Free Mammography Screening - Pivot West

Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
patient fact sheets available online
The Royal Victorian Eye And Ear Hospital has made its patient
fact sheets available for you to download or print and to use with
your patients as appropriate. The fact sheets cover information
about the hospital in multiple languages, as well as English fact
sheets for conditions such as Age related macular degeneration,
blepharitis, cataract, pterygium and diabetic retinopathy. There are
also fact sheets about eye drops and their administration. The fact
sheets are now available through the GP resources page of the
hospital website at http://www.eyeandear.org.au/healthprofs/
factsheet.asp
SunSmart update
Victorians adolescents and young
adults are being targeted in a
melanoma awareness campaign this summer.
The Dark Side of tanning campaign aims to hit home about the
deadly nature of melanoma, one of the most common cancers in
young Victorians and challenge the misconception that a tan does
no damage.
The campaign consists of television commercials to be shown on
TV, cinema and online coupled with outdoor and bus and tram
advertising running from 28 November until early March.
The first ever SunSmart iPhone app is now available for free
download at the App Store.
For more information, go to sunsmart.com.au.
The Weekly e-Newsletter
3 December 2010
Free Mammography
Screening
For women aged 50-69, a breast screening mammogram every
two years is recommended. Regular, screening mammograms
are the best way to find breast cancer early, before symptoms are
noticed and when treatment is likely to be most successful.
Although a doctor's referral is not required for women to attend
BreastScreen Victoria, the Program works closely with GPs and
their dedication and ongoing contribution is greatly appreciated.
GPs are instrumental in encouraging initial participation and
return-to-screening attendance and in the event of a breast cancer
diagnosis, women are referred back to their GPs for care and
management.
Spreading the message to some women is problematic due to
language barriers and there are many women in the NorthWestern
region in the 50-69 year age group from Italian, Turkish and Greek
speaking backgrounds. Currently, however, the percentage of
women presenting for screening in our target demographic is
particularly low amongst these groups.
NorthWestern BreastScreen appeals to those practices whose
patients include women from this demographic group to
encourage them to make an appointment and participate in the
BreastScreen program.
To assist GPs to provide women with information about
breast cancer screening and, in particular, how to make an
appointment to participate in the program, BreastScreen Victoria
has developed some easy to use resources. Visit our website at
www.breastscreen.org.au and download the PDF from the GP
Resources section. Links include resources in languages other
than English.
We have screening sites at Footscray, the Sunshine Hospital
and Melton. Women simply need to call 13 20 50 to make an
appointment. Women who require the services of an interpreter
can book through 13 14 50.
GPs and practice managers who would like further information or
require any assistance with resources are welcome to contact our
Community Information Officer, Ms Robin Curwen-Walker on
8387 2654 or email robinc@breastscreen.org.au

2
3 December 2010
Landmark Aspirin Trial Makes GP Participation Easy
ASPREE (Aspirin In Reducing Events in the Elderly) is a large
5 year double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled study of
low dose daily aspirin on the physical and cognitive health in people
aged 70 +.
GPs widely prescribe aspirin for secondary prevention, however what
is not known is whether aspirin can prolong a healthy lifestyle by
preventing AMIs, CVAs, dementia and some cancers, such as bowel
cancer, in senior Australians.
ASPREE is the largest primary prevention trial in Australian
history, recruiting over 12,000 elderly people in Victoria,
Tasmania and the ACT. And it is the first trial to consider both primary
prevention as well as the risk/benefit analysis of aspirin
in this, or indeed any, age group.
Monash University has really gone a long way to make GP
involvement in this study easy and accessible.
1. There is minimal load on the GP – research study staff do 95% of
the work.
2. GPs, who sign up as co-investigators to the trial, can be eligible
for 40 Cat 1 QACPD points, without having to write consuming
reports. There is minimal disruption to their existing (and busy)
clinical practice.
3. Clinics will also receive a one-off administration payment of
$100 for every randomised participant.
4. But most importantly, this trial enables GPs to contribute
to a national health policy for one of our largest and most
underrepresented populations.
ASPREE is a collaborative effort by Monash, Melbourne and
Australian National Universities as well as the Menzies Research
Institute (TAS) and the University of Minneapolis (USA).
