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August 2000 | |
CONTENTS
Memorandum of Understanding signed between Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (VACCHO) and GPDV
GPDV AUGUST FORUM: Population Health Theme
Extension of the GPII Scheme
Primary Care Partnerships
Better Access to Services – A Draft Policy Framework for Discussion (BATS)
Information Management Discussion Paper
Consultation Process – for the BATS and IM Papers
Meeting with Auditor-General’s office
Seminar: Paediatrics for GPs
Establishment of the Divisions Taskforce
Victorian Nurse Practitioner Task Force
Amalgamations
GP Education & Training – the future
Coming Events
Memorandum of Understanding signed between Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (VACCHO) and GPDV
This memorandum was launched on 19 July at a full day workshop attended by members of both organisations. The memorandum commits GPDV and VACCHO to act together and co-operatively for a period of three years with the common purpose:
1. To support the development and provision, through divisions of general practice, of opportunities for GPs in Victoria to enhance their awareness of issues in Aboriginal health and of the factors which will ensure effective, high quality primary health care services in Aboriginal communities in Victoria.
2. To work towards achieving the goal of each Aboriginal community having its own community based, locally owned, culturally appropriate and adequately resourced primary health care facility in which general practitioners have a role.
3. To support involvement of divisions of general practice in initiatives which encourage Aboriginal people to take up careers as health service providers.
VACCHO and GPDV will encourage Victorian divisions to respect and observe agreed protocols which are included in the memorandum document for consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal communities.
If you would like a copy of the memorandum, please contact GPDV.
GPDV AUGUST FORUM: Population Health Theme
The next GPDV Forum is scheduled for Sunday 20 August, 10am-1pm. Professor Mark Harris, Chair of the Joint Advisory Group on GPs and Population Health (JAG) will address the audience about the current JAG activities. Representatives from the state Department of Human Services (DHS), the National Public Health Partnership and RACGP (Vic) Preventive and Community Medicine Committee have also been invited.
This promises to be a stimulating forum where divisions will have the opportunity to share their experiences and views on general practice and population health with Professor Mark Harris and other key stakeholders to further inform the JAG consultation process outlined in the May 2000 JAG Consultation Paper.
To register, please email j.blennerhassett@gpdv.com.au
Extension of the GPII Scheme
Health Minister Michael Wooldridge has agreed to a further extension of the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) scheme in its current form until the end of June 2001 (announced 13 July). This additional six-month extension is to will ensure that a full consultation process is undertaken following receipt by the Department of the draft evaluation report. The extension should also provide sufficient lead time for stakeholders to be informed of the government's decision in relation to the new arrangements to apply after 30 June 2001.
Primary Care Partnerships
Two key documents have been released for discussion:
Better Access to Services – A Draft Policy Framework for Discussion (BATS)
This outlines the proposed strategy to support individual needs-based assessment and care planning designed to improve access to services in Victoria. It provides an overview of how better access to services can improve outcomes for consumers and suggests changes required to systems, work processes and practice.
Information Management Discussion Paper
“This paper is part of a project to develop Strategic Directions for information, information management, information technology and telecommunications (IIMITT) in Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs). It describes a range of core issues related to the ways information may be used to meet PCP policy objectives and outlines some possible options for tackling these issues.” The paper illustrates how information management can be used to enhance the delivery of PCP services. Three discrete scenarios provide a context for the use of IIMITT initiatives such as 24-hour support services, use of personal electronic records and electronic referral systems.
Consultation Process – for the BATS and IM Papers
A number of consultation forums will be held for PCP management groups, clinicians and GP/divisions. GPDV will keep divisions informed about dates.
The issue of funding for division and GP participation in the PCPs will be discussed as a hot topic at the 20th August Forum.
Meeting with Auditor-General’s office
Recently GPDV board members John McEncroe, John Meaney and Nola Maxfield (by phone) met with three representatives of the Auditor-General's Department to discuss the changes to the acute health system and their impact on GPs and patients. The Auditor-General is currently establishing the areas they can audit, and the issues they should be aware of, so this was exploratory, rather than an audit. The board members were able to give the representatives much valuable feedback about the impact on GPs and patients, both in general terms and with specific examples.
