North East Valley DGP eNews

No 0917: May 21, 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:

Editorial                                          Swine Flu Update           

Professional Development           CPD events         

HMR                                                Osteoporosis - best management         

Immunisation                                 Immunisation Encounter Error   

Information Management            Clinical Audit Tool Documentation, General Computer Tip, Medical Director Tips and New on the Web

Items of interest                            Austin Health: Urgent Outpatient Appointment Pilot, Vitamin D needs rise as UV levels drop in Victoria, Specialist Endocrinologist, Financial Information Seminars, Are your details up-to-date on the Human Services Directory? GP Network News, BECC waiting times      

Mental Health                                New Practitioner Guidelines for Acute Stress and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders   

News for Practice Staff                 Treating Symptoms of Dementia, Nurses and childhood immunisations frequently asked questions       

Positions vacant/wanted                

Fun stuff                                            

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A Word from the Editor

Swine Flu Update

Your Practice will have received a fax on the 21st May 2009 concerning the latest update on Swine Flu. It is advised that you keep up to date by checking the DHS website daily.

 

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CPD

Cutting edge in IM - Doctors Control Panel, electronic imaging and remote access

Dr Anton Kniererman, author of the Doctors Control Panel will be demonstrating and showcasing this wonderful add-on to Medical Director 3.

Thursday June 25 at John Scott Meeting House. More details and flyer next week.

 

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

May 26 - Thyroid Disease in Children – Role of Iodine - Dr Anton Harding

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Creating dementia friendly physical & social environments

McCarthy Psychology Services (MPS) are presenting this full day seminar on June 3 in Melbourne. All enquiries to Anne at McCarthy Psychology Services on 03 9431 0311 or anne@mccarthypsychology.com.au

2009 Dementia + Recreation National Conference

To be held on October 13 & 14 at the Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne. If you have not already registered, we have extended the deadline for the 2 for 1 offer to May 31 2009. Information re the conference & a registration form can be downloaded from the "Workshops & Conferences" section of www.totalagedservices.com.au
All enquiries re the D+R Conference to Wayne Woff on 03 9571 5606 / 0422 484 209 or office@totalagedservices.com.au  

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HMR

Osteoporosis - best management: Northern & NEV Divisions’ HMR meeting

Wednesday 3 June 6.30 pm for 7pm start at John Scott Meeting Room, LaTrobe University. Sit down dinner. Speaker: Dr Roland Ebringer, Rheumatologist

RSVP Cherry Braine 9416 7689. HMR or medication issues contact Dr Jenny Gowan 0417 506 944. Click here for flyer.

 

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Immunisation

Immunisation Encounter Error

Practices are asked to check their childhood immunisation encounter data transmission to ACIR for the following error - Infantrix hexa at 2, 4 and 6 months is being mis-reported as infantrix IPV.

 

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Information Management

Clinical Audit Tool Documentation

We have provided a link to the PEN CAT website where you can find the most up-to-date documentation for the CAT.
- PEN Clinical Audit Tool User Guide
- PEN Clinical Audit Tool Quick Reference Guide
- PEN Clinical Audit Tool APCC User Guide

Click here for a link to these most up-to-date guides for CAT users

 

General Computer Tip - Moving quickly around a document

Control + End - takes you to the end of a document

Control + Home - takes you to the beginning of a document

 

Medical Director Tip - Recording HbA1c results that come from outside the practice

Last week you were given the long way for doing this – thanks to Dr Alan McCleary for pointing this out. I got confused with the foot exam when done by the GP – this can only be found by going through the Assessment of the Diabetes record. To record the HbA1c results from a paper copy you simply:

1.   From the Clinical menu select Diabetes record… and then click on the Add Values button.

2.   Add the measurement to the HbA1c field.

 

This weeks IM problem - Will a search for results “not notified” include those patients that have been inactivated?

Question: I have inactivated patients that have not attended the clinic for 4 years. I now wish to print results from each doctor re “not notified”. Will it only look at the activate clients from the last 4 years?

Answer: My original assumption was that it would look for all patients, regardless of whether they were active or not. Testing it out proved that that was the case.

1.   I gave a patient a test result for yesterday and marked it "No Action" but not marked as “Notified”.

2.   I then inactivated the patient

3.   I printed a list of the “No Action” patients and my inactivated patient was on the list

 The patient was also in the Investigation results list where it was clearly “Not notified”.

 

New on the Web

1.   Clinical Audit Tool documentation – a direct link to the PEN CAT website where you can find the most up-to-date documentation – Found under Clinical Audit Tool – other documents. Click here.

 

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Items of Interest

Austin Health: Urgent Outpatient Appointment Pilot

Austin Health is piloting the need for an out of hour's clinical support for URGENT referral to our Outpatient Department.  From May 18th to July 11th 2009 our GP Liaison Nurse, Ann Steven, will be available from Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.  All other times an answering machine will take messages. 

Ann Steven can be reached on 9496 2533 (direct line) or 9496 5000 (pager 1006), or ann.steven@austin.org.au.

If you have any queries, please contact Melinda Cosgriff, Nurse Unit/Business Manager Outpatient Department on 9496 5619 or email Melinda.cosgriff@austin.org.au.

