Practices who are not yet accredited may like to take up the accreditation assistance incentive payment offered by the Practice Incentive Program. 

To be eligible for the one-off $5,000 accreditation assistance incentive payment, a practice must be registered for accreditation against the RACGP Standards for general practices. Practice branches are not eligible for the $5,000 payment.

The practice must also join the Practice Nurse Incentive Payment scheme, provide Medicare Australia with proof of registration for accreditation on application, and become accredited within 12 months of joining the PNIP. If a practice withdraws or payments cease from the PNIP and the practice subsequently reapplies for payment under the PNIP, the practice will not be entitled to another accreditation assistance payment.

Why not take advantage of the accreditation assistance incentive and have Medical Directions help your practice get accreditation?

Coming soon -  video tutorials helping practices with DIY accreditation at www.MedicalDirections.com.au.

June

3 - 9 June:  Bowel Cancer Awareness Week - Nationwide

6 June: Red Apple Day - Nationwide

11 - 17 June: Mens Health Week - Nationwide

19 - 25 June: Drug Action Week - Nationwide

20 - 26 June: World Continence Week - Nationwide

21 June: MND Global Awareness Day- Worldwide

29 June: Scleroderma Day- Worldwide

29 June: Red Nose Day- Nationwide

July

10 - 16 July: Diabetes Awareness Week Diabetes Australia - National

18 - 24 July: Wee Week 2011 Kidney Health Australia - Nationwide

22 - 28 July: National Pain Week Chronic Pain Australia - Nationwide

28 July: World Hepatitis Day Hepatitis Australia - Worldwide

31 - 06 August: Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week - Nationwide

Patient Identifiers - What are They?

Approved patient identifiers are those items of information accepted for use in patient identification and include:

• patient name (family and given names)
• date of birth
• gender (as identified by the patient themselves)
• address
• patient record number where it exists.

A Medicare number is not an approved identifier.

Why do we need to use patient identfiers?

Identifying patients consistently and correctly is a key element in reducing the risk of adverse events and enhancing patient safety.  Reception staff should be asking 3 of the 5 patient identifiers when patients book for appointments. This is to ensure the correct patient is booked in.

Patient identification should also be used when the GP starts a consultation with the patient or when the patient is seen by the nurse.

6 chicken breast halves

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup olive oil

4 shallots

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon sherry wine

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 cup pimento stuffed olive, minced

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon potato starch or 1 tablespoon flour

1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese or 1/4 cup fontinella cheese, grated

1 lemon, thinly sliced, to garnish

Directions:

Lightly dust chicken pieces with flour (easily done by putting flour in bag, adding chicken and shaking; excess flour can be shaken off).

In pressure cooker, heat oil. Add chicken breasts, two at a time, and saute in hot oil until brown on all sides, using long-handled tongs to turn. Set aside.

Add shallots and garlic and saute in oil, scraping bottom of pan to loosen browned particles remaining from chicken. Stir in broth, lemon juice, sherry, salt, pepper, basil, and olives. Mix well.

Add chicken pieces skin side down. Secure lid. Over medium-high heat, develop steam to high pressure. Reduce heat to maintain pressure and cook 10 minutes. Release pressure according to cooker manufacturer's directions. Remove lid.

Stir chicken mixture, then transfer chicken to serving platter, and cover to retain heat.

Whisk sour cream and starch together. Stir into the remaining cooking liquid and cook over medium heat 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese and garnish with lemon slices.

Makes 6 servings.