Paediatrics for GPs
19-21 October, 2000
An annual update program comprising ward rounds, workshops and lectures to be conducted by the University of Melbourne in conjunction with the Royal Children’s Hospital. The aim of the program is to provide a relevant and current update into common areas of paediatric practice. CME points are available.
Further information: Ms Ruth Hankinson tel. (03) 9345 5182 fax (03) 9345 6667
Establishment of the Divisions Taskforce
A taskforce has been set up through the Divisions subgroup of the General Practice Partnership Advisory Council (GPPAC) to advise the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and GPPAC (and through GPPAC the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care) about major issues and strategic directions relating to the development of the Divisions of General Practice Program.
The group consists of members of GPPAC, chaired by Dr Karda Cavanagh, rural and urban representatives of Divisions, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Royal District Nursing Service, and co-opted experts from the fields of evaluation and health financing. Dr Jill Grogan, the Victorian metro representative on ADGP, is on the taskforce.
Victorian Nurse Practitioner Task Force
The Hon. John Thwaites launched the report of the Nurse Practitioner Task Force on 25 July.
The Victorian government is clearly committed to proceeding with the introduction of nurse practitioners and legislative amendments to the Nurses’ Act are being prepared. The Victorian Nurses’ Board has been asked by the government to take on the tasks of appropriate accreditation. Employing bodies have been asked by the government to proceed with the creation of nurse practitioner positions within their workforce. The government is committed to the positions being created statewide. Initiatives are proceeding against the background of dissenting views from the AMA and the RACGP. GPDV has written to the Minister expressing concerns, and seeking to be represented on any working parties, to ensure that the views of divisions are represented. This is important for better health system planning because divisions represent general practitioners at the grass roots practice level, and nurse practitioners will inevitably have a significant impact on patients and on GPs at the practice level.
The government has allocated $3 million over two years to further develop the roll out of nurse practitioner positions. This funding will allow for two further funding rounds for demonstration projects and expressions of interest will be called for shortly. The focus in the next round is on rural and community applications and divisions will be able to apply along with other primary providers.
The Task Force Report is available at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/vnp
Amalgamations
The GP Links program, which had $17 million allocated for practice amalgamations, will close on the 15th of September. DH&AC will shortly announce a funding pool for virtual practice amalgamations. Those interested in this funding, which will be for a limited number of pilot or demonstration projects, should read the consultant’s report, Report on GP practice arrangements with special reference to ‘virtual amalgamation’, published by DH&AC in March this year.
GP Education & Training – the future
(Reproduced from the ADGP newsletter)
This article was provided by Dr Moira Sim, ADGP representative, GP Education and Training Council. Contact details for Dr Sim are 08 9349 1900 or moirasim@cyllene.uwa.edu.au.
The GP Education and Training Council (GPETC) will now make way for a new board of GP Education and Training following the recent introduction of changes to vocational training in Australia. These include the introduction of a dedicated rural training stream and incentives for Registrars who choose to train in rural and remote areas of Australia. In a move away from the current model of a single provider of training in the RACGP, a model of multiple providers will be introduced. The new board will be charged with regionalising vocational training and moving to a contestable funding arrangement by the beginning of 2002. The board will oversee GP Education and Training and will absorb the functions of the GPETC.
Dr Michael Wooldridge has announced that the new board will be broadly representative of the key players involved in general practice vocational training and that he plans to appoint an independent Chair who will be directly answerable to him. Representation will include but not be limited to the ADGP, RACGP, ACRRM, universities and consumers. An independent GP representative will also be appointed. A full time CEO will be appointed and sufficient resources made available so that the Board can manage its responsibilities effectively. The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care will have observer status on the board.
Coming Events
Wed 9 Victorian Aboriginal Eye Health Program Consultation with Divisions: Working Together
Wed 16 Education for Change Workshop
Sat 19 Financial Governance for Boards: The Value of Knowledge
Sun 20 GPDV Forum
For details, see the Events page on our website: www.gpdv.com.au