No 0915: May 7, 2009
eNews is a weekly electronic newsletter
sent to all GP practices (with email addresses) within the
Editorial Swine flu pandemic session
Chronic
Disease Management Life! Taking Action on Diabetes, Inhalers the key on Asthma Day
Professional Development CPD events
HMR How
to Make it Work
Immunisation Swine Flu, Annual National Free Flu Vaccination for Over 65s
Information
Management includes General Computer Tip, Medical
Director Tips and New on the Web
Items of interest Austin Health Medical Specialist Directory, Are your details up-to-date on the Human Services Directory? ME/CFS Awareness Day, World No Tobacco Day, International Men’s Health Week, GP Network News
Mental Health Workshop on Grief and Depression
News for
Practice Staff Evidence Based Practice
Workshop, Practice Nurse Resources
NPS Interim NPS RADAR May 2009, Proton pump inhibitors:
appropriate and safe use, Clinical Audit: Review of proton
pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing
Paediatrics Childhood Allergies Active Learning Module, Banyule Community Health Childhood Nutrition Education Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tuesday May 5 more than 100 participants (GPs, nurses and PMs) from Northern and NE Valley divisions were able to enjoy an informative session on Swine Flu. The meeting was chaired Dr Peter Eizenberg (Chair, NEV Board of Directors) who introduced the other speakers: Professor Paul Johnson (Dir Infectious Disease Dept Austin Health) and Mr Rodney Moran (DHS).
A big “Thank-you” to GlaxoSmithKline for their strong support in sponsorship of this event – their additional support contributed significantly to the 2 divisions involved being able to so quickly re-organize for this event with regard to venue and nice lunch.
The key messages for general
practitioners and general practice were:
· Be aware of how a pandemic works
·
follow the current alert notices from DHS and
check for updates daily from the
· Have a pandemic plan in place and know how to manage staff and patients in case of a pandemic outbreak
The
This will be continually up-dated and it has links to the relevant sections of the DHS and RACGP websites as well as current DoHA Swine Flu Updates and the Flu Pandemic Clinic Workplan template. We are expecting that a video clip of Prof Paul Johnson’s presentation to Austin Health Grand Round 6 May 2009 (same content as the session given to the GP meeting 5 May) will be soon available on YouTube – we will advise you when this happens.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The new Life! Taking Action on Diabetes Program advertising campaign started 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.
The
Government reminded people with asthma and the health professionals who
treat them of the importance of correct inhaler technique on World Asthma Day
on May 5 2009. The theme of World Asthma Day is ‘You can control your asthma’,
with a special focus on young children and the message to parents that ‘Your
child’s asthma can be controlled’. The Parliamentary Secretary for Health and
Ageing, Senator Jan McLucas, said there are a variety of inhalers on the
market, each requiring a special technique, and that puffers are only effective
in controlling asthma if used correctly. GPs, Pharmacists and other health
professionals can also refer patients to the National Asthma Council of
Australia’s website at www.nationalasthma.org.au
which features
a series of short videos demonstrating the correct technique for each different
type of inhaler.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings are held each Tuesday starting at 12.30 in the
Lecture Theatre, Ground Floor,
May 12 - Immunisation Update & Influenza - Dr Peter Eizenberg
For full term Tuesday lecture program click here
Austin Health - Division
of Medicine Grand Round
“ACDC: it’s a long
way to the top if ya wanna
rock and roll” Speaker: Professor Chris Hamilton, Department of Radiation Oncology.
Wednesday 13th
May, 12:10pm
at John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance
Townsend Building, Opposite Medical Library - followed by lunch in Zeltner Hall at 1:00pm.
Thursday
21st May 6.45pm – 10.00pm at The Sebel and Citigate,
You are invited you to this evening
symposium where Professor George Bakris will discuss
the contemporary management of uncontrolled hypertension, treatment options and
their benefits. Professor Bakris is the Professor of
Medicine and Director, Hypertension Disease Unit University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and is a respected expert in
his field.