Visit www.aspree.org, ring 1800 728 745 or email
aspreegp@med.monash.edu.au for more information.
Diabetes Australia – Vic wishes to advise that, the retail outlet on the ground floor,
570 Elizabeth Street Melbourne will change its opening hours in the new year.
COMMENCING TUESDAY 4 JANUARY 2011, THE SHOP WILL OPEN FROM
08:30 – 16:30, MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
SH
Access unit on 1300 342 273 or fax: 9554-8595
Bayside/Kingston,
Casey/Cardinia, Greater Dandenong
Community
setting or home visit consultation & follow up
Diagnosed or probable asthma, hospital presentation & risk of
Sunshine
Hospital (WH) on 8345-0454 Fax: 8345-1180
Western region – Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Hume,
Moonee Valley, Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh
Inpatient, Outpatient & Home visits
Chronic asthma, at risk of ED presentation
Broadmeadows
Health Service on 83455336 Fax: 83455379
Hume, Moreland, Brimbank, Darebin, Banyule, Nillumbik
Inpatient & Outpatient consultations, home visits if required
Admission to The Northern Hospital with chronic & complex needs
RCH
Liaison staff on 9345-5295, fax 9345-6231
Postcodes 3000-3099 plus Stonnington, Boorandara, Port Philip
Home visits or community setting over 6 month period.
Chronic asthma and/or complex needs, at risk of ED presentation

Have you met your QA&CPD
requirements for 2008-2010?
To move forward into the 2011-2013 triennium, you need to have
met all you QA&CPD requirements for 2008-2010 first. For the
2008–2010 triennium, you need to accrue a minimum of 130 points.
Your point accumulation will need to incorporate:
two Category 1 activities, and
one basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course.
GPs should check their credit point statement for 2008-2010
triennium to ensure all education activities completed have been
recognized. Should any activities not be recorded on the credit point
statement, please send a copy of the certificates of completion to
your state QA&CPD unit to upload
The QA&CPD program have many tools to help you meet your
minimum requirements. They include:
RACGP online calendar – features an extensive list of activities
offered by the RACGP’s QA&CPD education providers. The
calendar can be filtered and you can search by location, date,
specific interest, and categories (1 or 2)
Individual Active Learning Modules (ALM) – various learning
methods and activities can be recognised using Individual GP
ALM modules that can also guide their education, ensuring
the quality and standards are met. Unaccredited conferences,
Teaching Medical Students, Supervising Registrars and Writing
Peer Review journals are all activities that can be recognised for
40 category 1 points, should they meet the standards and criteria.
Basic CPR – is a requirement this triennium. If you have
completed a basic CPR please send your certificate to your
State Faculty QA&CPD unit. Basic CPR courses must follow the
Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines. There are a
number of approved National Providers, which include:
– Australian Red Cross
– Surf Life Saving Australia
– Royal Surf Life Saving Society
– National Heart Foundation
– St John Ambulance Australia
– RACGP Accredited Basic CPR 2010
(online & face to face assessment)
Completion of an advanced life support skills training course or
an emergency medicine training course that requires basic CPR
competency as a pre-requisite to enrolment (and this is verified)
will be accepted for basic CPR requirement provided courses are
undertaken within the relevant triennium.
To ensure GPs basic CPR requirement is recorded send in a copy of the
certificate to your state QA&CPD unit.
For further information, please contact your State Faculty
QA&CPD unit
QI&CPD for 2011-2013
The education framework and minimum requirements for GPs for the
new triennium will remain the same: a minimum of 130 points for the
triennium including two Category 1 activities and a basic CPR course.
This ongoing evaluation and development of the program led to the
change of name from quality assurance (QA) to quality improvement,
in order to emphasise quality improvement activities as a means to
improved patient health outcomes during the 2011-2013 triennium.
In addition, the new triennium incorporates a number of new
features to streamline the QI&CPD process for participants. A new
online notification system will make it easy for GP participants to
have professional development activities recognised. Many GPs
complete education activities as part of daily practice or participate
in activities that are unaccredited with the QI&CPD program. It will
now be easier to ensure that learning and development is recognised
by using the GP online notification system to claim CPD, cutting out
the need for paperwork. The new look website comes with a number
of improvements, including a QI&CPD accredited activities calendar
and updated online support tools available to users.
