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February 1999 | |
CONTENTS
The Harradine Letter
GPDV new Website
GPCG: Y2K Guide for General Practice on the web
Influenza Vaccines
GPs to dispose of 1998 influenza vaccine stock
Reminder: new vaccine programs for 1999
Summary of the GPDV Board Meeting – 19th January 1999
Survey of divisions' support needs
IT
GPDV Integration project
Diabetes
Immunisation data
PHACS
Active Australia
Health Insurance Commission Data
Action on Health Inequalities through General Practice
Important Conferences
The Harradine Letter
In December 1998 the Prime Minister, in a letter to Senator Brian Harradine, promised a package of measures aimed at improving the integration of general practice with the rest of the healthcare system. These promises, commonly described as The Harradine Letter, include:
The Prime Minister also promised to provide "in the order of $25 million" for additional Coordinated Care Trials.
The PM’s commitments have national application, but also have particular implications in Victoria for the PHACS redevelopment and the ability of GPs to participate in the proposed demonstration projects.
A meeting was held on Friday 22 January, to provide advice from general practice to the State Office of DH&AC. Those attending included GPs with experience of the current Co-ordinated Care Trials and representatives of GPDV, AMA, RACGP, RDAV and DHS.
The Secretaries of Health Departments from all states and the Commonwealth were due to meet in Canberra on 28 January to consider these issues following the discussions in the states. We expect to have a report on their deliberations in the near future.
www.gpdv.com.au
The website holds details about the GPDV Board of Management and Staff, a copy of our latest newsletter and coming events. The site also contains links to other useful sites. Other material is in preparation, including a revision of all the information we inherited from the Field Support web site. Summaries of minutes of the GPDV board meetings, Forum meetings and reports on the outcomes of workshops, etc, will be posted at this site.
GPCG: Y2K Guide for General Practice on the web
The General Practice Computing Group's guide to Year 2000 problems for general practice is now available on the world wide web. The guide is being developed by the GPCG's Working Group on Year 2000 and Crisis Recovery. The site is intended as a preliminary guide to potential Year 2000 problems and lists resources that are available for general practitioners hoping to avoid those problems. The site can be found at:
http://www.gpnetwork.net.au/gpcg/
The GPCG will use feedback from general practitioners using the guide to make it more complete over time. Re-visit the site occasionally to view updated information drawn from GP feedback. Please direct any queries on the guide, or on the General Practice Computing Group, to the National Coordinator, Frank Quinlan at fquinlan@ama.com.au
GPs to dispose of 1998 influenza vaccine stock
The Department of Human Services believe there is some confusion within general practice as to whether 1998 influenza vaccine can be used this year. Please note that influenza vaccine that is still in stock from 1998 should be disposed of in the sharps waste. The 1999 influenza vaccine will have a different composition to the 1998 vaccine. Pnuemococcal vaccine does not vary from year to year and can be kept for use until the date of expiry, as long as the cold chain is maintained.
Reminder: new vaccine programs for 1999
GPs will have received vaccine order forms including the 1999 influenza and pnuemococcal vaccines. Through commonwealth and state funding programs, these vaccines are provided free to:
Research shows that the single most important factor in influencing older people to seek flu vaccination is a recommendation from their GP. In the mail, GPs and other immunisation providers will receive a briefing kit including resources for themselves and their patients.
The over 65 program will be promoted to the general community in late February and early March. At this time, the vaccines will be promoted as being free and available from GPs as of 1 March 1999. Public promotion to indigenous communities commenced in late January and will continue throughout February and March.
Contact your division if you have any queries about these programs.
Summary of the GPDV Board Meeting – 19th January 1999
Survey of divisions' support needs
The board agreed to present a report at the Forum in March on the survey and the visits to divisions. 26 divisions have responded to the questionnaire. The visits to divisions by GPDV board members are also providing views that add to and complement the survey.
The board agreed to a draft plan for IM/IT and approved a draft position description for an IM/IT Training and Support consultant to work with divisions and other relevant bodies to increase the effective computerisation of general practice. The board agreed to press the GP Computing Group for an early decision on the use of the funds for IT in the GP Strategy budget.
The board received a report on the project for the quarter to 31 December 1998, covering discussions with 29 divisions and some of the hospitals with which their GPs work. This will be circulated to divisions and other interested parties following the confirmation by divisions of the accuracy of the content of the attachments.
The board agreed to respond to the Integration SERU's proposal for a national four-tiered diabetes data collection system by expressing a number of concerns relating to the large size and complexity of the proposed system, uncertainty about its relevance to the aims of the Divisions program and doubt that sufficient numbers of practices and divisions would participate.
The board expressed concern at the intention of the HIC to release to divisions the names and addresses of children due and overdue for immunisation in the division’s area. The board considered that the role of divisions in providing support to practices in immunisation does not require this information and that there are serious privacy implications in the release to divisions of personal information about patients, as well as possible opposition from member GPs who might object to information about their patients being given to the division.
The board agreed to refer this matter to the other SBOs with a view to asking ADGP to take it up at the national level, and to advise Victorian divisions to give serious thought to the matter before seeking this information from the HIC.
The board agreed to participate in the proposed function, scheduled for late February, at which Rob Knowles and Michael Wooldridge will present statements about the future development of primary care in Victoria and release the "Request For Proposals" document for PHACS demonstration projects. The Board also noted the proposals in the "Harradine Letter" about the possible creation of an item in the MBS to cover GP participation in care planning and case management, which might facilitate GP participation in the non-clinical work that will be required by the PHACS proposals.
The board noted a report on a workshop on 15 January about the Active Australia Program. The seminar, auspiced by DH&AC, National Heart Foundation and NSW Health Department, aimed to "foster co-ordination of the general practice-based components of Active Australia with those of other strategies". The initiative has particular relevance to Victoria, where the DHS’ Active Scripts Program is about to start.
Health Insurance Commission Data
In the course of the OBF Data workshop the Health Insurance Commission explained that the HIC website shows how HIC/PBS data might be useful to GPs and Divisions in evaluating their programs.
HIC are currently undertaking data trials in respiratory disease, skin lesions, pap smears, and diabetes. They are planning to put MBS data collated by Divisional boundaries onto their website. HIC would also like to evaluate the take-up of clinical guidelines.
The HIC website is at:
www.HIC.gov.au
Go to PRB (Professional Review Division) icon.
Action on Health Inequalities through General Practice
A discussion paper proposing a framework for General Practitioners and Divisions of General Practice to address health inequalities in their area has just been released. The paper has been produced through a collaboration between the Access SERU, the Centre for Health Equity, Training, Research and Evaluation and Integration SERU. Copies of the document are available from Dr John Furler at Access SERU (Tel. (03) 9344 4747, Fax. (03) 9347 6136, email j.furler@pggh.unimelb.edu.au). It is planned that a workshop will be offered in Melbourne early in 1999 to discuss this important topic. Details will be available through your division.
Has Evidence Based Health
Care fulfilled its Early Promise?
Hosted by: Centre for Clinical Effectiveness.
18–19 February 1999, at Monash Medical Centre, Clayton.
Enquiries: Tel. (03) 9550 2726, Fax. (03) 9550 6970
5th
National Rural Health Conference: "Leaping the
Boundary Fence; Using Evidence and Collaboration to Build
Healthier Communities"
14-17 March 1999, Convention Centre, Adelaide.
Enquiries: Sally Stevenson, Conference Mgr Tel. (02) 6285 4660,
Toll Free 1800 231 231