Kim Toole would like to invite interested GPs, practice nurses and practice managers to join the Aboriginal Health Advisory Group. The group will inform and support the work of CSGPN project officers to ensure quality in all our activities concerned with Aboriginal health.

The Aboriginal Health Program involves a range of activities to:
• increase access to mainstream primary care services by Aboriginal people;
• improve the capacity of general practice to deliver culturally sensitive primary care services;
• increase the uptake of Aboriginal specific MBS items, including Aboriginal health checks and follow up items;
• support mainstream primary care services to encourage Aboriginal Australians to self-identify;
• increase awareness and understanding of Closing the Gap measures relevant to mainstream primary care; and
• foster collaboration and support between the mainstream primary care and the Aboriginal health sectors.

The Advisory Group will provide perspectives from a broad range of local GPs, practice nurses, practice managers, Aboriginal health service representatives and Aboriginal community members to assist us in setting priorities and developing, implementing and evaluating our Aboriginal health activities.

If you have enthusiasm for, or experience in Aboriginal health, we would love to hear from you. You … MORE...]]> Announcements, Critical Information, Education, Preventive Health 2010-08-31T04:18:30+00:00 http://csgpn.com.au/news/entry/reminding_your_patients_about_the_next_pneumococcal_vaccination/ http://csgpn.com.au/news/entry/reminding_your_patients_about_the_next_pneumococcal_vaccination/#When:06:23:43Z Up to 800 000 patients received their first dose of pneumococcal vaccine in 2005 and these patients are now due for their 5 year booster. Act now to identify and vaccinate all eligible patients aged over 70years before winter. The National Pneumococcal Vaccination Program for Older Australians commenced in January 2005 and provides free pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax23®) to adults aged 65 years or older. People aged 65 years or over should discuss vaccination with their doctor or health care provider.

Adults aged 65 years or over are at higher risk of contracting pneumococcal disease than the rest of the population, with the majority of deaths from this disease occurring in this age group.

2 doses of vaccine are given, with the second dose given 5 years after the first dose. For technical information or information about vaccines, refer to the Pneumococcal section of the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Reference:
www.racgp.org.au/ff/21

For more information visit the following sites:

• www.traveldoctor.com.au
• www.smartraveller.gov.au

Vijay Ramanathan Phone: 8752 4915

Julie McLean-Murray Phone: 8752 4905

Dianne Deschamps Phone: 8752 4923

Download

• Gay friendly GPs

Link

www.nswcid.org.au

For further information Lisa Maude on 8752 4902.

Personal Protection Equipment from CSGPN on Vimeo.

Downloads

• CSGPN Pandemic Preparedness Workshop presentation.

Information

If you require any information regarding the PPE kits or the above demonstration, please contact Beba Ostrugnaj Phone: 8752 4909.

• GP update 9
• Oseltamivir suspension

Guideline 1

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.

Guideline 2

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol related injury arising from that occasion.

Guideline 3

3A Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.
3B For young people aged 15–17 years the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.

Guideline 4

4A For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option. 
4B For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.

Alcohol has a complex role in Australian society. Most Australians drink alcohol, generally for … MORE...]]> Announcements, Critical Information, Mental Health, Preventive Health 2009-04-02T04:21:43+00:00 http://csgpn.com.au/news/entry/increased_medicare_compliance_audit_initiative/ http://csgpn.com.au/news/entry/increased_medicare_compliance_audit_initiative/#When:07:27:08Z From January 2009, the Medicare audit scheme will increase from 0.7% to 4% (500 to 2500 audits per year) of all providers with includes GPs, allied health professionals and specialists. The audits are carried out on claims that consistently produce anomalies in claiming procedures. Medicare acknowledged that the majority of non-compliant audits are not the acts of lawless scoundrels but more an administrative glitch.

For more information about MBS audits, visit the Medicare website and look for the fact sheet titled Increased MBS Compliance Audits Information Sheet or call Lisa Maude on 8752 4902.

Practice nurses will play an increasing role in the delivery of primary healthcare, but did you know since 2004 over 14 million Medicare item numbers specific to practice nurses have been claimed? One of the latest item numbers is the 4 year old health check.

APNA invited practice nurses to attend this special event held at Shepherd’s Bay Community Centre in Meadowbank, to raise the awareness and understanding of the role of practice nurses in the delivery of primary healthcare.

Speakers included:

• The Hon Maxine McKew, MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care
• Mayor of Ryde, Cr Vic Tagg
• Karen Booth- Practice Nurse Perspective
• APNA CEO and President
• GP Northside Representative

If you would like more information about the 4 year old health check, please contact Jo Wild on 8752 4919 or Lisa Maude on 8752 4902.

Visit the DoHA: Healthy Kids for questions about the Government’s Healthy Kids Check or visit the NSW Healthy Kids website for consumer information.