No 0906: March 5, 2009
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter sent to all GP practices
(with email addresses) within the
Chronic
Disease Management Banyule & Nillumbik Life!
Programs
Professional Development CPD events
HMR Partnership
Program to Improve Medication Compliance
Immunisation GPII, HPV – Changes to Dates, Changes to Due and Overdue Rules, Measles Alert, HPV Register latest news, Immunisation for Health Care Workers
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical
Director Tips and New on the Web
Items of
interest “ACCESS” -
Cutting Edge Chlamydia Surveillance, BECC waiting times
News for
Practice Staff Practice
Managers and Nurses Network Meeting, Triage: a team approach, Nurses supporting Nurses
NPS 1st
NPS Audit for NEW QPI PIP year, GP Focus Group Meeting, NEW NPS Program –
Treating the Symptoms of Dementia
Women’s Health Medical & Psychiatric Interventions to Improve Perinatal & Maternal Outcomes
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“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 10 - Migraine Update - Dr Mark Newton
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
Kidney Health
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Approximately 50 per cent of patients fail to comply with their medication
regimen. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in collaboration with the
If you have any questions about the study, or would like any further information on how this trial may affect you, please contact the researchers on 1800 819 740 or via email on info.mc@au.pwc.com.
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The February 2009 initial coverage rates for practices across the Division have just been published. There are 58 GPII registered practices in the Division. The overall coverage rate for the Division is 90.3%. Across the state the range is 93.9% down to 87.4%. Within the Division the range is from 100% down to 71.7% with 52 practices at or above 90% Most of the practices below 90% will probably increase their rate after the recalculation in March.
The availability of free vaccine for 18 to 26 year old women has been extended by 6 months. All females in this age group who are as yet un-immunised need to receive their first dose of the vaccine by 30 June 2009, and must complete all three doses by 31 December 2009.
Note: HPV will continue to be provided free to Year 7 girls only from 2010
onwards as part of the National Immunisation Program schedule in
This change adds 6 months life to the Gardasil searches of the PEN Clinical Audit Tool. Use the CAT to find those patients who have not had their first injection and recall them so that the first injection occurs before the end of June 2009. A special reminder letter to get the first Gardasil injection has been added to the Medical Director Templates – No 9 Other
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
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.
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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Sometimes you wish to find a listing of all the health professionals in a postcode area, e.g. all the GPs in Greensborough, or all the dietitians in Ivanhoe.
1. Open the Better Health Channel website – www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
2. In the left panel select Health Services under Find help.
3. Enter the postcode or suburb name and select the type of health professional from the drop down list and click on Search – a list of those health professional will then appear.
When you open a patient record you will get, where relevant, a preventive health message such as “A weight has not been recorded in MD for over a year”. At the bottom of the window is a “Customise patient prompts” button. By selecting this you are able to turn off certain prompts. It is not recommended you do this, but the choice is yours.
Question: I know there is a way to reopen MD files of patients who have been deceased but I don’t remember it. Can you help?
Answer: Easy!
1. No patient record open, Press F10 or
MD2: Click on the Files
menu and select Patients
MD3: Click on the Patients menu and then select List…
2. From the drop down menu at the top of the screen select Deceased Patients. Type in the patient’s name and choose from the list.
This will open the patient file and notes may be added, documents scanned, and scripts of active medication printed, new letters written. It is not possible to add new medication, past history, or add new pathology results.
1. NEVDGP Nurse Associate Membership Form – found under Practice Nurses Network - Nurses supporting Nurses.
2. 1st NPS Audit and NEW NPS Program found under Quality Use of Medicines
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WANTED: General practices interested in joining a national network to track
Chlamydial infections in young people. We will use cutting edge technology to
support and adapt your information systems and provide you and
Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions are currently approximately Gem 3- 7 days Rehab 3 - 7 days as of Wednesday 04/03/09. 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
Tuesday
24th March 6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15
registration). 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)
We are encouraging Practice Nurses to register a list of their credentials and recommend that you complete this form and become associate members of the North East Valley Division of General Practice. In addition, we are creating a register of nurses who have the capacity, and are willing to act as a “buddy” for new practice nurses or nurses wanting to expand their skills in specific areas.
·
If you are interested in becoming a buddy please
complete the form and return it via fax on 9496 4349
or email Janina or Wendy
·
If you are a practice nurse who would like some
friendly support from an experienced practice nurse, please email Janina
or Wendy
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The 1st paper
clinical audit for the new QPI PIP year 1 May 2009 - 30 April 2010 is now
available for online enrolment (www.nps.org.au), enrolment using paperwork in PPR
44 or alternatively you may use the divisional flyer
to enroll. The topic is Clinical audit: Antiplatelet and anticoagulant
therapy in stroke prevention and is approved by RACGP for 40 category 1
points in the 2008-2010 triennium. Enrolments close on Friday 10 April 2009 and
completed audit packs MUST be submitted to the NPS by Friday May 8th
2009.
The first NPS program for 2009 on ‘Treating the symptoms of Dementia’ has
commenced. One to one practice visits and case study meetings for groups
of 3 or more GPs are available. Sessions award 2 RACGP points (category 2
points). The program will run until end 30th June 2009. The program
discuses the limited benefits of the dementia medications (cholinesterase
inhibitors & memantine), use of antipsychotics medications in dementia and
more ….see program flyer.
If you or your practice regularly participates in NPS divisional activities, do
nothing and we will contact YOU to organise your visit(s). If you have
never taken part in an educational session and are interested in this topic
please contact Dr
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Assoc
Prof Sue Walker, Perinatal Medicine Consultant & Dr Megan Galbally, Consultant Psychiatrist,
Tuesday 24th March.
7.00-9.00pm (Registration
& Refreshments from 6.30pm) Level 4
Registrations: Merran McDonald 8458 4833 / mmcdonald@mercy.com.au or click here for the registration flyer.
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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
Thornbury - VR GP, F/T or P/T required for accredited long established friendly family practice. Mixed billing. Nursing support. Fully computerised. Please contact our Practice Manager Evelyn on 9484 7762 or 0408 100 279
Nillumbik area - GP available for work. Hours flexible. Able to start immediately. Contact Dr Farhat Arjmand on 0412 419 340
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"What am I supposed to do with this?" grumbled a motorist as the
policeman handed him a speeding ticket.
"Keep it," the cop said, "when you collect four of them you get
a bicycle."
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And remember…
…if you have to pick between
two evils, pick the one you’ve never tried before.