From the CEO - Gretchen Scinta

The NHHRC Report is hot on the agenda and seems to be featuring in most of the places we’ve been lately. Amidst the speculation and discussions about reconfiguring the health system are some very real issues for Divisions, and this is particularly true for South Australia. It is encouraging to take part in the thinking and planning emerging among the SA Divisions Network in an effort to shape some of the potential changes on the horizon. The recent meeting of the Division Executives Network SA and upcoming meetings of the Rural Divisions Group and the GPSA Board have all included a strategic focus on the health reform agenda. GPSA is actively working to capture the thinking and planning so that we can present a South Australian perspective and proposals for effective solutions, while there is the opportunity to have these considered.

We are also actively engaged with planning for the implementation of the Closing the Gap initiative in SA, following initial advice from member Divisions about key issues and opportunities for the program. The Aboriginal Health Council is a key partner in the
planning process and we are currently investigating opportunities to link with them in the roll out of the program. A recent meeting of the SBOs in Canberra with Department officials confirmed that there is flexibility in how the program is delivered at the state level. GPSA will provide a full de-brief of activities following the upcoming COAG Implementation Advisory Group meeting on Friday, 28 August.

Member Divisions should anticipate a visit from Brenton Chappell in the coming weeks. Brenton will be progressing discussions we had earlier this year with Division CEOs and EOs around service plans and targeting GPSA’s focus in providing support to members.

Alerts

Request for GP Representation, National Perinatal Depression Initiative Project Reference Group – click here

Program Updates

Health Provider Registry 2009 Survey Results: How do GPs locate other health providers? Based on responses from 224 general practices, the answer is GPs use a variety of sources to organise referrals. For details click here

Immunisation – SA Health, Communicable Disease Control Branch, Immunisation Section, are liaising with GPSA to support the South Australian rollout of the new Influenza H1N1 2009 vaccine. Prior to rollout all general practitioners will receive information directly from SA Health via fax stream.

SA Health Immunisation Calculator – The SA Health Communicable Disease Control Branch has reinstated the Immunisation Calculator on the Immunisation Section website. The calculator is for Australian children up to their 7th birthday on the National Immunisation Schedule. It will help to determine what vaccinations are due. To access the calculator click here

General Practice Liaison Officer initiative – GPSA is working with the national GP network to map general practice liaison officer models across the nation. For more information, contact Amanda Allport Haller, GPSA Clinical Quality Manager, on (08) 8179 1722.

Mental Health – Sasha Padgham, GPSA Member Services Manager Mental Health, visited General Practice Queensland to learn more about their integrated model with the Queensland Health Mental Health Directorate. Sasha will be putting together a briefing paper for discussion shortly.

Drought Community Support Program – GPSA and SA Rural Divisions attended the national forum for Drought Community Support Workers on 3 August 2009. For further information contact Jeremy Davidson-Tear at GPSA.

Upcoming GPSA Supported Events

Rural Divisions Group – 21 August 2009

Meeting with Health Minister John Hill on Pandemic Issues – 26 August 2009

GP Alliance Adelaide – 28 August 2009

'Closing the Gap', COAG Implementation Advisory Group – 28 August 2009

GPSA Board Meeting – 3 September 2009

GPSA Quarterly Meeting, Minister Lomax-Smith – 8 September 2009

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

General Practice Network Leadership Group, Canberra – 10-11 September 2009

GP Forum – 18 September 2009

Divisions Executive Network SA – 24 September 2009

Rural Doctors Workforce Agency AGM – 25 September 2009

Health Checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – 13-14 October 2009, The Shores, Adelaide. A collaboration with the Aboriginal Health Council of SA. Topics include referral pathways and Health Check information, ‘Closing the Gap’ overview and cultural safety training. More details to follow.

AGPN National Forum, 4-7 November 2009, Sydney – Australia’s premier primary health care forum. For registration click here

GP Week 2009 – 27-28 November 2009, QEH. For details click here

Communiqués

Announcement: Rural Division Representative on Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Board – Dr Alison Edwards, Mid North Division of Rural Medicine, has been elected by the Rural Divisions Group to the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Board for a further three-year term to September 2012.

Items of Interest

Child Health Clinical Network: June 2009 Newsletter click here

MHAGIC receives Outstanding Achievement rating from the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) – Global Health Ltd has announced that its electronic medical record, MHAGIC (Mental Health Assessment Generation and Information Collection) has been given an Outstanding Achievement rating by ACHS. In a recent accreditation conducted by ACHS, ACT Health was awarded a four-year accreditation for reaching a high level of achievement. ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher MLA said, "The results for Mental Health ACT are particularly pleasing as the Outstanding Achievement rating for its electronic health record – MHAGIC – recognises that it is now an industry leader.”

Mental Health Grants to Rural Communities. The State Government has announced that eleven organisations in regional South Australia have won grants to run events during Mental Health Week in October. Mental Health Minister Dr Jane Lomax-Smith says the funding of $7,000 is aimed at helping communities celebrate Mental Health Week. For details click here

Commonwealth Government mandate for a national Standard Patient Identification Band. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed specifications for a standard national patient identification band. GPSA is working with the SA Health Patient Identification Advisory Group to develop the band for use within SA. To access the specifications for the standard identification band click here

The Overburden Report: Contracting for Indigenous Health Services – The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) report into the impact of complex and fragmented funding arrangements on Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services was released yesterday. The report and summary are available at CRCAH’s website click here

Men's Health – It's now official. Check it out at menshealthsa.com.au. This site is a work in progress with lots to be added in the coming months, so keep coming back.

Community Events

Working Together to Bridge the Gaps in Disease Management – 3-4 September 2009, Melbourne. 5th Annual National Disease Management Conference. For details click here

Men's Health SA Professional Development Forum – 17-18 September 2009, Sevenhill SA. For details click here

National Indigenous Studies Conference 2009: Perspectives on Urban Life: Connections and Reconnections – 29 September to 1 October 2009, Canberra. For details click here

Working with Clients with Complex Issues – 25 November 2009, Adelaide. The workshop will provide participants with theoretical understandings and therapeutic tools to successfully work conjointly with these issues, in the best terms of existing resources, practitioners and agencies. For details click here

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care 2009 – 25-26 November 2009, Rydges World Square Sydney Hotel.
This conference will provide a platform for consultation and negotiation to foster and nurture strong partnerships to meet objectives, improve outcomes and deliver outputs to “Close the Gap” in health disadvantage. For details click here