To enrol email joanna.couri@abbott.com by Friday 15th May 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using clinical software program to identify suitable patients - click here
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The current situation of H1N1
Influenza 09 (Human Swine Flu) - as of 2pm 4 May 2009, no cases of this
new strain have been confirmed in
For the most up-to-date information :
· Visit www.health.vic.gov.au
· Call the Influenza Hotline on 1802007 or
· Call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
Also see
The Australian Government officially launched its annual free flu
vaccination program for people over 65 – with record supplies of vaccinations
being distributed to prepare for this year’s flu season. Australians over 65
are urged to get the free influenza shots to protect themselves from
potentially life-threatening winter illness. It is recommended to have the
vaccination close to the flu season – usually April to October. For more
information please click here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Progress Notes you can select the Reason button and type in Results from the coded pick list – this will give you “Results given/explained to patient”. For a more comprehensive list type in Pathology from the coded pick list – this will give you a greater variety of ways for results to be given to/explained to the patient; in person, telephone, fax, email, mail as well as Pathology abnormal review.
Question: I want to find the number of Kinglake West patients who have visited our practice over the last year. Kinglake West has the same postcode as our town so a postcode search is useless.
Answer: With no patient record open:
· MD2 – Search à Databases
· MD3 – Search à Patient…
1. Click on the Other demographic criteria button and in the City field type in: Kinglake West and click OK.
2. Then select Seen by: Any doctor and choose the date range using the From: and To: calendars.
1. Swine Fever - Latest News (May 2009)
· Update from the Chief Medical Officer (Department of Health and Ageing)
· A quick reference guide for web based resources to assist general practice in pandemic planning
· Infection Control Newsletter by Marg Jennings - practical suggestions to assist official advice
All found under Latest News – Swine Flu – latest news
2. Practice Nurse Resources – courtesy of Walkerevans – found under Practice Nurses’ Network – Useful Links
3. HMR – How to Make it Work – found under Home Medicines Review - Latest News and Resources (updated May 2009)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Austin Hospital Primary Care Liaison Unit (HPCLU) has recently updated its Medical Specialist Directory. This Directory was developed to assist GPs and other health care providers to identify the Medical Specialists with whom they share patient care.
The Directory is available on the Austin Health website – www.austin.org.au under - For Healthcare Providers section – GP access. Two versions of the Directory are available - an alphabetical listing and a specialty listing.
According to Dr Wendy Fisher, Austin Health’s GP Liaison Officer, the
Directory provides a valuable resource for GPs.
Dr Fisher is at the
The RCH and most Victorian hospitals use the Human Services Directory (HSD) to find up-to-date GP contact details for communication and for families seeking a local GP. It is therefore essential that you and your practice are listed on this directory. To check whether you/your practice are listed, go to the HSD at www.humanservicesdirectory.vic.gov.au. If you are not listed or your details are out-of-date you can register or send changes directly via the website.
Note that:
1.
Hospitals
have signed an agreement to only use your information for the purpose of
sending clinical information (discharge summaries, etc).
2.
YOU can
specify which information on the HSD can be viewed by hospitals, and which
information is for the public to view. We encourage you to provide fax
numbers and GP provider numbers to help us to communicate better; this
information is not released to the public.
3.
Maintenance
of information is YOUR responsibility
4.
Any new
information/changes to details that you suggest via the website will be
verified by phone before an update is made.
ME/CFS is a multifaceted illness that can include some or all of a set of symptoms such as physical fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive dysfunction, neurological symptoms (heightened sensitivity to sound &/or light) & mood disturbances. The condition can affect anyone at any age, from any socio-economic or ethnic background. Early diagnosis may lessen the impact of the illness although people diagnosed with ME/CFS can generally expect to be unwell for some years. For some it is permanent.
