I fix it?

Answer: In MD3 open HCN Maintenance and under Database Tasks select Medical Director. Click on Merge Search Lists and then the Immunisation List tab. Select the “bad” immunisations on the left panel and then click on the correct immunisation spelling in the right panel and then click on Change.

In MD2 it is similar. Maintenance > Data Management > Merge Search Lists.

 

New on the Web

1.   NEVDGP 2008 Annual report - found under About Us/Contact Us

2.   Increase in HMR Item 900 – found under Program support/ HMR

 

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Items of Interest

New Medicare items related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

Introduced from 1 November 2008, these new items will allow people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who have had a health assessment to access Medicare benefits for follow-up services provided for and on behalf of GPs by practice nurses and registered Aboriginal Health Workers (item 10987), and by eligible Allied Health Professionals on referral from a GP (items 81300 – 81360).

The new items include:

Item 10987

·        Follow-up services provided by a practice nurse for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients. Please note that Aboriginal Health Workers in Victoria are not able to claim this item.

·        5 services per patient per calendar year

·        $22.20 Medicare rebate per service

·        Patient has received a Health Check (eg Item 704, 706, 708 or 710)

Items 81300 – 81360

·        Follow-up Allied Health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

·        5 services per patient per calendar year

·        $48.95 Medicare rebate per service

·        Patient has received a Health Check (eg Item 704, 706, 708 or 710)

·        Referral from a GP is required (using the attached referral form)

·        Each session is individual and at least 20 minutes duration

·        These items are in addition to EPC Allied Health services (items 10950 – 10970)

·        Allied Health Professional must be registered with Medicare Australia.

·        For the purposes of this item, Aboriginal Health Workers in Victoria are able to claim item 81300 (Cert III or higher and registered with Medicare Australia).

More information and resources can be found at www.health.gov.au/epc.

 

GP Network News

The latest edition can be found here.

 

BECC waiting times

Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions are currently approximately Gem 1-3 days Rehab 1-3 days as of 12/11/08.  Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109

 

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Mental Health

Our words and their music: a Balint perspective for clinicians

The Balint Society of Australia invites you to this workshop on November 29 2008 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (morning tea provided) at 400 Tooronga Rd., Hawthorn East. Our guest from the U.K. will be Herbert Hahn. This meeting will be submitted to the RACGP QA & CPD program for Category 2 points for the 2008/2010 triennium. The outcome of this application will be published at a later date. Admission $15 or $10 for Balint Society of Australia members. RSVP would be appreciated for catering purposes to Ruth Dunn on 9429 0612 or email ruthdunn@ozemail.com.au  by 25/11/2008. Visit  www.balintaustralia.org for information about the Balint Society of Australia.

 

Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice

A distance education unit of study offered by The NSW Institute of Psychiatry & NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre. Scholarships are available for GPs practising anywhere in Australia. Semester begins February 23, 2009 for 15 weeks. Applications from GPs in rural and remote areas are encouraged. Scholarship applications close February 7, 2009. Application pending for RACGP points. Contact: Chandrani at the TMHC on (02) 9840 3800 or the Administrator, General Practice at the IOP on (02) 9840 3833.

 

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News for Practice Staff

Final end of year session for Practice Nurses

Tuesday November 18,   6.30 – 9pm (dinner provided) - Work/Life Balance – Looking after yourself. This workshop will include ideas on how to rejuvenate and help you to consider the importance of your own health and well-being. Guest speaker: Del Lovett, RN, Practice Nurse Leader. At John Scott Meeting House, Latrobe University. Contact Janina on 9496 4333 [Application Form]

 

Practice Managers final meeting for 2008

Thursday 4th December 6.30-9pm (dinner provided) - “Celebrating Success" & "Comedy from the bedside". At John Scott Meeting House, Latrobe University. Contact Noel on 9496 4333 [Flyer]

 

New Medicare items related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

See under Items of Interest

 

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NPS

Last audit open for enrolment

The last NPS/QUM clinical audit available for the QPI year: 1 May 2008 - 30 April 2009 titled ‘Optimising management of type-2 diabetes’ is now open for enrolment. You can enrol online on the NPS website or you may download an audit form here.  Audit enrolment closes on Friday January 9th 2009. Note: 1/ this is an electronic audit only & 2/ completed audits must be received by the NPS by 30th April 2009 for the current QPI Cycle.

 

Now visiting on type 2 diabetes (program ends December 2008)

The ‘Early use of insulin & oral antidiabetic drugs’ in type 2 diabetes’ program provides an opportunity to discuss up-to-date, independent, evidence-based information on insulin initiation, particularly in combination with oral therapy; strategies to overcome patient barriers to insulin use; the importance of continued lifestyle interventions in slowing or preventing disease and looks at recent glitazone safety updates.

Benefits include: 1/ a personal update with an NPS Facilitator at a time/place convenient to you - practice visit approx 30 - 40 minutes duration. 2/ a small group interactive case study discussion with your peers: case study meeting approx 50 - 60 minute duration (min of 3 GPs) & 3/ RACGP QA & CPD category 2 points (total 2 points) & QPI PIP credit

To order visits contact Dr Mary Levidiotis (mary@nevdgp.org.au) or Ms Melanie Hay (melanie.hay@nevdgp.org.au).

 

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Paediatrics

New GP Consultants at the Royal Children’s Hospital

Welcome Dr Jennifer Anderson, GP Consultant (Primary Care Liaison) and Dr Alexis Butler, GP Consultant (GP Education) to Kids Connect, the Royal Children’s Hospital Primary Care Liaison program.  Jennifer’s role is to ensure the GP perspective is a part of relevant RCH activities and planning; Alexis is setting up a GP education and up-skilling program for paediatrics – both alongside Susan Jury.  See Kids Connect (GP Liaison): www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect / Tel: 9345 4645.

 

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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

Northcote area Part time Div 1 Practice Nurse required to assist our medical staff in a busy general practice. Duties include wound care, travel health, immunisatons, health assessments, patient triage and all other duties required in a general practice.Commencement date can be negotiable. Visit our website www.doctorsofnorthcote.com for more information or call Diane Cronin 03 9481 1214. To apply forward your resume to manager@doctorsofnorthcote.com

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Humour

Investment Advice

If you had purchased $1000.00 of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.00.
With Enron, you would have $16.50 left of the original $1000.00.
With WorldCom, you would have less than $5.00 left.
If you had purchased $1000 of Delta Air Lines stock you would have $49.00 left.

BUT, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer/wine one year ago, drank it all and then turned in the cans/bottles for the recycling REFUND, you would have $214.00.

 

Need I say more?

 

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And remember……

 

            ….. it may be that your sole purpose in life is to serve as a bad example.