No 0903: February 12, 2009
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter
sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the
Editorial Division Responds to Bushfire Emergency
Further
Bushfire Related Articles Medicare
Australia - temporary
arrangements, Paediatric Review Private Clinic, Children affected by bushfires, Nurse-On-Call Bushfire Health and
Counselling Line, Access to blood glucose meters, strips and other diabetic
supplies, Resources for people affected by fires, Professionals and for Practitioners,
Fire Affected Pharmacies
Chronic
Disease Management Life! Taking Action on Diabetes – becoming a facilitator, GPs can help patients achieve New Year’s
resolutions, OzDAFNE Support Day
Professional Development CPD events
HMR HMR
meeting: Identifying medication related problems in older persons
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical
Director Tips and New on the Web
Items of
interest Bowel Cancer - Electronic submission of NBCSP
forms
Mental Health New
Mental Health Service at
News for
Practice Staff Practice
Managers and Nurses Network Meeting, Nursing in General
Practice Program
Paediatrics Healthy Kids Check
Women’s Health Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
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Dear GPs & Practice staff,
Firstly, a big thank you to all those GPs & staff who have contacted the Division to offer their services over the past few days, and to those practices close to the disaster area who have risen so magnificently to this tragic circumstance.
I understand that by Monday evening nearly 100 doctors were available at the Whittlesea coordination area. Our regular conversations with those practices close to Kinglake suggest that the intensity has slowed somewhat and that the huge amount of resources being made available is having a substantial effect.
There may be other questions that have not yet been touched on in writing, but on which the Division may have additional information, eg. Free bereavement or psychiatric services. If you have any issues or requests at all feel free to contact us on 9496 4333.
For your information:
· GPs who may wish to assist should contact the Rural Workforce Agency (RWAV) on 9349 7800. RWAV are coordinating all GP support offers
· Nursing staff should contact Kate at the Whittlesea Coordination Centre on 0417 533 181 if they wish to help
· Consumable supplies are readily available at Whittlesea & other centres supplied by McFarlane & government
· Additional ATAPS Counselling vouchers are expected to be made available in coming days
· Supplies for Diabetics are available from Diabetes Vic on 1300 136 588
· Script pads might be useful if you are required to attend
We will keep you informed on any important developments as they occur.
CEO
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Medicare
It is anticipated that health professionals will relocate to fire affected
areas to provide emergency medical support to those most in need. If a
health professional has an unrestricted and current provider number, they can
provide services from another location using this provider number for up to two
weeks.
The Royal Children’s Hospital wish to extend an offer of paediatric medical review in their private suites for children involved in the bushfire regions.
Time has been set aside specifically for a clinic solely dedicated to this
purpose. In the first instance, pending demand, this is likely to
be a Wednesday morning session.
If further sessions are required, there is the possibility of an after hours clinic. Please
note, we are not an emergency facility however can see children in a
private 'outpatient' capacity for any needs relating to their health.
If GP's need specialised paediatric support, they may contact the Paula Denny, Practice Manager, on 9345 6439 to ensure children are seen promptly. All private consultations for these children will be rebated fully. Please do not hesitate to contact Paula to discuss this offer of assistance further.
Guidelines for parents and caregivers from the Australian
Psychological Society
Victorian Minister for Health Daniel Andrews today announced a new service through Nurse-on-Call for victims of the Victorian bushfires, frontline relief workers and volunteers seeking counselling after the tragic events of the weekend. Members of the public can contact the Nurse-on-Call service on 1300 60 60 24 and speak to a registered nurse, who can provide general health advice and can then transfer the call to a trained mental health professional. DHS has engaged the services of psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and occupational therapists to assist in telephone counselling, and is also encouraging health services to send their staff to bushfire-affected areas to assist with face-to-face counselling and other health services. The full media release is available online.
Patients with diabetes in fire affected areas who need urgent replacement of
blood glucose meters and strips are advised to contact Diabetes Australia - Vic
on 1300 136 588 for rapid replacement. Diabetes
Traumatic Events, the Media and Your Child
Coping with a major personal crisis
When Children Learn about Trauma
Critical Incidents Stress Management & demobilisation resource Guide
Is This Person Suffering Grief or Trauma or Traumatic Grief?
Trauma first response and recovery and Trauma and mental health: frequently asked questions can be found on the Australian Centre for Post Traumatic Health website
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has confirmed that the pharmacies at Wondong, Kinglake and a depot in Marysville are still
standing despite initial reports that they had been dest
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Training to become a Life! Program facilitator training will take place on
26 and 27 March. Please encourage health professionals who have expressed
interest in becoming a facilitator to attend the briefing day on Thursday
5 February at the Rydges Hotel,
As we all know, the New Year is a time for people to consider making resolutions to quit smoking, lose weight, drink less alcohol, eat better or increase their physical activity. However, keeping these resolutions or finding the support that is required to make sustainable lifestyle change can be difficult. That’s where Lifestyle Modification Programs (LMPs), including the Life! Program, can assist GPs to support their patients to achieve their goals. Making and sustaining these lifestyle changes can help people to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Resources to promote LMPs and the Life! Program to support New Year’s resolutions are available from the Division website or call 9496 4333
DAFNE (Dose Adjustment
for Normal Eating) is a 5 day self management course for people with type 1
diabetes. For those not familiar with the DAFNE principles, Diabetes
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Meetings are held each Tuesday starting at 12.30 in the
Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor,
February 17 - Hepatitis C - Dr Paul Gow
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
Saturday,
2nd May, 8.45 am-4pm. Strictly 28 places only so get in
early. Accommodation deal available at Metropole
Apartments for rural GPs and/or families. See www.svhm.org.au/gp for flyer or contact
Paul Williamson on 9288 2986 or paul.williamson@svhm.org.au
19-21 March in
The RACGP, in collaboration with the Heart Foundation, has launched a new online learning activity to assist GPs and other primary health care professionals to tackle key behavioural/lifestyle risk factors that impact on the health of our patients: smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity.
