North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0913: April 23, 2009
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                                       Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)   

Chronic Disease Management      Life! Taking Action on Diabetes, A Trial to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes   

Professional Development           CPD events         

HMR                                                Allergy, asthma or COPD           

Immunisation                                 Immunisation Question, Gardasil reminder      

Information Management            includes Medical Director Tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                            52,000 Victorian Women Receive Pap Test Letter, Spotlight on Chronic Hepatitis B, GP Network News, BECC waiting times        

News for Practice Staff                 Workshop for Practice Nurses - making $ and sense of the MBS, Evidence Based Practice - What is it and how to find the evidence

Paediatrics                                     A practical approach to the management of Autism, Childhood Allergies Active Learning Module            

Women’s Health                            Ultrasound in Women with an Obstetric Focus, PapScreen Victoria’s 2009 television advertising campaign

Positions vacant/wanted                

Fun stuff                                            

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Aged Care

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)

If you see patients with a Defence Force /Military background you may wish to consider VVCS. This is a specialised, confidential community mental health service that provides nation-wide counselling and support to Australian veterans, peacekeepers, their families and eligible ADF personnel.

VVCS staff are qualified psychologists and social workers experienced at working with veterans and their families on a range of mental health and relationship issues. VVCS provides a range of counselling services, referrals, information & education. VVCS welcomes referrals from GPs and also directly from patients who can self refer.

For further information please call the Melbourne VVCS office on 1800 011 046

 

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Chronic Disease Management

Life! Taking Action on Diabetes

The new Life! Taking Action on Diabetes Program advertising campaign starts Sunday 3 May. It features a woman who has lost her leg due to diabetes complications. The campaign may increase questions from patients about diabetes prevention and the risk of amputation. Further information, including a briefing document, is available from John at the division on 9496 4333. You can also visit www.diabeteslife.org.au or call 13 RISK (13 7475) for more information.

 

A Trial to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes

The Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Study is an Australian trial investigating whether intranasal administration of insulin will reduce the rate of development of type 1 diabetes in at-risk individuals. Visit our website at www.stopdiabetes.com.au for more details, or ring 1300 138 712 for an information pack.

 

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CPD

Term 2 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. Tea and Coffee provided. Course Leader: Dr Vin Nursey Phone: 9457 1736

April 28 - Sleep Disorders - Dr Nick Antoniades.

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Austin Health - Division of Medicine Grand Round

“We don’t always get what we want and we don’t always want what we get” - Speaker: Dr Karen Detering, Clinical Ethicist

Wednesday 29th April, 12:10pm at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance Townsend Building, Opposite Medical Library - followed by lunch in Zeltner Hall at 1:00pm

 

What to say in D&A: Enhancing your drug and alcohol management skills in general practice

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 May at Crowne Plaza, Torquay, Victoria. To register or for more information see flyer or call 8699 0563 or email vic.events@racgp.com.au

 

Short Course in HIV Medicine

Friday 15th to Sunday 17th May - This 3 day course, facilitated by General Practice Victoria, is designed for GPs with an interest in HIV medicine and/or who wish to become HIV s100 prescribers. Practice nurses and allied health professionals with an interest in HIV medicine are also encouraged to attend.

The course covers: Clinical Science of HIV Medicine; Science of HIV & the principles & practice of testing; Care of a newly diagnosed patient with HIV; The use of antiretroviral drugs in HIV medicine; Monitoring the patient; Clinical management of HIV drug toxicities and infections; Managing the complex needs of the patient in long-term care. To register click here

 

Childhood Allergies Active Learning Module

The Royal Children’s Hospital in partnership with Divisions of General Practice is offering you the opportunity to gain 40 Cat 1 points. The aim of this program is to provide education that will help with the diagnosis, management and prevention of allergic disease in children.

Wednesday, May 20th 6.30pm – 9pm at Royal Children’s Hospital. Main Speaker: Associate Professor Mimi Tang, Head – Department of Immunology, Royal Children’s Hospital. Click here for registration.

 

15th International Holistic Health Conference

‘The definitive evidence-based integrative medicine conference’ - presented by The Australasian Integrative Medicine Association. 9-11 October at Novotel, St Kilda.

With a great line-up of Keynote and Workshop Presenters. Contact: Anna Ryan 8699 0582 or visit: www.aima.net.au. (RACGP CPD points pending)

 

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HMR

Allergy, asthma or COPD – differential diagnosis, treatment and management plans - in young and old 

Wednesday 6 May 6:30pm for 7:00pm start. Light meal provided. Speaker: A Prof Christine Macdonald, Dep Director Respiratory Austin Hosp at Northern Division training room. RSVP to Cherry Braine on Tel. 9416 7689. Click here for flyer.

Include HMRs into your Chronic Disease management plan.

Remember that DVA patient are eligible for free Dose Administration Aids – authority script required.

NB: New COPDX Guidelines just released.

For enquiries, HMR or medication issues contact Dr Jenny Gowan on Tel. 0417 506 944.

 

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Immunisation

Immunisation Question

Question: I was persuaded to give routine 12 month old vaccinations to a 9 month old who was travelling overseas to live for a year. I recommended that they have a second MMR at age 18 months. Is this early enough? Do they need yet another dose then at 4 years? As far as the other vaccinations go, does the child need any other boosters because they had the 12 month vaccinations at 9 months?

