North East Valley DGP eNews

No 1044: December 16, 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:

Editorial Final eNews for 2010, Warning of new epidemic

Aboriginal Health Using Medical Director for ‘Closing the Gap’ script annotation, Aboriginal Patient Pathway Co-Ordinator

Professional Development CPD events

HMR Medical driving risks

Information Management Medical Director Tips

Items of interest Foundation House’s Learning and Professional Development, GP Network News

Mental Health Perinatal mental health - GP placements, Anxiety Recovery Centre, Victoria

News for Practice Staff Minimum Wage Increase – Nurses award, Pap test training scholarships

Women’s Health Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Positions vacant/wanted

Fun stuff

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A Word from the Editor

NB: This is the final eNews for 2010. The first edition next year will be on February 3^rd.

Warning of new epidemic of the yeahno virus

Infectious diseases still occur frequently throughout the world, and constant vigilance is required to prevent the reappearance of diseases thought to have been conquered. Changes in lifestyle have also led to the emergence of new threats to public health from infection. Health authorities depend on medical practitioners and laboratories for information on the incidence of infectious diseases. Notification is vital in efforts to prevent or control the spread of infection.

There is a serious new epidemic sweeping the country and all efforts should be made to stop its spread. Originally this disease was contained to footballers when being interviewed by the media. On being asked a question they would precede any answer with “Yeah… No...” As you know “Yeah” and “No” have opposite meanings, hence such a response is meaningless, only serving to give the intellectually challenged footballer time to think up a mumbled quasi-intelligent answer. Unfortunately this linguistic virus has escaped into the wider community. Even at the division there are 2 – 3 staff who have caught this insidious virus. Please do your bit to help stop the yeahno virus before it spreads even further and notify the Department of Health of all cases.

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Aboriginal Health

Using Medical Director for ‘Closing the Gap’ script annotation for Aboriginal patients

The PBS Close the Gap co-payment measure has been developed to provide assistance to eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to improve access to PBS medicines through provision of low-cost or no-cost scripts to eligible patients.

Practices participating in the PBS co-payment measure need to have registered by completing the PIP Indigenous Health Incentive form from the Department of Health and Ageing. The NEV website has MD templates of the appropriate forms for patients to sign:

ATSI PIP Incentive Patient Registration Form
ATSI PIP Incentive Patient Consent Form
ATSI PIP Incentive Patient Withdrawal of Consent Form

What to do in Medical Director

Make sure that the patient’s ATSI status is recorded in patient software
Indicate whether your practice participates in the CTG PBS Co-payment measure via Tools > Options > Practice tab
Indicate whether a patient is registered for the CTG Co-payment relief from within the patient’s record via Patient >Details

Once this is done the CTG status will be shown on the patient’s main screen next to ATSI and eligibility will be printed on the PBS prescriptions. More information and CTG resources (e.g. waiting room posters) can be obtained by contacting Clare Chiminello at the division on 9496 4333 and by visiting the Aboriginal Health section of the NEV website.

Aboriginal Patient Pathway Co-Ordinator

The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (RVEEH) has employed an Aboriginal Patient Pathway Co-ordinator to enable culturally appropriate and supportive health care for Aboriginal patients. Please inform your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients that Ms Julie Phillips is available at RVEEH to assist them. Please contact: Julie Phillips on 9929 8919.

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Continuing Professional Development

Update on Chronic Conditions & Rehab - Acute to Community Setting 12/02/11

Update by the experts, mark this in your new diary! One day interactive update on the management of common chronic conditions (from the acute through to the community setting), including diabetes, osteoporosis, COPD, heart failure, wounds and continence. This expert update is appropriate for GPs, GP registrars, nursing and allied health. Presented by RMH Rehabilitation Medicine Department, & GP Liaison. Endorsed by the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. RACGP Category 2 points applied for. Saturday 12th February 8.30am - 3.30pm at Charles La Trobe Lecture Theatre, Royal Melbourne Hospital, City Campus. Cost: $100 ($50 for non-medical staff) For details or to register contact Kathie Vezzoso on phone 03 8387 2146 or email: kathie.vezzoso@mh.org.au. More information available from the GP Access web pages on the Melbourne Health website.

