No 0905: February 26, 2009
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter
sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the
Aged Care Palliative Medicine
Chronic
Disease Management Better Health Self Management
Course, Banyule & Nillumbik Life! Programs
Professional Development CPD events
HMR Identifying
medication related problems in older persons
Immunisation Changes
to Due and Overdue Rules, Measles Alert, HPV Register - latest news, Pandemic
Flu, Cold Chain
Incidents, Immunisation for Health Care Workers
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical
Director Tips and New on the Web
Items of
interest
News for
Practice Staff Practice
Managers and Nurses Network Meeting, Ausmed workshops – 4-year-old health checks, Triage: a team
approach, Workshops for Practice Nurses
Paediatrics Paediatric upskilling - 'Getting to Grips with the Gut', Circumcision at the RCH, Community Eczema Clinics
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The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) is hosting a series of forums across
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This course will be running at Banyule Community Health Service, over 6 weeks from 15th April – 20th May 2009, 1.30-4pm. It will benefit individuals with a chronic condition, by promoting participants’ confidence, skills and ability to manage their health on a day-to-day basis. It is based on the concept of self management and is backed by extensive research (see http://patienteducation.stanford.edu and www.crd.unimelb.edu.au/academic/selfmgt.html). Please note that participants need to reside within Banyule. For further information and referrals, please contact: Eliza Innes, Occupational Therapist, on 9450 2003 or Janelle Duggan, Podiatrist, on 9450 2093.
“Go for your
life” is a Victorian Government strategy that has been developed to support
Victorians aged 40 years & over & Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island
people of all ages who are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. “The life!
Program is a community based lifestyle behaviour
changing program, which has been proven internationally to prevent progression
to Type 2 Diabetes in those with a high Diabetes risk score”
First Program
on Fridays:
10am -12md. June 12 & 26, July 10 & 24, August 7: Final
session: February 5 2010 at North East Valley Division of General Practice
Second Program
on Wednesdays:
1pm – 3pm. August 12 & 26, September 9 & 23, October 7: Final
session: April 7 2010 at Banyule Community Health,
Pauline Toner Centre
Tuesdays:
7pm - 9pm. March 10 & 24, April 7 & 21, May 5 at Nillumbik
Community Health Service, 917 Main Road, Eltham. Run by a Dietician, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist and Community Health
Nurse. Phone Linda or Maria on 9430 9100.
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Meetings are held each Tuesday starting at 12.30 in the
Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor,
March 3 - Breast Lumps - Mr Lindsay Castles
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
“Designing the new
medical course: a chance to have your say”. Speakers: Professor Geoff McColl,
Director of Medical Education Unit, University of Melbourne; Associate
Professor Richard O’Brien, Clinical Dean, Austin Health; Associate Professor
Steve Trumbell, Medical Education Unit, University of Melbourne.
Wednesday 4th March, 12:10pm at John Lindell Lecture
Theatre, Level 4,
NEMICS wants to invest in the cancer workforce! Professional Development and Education Grants are now available. Applications close 25 March. Guidelines and application form available at www.nemics.org.au
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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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Changes to these rules on 1 January 2009 will effect the payments associated with immunisation. The changes apply to children born from 1 January 2005 who will now be overdue at 4 years and 1 month instead of at 5 years of age. Parents who are receiving the Child Care Benefit will need to make sure their child is immunised as close as possible to the 4 year old birthday. Parents will receive a reminder notice from Centrelink if the child’s immunisation status is not received by 4 years and 1 month. They will then have 63 days to complete the immunisation schedule and ensure that Centrelink has been informed to be certain that the payments will not be cut. Unlike the parents, General Practice must ensure that the 4 year old immunisations are completed by 4 years and 1 month with no extensions.
There have been a number of confirmed cases of measles in
For information on all immunisations that are part of the National Immunisation Program: Immunise Australia Program Click here
The next stage of development of the register (by May this year) will involve patients receiving completion or history letters and general practice receiving log on details to be able to check their patient’s history as the register becomes interactive. Details about the HPV register are available online at www.hpvregister.org.au or call 1800 478 734.
The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2008 has been released. It can be found on the Pandemic Influenza website which has important information on what the Australian Government is doing, and how individuals, businesses, communities and health professionals can prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.
Maintaining the cold chain for vaccines is vital for an effective and safe immunisation program. All vaccine fridges must be logged and check regularly to ensure they stay between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. Practices needs to have an alternative plan to deal with the power outages that occur during high use of electricity in hot weather or as a result of disasters such as the bushfires or floods. Vaccine fridges will heat up quickly in hot temperatures.
If you have a cold chain break:
• Record the temperature inside the fridge at the time the problem was discovered,
• Record the length of time the vaccine may have been exposed to the temperature outside the 2 to 8 degrees required,
• Isolate the affected vaccines, store at 2-8 degrees if possible and mark ‘do not use’ until advice has been sought from your regional or public health immunisation coordinator,
• Contact your regional or public health immunisation coordinator or central immunisation authority and fax through the relevant incident form.
With the Flu season almost upon us it is time to remind Practices that
it is highly recommended that they provide a safe working environment for all
employees, including prevention of occupational exposure to infectious
diseases. All practice staff should be educated, advised to be protected and
offered vaccinations appropriate to their duties. Immunisations or
screening to be considered will be dependent on each staff member’s role, their
duties, current immunisation status.
Any vaccination must be given in accordance with the recommendations of the current NHMRC Australian Immunisation Handbook, with reference to the indications and contraindications. http://immunise.health.gov.au Further clarification may be obtained from the Australian Immunisation Handbook, page 104-107.
