Role of GPDV

• Mapping of current after hours services in Victoria
• Liaison with stakeholders and identification of potential for collaboration and integration between services
• Identification and dissemination of best practice
• Support to after hours service development
• Explore potential for the involvement of divisions of general practice and GPs in the provision of more effective after-hours medical services.
• Information feedback to state and Commonwealth.
• Similar programs are being run in all states and territories.

Service Mapping

Information gathering is being done at a divisional level

Main areas of data collection

• Divisional information/demographics and divisional involvement in after hours
• Service models, funding, keys to success
• Issues with service access and delivery
• Integration issues

Current Issues

• Information transfer
• Methods of ongoing funding/ feasibility particularly funding for nurse triage, funding for telephone advice, clinics associated with hospitals, remuneration to maintain GPs on rosters
• Essential capacity (workforce/ funding)
• Access
• Flexibility (in the rapidly changing service delivery environment)
• Call centre/ triage standards
• Training for GPs
• Provider numbers
• Information dissemination
• Consumer information
• Data and service planning
• After hours components in care plans
• PIP payments
• Nurse dispensing in rural hospitals after hours
• Hospital Emergency Department and GP clinics

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

SEEDING GRANTS

• Up to $50,000
• Up to six months duration
• For initial service development work including :
• business planning
• stakeholder consultation etc
• No ongoing funding guaranteed but 2nd round of Service funding available

Seeding Grants in Victoria

Ballarat Division of GP

• Investigating viable options of GP based after hours services

Northern Division of GP

• Investigating the best model of after hours care from a hospital based setting incorporating existing services and ensuring follow up with GP.

IM/IT GRANTS

• Up to $50,000
• Evidence that IM/IT provided the most appropriate solution for a defined problem
• Strong Stakeholder support and demonstration of need required

IMIT Grants in Victoria

Beechworth Surgery

• Develop a central patient records for residents of Chiltern and Beechworth District and patients of Beechworth Health Service and Chiltern and District Bush Nursing Hospital.
• Installation and trial of a video system at Chiltern and District Nursing Hospital to allow doctors to view patients from a remote site.

Central Bayside Division of GP

• Install a remote managed server in the division and telephone links between the division and participating practices. GPs on call will access patient records via remote dial in.

Central Highlands Division of GP

• Incorporate GP IT with PCP�s connecting Care Database
• Improve patient access to non-GP ahpmc through improving GP awareness of and capacity to refer to AHPMC services

Goulburn Valley Division of GP

• Development of software for notification of GPs of after hours attendances

Latrobe Community Health Service

• Establishment of a secure client interface between the Systems Wide Information Technology for Community Health (SWITCH) and Medical Director
• Develop secure on-line feedback between after hours rostered GPs and the clients usual GP
• This project will work in collaboration with Moe After Hours Medical Service, Central West Gippsland Division of GP and the Centre for Rural Heath.

SERVICE GRANTS

• $ not predetermined
• Size and scope not predetermined
• Live Phase Implementation by 1 January 2003

Requirements:

• No single practices

• GP Cooperatives (including groups of practices) and consortiums only

• Strong Stakeholder Support

• Cash & In-kind Support from other parties

• Can become self-sustaining in 2-3yrs

RESEARCH

• National Evaluation of trials
• Blue Moon Consumer
• Urbis Access to AHPMC by marginalised members of the community
• National Workshop
• AHPMC by Disadvantaged and Marginalised Research (literature review)

OTHER GRANTS