Quality Improvement & CPD
Quality Improvement (QI) in general practice is an organised and
continuous activity that assesses and evaluates health services
to improve practice processes and quality of care. Category 1 QI
activities already part of the QI&CPD program include Rapid ‘Plan Do
Study Act’ (PDSA) Cycles, and Clinical Audit.
Effectiveness, efficiency, safety, acceptability, access, equity and
relevance are just some areas quality in practice can be improved,
which is an integral part of quality primary healthcare delivery. QI
activities can be applied by using:
an individual focus – aims to improve a GP’s personal performance,
knowledge and skills
a practice focus QI activity – aims to improve the practice’s
capabilities and capacity to deliver on quality patient care.
QI&CPD will continue to grow as the general practice profession
does. Quality improvement activities lead to practices changing for
the better, particularly when it involves a practice team approach.
The College is, and will remain, committed to providing GPs, allied
health professionals and practice staff, essential members of the
practice team to achieving quality in general practice.
Are you aware that your patients 45 – 49
maybe eligible for a Health Check?
Templates are available in most clinical software applications.
For further information please contact Sonia Zahra at PivotWest –
sonia@pivotwest.org.au or 8379 9912
Are you aware of MBS PRACTICE NURSE
ITEM NUMBERS 10995/10999?
10995 – Patient has not had a cervical smear in the last four years
20 to 69 – At least One Preventative check required.
10999 – Patient has not had a cervical smear in the last four years
20 to 69 – No Preventative check required.
For further information, please contact Sonia Zahra at PivotWest -
sonia@pivotwest.org.au or 8379 9912
3

Design: www.limevirtualstudio.com
3 December 2010
Registered Nurse
(Division 1 preferred): Relieving duties
A long established Yarraville general practice would like to
recruit the services of a RN for relieving duties in 2010-2011.
Experience in general practice preferred but not necessary. This
practice has employed RNs for over 30years. Phone 9687 2740
Consortium Partners for:
PivotWest Board
Dr Jim Kollios (Chair), Dr Todd Cameron (Deputy Chair), Dr Maurice Kohn, Dr Sue Hookey, Dr K Saratchandran, Dr Elias Sleaby, Dr Rajendra Pillay, Dr Peter Chandra (Associate Director)
PivotWest Staff
Ross Joyce (CEO), Nunzio Giunta (Financial Controller), Lydia Jurisic (Executive Assistant), Janis Backwell (Manager-Population Health), Peter Malliaros (Manager Business Development),
Collean Fahy (Manager-Operations and Human resources), Trish Downes (HARP Outreach Pharmacy), Kirsten Hausknecht (Program Development Officer – NiGP Immunisations),
Monique de Zoete (Program Development Officer – Mental Health), Helen Farquhar (Program Development Officer – Closing the Gap), Robert DiSipio (Program Development Officer – NPS),
Rick George (Program Development Officer – IMIT), Sonia Zahra (Program Development Officer-Preventative Health), Sandra Capito (Program Development Officer APCC & ACAI),
Nuala Beaver (Administrative Support Officer), Izabela Drwecki (Finance Officer), Navina Bilimoria (APCC Consultant), Paul Armato (Administrative Support Officer)
StreetHealth Staff (location and times are available on the PivotWest Website)
Doctors: Dr Melinda Humphries, Dr.Sue Hookey, Dr Rajendra Pillay, Dr Warren Guo, Dr Matthew Penn, Dr Jim Kollios
Registered Nurse: Gemma Amon, Elwyn Davies
Practice Manager: Janis Backwell
Drivers/Safety Officer: Paul Armato, John Karamitanis
StreetHealth Sponsors
(3-12.4_RN)
Advertising
GPs needed CAROLINE SPRINGS
Established mixed billing clinic focused on excellence • Chronic disease
management clinic for EPC • Purpose built facilities/Outer metro and DWS
Call or e-mail Dr Todd Cameron to discuss your future with Modern Medical.
tcameron@modernmedical.com.au or 0416 265 900
(3-12.15_TC)
Contact PivotWest to arrange your publication
Phone 9689 4566 • Email info@pivotwest.org.au
Please note: submissions are subject to limited space