e-news 11 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
- North West Community Rehabilitation
North & West Queensland Primary Health Care (NWQPHC), James Cook University (JCU), Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote (more) - An update from the Rural Doctors Association of Australia 3 June 2010
UP DATE - Tax status of GPRIP incentive payments - In the last month the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) (more) - Nursing in Gengeral Practice Program subsidies - North West Office
NWQPHC NW office has supported two practice nurses, through financial subsidies from the Nursing in General Practice Program (more) - Wound Management Workshop - Mount Isa
On Saturday 10th July, NWQPHC are hosting a Wound Management Workshop presented by Jan Rice. (more) - Dr McIntosh Paediatric ENT Surgeon Mount Isa Visit
Dr David McIntosh, ENT Specialist will be in Mount Isa on Tuesday 13th July and has kindly offered (more) - GPs to submit feedback for the 2010 Queensland Health Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme Review by 11 June 2010 (more)
- PrimaryCare Sidebar™ helps GPs to implement e-health (more)
- New Consultation paper from Medical Board of Australia (more)
- Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- North West Community Rehabilitation
North & West Queensland Primary Health Care (NWQPHC), James Cook University (JCU), Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MICRRH) and Queensland Health (Mount Isa) combined are offering clients of North West Queensland a fantastic opportunity. Residents who have a neurological condition (e.g. Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease) may be eligible to participate in the North West Community Rehabilitation (NWCR) project. The project will be run in Mt Isa for 5 weeks (30th August to 1st October). A similar project was held in Townsville in 2007, with participants reporting a high level of satisfaction.
Participants will be managed by JCU Physiotherapy students under the supervision of a senior Lecturer in Neurological Physiotherapy and a local Physiotherapist. The service will offer different streams of rehabilitation, including:
• Activity and education program for people who have progressive neurological conditions (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis);
• Drive Your Own Recovery program for people who have had a Stroke affecting their arm or balance and/or mobility;
• Living with a Disability program for people who are ageing with a disability (e.g. Polio, Cerebral Palsy).
To access this service, clients will need to be referred and participate in a screening process (over the phone, or face to face with a cultural liaison officer if appropriate). If patients meet the inclusion criteria, they will be offered an opportunity to participate, based on a ‘first come, first served’ policy. Participation in the project is free and where possible travel and accommodation may be subsidised.
Further information (including referral forms) will be made available soon. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sarah Lyons on (07) 4749 4615
- An update from the Rural Doctors Association of Australia 3 June 2010
UPDATE - Tax status of GPRIP incentive payments - In the last month the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) have raised with the Department of Health and Ageing concerns regarding the withholding of tax from incentive payments to medical practitioners under the new General Practice Rural Incentive Program (GPRIP) due to commence on 1 July 2010. Based on a tax ruling from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in November 2009, the Department had advised GPs and Registrars in May that GPRIP incentive payments would be subject to withholding of Pay As You Go tax at time of payment at a rate of 46.5%. The Department took seriously the concerns raised by stakeholders and sought urgent clarification and further advice from the ATO. The ATO reviewed the earlier ruling and, on 31 May 2010, issued a new ruling that the Department does NOT have an obligation to withhold amounts from GPRIP payments paid to doctors and GP registrars. Hence, tax will not be withheld from GPRIP incentive payments to medical practitioners. Recipients will, of course, need to declare such payments for tax purposes, and are advised to seek advice from their financial adviser, accountant or the ATO regarding their own tax arrangements. The Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, has written to stakeholder agencies informing them of the ATO’s ruling. Updated information regarding the new ruling is available online at www.doctorconnect.gov.au.
- Nursing in Gengeral Practice Program subsidies - North West Office
NWQPHC NW office has supported two practice nurses, through financial subsidies from the Nursing in General Practice Program, to complete the Cervical Screening Education Module held in Cairns with Family Planning QLD in May. Congratulations to Nicola Taylor (Barkly Medical Centre) and Hanah Butler (Gidgee Healing) on your achievement. Your new qualification should increase the uptake of cervical screening in your practices, well done!
- Wound Management Workshop - Mount Isa
On Saturday 10th July, NWQPHC are hosting a Wound Management Workshop presented by Jan Rice. Topics covered include: Physiology of Wound Healing – the basics, understanding the healing process, wound bed preparation, wound products, leg ulceration causes and management, foot ulceration and surgical wounds. There is no charge to attend and if travelling from outlying areas, contact Glenda Jones (NW Practice Support Officer) on 47494615 to arrange travel/accommodation subsidy. Workshop registration is 0845.
- Dr McIntosh Paediatric ENT Surgeon Mount Isa Visit
Dr David McIntosh, ENT Specialist will be in Mount Isa on Tuesday 13th July and has kindly offered to hold an education evening for local GPs.
Topics covered will include an overview of common ENT problems, Paediatric ENT, Sinusitis and Otitis Media, Q&A.
Dr McIntosh is a Paediatric ENT Surgeon with a subspecialist interest in Sinus disease.
The education evening will be held in NWQPHC’s Enid Street training room from 7:00pm
Please contact Glenda Jones (NW Practice Support Officer) on 47494615 if you wish to attend.