Professor of General Practice Dandenong Casey

The Dandeonong Casey General Practice Association (DCGPA) in partnership with Monash University and Southern Health has established an Academic Unit to be based at DCGPA.  The position of Professor of General Practice & Director Primary Care Research Dandenong & Casey has been advertised in The Australian and will appear in The Age on 29 November 2008. Full advertisement click here Position description click here

Summary of new MBS Item numbers : General Practice & Allied Health

DHS working to provide information and support to Victorian primary health care agencies

Research Opportunity in Young People's Health

For further information click on resources as follows
1. Expression of interest   2. Information   3. Key Messages

The Year In Review (Dandenong & District Division of General Practice)

2007 Annual Review

Position Paper on General Practice Engagement (GPE) - DDDGP

A position statement on GPE has been developed for staff at Dandenong Division of General Practice but may be of interest to other relevant organisations. A paper is also about to be published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol. 13, no. 3, Nov 2007, It Takes More Than A Practice Visit: Effective General Practice Engagement, by Monica Bensberg, Julie Sutherland and Christine Crosbie.

Royal Childrens Hospital

New & Updated fact sheets - refer Links / Hospitals
Kids Health Info

November Newsletter

The November 2006 newsletter is now available.

GP Information on Casey Hospital

There is now a new section on the GP Access website for 'Hospital Profiles' which will eventually house a useful profile of each Southern Health hospital site. The first profile completed is Casey Hospital and this page provides useful information for GPs on the services available and exclusion criterias etc.

New Item Number for 45yr old health check

this item will be available from 1 November 2006, for GPs to provide a preventive health check for people between the ages of 45 and 49 (inclusive) who are at risk of developing a chronic disease. This link contains the following information:

• fact sheet
• Questions & Answers
• Checklist - designed to be a sample checklist that may assist GPs and health professionals in the practice in undertaking the 45 year old health check.

click here for more information

Mental Health Items - resources

Information and resources regarding the new Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative (Items 2710, 2712, 2713) are available on the following web site: http://www.primarymentalhealth.com.au/ 

• Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative
• Resources for GPs and Divisions 

Available resources include flow charts and a sample mental health plan pro forma.

New NICS Evidence in Practice Series

The National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) has released a new series of brochures focussing on common emergency presentations where there may be opportunities to improve care.

Medicare Changes from November 2006

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, said changes to Medicare to better treat mental illness and prevent chronic disease will commence on 1 November 2006.

DoHA Q&A

On November 1st a range of new mental health care items were added to the MBS. These items make it possible for all GPs to refer patients to psychology services for treatment for various conditions (particularly depression and anxiety related disorders). Essentially they provide GPs with incentive to identify and plan interventions for these conditions and also enable psychologists to claim rebates, thereby significantly reducing the cost of treatment to patients. See the DoHA Q&A document.