No 0910: April 2, 2009
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter
sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the
Chronic
Disease Management Cardiovascular Outcomes Studies in
Type 2 Diabetes
Professional Development CPD events
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical
Director Tips and New on the Web
Items of interest The Adamant Swimmers, Accreditation,
GP Network News, BECC waiting times
News for Practice
Staff Workshop for Practice
Nurses, Understanding the PIP eHealth Initiative
Paediatrics Latest RCH Paediatric Handbook
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from
Dr Neale Cohen, General Manager, Diabetes Services, Baker IDI
In the last twelve months a number of cardiovascular outcome studies have been
completed in patients with type 2 diabetes. These studies were all primarily
designed to assess the cardiovascular benefits of intensive glycaemic
control in type 2 diabetes. Rather than answer this definitively, these studies
have raised further questions about the benefits of tight glycaemic
control. The three cardio vascular outcome studies that were completed in 2008
were the ACCORD, ADVANCE and VADT trials. To add to these three trials the ten
year follow-up of the UKPDS Study was recently published. Although the benefits
of tight glycaemic control are undeniable for microvascular disease, these latest studies provide an
uncertain picture for cardiovascular outcomes. The main message appears to be
that the effect of tight glycaemic control for very
long term cardiovascular outcomes looks promising, however shorter term
benefits (i.e. five years or less) look doubtful. Caution should therefore be
used for lowering glucose aggressively particularly in the older age groups and
more attention should be focused on aggressive treatment of other
cardiovascular risk factors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TONIGHT - Thursday 2nd April 7.15-9.15pm (meal from 6.45) at John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University.
The Bushfire response is moving from relief to recovery and the needs and demands of the community are changing. There is significant state and federal funding being provided for services. What is emerging is the need for GPs, Practice Staff and Allied Health Providers to be aware of the systems that are being put in place. This interdisciplinary evening will enable you to get the big picture of bushfire recovery along with specific training in assessment, referral needs, and your role of support and holding strategies with people affected by the bushfires. For further information and registration see flyer or contact Alison on 9496 4333.
An invitation to Practice Managers & their General Practitioner
Principals on Thursday 23rd April, 6:30pm – 9.00pm (Dinner Provided) at John
Scott Meeting House. La
There will be no lecture for the next 2 weeks.
“What’s a NICE
SUGAR IN ICU?” – Speaker: Professor Rinaldo Bellomo, Intensive Care Unit.
Wednesday 8th
April, 12:10pm
at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4,
Saturday 9th May 9.30am – 12.30pm Learn “who to inject and how to do it” using realistic joint models of shoulder, knee elbow and wrist in small groups of 5 GPs per instructor.
Workshop leader: Dr Keith Lim, Rheumatologist at
For further information and registration see course flyer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes you wan to add a hyperlink in a document that takes you to a webpage or to a document.
1. In Word type “Click here”.
2. Open up your web browser and find the webpage or document to which you wish to link.
3. Copy the web address (URL) – highlight address and then Control + C (to copy)
4. Return to your document and highlight the word “here”.
5. From the Insert menu select Hyperlink…
6. With the cursor flashing in the Address: box, press Control + V to paste in the web address (URL). Then click OK.
7. Your link will now appear as “Click here”, i.e. it is a hyperlink.
“Doctors are being urged to re-evaluate the use of proton pump inhibiters (PPIs) in patients taking clopidogrel (Plavix/Iscover)...” - Australian Doctor, 6 Feb. 2009
With the above alert in mind you may wish to do a search to find those patients are using both PPIs and clopidogrel.
1. No patient record open
MD2 – from the Search menu select Database
MD3 – from the Search menu select Patient...
2. Currently taking drug: Select Clopidogrel and then press the Add to search criteria button
Currently taking drug from class: type in PROTO and double click on Proton Pump Inhibiters
3. Click on the Search button and the list of patients will appear.
4. Click on the Print button and from the printed list you may wish to work out a strategy to review these patients – letter, phone call, add to action list.
(Thanks to Dr Chris Clifopoulos for this suggestion)
Question: How do I record those medications that are prescribed by a specialist?
Answer: Prescribe as normal but when you get to the Enter Dose window, click on the Advised or prescribed elsewhere button. Once you complete the script. the medication will not be tagged for printing.