An Awareness Week 2009 Seminar will be held at
Free resources available from QUIT Phone 9663 7777 or visit www.quit.org.au
International Men’s Health Week 15 - 21 June
As part of International Men’s Health Week in 2009, Andrology
This week’s edition includes: AMA working with health authorities on swine flu outbreak, AMA: Vulnerable and frail to get substandard medical care, AMA calls for ban of junk food advertising on children’s TV, AMA applauds progress on child abuse prevention, Practice Incentives Program (PIP) eHealth Incentive
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A networking opportunity and workshop with clinical case study discussion for mental health professionals addressing clinical issues associated with grief and depression, particularly when associated with miscarriage, still born birth or history of childhood sexual abuse. Mental Health professionals participating include GPs, Psychiatrists, Psychologists Mental Health Nurses, OTs and Social Workers. Facilitator: Dr Sophia Franks
Tuesday,
26th May 6.15pm – 9.30pm at Monsalvat,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
A list of resources and where to find them courtesy of Walkerevans can be found here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim NPS RADAR May
2009
An interim RADAR update between the usual April and August bulletins has been
released. The update reviews a new PBS listing for teriparatide
(Forteo) for severe osteoporosis, Hydromorphone prolonged-release tablets (once-daily) (Jurnista) for chronic severe disabling pain not responding to
non-opioid analgesics and Lanthanum (Fosrenol)
tablets for adults with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. These
are available from 1 May 2009. Access RADAR at the NPS
website.
Please note that these reviews will appear in the August print issue of NPS
RADAR and in the August software updates for users of Genie and Medical
Director.
NPS’s
most recent non-divisional program urges judicious use of Proton Pump
Inhibitors (PPI)s. As part of the program, NPS provides health
professionals with a range of informative educational opportunities including:
1/ A hypothetical case study to refine their skills: e-Case study (57): Proton pump inhibitors – appropriate and safe use; 2/ GP
Clinical Audit pack to Review proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing
(enrol now; see below for more information); 3/ A desktop GP Clinical e-Audit:
Review of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing (to become available in
September) & 4/ Up-to-date information in Prescribing
Practice Review (45): Proton pump inhibitors: step-down to symptom
control. Note the PPR publication is posted directly to GPs. More
information is available on the NPS website (www.nps.org.au).
The 2nd 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 45 or alternatively you enrol using the divisional flyer.
The audit is approved by RACGP for 40 category 1 points in the 2008-2010
triennium. Enrolments close on Friday 12th June 2009 and
completed audit packs MUST be submitted to the NPS by Friday 10th
July 2009.
Please note a desktop GP Clinical e-Audit: Review of
proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing will be made available in September, should
you prefer electronic to paper audits.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Paediatric Dietitian Nathalie Cook APD, runs nutrition education sessions for parents and carers of children 0-5 year at the Greensborough and West Heidelberg Community Health Centres. Topics covered include: Introducing Solids; Healthy Eating and Active Play for Toddlers; Nutrition and Physical Activity for Mums after Pregnancy; Healthy Eating and Active Play for Children Starting Kinder or School. The aim of the program is to establish healthy eating early in childhood to prevent overweight and obesity. Cost: A gold coin donation. Call 9490 4222 for session times and dates and to book in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please
note: only new ads, paid ads or resubmitted ads will be posted here. All other
ads can be found on the website
Doctors
Austin Health - Staff Clinic is currently seeking a Part-Time GP, 1 session pw Monday AM. This position is available for an enthusiastic GP to join our Staff Clinic. Senior Medical Staff employment conditions apply. Please contact Cathy Nall on 9496 5256 or email: cathy.nall@austin.org.au.
Nillumbik area - GP available for work. Hours flexible. Able to start immediately. Contact Dr Farhat Arjmand on 0413 419 340 or 9482 7045
Werribee
- Locum (VR GP) wanted for Friendly Medical Centre from Nov 15- Jan 15. 70%
Rebate or $120/hr. Contact: Dr Saad Albarki on 9741 0074 or 0428 852 691
Practice
Staff
Northcote - Part time position 4 days per week is now available for a RN Div 2 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And remember…
… the 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.