 

Vitamin D needs rise as UV levels drop in Victoria

As we head into winter in Victoria, now is the time to get out and get more sun. But how much do we need? ‘How much sun is enough? Getting the balance right: vitamin D and sun protection’ outlines information for patients on the balance between too much and too little UV radiation exposure. Order or download the brochure for your practice from www.sunsmart.com.au in the resources section. You can find more information in the vitamin D section of the SunSmart website including the joint position statement ‘The risks and benefits of sun exposure’ from the Australasian College of Dermatologists, Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Osteoporosis Australia and Cancer Council Australia.

 

Specialist Endocrinologist

Dr Elif Ekinci and Dr Felicity Pyrlis will commence private practice in Ivanhoe in July 2009 at the rooms of Endocrinologist Dr Mario DeLuise. As Dr DeLuise is retiring at the end of 2009 they will provide ongoing specialist care to his current patients and also accept new referrals for all endocrinological problems including: Diabetes- Type I / Type II, Hypertension, Thyroid Disorders, Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disorders, Lipid disorders, Pituitary disorders, Adrenal disorders. For appointments or clinical advice contact Ivanhoe Specialist Centre, 61 Livingstone St, Ivanhoe 3079. Tel 9497 1599 Fax 9497 2063.

 

Financial Information Seminars

The Centrelink Financial Information Service is providing a series of free educational seminars in May and June (at the ACCC & Epworth Hospital) specifically looking at the current"Global Financial Crisis”.
The aim of these seminars is to:

  1. explain asset classes and the associated risks, in order to enable you to understand how to better manage your investments to achieve your financial goals.
  1. provide investors with the knowledge on which assets / investments will suit their financial goals and circumstances at different times in life.
  1. encourage and enable everyone to be pro-actively involved in managing  their super fund by reviewing and altering the asset mix of the underlying portfolio as they progress through their working life, to optimize retirement incomes.

For seminar locations, dates and bookings telephone the national booking service on: 136357 or Email: fis.seminar.bookings@centrelink.gov.au. Evening sessions start at 6.00 pm. Average seminar duration: 2 hours.

 

Are your details up-to-date on the Human Services Directory?

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. For Helpful HSD Hints for GPs and Practice Managers click here.

 

GP Network News

This week’s edition includes: AMA: Rural health a bright spot in budget, AMA: Health budget fails those most in need, PGPPP wins budget support, Medicare electronic claiming public awareness campaign, Registrations open for Private Practice Conference 2009, 2010 Australian General Practice Training program intake.

 

BECC waiting times

Waiting times for new referrals to Bundoora Extended Care Centre Inpatient Admissions are currently approximately Gem 0 days Rehab 0 days as of Thursday 21/05/2009. Any queries regarding our waiting times please contact Access BECC on 9495 3109

 

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Mental Health

New Practitioner Guidelines for Acute Stress and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders

The Practitioner Guide developed by the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health can be located at http://www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au/trauma/treatment.html

The guide includes recommendations on screening, assessment& diagnosis, early interventions and treatment.

Additionally you can find a pdf version of the patient information booklet “Information for people with ASD or PTSD”

 

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News for Practice Staff

Treating Symptoms of Dementia - an interactive case study session for General Practice Nurses

Wednesday 10th June 7 - 8.30pm (Registrations 6.30) at John Scott Meeting House. Registration: see flyer.  

This session provides a valuable opportunity to discuss up-to-date, independent, practical, evidence-based information on current therapeutic issues with a trained NPS facilitator.

Participation in this session will include: Discussing a selection of non-pharmacological interventions for patients with dementia, Discussing the limited benefits of treatment with dementia using cholinesterase inhibitors & memantine, exploring the recent controversy around the risks of using antipsychotics for the treatment of behavioural problems in patients with dementia and discussing a planned approach to identifying and avoiding the risk of cholinergic burden of commonly prescribed drugs in older people. 

 

Nurses and childhood immunisations frequently asked questions

From the Nurses Board of Victoria – click here

 

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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

 

Positions vacant

Practice Staff

Diamond Creek - Experienced medical receptionist wanted for a Part time position in a friendly and supportive working place. Please contact practice manager Lina on 9438 1911.

 

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

 

North Eltham - Division 1 nurse part-time. 2 shifts per week plus relieving. Shifts: 8 or 9am-1pm and 1-2pm to 7pm. Contact Lorraine Lee Tet on 9439 2222 or email:  lorraine@nemc.com.au

 

Roxburgh Park - Practice nurse Div 2 endorsed required for busy Medical Centre, Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm to assist GP's with health assessments and chronic disease management. Thursday & Friday 3pm to 8pm for clinical duties, and to assist at reception. Please call Maria on 9308 7955 or email resume to info@srmc.net.au.

 

Positions wanted

Eastern and north-eastern suburbs - Italian speaking nurse available to assist GPs requiring Health Assessments and Care Plans for their Italian patients. Call Monica on 0409 559 227.

 

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Humour

Is this a coincidence?
2007 - Chinese year of the Chicken - Bird Flu Pandemic devastates parts of Asia 
2008 - Chinese year of the Horse - Equine Influenza decimates Australian racing 
2009 - Chinese year of the Pig - Swine Flu Pandemic kills hundreds of people around the globe.
 
And next year?
2010 - Chinese year of the Cock - what could possibly go wrong?

 

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And remember

 

            … I intend to live forever, or die trying.