The learning activity is available at www.gplearning.com.au. Category 1 QA&CPD points apply for GPs.
7-8 May 9am-5pm The Person Centred Approach to Healthy Weight Management: helping people achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Flyer
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Wednesday 4 March, 6.30pm for 7pm start. At Northern Division Training room
Light meal provided. RSVP Cherry Braine 9416 7689
HMR or medication issues contact Dr Jenny Gowan
0417 506 944. Click here for flyer.
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Why should kids have all the fun? YouTube can be used to find some great music clips. You may want to find Bob Dylan singing Subterranean Homesick Blues.
1. From your browser open YouTube – www.youtube.com
2. In the Search box type: bob dylan subterranean
3. Click on the video clip picture and away you go – there is even a button for full screen mode. There is also a list of related video clips.
For extra benefit it doesn’t take much to wire your PC into your amplifier and then you can really lift the roof with good quality stereo sound! Then you can have a YouTube party. For the more sedate of you type verdi four seasons into the search box.
Sometimes you want to record your “educated guesses” for a patient condition, for example you suspect Parkinson’s disease. In Progress Notes click on the Reason button.
1. Click on the Differential Diagnosis box.
2. Type in “Park” and then double click on “Parkinson’s Disease”, then click OK.
3. Type in “Drunk” and then double click on “Drunken Behaviour”, then click OK.
This will place the following into your Progress Notes:
Reason for visit:
? Parkinson's disease
? Drunken Behaviour
4. Once you have exhausted the possible
diagnoses click on Close.
Be careful not to click on OK again as that will duplicate the differential diagnosis.
Question: Where do you record the head circumference of a baby?
Answer: You use the percentile charts.
Clinical menu/Percentile Charts…/Record – this allows you to record Length (cm), Weight (kg) and Head Circumference (cm).
1. Bush fire related articles. Under Latest News
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NBCSP forms can now be submitted electronically. Called ‘Smart Forms’, they
can be accessed at here. The completed form can be
saved to your computer, printed out and/or submitted electronically to Medicare
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Click here for the Media Release
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Thursday March 19, 6.30 pm – 9:00 pm at John Scott Meeting House. Flyer
The NiGP Practice Nurse Training Calendar is back on line with professional development opportunities for your practice nurses. Please view the Education for Nurses in General Practice page on the GPV website. Practice Nurse Training Subsidy Information is available here. Email Janina for subsidy application forms or call 9496 4333
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The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing has sent a letter to the parents/carers of children between 2 and 5 years of age, identified from the Medicare Australia client database advising them of the availability of the Healthy Kids Check. The purpose of the letter is to raise awareness of the availability of the Check. The letter includes information about immunisation. The letter encourages carers to see a GP or immunisation clinic for the 4-year-old vaccines.
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For a variety of events promoting the awareness of ovarian cancer visit www.ovariancancer.net.au
or call Ovarian Cancer
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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
MediStaff recruitment
specialists - Need help sourcing staff for your practice? MediStaff is part of a large healthcare staffing network
which has offices across
Doctors
Darebin Community Health – East Reservoir - GP required
full time or part time at the East Reservoir site of Darebin Community Health Service.
This is a salaried position with flexible work hours, salary packaging and
excellent facilities. We are seeking a compassionate, dedicated GP to join our
team. We have Practice Nurses, Refugee
Health nurse, a Practice Manager and friendly colleagues. The practice is
accredited and computerised. Please contact
Northcote – F/T- P/T VR GP or Subsequent Trainee GP position. Fully accredited, computerised, long established doctor owned practice in a new purpose built facility with a fabulous work environment. Ancillary Health, Pharmacy and Pathology services on site. Inquiries Diane Cronin (Practice Manager) 9481 1214. Visit our website www.doctorsofnorthcote.com
Practice
Staff
Bundoora
– Practice Nurse Div 1 P/T required for busy family practice for 16-20
hours/week. Experience in Immunisation, Health Assessments and Care Plans
preferred but not essential. Contact Jan Allen, Practice Nurse Coordinator,
Northcote - RN Div 2 part time position 4 days per week is now available for a busy general practice in a new purpose built facility with a fabulous work environment. Inquiries Diane Cronin 9481 1214 or visit our website www.doctorsofnorthcote.com
Northern
Suburbs - Part time medical receptionist required for solo practice in
Northern suburbs. Must be experienced and reliable. Available for approx 20+ hours per week. Please phone 9460 1083 from 9 - 1 pm Monday to Friday.
North Eastern Area - Division 1 nurse looking to work part time in private practice in the north eastern area. Has recently completed Level 2 First Aid course, & has had varied office administration experience, besides nursing experience. Please contact Judy on 0407 714 712
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More church bulletins - These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS ) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
· Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
· A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
· At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
· Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
· Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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And remember…
… the
trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates
how difficult it was.