From the CEO - Gretchen Scinta

Pandemic issues continue to capture time and attention, with the recent support from the Commonwealth culminating in a Pandemic Preparedness Train the Trainer workshop being held this week in Adelaide. The training is provided by RACGP and aims to provide support to Division staff to enable them to assist the 560+ practices across South Australia in preparing and responding to Pandemic Influenza. AGPN has been instrumental in coordinating this activity and has provided significant support to us during this time. GPSA has recently been involved in discussions with key representatives and interested parties around government support for general practice to undertake activities for primary care management of pandemic influenza. There is concern about the increasing pressure coming onto Divisions and general practice and the expectations for assessment and management of patients with influenza. GPSA will continue to lobby for support for Divisions and general practice so that appropriate resourcing is provided that is commensurate with the government’s expectations.

Looking towards the future, GPSA is gearing up for launching our new structure from 1 July of this year. The new structure provides the foundation for GPSA to deliver on our strategic imperatives which focus on services to our member Divisions. As part of this, we have just announced the appointment of Brenton Chappell as our new Senior Manager Network Services. We are looking forward to Brenton joining us from August of this year and are honoured to have him as part of the GPSA team.

Alerts

09/2010 Contracts renewed – GPSA has received its Multi-Program Funding Agreement from the Commonwealth, which includes the new contracts for Immunisation (one year), e-Health (one-year), and the Primary Mental Health Care Network Development and Liaison Officer (six months).

Closing the Gap plans start – The first meeting of the COAG Implementation Advisory Group took place last week. GPSA has been invited to participate on this group and will provide detailed information to Divisions about the process.

Adult Community Mental Health Integrated Model of Care (Metropolitan Regions) – Comments on the final draft of the Model of Care released on 18 June 2009 may be made through mentalhealthfeedback@health.sa.gov.au until close of business on 30 June 2009. The document is also available on the SA Health website, click here

Program Updates

ABHI Primary Care Integration Program – A national meeting to showcase the ABHI Primary Care Integration Program was held this week at AGPN. For further information click here or contact Cathy Zesers

Division IM Maturity Profile – Is it time to update your Division’s IM Maturity Profile? Most SA Divisions undertook their initial IM Maturity Profile assessment in early to mid 2008. The process is intended to be an annual cycle of review. If you haven’t already factored it into your plans, now might be a good time to reconvene your Division’s IMMF Focus Group to update your IM Maturity Profile. Check and see what benefits have been achieved in light of the IM action items you undertook as part of your IM Plans.

Clinical Quality – New Therapeutic Guidelines Psychotropic 6 (for management of patients with mental illness) and Dermatology 3 (for guidelines on all common skin diseases) are now available. These Therapeutic Guidelines are endorsed by the RACGP, NPS, RCNA and others. For more information click here or phone 1800 061 260 (Freecall).

Defective Self-Test Bowel Cancer Kits – Members of the public tested with National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Kits between 1 December 2008 and May 2009 returning a negative result will need to be retested due to the impaired quality of a batch of test kits. For more information and the Department of Health and Ageing Media Statement and Screening Retest Fact Sheet, click here

Upcoming GPSA Supported Events

PHCRED Network Forum: Making Research Work for Better Health – 26 June 2009, National Wine Centre, for details click here

GPSA Board meeting – 2 July 2009

Certificate IV Population Health training course – commencing 6 July 2009 at HealthFirst. Limited places are available. For further details click here or contact Cathy Zesers.

GP Forum – 17 July 2009, General Practice SA

Divisions Executive Network SA (DEN SA) – 30 July 2009

2009 GP Hospital Liaison Conference – Friday, 11 September 2009, hosted by GPNS, for details click here

Communiques

GPSA Quarterly meetings – 21 May 2009: SA Health Department of Health and Ageing Country Health SA

Items of Interest

New Mental Health Act for South Australia – For further information click here. See also South Australian Legislation website

Position vacant – Office Administrator, Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice, for details click here

Community Events

be active 'Tracky Dacks' Day –Friday 3 July 2009. South Australians will be encouraged to wear their tracksuit pants to work for the day and do some physical activity at lunch or throughout the day. For information, click here and listen to soundfile here

Sixth Annual Research Summit: 'Showcasing Research Partnerships' – The School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University invites participation in its Sixth Annual Research Summit, to be held on 25 September 2009, at the Education Development Centre, Hindmarsh, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. For free registration of your attendance, abstract submission and for further information please refer to the Summit's website