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Timely News for Australian
 Medical Practice Managers


February 2015
LATEST NEWS!

Government to Consult on Medicare Reform
The proposed changes to Level A and B GP consultation items which were to commence on 19 January have been shelved ... read more in the Media Statement.
  • Level A GP consultation item 3 will continue to be untimed
  • Level B GP consultation item 23 will apply to attendances lasting less than 20 minutes

However the government is still proposing to cut GP rebates by $5 from 1 July 2015 ... read more and freeze Medicare rebates until July 2018 ... read more

 

The AMA has produced the following helpful resources for practices to use:

 

New Maps to Better Identify Rural, Regional and Remote Doctor Shortages
Updated District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) maps were launched on 2 February which will identify more accurately the areas where recruitment of new doctors is required ... read more in the Media Release.

Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) Courses
FPQ is offering courses for Registered Nurses which can be undertaken as individual topics or if all four of the following modules are completed nurses can be awarded the FPQ Registered Nurse Certificate in Sexual & Reproductive Health:
  • Introduction to Sexual & Reproductive Health Theory
  • Pap Smear Provider Module
  • Clinical Aspects of Sexual & Reproductive health Course
  • Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinical Attachment Module

For more information on FPQ's training courses please click here.


Peanut Allergy Treatment Trials
The number of children with peanut allergy is increasing and can sometimes be fatal. An Australian treatment has been trialled and a long-term study by researchers at Murdoch Children's Research Institute found that the treatment worked in 80% of the children in the study ... read more. 

Fair Work Online Learning Centre
Did you know that you can access free and interactive online learning courses on the Fair Work website. Courses such as Difficult Conversations in the Workplace and Hiring Employees take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and can be accessed from your computer, tablet or mobile ...read more

Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Online
The 1 January 2015 MBS data files (ASCII and XML) have been amended to reflect changes to descriptors of items 3, 23, 52, 53, 5000, 5020, 5200, 5203, 82200 and 82205 from 19 January 2015 - the files are now available to download on the MBS Online website ... read more.

Did you know..... 
that people who have different sleep patterns on the weekends or while on holidays may experience 'social jet lag' - this is when their work (or study) schedule is out of synch with their body clock. 

The body clock is influenced by light - light striking the eyes triggers changes in the brain which affects wakefulness. While on holidays or during the weekend people tend to stay up later and sleep-in later which can cause their body clock to 'shift' a few hours making that 'back to the grind' feeling worse!

There are ways to help 'reprogram' the body clock - expose yourself to sunlight shortly after getting up; have a wind-down routine before going to bed; avoid watching television or using electronic devices in the bedroom an hour prior to going to sleep ... read more

TOP TIP FOR ACCREDITATION
Our practice has a system for the follow up and review of tests and results.

Your practice should have a system that accommodates individual patient needs that may require different levels of follow up depending on the clinical significance of the the test/result.

Criterion 1.5.3 System for follow up of tests and results

Key Points 
  • Your practice needs to have a documented system for the follow up of tests and results with a strong focus on risk management
  • Your practice system should delineate mechanisms for dealing with normal results, abnormal results (urgent and non urgent) and important tests/referrals
  • Your practice system should delineate mechanisms for the follow up of results and the follow up of clinically significant tests
  • Your practice system should cover how tests and results are communicated to patients 
 
ACCREDITATION - ARE YOU READY?

Accreditation is one of the best ways to identify areas of your practice that may need improving - is your accreditation due this year?
If so, Medical Directions can help by guiding you through the Accreditation process and assisting in implementing any changes. 
We offer a full Accreditation Package which includes onsite visits and ongoing consultation via phone and email. 

Other ways we can help ...
  • Create a new Policy and Procedure Manual to comply with the 4th Standards
  • Set up your new practice and assist with purchasing equipment
  • Orientation of new GPs to your practice 
  • Staff training in Best Practice and Medical Director
  • Practice Manager mentoring
  • Treatment Room policies and procedures
Medical Directions can help in lots of ways! Let us customise a package to suit your practice. Click here to find out more about our Consulting Services or visit our website.


RESOURCES ON KNOWNOW!

Practice Manager Resources
There are many quick access resources for busy Practice Managers on knowNOW! under Non Clinical/Practice Management/Resources - if you have a commonly used link that you think may help others, let us know and we will add it to the resource page.

Please email support@knownow.com.au at any time for assistance or if you have any queries.
 

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! 

WHAT'S ON IN FEBRUARY?

RECIPE OF THE MONTH  
 
Roasted Tomato Soup
Not quite soup weather yet but try this for a starter to your next dinner party - very yummy!
 
 











Ingredients  

4 large ripe tomatoes

1 onion

5 garlic cloves - chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp chopped parsley

1½ cups vegetable stock

2 tbsp tomato paste

salt and pepper


Method 

Preheat oven to 180ºC

Cut tomatoes and onion into wedges then spread out on a baking sheet

Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped parsley

Gently toss together with the garlic

Roast for approximately 40 minutes 

Remove from the oven and cool

Warm the vegetable stock in a large pot on medium heat 

Stir in the tomato paste

Add the roasted tomatoes mixture and simmer for 10 minutes

Place in a blender until smooth

Add more salt and pepper to taste


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? Just click 'Subscribe Now' at the bottom of this newsletter and sign them up too! Or if you currently get our newsletter at work and would also like to receive it at home, we can add your home email address to the distribution list.

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