North East Valley DGP eNews

No 1006: March 4, 2010
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                                       ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly          

Chronic Disease Management      Getting Started - Type 2 Diabetes Program, Having a healthy baby - Diabetes and pregnancy information session      

Professional Development           CPD events         

HMR                                                Latest Asthma Foundation Posters, Codeine May Day approaches      

Immunisation                                 Childhood Immunisation Awards 2010, HPV vaccinations        

Information Management            Medical Director Tips

Items of interest                            PapScreen Victoria has grant and scholarship opportunities, Want help with Care Planning & Health Assessments? Integrative Imaging Symposium, GP Network News      

Men’s Health                                  Men’s Health Resources

News for Practice Staff                 PapScreen scholarship opportunities, Legal Issues for Practice Managers, Setting up Specialist Clinics, RCNA Complimentary Membership         

Women’s Health                            Common Gynaecological Conditions & Emergencies, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies                            

Positions vacant/wanted                

Fun stuff                                            

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Aged Care

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly

ASPREE is an investigator initiated, internationally funded study being conducted in general practices throughout Australia. We are seeking general practitioners to participate as co-investigators. You will receive 40 category 1 QA & CPD points. If you are interested or would like further information please call 1800 728 745 or visit our website at: www.aspree.org

 

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Chronic Disease Management

Getting Started - Type 2 Diabetes Program 

Diabetes Australia – Vic offers people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes or those who have not had diabetes education in the past, the opportunity to participate in the Getting Started - type 2 diabetes program. Three 3 hour sessions are run over consecutive weeks by a diabetes educator and a dietitian and provide patients with the information they need to get started with managing their diabetes. A carer or family member is also welcome to attend. Bookings are essential. For enquiries or to register phone the Diabetes Info Line on 1300 136 588 or visit our website www.diabetesvic.org.au - Type 2 Diabetes Programs & Services. The next program is on Thursday 11, 18 and 25 March from 9:30am-12:30pm or Tuesday 13, 20 & 27 April from 6-9pm. Encourage your patients to register and Get Started. Flyer

 

Having a healthy baby - Diabetes and pregnancy information session

This information session is for women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who are planning a pregnancy. Expert speakers include an obstetritian and endocrinologist from the Diabetes Clinic at the Royal Women’s Hospital. They will address such issues as pre-pregnancy planning and the use of insulin pumps during pregnancy. Tuesday 16 March 7-9.30pm. Ground Floor Conference Room A, Royal Women’s Hospital, Grattan Street Parkville. Cost: Free for DAV members and one guest. $15 for non members. Bookings are essential 1300 136 588

 

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Continuing Professional Development

CPR Update

Tuesday 16th March 6.30pm – 9.30pm (dinner from 6pm) For GPs, practice staff and practice nurses. As part of RACGP QA&CPD Program, GPs have until the end of this year to complete an accredited CPR course. This course meets the requirements for CPR training and has 5 Category 2 RACGP points attached. Flyer.

 

Term 1 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

March 9 - Common Gynaecological Conditions & Emergencies - Dr Paddy Moore

For full term Tuesday lecture program click here

 

Austin Health - Division of Medicine Grand Round

”Antarctic Medicine – what an experience!” presented by A/Prof David Taylor, Director of Emergency and General Medicine Research

Wednesday 10th March 12:30pm John Lindell Lecture Theatre, Level 4, Lance Townsend Building, Opposite Medical Library. PRECEEDED BY lunch in Education Precinct Breakout Area at 12 noon.

 

Saturday morning educational lectures at RVEEH

The John Colvin Saturday morning lecture series season has commenced for 2010.  The lectures on Ophthalmology, ENT and Dermatology run on Saturday mornings from 8.30am in the Lucy Jones Hall, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.  To view the schedule or for more information click here.

