e-news 04 Jun 2010
Welcome to NWQPHC's electronic newsletter! Each Friday we will email a link to the latest news and updates. If you would prefer your update to be faxed, please contact your local Practice Support Officer
- Advice to Vaccine Service Providers
* Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza Vaccination Records
As of 31 May 2010 you will no longer need to record and fax details of the Pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza (more) - Changes to MBS Items between May and July 2010
Between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2010 doctors claiming the higher bulk billing incentive for MBS items 597, 598 (more) - 50 GP MENTORS URGENTLY NEEDED
Can you mentor a John Flynn student for 2 weeks per year over 4 years? (Timing of placements by mutual agreement) (more) - A Distance Education Unit Available For GPs in 2010
Cross-cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice Offered by the NSW Institute of Psychiatry & NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre (more) - Registration renewal reminder
Doctors holding General and/or Specialist registration with the Medical Board of Queensland are reminded (more) - The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)
The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides financial assistance for travel and accommodation to patients(more) - The Power of Apology in Nursing
This session explores the role and responsibilities of the nurse when a perceived untoward event occurs in the health (more) - Partners in Depression FREE six week program - Bowen (more)
- Domestic Violence Training Two Day Workshop (FREE) (more)
- Graduate Certificate in Nursing (General Practice) (more)
- Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- Advice to Vaccine Service Providers
* Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza Vaccination Records
As of 31 May 2010 you will no longer need to record and fax details of the Pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza vaccinations you are administering.
I would like to thank those of you who have provided this information. It has enabled Queensland Health to accurately report on vaccination coverage and contributed a great deal to the overall national picture of vaccination coverage and therefore informed program planning. Available data indicates that more than 980,000 have been vaccinated against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza. This represents a coverage rate of approximately 21%. Importantly, the provision of data has enabled an estimate of the rate of adverse events following vaccination with Panvax to compare with the national analysis of adverse events in children from seasonal influenza vaccination.
Please continue vaccinating all individuals requesting vaccination, particularly children 5 years and under who are medically at risk and have not been able to complete their seasonal influenza vaccination. *Vaccine Discard Record - PANVAX® MULTI DOSE VIALS
Faxing of the Vaccine Discard form used to record the discarded Panvax® multi dose vials (and parts of) is no longer required. Thank you for your co-operation with this initiative.
If you need to vaccinate a patient or a small number of patients with Panvax® please use the multi dose vials as necessary. There is still a good supply of Panvax® available for use.
*Reporting of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI)
On 28 April 2010 Queensland Health issued an urgent Public Health Alert asking vaccination providers to report on children up to 10 years of age with history of fever, or a fever of 37.50C or over, plus or minus vomiting, following seasonal influenza vaccination. This expanded definition of fever was in addition to other adverse events. Providers are no longer required to report on the expanded criteria, and should resume reporting adverse events according to Appendix 6 of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th Edition). Providers are reminded that reporting of AEFIs in Queensland is mandatory under the Public Health Act (2005).
* Annual Seasonal Funded Influenza Program
At this time of the year the request for influenza vaccine provided for the funded program slows down and therefore requests for influenza vaccine will now be included in your monthly vaccine order.
*Details for your service
QHIP updates your address details for delivery of vaccine each time you place a vaccine order. It is important that other practice/clinic details such as phone number, fax number and vaccine refrigerator information are also up to date. If any of these details have changed in the last 12 months please let the QHIP Team know when you place your next monthly vaccine order.
Dr Christine Selvey, Senior Director Communicable Diseases Branch 31/5/2010
- Changes to MBS Items between May and July 2010
Between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2010 doctors claiming the higher bulk billing incentive for MBS items 597, 598, 599 or 600 will need to use a new item 10985. On 1 July 2010 doctors should resume using item 10992.
From 1 May 2010 doctors claiming the higher bulk billing incentive for after hours items 5003-5267 should continue to use item 10992.
The new item descriptor for 10985 is outlined below:
Item Health Service Fee for all States
A medical service to which item 597, 598, 599 or 600 applies if:
(a) the service is an unreferred service; and
(b) the service is provided to a person who is under the age of 16 or is a Commonwealth concession card holder; and
(c) the person is not an admitted patient of a hospital; and
10985 (d) the service is not provided in consulting rooms; and
(e) the service is provided in an eligible area; and $10.05
(f) the service is provided by, or on behalf of, a medical practitioner whose practice location is not in an eligible area; and
(g) the service is bulk billed in respect of the fees for:
(i) this item; and
(ii) the other item in this table applying to the service.
- 50 GP MENTORS URGENTLY NEEDED
Can you mentor a John Flynn student for 2 weeks per year over 4 years? (Timing of placements by mutual agreement)
The John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) — managed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) — is an Australian Government funded initiative to attract more doctors to rural and remote Australian communities. Students who develop bonds and friendships within a community are more likely to return to that or to a similar community as future qualified medical practitioners.
