The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) new Coordinated Veterans’ Care Program (known as the CVC Program) commenced on 1 May 2011. The CVC Program:

• Uses a proactive approach to improve the management of participants’ chronic diseases and quality of care
• Involves a care team of a general practitioner plus a nurse coordinator who work with the participant (and their carer, if applicable) to manage their ongoing care
• Provides new payments to GPs for initial and ongoing care.

GPs who decide to be involved with the CVC Program are required to:

• Prepare for the program
• Enroll participants in the program
• Provide ongoing care

This program is aimed at veterans, war widows and dependants who are Gold Card holders and are at risk of being admitted or readmitted to hospital. For more information visit:
http://www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/health_programs
or
http://www.cvcprogram.net.au/

Attention all practices with a practice nurse
Sydney University School of Nursing is currently liaising with CSGPN to coordinate student nurse placements for 2011. If you or your practice is interested in providing a placement for a student nurse please contact Julie on 8752 4905 or email jmclean@csgpn.com.au

Nurses not confident about identifying skin irregularities
Observer Primary Care Nurse April 2011

Only 1 in 10 practice nurses feel confident in their ability to correctly identify a skin irregularity despite 91% of practice nurses saying they are regularly asked by patients to check skin, a survey shows.

Completed by more than 400 health professionals, the survey of 121 practices nurse found just 1 in 5 practice nurses felt confident they would even notice a sun damage related skin irregularity on a patient.

Carried out by Kantar Health, the research emphasised the increasing role that practice nurses have in managing such skin conditions.

APNA CEO Belinda Caldwell said that it was imperative that nurses felt adequately equipped to deal with the issue. “This research found three in four practice nurses are involved in managing sun damaged related skin conditions in their daily practice. It’s important all practice nurses feel confident in their ability to identify potentially dangerous lesions before they become harmful”, she said.

Following the survey, new materials have been developed by LEO Pharma for practice nurses, including a solar keratosis surgery card to use to educate patients, a leaflet and posters.

Nurses can access the material by calling 8332 2000.