 

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Home Medicines Review

Latest Asthma Foundation Posters

GPs and pharmacists may obtain copies of the Latest Asthma Foundation Emergency protocol posters on request. There are also new brochures available on a variety of conditions including:

·        Asthma and Aged Care Facility Residents

·        Asthma in Seniors

·        Asthma: take control; great tips for teenagers

·        Being active with asthma

·        Asthma in the under 5s
To order your Free Asthma Information Pack please contact the Asthma Foundation of Victoria's HelpLine on 1800 645 130, email advice@asthma.org.au or visit www.asthma.org.au

All pharmacists are trained to assist consumers in the correct administration of asthma devices. A great opportunity for an HMR (Item 903 request), plus an asthma management plan, or GP Management plan, to check what is actually going on in the home with their devices. For further information about HMRs and asthma contact Jenny Gowan HMR facilitator Ph 9416 7689; jenny.gowan@ndgp.org.au  

 

Codeine May Day approaches

All community pharmacists will be aware that tighter controls on the sale of analgesic products containing codeine will apply across Australia from 1 May 2010. These changes will have an impact on the day-to-day operations of all community pharmacies, and pharmacies will need to prepare in advance for the changes. Detailed fact sheets for pharmacists and staff and other materials have now available on the Guild website. These materials include suggested actions in relation to stock, labelling and staff preparation.

 

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Immunisation

Childhood Immunisation Awards 2010

General practices considering entering this year’s GSK Childhood Immunisation Awards 2010 can now register their interest. In 2010 there are four awards of $15,000 each. Any general practice that can demonstrate innovation in improving coverage and delivery of childhood immunisation in Australia are encouraged to apply.

Registration of interest should be made through the Awards Secretariat on 02 9286 1251 or gskchildhood@hillandknowlton.com.au.

 

HPV vaccinations

Time is now running out to receive payments for HPV vaccinations notified to the HPV Vaccination Register. To ensure you receive notification payments for outstanding vaccination data ($6 per dose notified), notifications must be received by 31st March 2010. If you would like assistance with how to submit your notifications, or wish to check if the Register has already received your notifications, please call on 1800 478 734 (1800 HPV REG).

 

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Margin issues in LetterWriter

Due to a glitch (bug?) in LetterWriter, the top, bottom, left and right margins are altered after you have downloaded and then installed a template. Also, a template which should be Landscape displays as Portrait after the installation.

To remedy this you need to go to the File menu, select Page Setup and change the margin settings – most likely set the 4 of them to 20mm. If necessary change the orientation to Landscape. Once complete, save your work – Control + S.

 

This weeks IM problem - Printing a medication list which includes reason for prescription

Question: I just want to print a medication list for a patient that includes the reason for the medication, like it does in a referral. The medications list under the Summary menu does not do this.

Answer: You need to create your own User defined template that includes a heading, the date, the patient demographics and the medication list.

1.      Open LetterWriter and from the File menu select Modify Template…

2.      Select Blank Template. Type in a heading Patient Medication List and press Enter twice.

3.      Type in the heading: Date: press the spacebar once and from the Data Toolbar click on the + sign next to Miscellaneous and double click on Date. Press Enter twice.

4.      Type in the subheading: Patient Details and press Enter once.

5.      From the Data Toolbar click on the + sign next to Patient Demographics and then double click on Full Details – this inserts the <<Patient Demographics:Full Details>> field. Press Enter twice.

6.      Type in the heading: Medication List and press Enter once.

7.      Click on the + sign next to Clinical Details and double click on Medication List.

8.      Once complete you can now format the document (bold, font size).

9.      From the File menu select Save as Template… and call it Patient Medication List and click on Save.

10.  It should now look more or less like this:


Patient Medication List

 

Date: <<Miscellaneous:Date>>

 

Patient Details:

<<Patient Demographics:Full Details>>

 

Medication List

<<Clinical Details:Medication List>>

 

 

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Items of Interest

PapScreen Victoria has grant and scholarship opportunities available!

Community Development Grants – up to $1000 + GST

          Successful applicants must plan, implement and evaluate a cervical cancer prevention project that targets marginalised women in their community.

          Application deadline Wednesday 31st March 2010

Nurse scholarships – up to $1000 (incl GST)

          Successful applicants are required to commence an accredited RCNA Pap test Provider Training Course in 2010.

          Application deadline Wednesday 31st March 2010

Visit www.papscreen.org.au for guidelines and to complete an application online.

For enquiries please contact Jane Street, Community Programs Project Officer on 03 9635 5663 or Jane.Street@cancervic.org.au.

