LATEST NEWS!
RACGP Standards for General Practice to be Updated
The current edition of the RACGP Standards for general practice was released in October 2010 and work on the 5th edition began in February 2015. With a proposed launch in October 2017, the RACGP will be asking for feedback on the first draft from GPs, Practice Managers, Admin Staff and patients. Consultation will run from 15 February - 1 April ... read more
Family assistance payments (Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Family Tax Benefit Part A Supplement) will now only be paid if the child or young person (up to 20 years of age) is fully immunised, on a catch-up schedule, or has an approved medical exemption. Free catch-up vaccinations for children under the age of 10 are available under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) ... read more
Catch-Up: Incentives for Vaccination Providers
From 1 January 2016, an additional $6 incentive payment will be made to vaccination providers and GPs who follow up and vaccinate children who are more than two months overdue for their childhood vaccinations ... read more
Fair Work Australia The Fair Work website has many tools and resources to assist small business owners e.g. hiring employees, record keeping, calculating pays, etc. Fair Work has published a useful reference guide that summarises the responsibilities of employers ... read more
Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Online
The 1 January 2016 MBS data files (XML, DOC, PDF and ZIP) are now available to download.
Read more on the MBS Online website.
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Did you know that ...
 Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted to humans via a bite by an infected 'Aedes Aegypti' mosquito.. These mosquitoes generally bite around dawn and dusk. The 'Aedes' mosquito is now found on all continents except Antarctica.
There are often no symptoms associated with the infection but in some cases fever, rash, headache or joint/muscle pain can be present.
Recently, concerns have been raised that infection with ZIKV in pregnant women might cause certain birth defects.
The Department of Foreign Affairs are advising pregnant women (or women who plan to become pregnant) to consider postponing travel to any area where ZIKV is being reported ... read more at smarttraveller.gov.au for any warnings.
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TOP TIP FOR ACCREDITATION
Our practice informs patients about the potential for out-of-pocket expenses for health care provided within our practice and for referred services.
Information provided in advance about the costs of healthcare is an important component of informed decision making by patients. It is important for patients to know in advance whether the healthcare services they may require from the practice will attract costs over and above consultation fees so they can make an informed decision about their own healthcare.
Costs initiated by the practice may include:
- brief, standard and longer consultations
- additional costs for late or missed appointments
- telephone and electronic communication
- nursing consultations
- home/other visits or care outside the practice's normal opening hours
- medicines - where the medicine is not subsidised or where the brand name prescribed is more expensive than a generic version
The practice should also advise patients of the potential for out-of-pocket costs related to services such as pathology, imaging, specialist or allied health.
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ACCREDITATION - ARE YOU READY?
 Is your practice's Accreditation coming up this year?Medical Directions can help to identify areas of your practice that may need improving by guiding you through the Accreditation process and assisting in implementing any changes that may be necessary.
We offer a full Accreditation Package which includes onsite visits and ongoing consultation via phone, Skype 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.
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Practice Nurses - did you know there are quick links on knowNOW! to commonly used websites under Clinical/Nurses/Practice Nurse Resources.
Haven't seen how knowNOW! works yet? Then sign up today to receive one 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!
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Banana Loaf
Great way to use up those over-ripe bananas!
Ingredients
- 3 bananas - mashed
- 1½ cups almond meal
- ¾ cup coconut oil
- ¾ cup walnuts - chopped
- ½ cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Line a 20cm x 10 cm loaf tin with baking paper.
- Mix coconut oil, honey, eggs and vanilla.
- Mix the almond meal, walnuts and baking powder.
- Add the oil mixture and mashed bananas and stir until combined.
- Put mixture into loaf tin and bake for 50 minutes.
- Allow to cool before you turn out.
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The Paleo Place
The Sunshine Coast's favourite Paleo Cafe - now open on Saturday evenings for dinner!
We are open for breakfast and lunch every day of the week and dinner on Saturday nights from 6:00pm with a selection of delicious Paleo meals, snacks, desserts, juices, smoothies and coffee available. Coffee, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies are available daily from 7:00am and meals from 7:30am.
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 | | Kathryn Davis |
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