1. Analysing Near Misses - a “near miss” is an event that could have had adverse consequences. A This Guide is available for RACGP members only – Found under Practice Managers – Useful Links
2. Pandemic Flu Kit – a free resource as suggested at the Triage PD session for practice staff (March 2009). Found under Immunisation – Resources
3. Monthly Infection Control Newsletter for Primary Health Care - the newsletter by Marg Jennings was originally for GP practices but now addresses both general and specific infection control issues for primary health. Found under Accreditation – Useful Links
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Saturday 21 February four intrepid colleagues competed in the Rottnest
Channel Swim, a 19.7km relay swim from
After months of training, dieting and planning, the boys made the journey to
They completed the channel crossing in 7 hours and 29 minutes.
GPA Accreditation plus (GPA) is seeking metropolitan and rural based GPs to join its GP surveyor team to undertake visits to medical practices looking to achieve accreditation.
Applications can be obtained by calling GPA on 1800 188 088 or visiting www.gpa.net.au
This week’s edition includes: Government must keep its health promises to Australians, Senate inquiry into compliance audits on Medicare benefits, Proposed national registration and accreditation scheme referred to Senate inquiry, Trial of point of care testing in general practice, Website for personal resilience, New primary healthcare website.
Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions are currently approximately Gem 0 - 2 days, Rehab 0 - 2 days as of Monday 30 March. Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 28th April 09, 6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15 registration) at John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University. Presenters – Judy Evans and Lynne Walker from walkerevans consulting. This interactive workshop is designed to give practice nurses an understanding of the MBS and its role in general practice. In order to support the business of general practice, nurses will develop an appreciation for the MBS, its implications for nursing care, nursing education and nurse’s individual scope of practice. Knowledge of criteria and its application to individual nursing services will help practice nurses apply the process necessary for successful use of current and future item numbers.
For further information and registration see flyer.
See under CPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The RCH is delighted to announce publication of the 8th edition of the RCH Paediatric Handbook, popular with GPs, paediatricians
and other healthcare professionals across
·
More
information & online supplement
·
RCH
Order
form (word doc)
·
RCH
bookshop
- comprehensive list of all RCH publications and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 – 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
Thornbury - We are seeking a dedicated VR GP to join our team at our busy accredited, computerised and long established family medical practice. Friendly and professional working environment, dedicated staff and excellent nurse support. For enquiries, please contact Rose on 9484 2007 or email dundasdr@bigpond.net.au
Practice
Staff
Ivanhoe - Registered Nurse Division 2: Medication endorsed. Full-time part-time negotiable, with current drivers license. A wide range of stimulating clinical duties assisting our Div 1 nurses, including triage, immunisation, health assessments, chronic disease management, assisting with minor surgical procedures and other duties. Send details of experience and reference to: Mary Howe, Practice Manager, ‘Doctors of Ivanhoe’ - Email: maryh@dr131.com.au
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Accident
A woman named Jill stood up at her church's Testimony
Meeting, or as some churches call it "Cry Sunday", one Sunday
morning, took the microphone from one of the church ushers, and bared her soul
to the enrapt congregation:
"I want to tell you about the awful accident that my husband, Jim, has suffered
this past month. He was riding his Harley, lost control, ran off the highway and
hit a tree. He was rushed to the hospital, and could have died, but thank the
Lord, all he suffered was a broken scrotum."
The congregation gasped in horror. The men in the congregation were obviously
uneasy and writhed in their seats.
"Jim has been in terrible pain all month since the accident. He has
trouble breathing. He has trouble swallowing his food. He can hardly lift
anything, he's in so much pain, and he has missed work because of it. He can't
lift our children up to hold them and give them the personal love that they
need. Worst of all, we can no longer cuddle and have intimate relations. He is
in constant pain. I would like to ask you all in the congregation to pray for
Jim, and pray for us, that his broken scrotum will soon heal and be as good as
new. A dull murmur erupted within the congregation as the full impact of this
terrible accident sank in, and the men in the congregation were visibly shaken
up with the thought that, "There but for the grace of God go I."
Then, as the murmuring settled down, a lone figure stood up in midst of the congregation,
worked his way up to the pulpit, obviously in pain, adjusted the microphone to
his liking, then leaned over and said to the congregation:
"My name is Jim, and I have only one word for my wife, Jill. That word is:
sternum."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And remember…
…nothing is foolproof to a
sufficiently talented fool.