Public Health Alert Murray Valley encephalitis virus

The Chief Health Officer in Victoria, Dr John Carnie has released this Public Health Alert

Patients benefiting from 59 per cent increase in practice nurses

Today the 2007 National Practice Nurse Workforce Survey Report was released showing that over the last two years patients have benefited from the 59 per cent increase (4924- 7824)  in the numbers of nurses working in general practices across the country

New Health Privacy Guidance Material for GP's and other Providers

Safety and Security Kit released for General Practice

A draft Safety and Security Kit for General Practice has been released for comment.  It is intended to be incorporated into the latest revision of the generic policy and procedure manual for general practice which will be available for downloading from the Associations website in the next couple of months.

Medicare Dental Items to be stopped

Notice to General Practitioners
Discontinuation of Medicare Dental Items for People with Chronic Conditions and Complex Care Needs (Items 85011-87777)
Refer Resources Section for more information click here

Gardasil Vaccine Update

The National HPV Program will be introduced to Victoria as part of a phased program.  GPs will be responsible for implementing the female 18 - 26 year old program, commencing in July 2007.   GPs will not be issued with any vaccine until mid-late July.  New vaccine and resource order forms that include HPV vaccine and resources will be issued to all immunisation providers in approximately June 2007.

Carry for Kids

Some local GPs are involved in assisting an orphanage in Bali through an Australian organization called Carry for Kids.

The orphanage is in desperate need of medicines and other items such as non prescriptive drugs, ointments and bandages.  Any help or donations would be appreciated.

Pre-Referral Guidelines for the Royal Childrens Hospital

Initial management and pre-referral guidelines for paediatrics are available online. Guidelines were written by RCH specialists and reviewed by GP working groups. Print a complete set of guidelines for each specialty or search for a specific complaint or condition. Includes parent information and referral form. See the RCH Primary Care Liaison website, Kids Connect or tel (03) 9345 4645.

VHIA Record Keeping & Pay Slip Requirements

Enforceable from 27th March 2007

Balint Group for GPs

Seeking new members

Multilingual Information for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Available on the Program website at www.cancerscreening.gov.au  and selecting the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Audit of Chronic Disease Care Planning Items by Medicare Australia

Medicare Australia will be conducting an audit of the CDM care planning items to assess the compliance of GPs with MBS requirements of these items.The template they plan to use is currently available on the Department of Health and Ageing website (click on number 6), available now as a checklist for GPs to assess how well their plans measure up.
As part of the audit, Medicare Australia has written to a number of GPs asking them to supply copies of GP Management Plans for selected patients.The review process will consist of examination of those plans and patient interviews

Rotavirus and HPV vaccine information sheets

Below are some information sheets for providers and parents about the new Rotavirus and HPV vaccines, also available from the RCH Immunisation Service Web Site.

Rotavirus vaccine fact sheet (for providers)
HPV vaccine fact sheet (for parents) from the Merck website
HPV vaccine fact sheet (for providers)

Changes to Emergency After Hours

Changes to the emergency after-hours Medicare items take effect from the start of March 2007. Read the press release or visit the DoHA website for more info.