 

Want help with Care Planning & Health Assessments?

A professional service conducted by a Division 1 RN performing MBS Primary Care Items for doctors local to the NEVDGP. Call Glenda at HEALTHPOWER on 0448 681 048 or email glendac@pbhealth.com.au for further information.

 

Integrative Imaging Symposium

Presented by Rural Alliance in Nuclear Scintigraphy Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th November, 2010 at Stamford Grand, North Ryde (Adjacent to Macquarie University, Sydney). For further information and registration contact: The Secretary, RAINS, PO Box U102, CSU, Wagga Wagga. NSW. 2678.

 

GP Network News

This week’s edition includes: Medical board responds to AMA call for recognition of VR GPs as ‘specialist GPs’, General practice pharmacies – a positive health reform for patients, AMACGP meets in Canberra, Nominations for election to AMA Federal Council now open.

 

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Men’s Health

Men’s Health Resources

Andrology Australia provides free men’s health resources for both consumers and health professionals. For a full range of resources visit the website.

 

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News for Practice Staff

PapScreen Victoria scholarship opportunities

See under Items of Interest

 

Legal Issues for Practice Managers

Wednesday 17th March, 6:30pm – 9.00pm (Dinner Provided) at John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University, Bundoora. Presented by:  Liberty Sanger, a Principal of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and is a specialist in work place injury law. The information focuses on the administrative aspects of managing injured patients, in particular those who are under the WorkCover or TAC schemes. Flyer.

 

Setting up Specialist Clinics

Small group learning for Practice Nurses on Tuesday 23rd March, 7- 8.30pm (dinner from 6.30pm) at NEVDGP Board room, 1st Floor, Pathology Building, Austin Health, Repatriation Hospital (Map). See flyer for registration. Tel: 9496 4333

 

RCNA Complimentary Membership

RCNA will offer complimentary membership to all first and second year undergraduate degree nursing students and first year diploma nursing students in all approved nursing education institutions in Australia.  They wish to give each and every student the opportunity to start their careers under the guidance and expertise of our nursing members. We want them to understand the importance of being part of the wider nursing community. And into the future, we want them to take responsibility for their careers and lead our profession forward.
For further information - www.rcna.org.au. Free call 1800 061 660.

 

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Women’s Health

Common Gynaecological Conditions & Emergencies

See under CPD Tuesday lecture

 

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program is a new program that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies. The Program can provide support to GPs who have concerns that their patients require more support than the usual system can provide. The program does not provide clinical antenatal care, rather the focus is to support women who are pregnant, not manage the pregnancy.

The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program is delivered through local community health services and referrals may be made using the Victorian Statewide Referral Form available on the NEV website. For more information click here.

 

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Positions vacant/wanted

Please note: only new ads or resubmitted ads will be posted here. All other ads can be found on the website

 

Positions vacant

Doctors

Heidelberg - A VR GP required for one session per week.  Please e-mail your response to:  sharrks@westnet.com.au.

 

Montmorency - GP needed to join 10 doctor busy family practice. Accredited, fully computerised, purpose built clinic. Supported by Div 1 nurses, pathology on site. Flexible hours. No AH or on-call, excellent remuneration and support. Call Kay on 03 9435 1144 or Email: srmc@netspace.net.au

 

Northland Shopping Centre - VR GP's required to work in this GP owned and operated modern medical centre. Opening March 2010, a friendly and supportive team environment will be created in this fully modern and computerised medical centre with allied health, pathology and radiology also to be on site. Excellent remuneration and 3 month minimum payments guarantee offered! Significant incentives also offered to clinics or GP's in the immediate area who relocate to the centre. Please forward your resume and contact details to rod@northlandmed.com.au    

Practice Staff

Heidelberg - Part-time receptionist required for weekend sessions.  Knowledge of PracSoft is essential.  Please call Susan:  0401 032 678.

Positions wanted

North East/Lower Plenty region - Medical receptionist/secretary seeking permanent role 24-38 hours per week Mon-Fri (daytime). available for Immediate start. Phone Daphne on 9434 1109.

 

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Humour

Can you answer this?

If one doctor doctors another doctor does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?

 

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And remember

 

            … It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.