Answer: Basically, the early dose you gave (at 9 months of age) is an ‘extra’ dose & the routine schedule should still be followed, in addition to the 1 you gave at 9 months of age. i.e. give 2 further doses, the next dose when due at 12 months of age (or earliest opportunity following), then final dose at age 4. Both of those doses are funded (even if 1 or both are given late, in which case minimum interval is 4 weeks). In the future (anticipated when MMR-V combination vaccine is available, the routine 2nd dose may be recommended to be brought forward to 18 months (rather than 4 yrs). This is the reason for the wording in the 9th edition AIH. Until that time arrives (according to instructions from DHS Vic), please continue to give the routine 2nd dose at 4 yrs (rather than 18 Months).

For reference, see extract from AIH, 9th edition, Section 3.11, Measles (pg 210)

 

Gardasil reminder

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.

 

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Editing Document details

When checking the items in your Documents list you may notice that the Description or Category is poorly expressed. Right click on the offending item and select Edit item. Make the necessary changes and click OK.

 

This weeks IM problem - Minimising files from Documents

Question: When I am in LetterWriter I can minimise it so that I can the view the patient’s clinical record. I can’t seem to be able to do this when I am viewing Documents.

Answer: Yes you can. After opening a document from the Documents tab you can click on the Minimise button so that you can see the clinical record. If it is a Word document you can edit and save it.

 

New on the Web

1.   eHealth Forum Handout Booklet – found under CPD Calendar April 23

 

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Items of Interest

52,000 Victorian Women Receive Pap Test Letter

During April 2009, 52,000 Victorian women aged 30-39 who may never have had a Pap test will receive a letter encouraging them to do so in a unique campaign, run by PapScreen Victoria, to reach women at risk of developing cervical cancer. It is thought that women who have not had a Pap test by the age of 40 may never have one.

The 52,000 PapScreen letters provide information regarding the importance of cervical screening and encourage women to call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20, or to visit the PapScreen website at www.papscreen.org.au for further information.  On the back of the letter, translated statements will direct those whose first language is not English to the Multicultural Cancer Information Service for more information.

 

Spotlight on Chronic Hepatitis B

The Victorian Hepatitis B Working Group would like to invite you to attend this free community sector forum on 20th May from 10am - 3.30pm as part of Hepatitis Awareness Week. See flyer.

 

GP Network News

This week’s edition includes: Government set to strip privacy protection from patient records; GPs call for health stimulus;  AMA provides input to review of rural health programs; and New Veterans’ MATES website

 

BECC waiting times

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 Wednesday 22/04/2009 at Bundoora Extended Care Centre. Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109.

 

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News for Practice Staff

Workshop for Practice Nurses - making $ and sense of the MBS

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.

 

Evidence Based Practice - What is it and how to find the evidence

Tuesday 12th May, 6.30pm to 8.30pm (6.15 registration). Workshop for Practice Nurses presented by Judy Evans and Lynne Walker from walkerevans consulting. This workshop will inform practice nurses of the importance of using an evidence based approach to provide safe and effective nursing care. For further information and registration see flyer.

 

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Paediatrics

VicFEAT - A practical approach to the management of Autism: navigating the 135

Come join your colleague Paediatricians at the upcoming vicFEAT session, which focuses on the management of childhood Autism.  Sessions include a few case presentations, plenty of open discussion between all participants then feedback, recommendations and brief presentations from a panel of experts. 

Wednesday April 29th 7-8.30pm - at RACP on St Kilda Road; OR Satellite Centre at the Vernon Collin Lecture Theatre RCH; OR satellite Centre in a rural/regional location near you. Registrations are essential - call 03 9927 7777, or emailevents@gthevents.com. See flyer. RCH Primary Care Liaison (Kids Connect) www.rch.org.au/kidsconnect see Professional Education.

 

Childhood Allergies Active Learning Module

See under CPD

 

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Women’s Health

Ultrasound in Women with an Obstetric Focus

Tuesday 5th May 7-9pm - (Registration & Refreshments from 6.30pm) Dr Kate Stone, Obstetric Ultrasonologist, Mercy Hospital for Women. At Level 4, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg. Contact Merran McDonald 8458 4833 / mmcdonald@mercy.com.au or click here for the registration flyer.

 

PapScreen Victoria’s 2009 television advertising campaign

During June, July and August PapScreen Victoria will be running a television advertising campaign to encourage all women, between the ages of 18 and 69, including those who have had the cervical cancer vaccine, to have regular two-yearly Pap tests. It is expected that there will be an increase in screening during the campaign period which may have an impact on your health service. We encourage you to plan for this accordingly. 

If you would like to re-stock your resources please visit the PapScreen website at www.papscreen.org.au and if you have any questions about the television advertising campaign please contact Clare Price on 9635 5427 or Clare.Price@cancervic.org.au .

 

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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

 

No new ads this week

 

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Humour

The Hair Cut

A guy stuck his head into a barber shop and asked, "How long before I can get a haircut?"

The barber looked around the shop full of customers and said, "About two hours."

The guy left.

A few days later the same guy stuck his head in the door and asked, "How long before I can get a haircut?"

The barber looked around at the shop and said, "About three hours."

The guy left.

A week later the same guy stuck his head in the shop and asked, "How long before I can get a haircut?"

The barber looked around the shop and said, "About an hour and a half."

The guy left.

The barber turned to a friend and said, "Hey, Bill, do me a favour. Follow that guy and see where he goes. He keeps asking how long he has to wait for a haircut, but then he doesn't ever come back."

A little while later when Bill returned to the shop the barber asked, "So where does that guy go when he leaves?"

Bill replied, "Your house."

 

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And remember

 

            …to ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.