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Timely News for Australian
 Medical Practice Managers

March 2014
LATEST NEWS!

 

New Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
Practices need to consider if their Policy and Procedure Manual needs to be amended to reflect the following changes from 12 March 2014:
  • The Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012 amends the Privacy Act 1988 ... read more
  • The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) will replace the National Privacy Principles and the Information Privacy Principles ... read more

Practice Insurance & Cyber Crime

With the majority of medical practices now using electronic patient health records, practices should be regularly reviewing their network and website security to ensure that they are adequately protecting themselves against cyber crimes and hacking.   

 

Potential risk of data breach is on the increase and ransom demands, where practices have their systems locked down via 'denial-of-service' attacks, are also increasing. Stories of computers containing patient records being stolen and exiting employees downloading patient records before they leave are becoming common practice. 
 
It is very important to review your practice's insurance to make sure you're covered for any violations by cyber and computer criminals.

 

Medication Management Initiatives

From 1 March 2014 changes to the Medication Management Programs came into effect - these include a limit of three months on the referral from a GP to when a HMR or RMMR may be conducted ... read more

 
PBS Changes
The government has just announced that new medicines for the treatment of diabetes, glaucoma and advanced soft tissue sarcoma have been approved for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) ... read more 
 
GP Pain Help App

 

A new phone App has been launched by the Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE) which is designed to assist GPs manage cancer pain in palliative care ... read more 

The App which includes an opioid converter is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store ... read more

  

 

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Cases of Avian Influenza (also known as Bird Flu) in China have been reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Australian health authorities have provided GPs with important information regarding this disease ... read more
  

Nurse Education

Are your Practice Nurses looking for more online education choices - the Australasian Society for HIV (ASHM) is running a series of webinars on sexual health ... read more
 
HPV Vaccination Program
The free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program which started in 2007 to protect females against HPV infections is now available free to males and females aged 12-13 in schools. Males aged 14-15 are also able to get the vaccine at school in 2014 ... read more

Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Online

The 1 March 2014 MBS files are now available to download ... read more. Please note that this is not applicable to Pracsoft users.
TOP TIP FOR ACCREDITATION
A self-audit of your cold chain management should be conducted annually

Our practice maintains the potency of vaccines
 
The key points for this criterion are:
  • The success of any vaccination program depends on the potency of vaccines when they are administered to patients
  • A cold chain management system for the transportation and storing of vaccines aims to keep vaccines within the safe temperature range of 2º - 8ºC
  • Self auditing of cold chain management should form part of a routine quality assurance and risk management process
  • There needs to be a member of the practice team with primary responsibility for cold chain management 
RESOURCES ON KNOWNOW!
Did you know that there are many direct links on knowNOW! that may be useful to your practice. Under Clinical / Nurses / Practice Nurse Resources you will find links to resources such as:
 
 
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 $38.95 per month which includes unlimited users! 

  

 

Click here to register for your FREE 30 Day trial of knowNOW!

ARE YOU READY FOR ACCREDITATION?
Is your practice coming up for Accreditation?
  • Do you know all the changes from the 3rd to the 4th standards? 
  • Have you actually implemented and documented the new procedures? 
  • Is your practice team aware of these changes?
Medical Directions can help! We can customise a package to meet your practice needs.
Visit our website or contact Kathryn on 1300 978 897.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH 
 
Mushroom Pate

Great starter for those vegetarian guests!

 

  


 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients  

50 grams butter

1 small onion - chopped

3 cloves garlic - crushed

375 gr button mushrooms - chopped

1 cup almonds - toasted

2 tbsp cream

2 tbsp thyme - chopped

3 tbsp parsley - chopped

 

Method

Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter.

Add mushrooms and leave to cool.

Blend almonds in a processor and add to mushroom mix.

Stir in herbs and season.

 

ENJOY!

 

If you have a favourite recipe that you would like to share, please send it to chris@medicaldirections.com.au and we'll include it in our newsletter.
Kathryn Davis
Is there someone else in your practice that would like to receive our newsletter? Click 'Subscribe Now' at the bottom of this newsletter and sign them up too!

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.
 
Until next time ... take care!
Kath Signature PNG  

P: 1300 978 897 | E: kathryn@medicaldirections.com.au | W: www.medicaldirections.com.au

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