e-news 16 Apr 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
- RAGCP releases Draft 4th Edition of Standards…
The RACGP announced last Friday that the Draft 4th Edition Standards for General Practices are now available for review and public (more) - New Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Payment guidelines released
As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap, a new Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive (more) - Stop Press: A mental health networking opportunity not to be missed
Are you interested in networking with local mental health providers? Mental Health Professional Network (MHPN) workshops are currently (more) - University of Melbourne Practice Nurse course
The University of Melbourne, Department of General Practice has invested in practice nurses by developing the Certificate/Diploma (more) - National Bowel Cancer Screening Program resumed in Townsville and Mt Isa catchment
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program resumed on 02 November 2009, with 61 968 replacement Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) kits (more) - Welcome Dr Margaret Culpan and staff – Outback Family Medicine
Dr Margaret Culpan has taken over Dr Paul’s Country practice in Ayr mid February 2010. Please also join me in congratulating Dr Paul’s(more) - NOTE DATE CHANGE FOR FLINDERS TRAINING
The venue will be Townsville General Practice Network Boardroom. Due to unforeseen circumstances the date(more) - Free, confidential and client directed advocacy support
Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy Inc (QADA) is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments to offer free (more) - Dr Wayne Kelly Mount Isa Visit
Dr Wayne Kelly, Respiratory Surgeon, will be visiting Mount Isa on the 15th & 16th April, please refer any patients by contacting his rooms directly via phone (07) 3834 6791 or fax (07) 3834 6792. Dr Kelly’s visits are funded under the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP). - Remember Pneumococcal Vaccination This Year (more)
- Launch of osteoporosis guidelines for GPs in Australia (30 March 2010 (more)
- New Dementia education modules (more)
- Seasonal influenza vaccine and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (more)
- Prevenar 13 receives approval from Therapeutic Goods Administration (more)
- Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- RAGCP releases Draft 4th Edition of Standards…
The RACGP announced last Friday that the Draft 4th Edition Standards for General Practices are now available for review and public consultation. We encourage you all to review the document and provide feedback to the RACGP. To download the draft standards, please visit http://www.racgp.org.au/standards and click on the link. The RACGP is asking that queries or comments on the draft standards, be emailed directly to standards@racgp.org.au
Field-testing of the draft standards is scheduled to occur from May – July 2010. If your practice’s survey visit is approaching and you would like to be involved then please let Chris or Maree know. Simply emailinfo@gpa.net.au or phone 1800 188 088.
Throughout the public consultation period and field-testing visits, the RACGP is seeking ongoing review and feedback. More information on the consultation process will be published on the RACGP website soon. These are the profession’s standards and considering they will be utilised by you and your colleagues, we very much encourage you to review and have your say.
The final edition of the 4th Edition Standards is to be launched in October at GP10 Cairns Conference. GPA, along with the RACGP, will provide draft review/s of the changes and major implications of the new standards throughout the review process and once they are released.
Please note: GPA will allow a grace period once the new standards are released for practices registering for their next accreditation round. GPA will implement the grace period, giving practices the choice between accrediting against 3rd or 4th Edition Standards until a determined date when all practices will be accredited against the 4th Edition Standards.
GPA thanks you in advance for your feedback and support throughout the consultation, review and field-testing of the RACGP Draft 4th Edition Standards – please be sure to have your say on what is your Standards.
- New Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Payment guidelines released
As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap, a new Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive will be introduced from 1 May 2010. The PIP aims to support general practices and Aboriginal Medical Services to provide best practice chronic disease management to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The PIP is based around three key components a sign-on payment, a payment linked to registration of each eligible patient and an outcomes payment associated with the cycle of care provided to the patient by the practice. The PIP is a key element of the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap package and is expected to act as a ‘gateway’ through which patients can access other programs under the package. The guidelines for this PIP have now been released and are available, alongside other relevant documents, from the Medicare Australia website at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/pip Medicare Australia has recently written to all PIP practices advising the release of the guidelines and inviting them to participate in this PIP.
- Stop Press: A mental health networking opportunity not to be missed
Are you interested in networking with local mental health providers? Mental Health Professional Network (MHPN) workshops are currently being offered in Charters Towers, Ingham, Ayr, Bowen and Cloncurry, Normanton and Mt Isa. MHPN workshops are accredited, semi-structured, inter-disciplinary mental health networking opportunities held over a shared meal, followed by a facilitated clinical case study discussion. By attending you’ll learn about the particular skill sets of your local mental health providers thereby increasing your referral pathways with better targeted mental health referrals. See www.mhpn.org.au to register for a workshop in your region. Click here to download flyer invitation.
