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Welcome... The Peninsula GP Network is a general practitioner governed organisation that aims to enhance the quality of general practitioner services and improve the health of the local community. These aims are met by the provision of education and information to GPs and the community on a range of current health issues, improving the integration of health care in the local area and improving population health outcomes. Latest News....8th February 2010 Good Bye & Thank You Lynne Cooper PGPN is sad to advise its members that long serving executive manager Lynne Cooper has decided to resign effective from the 5th February 2010. With the known resignation at the end of this financial year of the executive director, Dr John Siemienowicz the Board has been forced to advertise and seek the appointment of a new CEO to cover both positions. Lynne Cooper has been a tireless worker advocating on behalf of local general practitioners for many years and her knowledge and enthusiasm will be sorely missed. I am sure that all GP members and practice staff will wish Lynne all the best as she moves on. Updating GP Details General practitioners and practice managers are reminded that GP and practice contact details are centrally held on a database adminstered by the Human Services Department. These contact details are used by hospitals and medical service providers for the provision of medical information such as discharge summaries, results etc. To check your details visit the web page here.>   You can obtain a log in and then keep your information up to date. Warning - Bon Soy Milk BonSoy soy milk has been withdrawn from the marketplace following detection of high levels of iodine in this product. This product should not be consumed. A cluster of 7 and possibly 8 adult cases in one practice have been diagnosed with thyroid conditions believed to be associated with consumption of BonSoy soy milk In addition, a newborn has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism secondary to iodine excess following maternal consumption of BonSoy during the pregnancy Doctors should be alert to seek information about BonSoy soy milk consumption by any persons presenting or who have presented in the past months with thyroid conditions. Further information is availble from the Food stanrds web pagehere.> New Item Numbers - May 2010 The Government has started rationalising the quantity of Medicare item numbers, and attached is an information sheet that outlines the changes to take place from 1 May 2010. here.> Fire Ready With the approaching fire season practices and staff need to consider the consequences and be prepared should a bush fire occur. PGPN will be involved in raising the issue and supporting practices in planning for this possible emergency. PGPN will also be a co-ordinating body for local general practices should there be a requirement for man power or diversionary medical management for the people on the Mornington Peninsula. A useful web site to look at is the Peninsula Health website on being fire ready. Some useful resources are available from the CFA site www.cfa.vic.gov.au Electronic Referrals - Argus Medicare have simplified the requirements for electronic referrals. Electronic referrals sent via Argus to specialists are a valid form of referral; GPs are NOT required to electronically encrypt the message with their individual PKI key, the practice location PKI is sufficient.  Full details are available here.> Medical Hot Clinic The Medical Hot Clinic at Frankston Hospital commenced running in August 2009. This clinic is able to provide GP’s with an alternative pathway for rapid specialist assessment (within 72 hours) of medical patients whose need for hospital admission is unclear. • Assessments are conducted by a consultant physician, +/- medical registrar, and a senior nurse with experience in care coordination. • Direct admission to Peninsula Health acute and sub-acute beds and Hospital in the Home may be accessed via the clinic. Patients will not be tracked back into the Emergency Department system.  • Patients requiring day admissions for blood transfusion or iron infusions are able to be assisted via a referral to the Medical Hot Clinic. • Functional assessments conducted by allied health staff as necessary. Cost: Bulk billed Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday 1 – 5pm Medical Director template  available here.> How to Refer: Electronic referral form via Peninsula Health website here.>. . Fax referral to 9784-7033    Phone the Senior Nurse on 9784-7519 Peninsula Health GP Liaison Need any information about Peninsula Health Services? A good place to start is at the Peninsula Health GP Liaison page here.>. While there do the quick 2 minute survey on discharge summaries. From this page you can find information about outpatients, inpatients, maternity services, the emergency department, referral templates and much more.    Appointment of New CEO   The Board has advertised for this position and will begin the interview process soon. As most members will be aware there are major changes in the health system mooted to occur as well as changes to the Divisions of General Practice.  The Board will be seeking a strong leader who is knowledgeable about local general practice as well as having knowledge and skills in primary care, strategic planning, management and advocacy. Extreme Heat Conditions With extreme fire conditions being forecast for the next several days GPs should educate their patients about appropriate hydration during this time. Elderly patients and people with chronic disease are more vulnerable at this time. A useful website referrence for patients is available from here.> Influenza Vaccinations - Children 2010  The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised on the "Use of Pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines in children <10 years of age". It provides recommendations on doses of Panvax H1N1 vaccine if seasonal influenza vaccine has previously been given as either 2 doses or 1 dose and what to do in 2010 when seasonal influenza vaccine is available. Information is avaialable from the Federal Government site  here.> New ATSI PIP Incentive Practices will soon recieve in the mail details about the new Indigenous Health Incentive. This is support general practices and Indigenous health services provide better health care to Indigenous Australians , especially those with chronic diease problems. Three types of payments are possible: - A sign on payment Annual patient registration payments Outcomes payments Fast Track Clinic - GPs Wanted Peninsula Health is looking for GPs will to work over the holiday period at Rosebud Hospital. This clinic will operate in close proximity to the Emergency Depart. The clinic commences 25th December 2009 until 4th January 2010. Hours planned are 2pm to 10 pm. Competitive remuneration rates can be negotiated. Contact Lee Vause on 0429 336 342 or Dr Peter Trye on 0412 834 309 for more information. Radiology Changes - Peninsula Health Peninsula Health has requested that we provide the following information on their behalf. Peninsula Health is changing Radiology Providers and as a result the current providers MRI, CT and NM will be decommissioned and Peninsula Health will be purchasing and installing new equipment. There will be some disruption to services during the following periods: - CT not available from 8 a.m. 14th December to 8 a.m. 18th December NM not available from 10th December for 2 weeks MRI not available from 10th December for 6 wks approx. During this period PH have made arrangements for patients to have in-hours imaging for these modalities at local private providers and after hours at Southern Health. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Dr Susan Sdrinis, Exec Director Medical Services and Quality and Clinical Governance, Peninsula Health on 9784 7695. Peninsula Health Specialist List Peninsula Health have produced a list of all specialists who work at the hospital. it is available from here.> Produced by the GP Liaison Unit it will be updated every 6 months. elearning Training Package for Item 10997 The Department of Health and Ageing has provided funding to support an extension for free access for eligible participants (Practice Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers) for the eLearning Training Package to support Medicare Item 10997 until 30 June 2010. Information on the eLearning Training Package to support Medicare Item 10997 can be found at http://generalpracticenursing.com.au and the package can be accessed from the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) website at http://www.3lp.rcna.org.au/10997 and follow the instructions on the front page under Getting Started. You do not need to be a member of RCNA to access the modules. Positions Vacant The PGPN website now has a page which list positions vacant and people looking for work in the PGPN area. Practices can advertise for staff by contacting Lynne Cooper. This page also list positions vacant at PGPN. The page can be accessed from here. PGPN Events GPs and practice staff can see an up to date list of events being run by the Network by clicking on Events in the left hand navigation bar.                      Privacy Statement