300 additional RRMA 4 to 7 doctors are needed each year to provide clinical mentoring for JFPP students, keen for rural and remote experience.
GP Rewards
• satisfaction of passing on your expertise and understanding of rural/remote medicine
• opportunity to play a vital role in addressing the rural medical crisis
• $300 (+GST) per week per student
• ACRRM PDP and RACGP QA&CPD points for teaching medical students
Invaluable Practice Managers
• alert doctors to the importance of the JFPP and support their participation
• refer the ACRRM JFPP team to local community organisations, for student support
• are welcome to apply to participate as Community Contacts @ $175 per week during placements
Unique Community Placement Program
• responsibility is shared between the mentor and a community representative, who supports the student socially during placements
• the program is focused on student enjoyment of your community and the opportunity to develop a bond with its people
• placements are not designed to provide the same level of clinical training as university accredited clinical attachments
To find out more: Email ACRRM jfpp@acrrm.org.au or click here to fill out an application form. More information on Mentoring is available on our website.
- Registration renewal reminder
Doctors holding General and/or Specialist registration with the Medical Board of Queensland are reminded to renew their registration before 18 June 2010. Renewing your registration by this date will ensure you hold registration with the Medical Board of Australia from 1 July 2010.
To renew your registration visit the Medical Board’s online services page https://www.medicalboard.qld.gov.au/onlineservices. For more information about renewing your registration including online registration please visit the Medical Board of Queensland’s Renewal of Registration page.
NOTE: If your registration is renewed in Queensland by 30 June 2010, or if you hold registration in another Australian state that continues past 30 June 2010, you will automatically be registered with the Medical Board of Australia from 1 July 2010.
- The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)
The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) provides financial assistance for travel and accommodation to patients, and in some cases their carers, to enable them to access specialist medical services that are not available locally. Queensland Health is undertaking a review of the PTSS in 2010 to improve its operation and effectiveness with a focus on the administrative aspects of the Scheme. Please note that as this is an administrative review only, PTSS eligibility criteria and subsidy levels are not under review. Queensland Health recognises the important role that general practitioners play in the Scheme by referring patients to specialist medical services and would value any feedback that you can provide on issues you have experienced in relation to administrative aspects of the Scheme including issues with:
• the application processes
• application forms
• information available to general practitioners
• any other administrative issue/s that you have experienced with PTSS
Please provide feedback on these as well as any suggestions for improvements that you would like to be considered as part of the Review. Any feedback that is provided will allow us to take your suggestions into consideration when reviewing the Scheme. Please forward your feedback to Queensland Health by 11 June 2010:
• By email to: PatientTravelReform@health.qld.gov.au
• By fax to: 3328 9623
- The Power of Apology in Nursing
This session explores the role and responsibilities of the nurse when a perceived untoward event occurs in the health care environment. This lecture acknowledges that even with the best intentions, mistakes can be made. The notion of the ‘Power of Apology’ is discussed. This is an informative and thought provoking session for all nurses.
The main concepts explored in this session are:
• Power of apology
• Nursing role and responsibilities
• The changing health care system
Sue Cadigan
Sue Cadigan is the Nursing Director for Surgery and Perioperative Services at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Sue has many years experience in nursing, including roles encompassing education, emergency nursing and projects associated with nursing recruitment and retention. Sue’s ongoing interests focus on the conditions required for the provision of excellent patient care and how to promote robust team work. She is also interested in the learning and development of patient partnerships to guide care delivery.
Speaker name: Sue Cadigan
Recorded: 24 Feb 2010
Listening time: 38 minutes
Conference: Enrolled Nurses
Session in Conference: Valuing and recognising the significance of enrolled nurses in health care
State: Brisbane, Australia
More info contact: Ausmed
Email: ausmed@ausmed.com.au
- Domestic Violence Training Two Day Workshop (FREE)
11/12 May Sydney, NSW
19/20 May Perth, WA
25/26 June Toowoomba, QLD
29/30 June Adelaide, SA
For Practice Nurses from PIP designated practices located in RRMA 3 – 7, there is a generous travel package and practice backfill funds available. Practice Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers are encouraged to attend their nearest workshop before 30 June 2010. Should you have any questions contact Connie Ryan, Principal Network Adviser: (02) 6228 0820.
- Graduate Certificate in Nursing (General Practice)
The University of the Sunshine Coast offers this accredited course in collaboration with the AGPN. Enrolment commences June 2010. This Graduate Certificate is offered as a distance learning course in three consecutive modules offered through the AGPN with University adjunct tutors across the country. The final module is approved by the University directly. Should you have any questions contact Connie Ryan, Principal Network Adviser, AGPN: (02) 6228 0820 or cryan@agpn.com.au