Records of staff education, counselling and offered vaccinations should be documented, either in a central register or in personnel files. Please note the practice must obtain informed consent before screening and vaccination, preferably in writing. If recommended vaccines are refused, obtain signed documentation of refusal. To obtain a copy of a staff immunisation consent and refusal form please contact John or Janina
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1. From the main Microsoft Outlook window select the Tools menu and click Options. Click the Mail Format tab.
2. Click on the Signatures button at the bottom of the window and then click New.
3. In the Enter a name for your new signature box, enter a name such as Noel Sig.
4. Follow the prompts to type the text you want to include in the signature.
When you make a mistake in LetterWriter (accidently move a table border or delete characters, not succeed in adding “x” to a checkbox) do not try and fix it. LetterWriter has only ONE Undo and if you try and fix something you end up digging yourself into a deeper hole you can’t “undo” your way out of (unlike Word that has multiple “Undos”). Once you make a mistake immediately click on the Undo button (or Control + Z) and try again.
Question: In MD2 I was able to directly prescribe Fluvax from the Edit menu >Add Flu Vaccine. I can’t seem to find anything similar in MD3 – am I just not looking hard enough or have they removed it?
Answer: It has disappeared from the Edit menu in MD3 but it is still lurking. From the Clinical Window select Prescribe > Flu Vaccine. In both MD2 and MD3 you can also use the keyboard shortcut Control + <F1> for the Influenza vaccine window to appear.
1. A list of Austin Health's Outpatient Clinics, the Consultative day(s), the Heads of Unit and the approximate waiting times for each unit - found under Austin Health Consultative Outpatient Clinics (Excel)
2. Transfer-to-Hospital Envelope Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) - useful in settings where the Envelope has not previously been used. Found under Aged Care - Transfer-to-Hospital Envelope
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The Northern Hospital Emergency Department dedicated Hotline for GPs direct to the ED Consultant saves you time by providing clarity as to the appropriateness of referring a patient to the ED and quick access to clinical advice if your patient's condition deteriorates or changes. Phone 8405 2610 between 8 am to 11 pm (for GPs only).
For more info call Dr Leonie Griffiths, Northern Health GP Liaison 8405 8815/8705
Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions as of are currently approximately Gem 3-7 days and Rehab 3-7 days as of Wednesday 25/02/09. Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109
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Sterilization/Infection Control Update and IM Update: Thursday March 19, 6.30 pm – 9:00 pm at John Scott Meeting House. Flyer or register by emailing Noel
The 4-year-old health check workshops run by Ausmed are currently in progress and we have had very positive feedback from presenters and participants about the workshop content. DHS have been involved in the workshops, which has been helpful in developing a link between the local material and child health services. Ausmed will be running 4 more workshops before June 2009.
Upcoming Ausmed workshops in
Tuesday 24th March 6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15 registration). Effective triage requires a ‘whole of practice’ approach with agreed practice procedures which reflect sound practice policy. It requires teamwork and effective communication skills. Front office staff and clinical staff have an important role in the assessment of patients seeking an appointment when there is non available. This interactive workshop is designed to give practice staff an opportunity to identify what their triage role is and what communication pathways and practice policy will support this role.
Presenters – Judy Evans
and Lynne Walker from walkerevans consulting
For further information and registration (Flyer)
‘Nurses making $ and sense of the MBS’ - Tuesday 28th April, 6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15 registration) (Flyer)
‘Evidence Based Practice
- What is it and how to find the evidence’ - Tuesday 12th May,
6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15 registration) (Flyer)
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Wednesday
Feb 25th 7-9pm. a practical approach to recurrent abdominal
pain of childhood and food intolerance in infants with Dr Annette Webb, Dr Ralf
Heine and Dr Nic Thies
Join your local Paediatrician colleagues for a drink and nibbles from 6:30 at
the Royal College of Physicians (Level 2),
Please see Kids Connect (RCH Primary Care Liaison) www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect >Education for contact details, the full 2009 schedule etc or call Susan Jury 9345 4645 to help set you up.
There has been a marked recent increase in referrals to the RCH for routine circumcision. In accordance with DHS policy, the RCH does not accept such referrals- please refer to an appropriate private surgeon. Please see:
·
DHS Guidelines
for male circumcision including healthcare professional and parent
handouts in multiple languages
· RCH Kids Connect (GP Liaison) > Find a doctor for a list of paediatric sub-specialty surgeons
Got a child with complex
eczema? Live within postcodes 3000-3099? Refer them to one of the
RCH HARP nurse-led clinics at
See the RCH Clinical
Services Directory via Kids Connect www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect
for referral form, GP and parent factsheets.
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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
Northcote - VR GP required full time/part time, pay negotiable (Salary/Percentage) no after hours or on call contact Darebin Health medical Centre 9403 1221 for further details.
Practice
Staff
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
Box Hill – Enthusiastic and dedicated Practice Nurse required to join friendly team at the Box Hill Mall Medical Centre. Fully computerised general practice with full support from excellent team of admin staff. Duties include assisting GPs with minor procedures, immunisation, preparation of patient care plans, and day to day management of the fully equipped treatment room such as stock control/ordering. 20-25 hours/week. For further information or a confidential discussion please call David on (03) 9898 6777.
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You knew it was coming; it
was just a matter of time.
Click
on this site http://www.aksalser.com/game.htm
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And remember…
…knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is in looking both directions anyway.