e-news 30 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
- May 31 is World No Tobacco Day
Cancer Council Queensland invites your organisation to be part of World No Tobacco Day, on May 31. An annual initiative of the (more) - Do you require 40 category 1 RACGP points?
Please consider the completion of a clinical audit activity with ASPREN (Australian Sentinel Practices Research Network). GPS have the flexibility of choosing their level of ASPREN membership. For more details and/or to register, please go to http://www.dmac.adelaide.edu.au/aspren/asprenMISServlet?page=index - A Collaborative Mental Health Care Workshop
The Mental Health Professionals Network invites you to attend A Collaborative Mental Health Care Workshop (more) - Acute Resuscitation Plan (ARP) Implementation
Overview:
The Clinical Policy Unit commenced the End of Life project in April 2008 in response to a coronial recommendation (more) - Remember Pneumococcal Vaccination this year!!
Pneumococcal vaccination was added to the NIP in 2005 with many Australians 65 years and older requiring a FREE pneumococcal (more) - MBS Fee May 2010 and Incentive Item Changes Update
HCN is pleased to announce the release of the May 2010 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fees and May 2010 Incentive Item Changes for PracSoft 3. (more) - Practice Nurse Network Meeting - National Nurse's Registration - Townsville (more)
- Allied Health Visits (more)
- Health Services Newsletters (more)
- Education and Training Opportunities for this Month (more)
- May 31 is World No Tobacco Day
Cancer Council Queensland invites your organisation to be part of World No Tobacco Day, on May 31. An annual initiative of the World Health Organization, World No Tobacco Day aims to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. This year the Quit Partnership, a joint collaboration between Cancer Council Queensland and Queensland Health, is promoting the international theme ‘Gender and Tobacco’, with an emphasis on marketing to women. As part of World No Tobacco Day, Cancer Council Queensland will urge the government to implement plain cigarette packaging legislation, to protect women from tobacco companies’ attempts to lure them into smoking. Many cigarette packets in Australia are fashionably styled to appeal to young, female smokers, with some cigarette packets specially designed to look like more of an accessory. By adopting plain packaging for cigarettes, the potential for tobacco companies to target women through this type of marketing will decrease. In Queensland, approximately one in 10 female deaths are smoking related and lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death. Cancer Council Queensland encourages you to become involved in World No Tobacco Day by distributing resources or creating displays. You might also like to talk to clients about their smoking and encourage those wishing to quit to call the Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 7848).
Quit resources are available to order or download by visiting http://www.cancerqld.org.au/f/OrderBrochures/Medical/. To coincide with the ‘Gender and Tobacco’ theme, we suggest you order:
• Quit Because You Can booklet
• Smoking and your health – information for women brochure
• Smoking – not just lung cancer brochure
• The benefits of quitting smoking fact sheet
• Quitline (Count down to quit) poster
For further enquiries contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
- A Collaborative Mental Health Care Workshop
The Mental Health Professionals Network invites you to attend A Collaborative Mental Health Care Workshop The Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing to improve the quality of patient care by strengthening collaboration between mental health professionals in the primary care sector. In a first of its kind, MHPN is facilitating workshops for multidisciplinary groups of mental health practitioners working within the same local area. The workshops lay the foundations for ongoing local networks of mental health practitioners within the primary care sector.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
• Informal networking over a 2-course meal with mental health care colleagues from your local area.
• A case study is used as a basis to discuss the role of collaborative care in the treatment of mental health.
• Explore the model of collaborative care from each practitioner’s particular expertise.
• Discuss meeting again as a multidisciplinary network.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Workshops are endorsed by the 7 professional associations affiliated with MHPN – RACGP, RANZCP, APS, ACMHN, OT AUSTRALIA, AASW AND RACP
PAYMENT
• Private Practitioners who are eligible to provide services under Better Access will be remunerated $150 (plus GST) for their attendance at one MHPN workshop only.
AIM OF THE WORKSHOPS
• Meet other mental health providers working locally and build referral pathways.
• Build relationships with other practitioners for support and information sharing.
• Be part of a collaborative care model which focuses on improved client outcomes
• Increase your profile in the provision of mental health services delivered under Better Access.
WORKSHOP FOR PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN MT ISA AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Facilitator: Sarah Lutkin, Psychologist
When: Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Time: 6:15pm – approximately 9:30pm
Venue: Terrace Gardens
Address: 4 Duchess Road, Mt Isa
Workshop Code: QLD1111
Numbers are limited so reserve your place early. We hope you take up this opportunity and register below. Please forward this to colleagues who might like to attend.
To register click here. For more information please call Sasha on 03 8699 0514
- Acute Resuscitation Plan (ARP) Implementation
Overview:
The Clinical Policy Unit commenced the End of Life project in April 2008 in response to a coronial recommendation to review the practice and documentation of “not for resuscitation” (NFR) orders. The coroner commented that agreement on uniform standards of practice and documentation “can only improve the quality of care for patients facing their likely demise. This would also help families understand treatment decisions.” The End of Life project is overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Health Officer.
The ARP has been developed in consultation with clinicians and will replace the current practice of completing an NFR Form and/or writing a NFR order (including stickers) in the patient’s medical record - across Queensland Health facilities.
The ARP form is intended to:
• provide for consistent documentation of decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining measures, including CPR and assisted ventilation, and
• prompt discussions with patients and their families about their prognosis and management in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest.
The ARP is intended to improve documentation of end-of-life care and will replace ‘not for resuscitation’ orders in all Qld Health facilities. The new two page form documents resuscitation planning following discussions held with patients and their families. The particular focus of the ARP form is documenting the decision-making pathway to withhold and/or withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment.
On the 19th April 2010, the ARP will be implemented in all Qld Health facilities.
There is a local implementation team who are providing support during the implementation period. April 12th – May 22nd 2010 (6 weeks).
online training is available : www.health.qld.gov.au/advance-care-planning/
For further information contact ARP CNC Julie Shepherd : 47963476 (until 21st May only)
- Remember Pneumococcal Vaccination this year!!
Pneumococcal vaccination was added to the NIP in 2005 with many Australians 65 years and older requiring a FREE pneumococcal vaccine in 2010. Any patient, who was first vaccinated in 2005, is due for their five year pneumococcal booster this year.
You will need to:
• Ensure there is sufficient vaccine on hand
• Remind patients about pneumococcal vaccination in a flu recall letter
• Do a software search to confirm patient numbers
• On arrival at the surgery, check the patient’s record and leave a pneumococcal vaccination reminder for the GP/Nurse
• On arrival provide all 65+ year olds with a pneumonia flyer/reminder to ask GP about revaccination
• Actively promote the revaccination year – maybe make a display in the waiting room