- University of Melbourne Practice Nurse course
The University of Melbourne, Department of General Practice has invested in practice nurses by developing the Certificate/Diploma of Primary Care Nursing delivered by distance education.
The format supports nurses who often have busy lives or with limited access to educational facilities in rural areas. It has been developed by experienced practice nurses and general practitioners to suit the needs of general practice nurses in areas (chronic disease, risk management, health promotion, women’s health, mental health and youth health) that will complement previous experience and expand your scope of practice. Spaces are available for second semester 2010. Further details: www.gp.unimelb.edu.au or call Ms Bernie Cooper, course administrator on 03 8344 7275. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program resumed in Townsville and Mt Isa catchment
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program resumed on 02 November 2009, with 61 968 replacement Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) kits having been sent out to eligible Queenslanders to date. The issue with the screening FOBT has been addressed and a replacement kit has been listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Replacement FOBTs are now being offered to affected people, who are encouraged to retake the test to obtain a reliable result. The majority of those affected by the faulty kits will receive a replacement kit by March 2010. People living in areas with hotter average monthly temperatures may receive their kits later in the first half of 2010 when the temperature is cooler. People with a positive result are advised to consult their doctor as soon as possible.
Colonoscopy referral procedures for the Program in Queensland remain unchanged. The Program aims to provide assessment colonoscopies for Program participants who receive a positive FOBT within 30 days of referral to a designated Queensland Health facility. To refer a Program participant for a public sector colonoscopy, please contact your local Program Gastroenterology Nurse Coordinator on 1300 766 927. For further information on the Program recommencement visit www.cancerscreening.gov.au or contact the NBCSP Information Line on 1800 118 868. For local information regarding the Program, please contact your local Queensland Bowel Cancer Screening Program team on 1300 766 927 or visit www.health.qld.gov.au/bowelcancer.
- Welcome Dr Margaret Culpan and staff – Outback Family Medicine
Dr Margaret Culpan has taken over Dr Paul’s Country practice in Ayr mid February 2010. Please also join me in congratulating Dr Paul’s country practice and Outback Family Medicine on having achieved 100% ACIR coverage rate in the February Quarter. That is an outstanding achievement. Well done. We are looking forward for other practices to achieve this result.
- NOTE DATE CHANGE FOR FLINDERS TRAINING
The venue will be Townsville General Practice Network Boardroom. Due to unforeseen circumstances the date of the training has had to be changed. Apologies for any inconvenience. Click here to download flyer. Click here to download Tax Invoice.
- Free, confidential and client directed advocacy support
Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy Inc (QADA) is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments to offer free, confidential and client directed advocacy support to people receiving Community Aged Care Packages (CACP), Extended Aged Care at Home Packages (EACH), Home and Community Care services (HACC), Residents in Commonwealth funded Aged Care facilities, and Carers of recipients of these services. QADA also provides professional advice, support and representation by Legal Advocates to assist adults whose decision making capacity is being questioned, with guardianship and administration matters. QADA is an independent advocacy service that operates throughout Queensland with a head office in Brisbane and regional offices in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, Wide Bay and the Gold Coast. QADA’s mission is to provide information, education, support and representation to enable people to understand and exercise their rights and their responsibilities within the context of aged care services, and to ensure their voice is heard. This may include exploring options with a person, providing them with information to enable appropriate decision making, informing them of their rights, or linking them with specific services. If you would like to receive information cards to display in your surgery, or for further information regarding QADA’s services, please call 1800 818 338
- The NW Immunisation Network Meeting was held in Mount Isa last week: the following points were raised
• There has been an increase in the number of Scabies cases around, especially young babies; be on the lookout for Scabies when children come in for vaccination.
• Please remind people of the importance of cold chain management, especially those who take a vaccine script from your practice to be filled at a pharmacy. Advise them to keep the vaccine cool and not leave in the car while shopping, but return immediately to the practice for the vaccination. Explain the vaccine may be compromised which could impact on their immunity to disease.
• There have been a few cases of newborns leaving Townsville & Cairns hospitals where the child has not received a Boostrix immunisation against Whooping Cough. Please check the Bub has been vaccinated on presentation for their checkups. Don’t forget mum & dad need to be immunised as well!
• With the advent of the seasonal flu immunisation period, ongoing panvax immunisation, pneumococcal for ATSI >50’s & general population >65’s, the amount of paperwork can be confusing and time consuming. Please contact your local TPHU nurse if you have any questions.