Health alerts

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• Panvax Junior® recall - CSL Biotherapies are recalling stocks of Panvax Junior®. Advice was sent to practices/individuals 26 August.
  
  
• Measles outbreak - Queensland Health has notified of confirmed measles cases in South East Queensland. The last advice was sent 25 August. 

Practice nurses’ roles in the care of well and sick children

A national study is being conducted to identify practice nurses’ changing role in the area of child health and wellbeing. Outcomes from the study will identify the 1) extent of practice nurses’ involvement in this area, 2) potential professional development opportunities to meet specific needs and interests and 3) ways to overcome barriers to professional development. All nurses employed in general practice are invited to participate by going to https://survey.qut.edu.au/survey/169404/1913/ or emailing Anne at am.walsh@qut.edu.au. The survey is funded by the Queensland Nurses Council and conducted by Dr Anne Walsh (QUT) and Associate Professor Margaret Barnes (University of the Sunshine Coast).

QUIT Educator

The Cancer Council Queensland is holding a smoking cessation training course, QUIT Educator, in Brisbane 2-3 November. The QUIT Educator two-day course has been designed to equip health professionals with the skills to deliver smoking cessation courses and brief intervention counselling with individual clients or community groups. The two-day training program covers topics concerned with addiction and quitting; helping clients develop a quit plan; motivational interviewing and brief intervention techniques; withdrawal symptoms and strategies to help clients cope; and pharmacotherapies. More info: www.cancerqld.org.au.

CPD scholarships for Practice Nurses

Scholarships under the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS) are now available for nurses working in general practice to provide assistance in undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and post graduate study. Applications close on 1 October 2010. More info: www.rcna.org.au/scholarships/nahssscpd, phone 1800 117 262 or email scholarships@rcna.org.au  

GPs to drive Australian Lung Census

General Practitioners are being urged to assess the lung health of 50,000 adults as part of the largest single screening of lung function to be undertaken in Australia. The Lung Census – a joint initiative of The Australian Lung Foundation, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Improvement Foundation and MediMark International – will be conducted from 4 -15 October 2010 to support and promote Global Test Your Lungs Day (14 October) and the Year of the Lung. GPs can find out more about the Lung Census and register to take part in this landmark initiative by visiting www.lungcensus.com.au.

St Vincent’s Medical Unit opening

St Vincent’s Brisbane is pleased to be able to offer a medical service specialising in:

• comprehensive management for people with
• chronic disease
• geriatric evaluation management and planning
• reconditioning

To arrange an admission phone Dr Pia Iacovella 07 3421 0777, Dr Bernhard Mueller 07 3326 3639 or the St Vincent’s Hospital Booking Office 07 3240 1213. More info: www.stvincentsbrisbane.org.au

Date claimer: GPpartners AGM

Friday, 22 October. 6.30 for 7 pm start to 7:30 pm. GPpartners boardroom.

Professional development

GPpartners Events - for more see Education

• Do you know what an IHI is? What about a PCEHR? Do you know how these will impact on your practice? Better come along to our Practice Managers Network e-health update then! GPpartners staff will get you up to speed about the progress of Individual Health Identifiers (IHIs) and person-controlled electronic health records (PCEHR). Find out about other e-health initiatives including secure messaging and public hospital e-referrals and how these can make your (and your GPs) day-to-day a little easier. Our sponsors, Mobile Computing will also be on hand to showcase state-of-the-art IT solutions that will have your practice running to the highest health IT standards. Special guests Tyro will demonstrate their online payments and Easyclaims systems. Don’t be disappointed, these Network meetings fill fast!  7 September - Kedron Wavell Services Club, CHERMSIDE
  
  
• Get a New Lease of Life ALM - Date change! Special guest Dr Ralph Audehm, Director of Programs & Services Diabetes Australia - Victoria, provides a GP perspective on prevention of type 2 diabetes. Discuss lifestyle risk factors and the evidence base for prevention and efficacy of lifestyle interventions. Learn about motivational interviewing and behavioural change techniques to help patients make lasting change. GPpartners’ Bronwen Cox will provide a session on referring to the government subsidised lifestyle modification programs and MBS items. Earn 40 Category 1 QA&CPD points. Now 6 November.
  
  
• Practice Nurses Network - Chronic Kidney Disease. The Kidney Check Australia Taskforce (KCAT) will present an interactive workshop that equips Practice Nurses with the skills required to incorporate kidney disease screening into chronic disease management protocols in their workplace. 9 September - GPpartners, LUTWYCHE
  
  
• Secure Messaging - Tips and Tricks (General Practice) - free training sessions to help you maintain and manage your Medical Objects referrals and reports. We’ll cover delivery reports, trouble shooting referrals, managing your address books and templates, maintaining doctors in the Medical Objects system and getting help when you need it. 28 September - GPpartners, LUTWYCHE
  
  
• Make Every Shot Count - A clinical refresher on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in your practice. Get up-to-date on preparing an anaphylaxis kit, cold chain management, consent and pre-vaccination screening, vaccine administration techniques and post-vaccination care. 14 October - GPpartners, LUTWYCHE
  
  
• The Eyes Have It! Paediatric Ophthalmologist, Dr Glen Gole will lead you through the maze of paediatric eye issues, including what investigations to undertake in general practice and when and how to refer to specialist care. Dr Gole will also provide an update on the new public Eye Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital. 20 October - Royal Children’s Hospital
  
  
• Management Options to Maximise Sleep - our latest NPS educational program reviews the benefits and harms of hypnotic medication, and non-drug strategies which might be more effective.
  Identifying and addressing causes of insomnia. One-to-one or groups.
  
  
• Hospital and Community Referral - GPpartners Specialist Outpatient GP team is offering GPs the opportunity to get up-to-date with referral guidelines and ways to maximise referrals to hospitals and community services. New referral guidelines and tools for RBWH Urology, RCH Child Development Unit, RCH General Paediatrics, RBWH Ophthalmology.
  

Other - for more details see What's on elsewhere

• Neurology - St Andrew’s Hospital invites you to a dinner and education night with a focus on neurological disorders in general practice, including an update on Multiple Sclerosis, back pain and a discussion about which patients are suitable for referral for deep brain stimulation. 8 September - Milton
  
  
• Plastic Surgery - St Andrew’s Hospital invites you to a dinner and education night with a focus on plastic surgery developments and best practice. Topics include advancements in breast reconstruction and augmentation, and management of skin cancers including suturing techniques. 15 September - Kangaroo Point
  
  
• The Developing Infant Immune System - Getting It Right for Later Life - The Nutricia Learning Network invites GPs to a discussion about the role of nutrition in supporting development and clinical implications and managing the “misfiring” immune system. 21 September - Victoria Park Golf Complex

Member ads

Frontier Health Events has further discounted early bird registration for GPpartners financial members and past delegates! Registration now only $230 (or $330 for conference and ALM).
Until 14 September only! Contact Annie at Frontier Health Events - ph 02 4627 1621 or www.frontierhealthevents.com.au