| Issue 17, 21 January 2010 |  |
IN THIS ISSUE: Alerts | Program Updates | Activities and Forums | Communiques | Items of Interest | Community Events
From the CEO - Gretchen Scinta
Welcome to the first edition of GPSA e-news for 2010. The year starts off for GPSA with a review of changes in the sector over the past year to inform our upcoming Strategic Planning of the Board and Senior Management Team. With the restructuring efforts of 2009 behind us, we are well underway to supporting our member Divisions through the challenges and opportunities presented over the next three years through an ongoing commitment to member services. We hope to release our new Strategic Plan in early April.
Personnel changes at GPSA in late-2009 around our mental health portfolio have left some uncertainty about services to Divisions. We’ve since put in place a number of measures to ensure ongoing support and are looking forward to the evaluation results for the Mental Health Shared Care with General Practitioners program. Divisions have excelled in their services to clients with mental health needs, and the MH Shared Care program provides significant evidence of this. The most recent progress report demonstrates the achievements Divisions have made with this program, and provides a strong case for the program to continue well beyond 2010.
Alerts
Advance Notice – GPQ Finance System Demonstration, 17 February 2010. Several Divisions have expressed interest in looking at GPQ’s new Accounting/Payroll software package. GPSA has tentatively booked David Phillips from GPQ to demonstrate the package on 17 February 2010. Further information to follow.
AusTender: Australian Government business opportunity issued for VVCS Outreach Program Counsellors, Comprehensive health services, Department of Veterans' Affairs. Closes 18 March 2010, click here
Australian Infection Control Guidelines – The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), in partnership with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare, has released for public comment the Australian Infection Control Guidelines: preventing and managing infection in health care (the draft Guidelines). You are invited, under paragraph 13(1)(b) of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992, to make a submission to the NHMRC about the draft guidelines, click here
Expanded Seasonal Influenza Progam 2010 – GPs and General Practice Nurses are invited to register their interest in free information sessions on the expanded eligibility for the seasonal influenza vaccine program from March 2010. For details click here
Low immunisation figures putting everyone at risk of preventable diseases – Rapidly declining immunisation rates in Australia are putting communities at risk of pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella and swine flu, especially as the school year is about to get under way, says Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) Chair Dr Emil Djakic. To read more, click here
New Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer position at General Practice SA, click here
Upcoming GPSA Supported Events
Divisions Executive Network SA (DENSA) – 28 January 2010, GPSA
General Practice Network Leadership Group – 3 and 4 February 2010, Canberra
Mental Health Shared Care Steering Committee – 4 February 2010
GPSA Board of Directors Strategic Planning and Board meeting – 9 and10 February 2010
Quarterly meetings: GPSA and SA Health, Country Health SA and Department of Health and Ageing – 19 February 2010
GPSA Board Meeting – 4 March 2010
General Practice Network Leadership Group Meeting, 26-27 November 2009, Canberra, click here
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Meeting, 7 December 2009, Brisbane, click here
Renal Services Relocation – Central Northern Adelaide Health Service. From 11 January 2010 complex renal services will be transferred from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and amalgamate renal services across CNAHS. The new entity will be known as the Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service. For details click here or go to website
Medical Practitioners wanted for pilot program – WorkCover is seeking four medical practitioners to help run an eight-week pilot program that begins in May 2010 and aims to improve health outcomes and return to work for injured workers click here
You’ve Got What? (Prevention and Control of Notifiable and other Infectious Diseases in Children and Adults) has been updated. Now in its 4th edition (2009) this publication is available on line and in hard copy format. Doctors and/or practice nurses requesting hard copies (no charge) can email cdcb@health.sa.gov.au (indicate number of copies and provide postal address) or phone Communicable Disease Control Branch, SA Health, on (08) 8226 7177. To view website click here
Community Events
Mental Heatlh Skills Training – Primary mental health care: Assessment, planning and treatment strategies for GPs. Six-hour workshop scheduled for Sunday, 7 February 2010 (full day), Stonyfell, click here
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy workshop for Health Professionals – Anxiety and Related Disorders Workshop, 22-26 February 2010, Margaret Tobin Centre, Bedford Park, click here
Career Pathways in Primary Health Care Research – PHCRED Tri-State workshop, 23 February 2010, Flinders University, click here