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Home Medicines Review

Medical driving risks

A survey of more than 320 elderly drivers by ANU researchers found that half were unaware that medications might impair their ability to drive and 86% had not received advice from their doctor about the potential impact of their medical condition and driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention online 8 Dec

Information to assist you is available on the NEVDGP website provided by Dr Jenny Gowan

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Information Management

Medical Director Tip - Patient demographics summary

You can use Medical Director to give an overview of your patient demographics.

With no patient record open go to the Patient menu and select Demographic Summary…
You will then be given a table as shown below.

This weeks IM problem - Saving Progress Notes

Question: How do I ensure that my progress Notes are being saved?

Answer: MD automatically saves the Progress Notes at a default setting of every 60 seconds or on closing the progress Notes, so really you don’t have to do anything. You can, however, change the default setting from every 60 seconds if you wish.

From the Tools menu select Options.
Click on the Progress Notes tab.
In the Autosave interval (seconds) box, change a higher or lower default setting by overtyping the 60 seconds.

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Items of Interest

Foundation House’s Learning and Professional Development

Foundation House’s Calendar for Semester 1, 2011 now contains hyperlinks to enable easier navigation of the document. Professional development offered in Semester 1, 2011 includes:

· NEW Seminar series on Masculinity, Refugee Flight & Resettlement

· Professional development for schools

· Courses for counsellors and incidental counsellors

· Professional development for nurses

· NEW Spirituality and Human Service Practice weekend retreat

Please note that Foundation House also has a new fax number to utilise for registration.

GP Network News

This week’s edition includes: After Hours Technical Working Group, Diabetes Advisory Group meets, BEACH 2009-10, AMA Plan to get the 'e-health revolution' started, Pathology services must be protected, New AMA Web Poll, Medicare Provider Enquiry Line, Compliance Update.

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Mental Health

Perinatal mental health - GP placements

General practitioners with an interest in perinatal mental health may be interested in a placement with a perinatal psychiatrist at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital Werribee or the Austin Hospital. The roles will focus on outpatient work, including working with early parenting centres and enhanced maternal child health. The time commitment can be negotiated with the hosting hospital. The positions are funded by the Department of Health. To express your interest email nicola.quin@health.vic.gov.au or phone Nicola Quin on 03 9096 5045 for more information.

Anxiety Recovery Centre, Victoria

Group Recovery Programs for 2011 - All x 6 sessions

Managing Stress & Anxiety - Monday 14^th February – 21^st March and Wednesday 11^th May – 15^th June

Shyness & Social Anxiety - Thursday 10^th February – 17^th March and Thursday 28^th April – 2^nd June

Mindfulness for Panic, with Dr Craig Hassed - Tuesday 31st May – 5th July

For more information and to register your interest in attending any of these groups, please contact Louise Cooper ph: 9886 9233, lcoooper@arcvic.com.au

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News for Practice Staff

Minimum Wage Increase – Nurses award

VHIA salary circular relating to the Fair Work Australia minimum Wage Increase – Nurses award is here.

Pap test training scholarships available for nurses

PapScreen Victoria is offering financial assistance up to $1000 (incl. GST) for Victorian Division 1 Registered Nurses to become Pap test providers.

Application deadline Friday 14 January 2011. Successful applicants are required to commence an accredited RCNA Pap test provider training course in 2011.

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

Enquiries: Hiranthi Perera on 03 9635 5147 or hiranthi.perera@cancervic.org.au

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Women’s Health

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

February is national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, an initiative of Ovarian Cancer Australia to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

The four most frequently reported symptoms from women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are: Increased abdominal size or persistent bloating; Unexplained abdominal or pelvic pain; Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly; Needing to urinate often or urgently or a change in bowel habits.

If women experience these symptoms continuously for more than two weeks, we recommend you conduct a CA125 blood test and a trans-vaginal ultrasound. If you suspect a woman has ovarian cancer please refer her to a gynaecological oncologist.

When women undergo their Pap test, we suggest you tell them about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and ask them if they have experienced any.

To raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer amongst your clients and staff please order our Symptom Diary (A4 sheet), and display our awareness brochures and posters in your waiting room. If any of your clients has ovarian cancer please refer them to Ovarian Cancer Australia for a range of information and support options. Contact Ovarian Cancer Australia on 1300 660 334 or visit www.ovariancancer.net.au

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