Medical Directions Newsletter Header Image
In This Issue
Breaking News!
Accreditation News
Practice Top Tip for Accreditation
News from Medical Directions
What's On
Recipe of the Month
Quick Links
  
Practice News from Medical Directions
Timely News for Australian Medical Practice Managers
Happy New Year!
From all of us at Medical Directions we wish you all happiness and success in 2013. We look forward to working with both our existing and future clients.
If you have any new ideas for our newsletter for 2013, please email us to let us know at chris@medicaldirections.com.au 
BREAKING NEWS!


Practice Incentives Program (PIP) eHealth Incentive

Reminder to practices that the requirements for PIP eHealth change this year. You can check with your Medicare Local to see if they are offering assistance to complete the paperwork so you meet the 31 January deadline.

 

Metro North Brisbane Medicare Local has created a PIP eHealth Checklist which may be of some help ... read more

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MBS Online - Amendment to 1 January 2013 ASCII and XML Files

The 1 January 2013 MBS ASCII an XML files were amended on 17 December 2012 to incorporate additional changes to Pathology and Allied Health items ... read more

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Telehealth Changes from 1 January 2013

From 1 January 2013 the geographic eligibility for Telehealth Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) items will be amended. MBS benefits will now only be available for services provided to patients outside of major cities ... read more

 

Click here to find out more about Telehealth eligible areas

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New App Helps Locate A GP Wherever You Are

A new website and smartphone app shows where to find the nearest GP or after hours pharmacy with just a few taps!

 

While on holiday patients can search the directory by using a computer or downloading the app. Once a location is entered services are listed and their locations can be viewed on Google Maps ... read more

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Changes to Workers Compensation Cover

Until recently in many Australian states, injury sustained by employees traveling to and from work was covered by Workers Compensation Schemes. The recent harmonisation of Workers Compensation Schemes has seen changes to coverage provided. While cover may not be provided by a WorkCover Scheme employers may still have a responsibility and legal liability to their employees and it may now be prudent for some employers to consider taking out insurance (e.g. Journey Cover) to cover workers for travel to and from work or while performing work related duties such as picking up the mail. 

 

Employers should contact their insurance company or check out the Workers Compensation Scheme in their state/territory.

ACCREDITATION NEWS

Medical Directions Can Help You With Your Accreditation!
Medical Directions can customise a package to meet your practice needs.
 
Packages offer: 
  • A two-day initial assessment at your practice
  • Provision of a Practice Accreditation Checklist
  • Free one-year licence for knowNOW!
  • Customised:
    • Policy and Procedure Manual; and 
    • Patient Information Brochure; and
    • Other relevant Practice Forms - all uploaded to knowNOW!
  • Continuous support throughout the Accreditation process including:
    • Four additional on-site visits including on the day of Accreditation
    • Phone and email consultations 
If you prefer Medical Directions also offers a consulting service which is based on an hourly basis and can come to your practice to assess your Accreditation needs or run through a "Mock Accreditation".
 
If you would like to know more visit the website or contact Kathryn on 1300 978 897.
 
All Systems Go!
Read Kath's article, All Systems Go!, on Accreditation which was published in the latest edition of Private Practice Magazine.
PRACTICE TOP TIP FOR ACCREDITATION
 
Practices need to check that clinical practice guidelines are current.
 
Criterion 1.4.1 Consistent evidence based practice

Our practice has a consistent approach for the diagnosis and management of conditions affecting patients in accordance with best evidence.

  • consistency and quality of care can be assisted by the use of clinical guidelines
  • consistency and quality of care can be assisted by communication between team members  
knowNOW! comes with Clinical Guidelines and Resources preloaded that will assist in meeting this criterion.

 

For more information refer to:   

 

NEWS FROM MEDICAL DIRECTIONS  

 

Forum 
Have you visited the Forum on Medical Directions' website yet? 
You can 'talk' with others about any issues regarding Accreditation or other practice issues you may have. It's a great way to bounce ideas around with each other and pick up some great tips. You just need to register for the Forum and start asking those questions!
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knowNOW!
knowNOW! logo
Have you searched for something recently and thought "this would be a handy link to share" - tell us about it and we may be able to add it to knowNOW!

There are many resources and clinical guidelines on knowNOW! and we recently added a new link. 

Remember to search for anything is as easy as typing one word in the Search Box!

So if you have any suggestions for links please email chris@knownow.com.au 

knowNOW! is the essential medical practice management program for collecting, protecting and accessing your practice operational files and information 24/7. 
 
Sign up today to receive a month's free trial of knowNOW! and once you realise how much it will help your practice it's just $30 per month which includes unlimited users! 
 
Click here to register for your FREE trial of knowNOW!
WHAT'S ON ...   

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

 

Turkey and Ham Pie

A good way to use up those left-overs!

 

Ingredients
30g butter
35g plain flour
250ml chicken stock
60ml dry white wine
125ml thickened cream
320g cooked turkey - chopped 
90g ham - chopped
10g mushrooms - chopped
2 spring onions - chopped
Herbs to flavour
2 sheets puff pastry
  

Method  

Preheat oven to 180° C.
Melt the butter over low heat and add flour and cook for one minute stirring constantly.
Add chicken stock and wine and cook a further 2-3 minutes.
Add the cream and cook until mixture thickens.
Season to taste and stir in turkey, ham, spring onions and mushrooms.
Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Line pie dish with one sheet of pastry and add the mixture and cover with remaining sheet of pastry.
Brush with beaten egg or milk.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Serve with cranberry sauce.
 
ENJOY!
I would love to hear your feedback on my newsletters or if you have a story to share or a question to ask please email me kathryn@medicaldirections.com.au

 

Until next time.....take care!

 

 Kath's signature


Kathryn Davis
Medical Directions

1300 978 897

DISCLAIMER

 This communication contains information which is copyright to Medical Directions. It should not be copied, disclosed or distributed without the authority of Medical Directions. Except as required by law, Medical Directions does not represent, warrant and/or guarantee that this communication is free of errors, virus, interception or interference. All reasonable efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this publication. It is not intended that this publication be comprehensive or to render advice.