e-news 05 Mar 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
- Brief Interventions
A brief intervention is a time-limited (between 5 to 30 minutes) interaction/conversation between a practitioner and patient focused (more) - 45-49 year old health checks
North & West QLD Primary Health Care is encouraging practices to take advantage of the government’s initiative to improve/prevent chronic disease in the 45-49 (more) - ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR NURSES NEW TO GENERAL PRACTICE
General Practice Queensland is offering an orientation workshop for nurses new to general practice in Brisbane in May (more) - TPHU Nurse Leave
Cam Mitchell, North West TPHU nurse will be on leave until the 29th March, should you have any communicable disease / immunisation queries, please contact the Townsville TPHU office on 47539000. - NPS Advisor Visit Mount Isa
A reminder Howard Punchard, NWQPHC NPS advisor will be visiting North West practices next week. Howard’s topic for education update will be Menopause. - Chronic Kidney Disease What the Practice Nurse Needs to Know (more)
- Minor Changes to Discharge Summary format (more)
- Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- Brief Interventions
A brief intervention is a time-limited (between 5 to 30 minutes) interaction/conversation between a practitioner and patient focused on addressing hazardous and harmful behaviors.
The term 'brief intervention' means an intervention that takes very little time. A brief intervention can be undertaken to address any behavior which affects health such as smoking, inadequate nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, inadequate physical activity, use of other drugs. Key components of brief interventions include asking individuals about their health behaviors, assessing readiness to change and providing advice, support and referral where appropriate, then arranging follow-up.
Many brief interventions follow the 5As methodology. The five major steps which are similar across all lifestyle and behavioral risk factors include the following:
• Ask: identify patients with risk factors
• Assess: determine the patients level of risk and readiness to change
• Advise: provide brief advice, written information and motivational interviewing
• Assist: introduce pharmacology’s, support and self monitoring
• Arrange: provide referrals to specialist services, social support groups, phone information/counseling and arrange follow-up with the GP
An interactive workshop has been developed to increase uptake of brief interventions in general practice and Queensland Health services to reduce chronic disease risk factors and foster better health for all Queenslanders.
NWQPHC Mount Isa is hosting a Brief Intervention Workshop, facilitated by General Practice QLD, on Saturday 17th April. For more information,click here for registration form.
- 45-49 year old health checks
North & West QLD Primary Health Care is encouraging practices to take advantage of the government’s initiative to improve/prevent chronic disease in the 45-49 year old age group.
Statistics show that more than 50 per cent of patients who visit their GP each year are overweight or obese, 26.2 per cent drink at risk levels, more than 20 per cent are smokers and more than 65 per cent do not do enough exercise. The aim of this once only health check is to assist with the prevention of chronic disease and to enable early intervention strategies to be put in place where appropriate. A health check at this stage of life can assist patients to make the necessary lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease.
Tips:
Bulk Bill this item and offer it to eligible patients as a “Free Health Check”
When arriving patients; check whether they are eligible for this health check.
Have posters & brochures in the waiting room.
Claiming:
A Medicare rebate is payable for this item once only for each patient.
Item 717 cannot be claimed in conjunction with another GP attendance item on the same day, except where clinically required.
The additional Bulk Billing payment item 10991 can be claimed in addition to 717.
- ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR NURSES NEW TO GENERAL PRACTICE
General Practice Queensland is offering an orientation workshop for nurses new to general practice in Brisbane in May and June of this year. Please see the click here to download flyer if you have nursing staff interested in attending the orientation workshop. Accommodation is offered and can be organized through the registration form. For further information, please contact Alison Berigan (nee Dumaresq) on 0747258868 or alisonb@nwqphc.com.au.