Eastern Ranges GP Association

This module is great for GPs, Practice Nurses and Practice Staff who are new to a practice.  The module also contains detailed information about recruiting GPs to a practice, particularly which forms a required to be filled before a GP starts.

Information on GP health, succession planning and Practice Nurse orientation is also provided.

Workforce GPs

The following comprehensive documents outline the details of recruiting a GP from both overseas and interstate including a step by step guide to the orientation process. A number of forms can be downloaded so that each practice can develop their own practice profile as part of the recruitment process.

Resources

Recruiting and retaining GPs

Recruiting and retaining OTDs

Part 1 RECRUITMENT & ORIENTATION CHECKLIST

Do you have a GP starting and need a detailed checklist which will include all you need to get a new GP started at your practice. Here you will find a  5 page checklist which, once completed, can be filed under the employees/contractors details.  Sections in this checklist include:

 -Practitioner number details and qualifications

-Checklist of all forms and items required to be completed

-Information gathered on doctor requirements and expertise

-Orientation checklist for doctor

Part 2 Practice Profile

A practice profile is a document which outlines a variety of general information about the area including health services, geographical information, info. about local schools, sporting clubs, services, shopping centres etc.  You can download the practice profile and include your own local information.

Part 3a Practice visit information sheet -visiting doctor with compliments RWAV

Part 3b Practice visit information sheet -Practice Principal/Manager -with compliments RWAV

Part 4 GP Position Description

Part 5 Letter of Offer

The following is a list for GPS who are new to a practice. It is particularly useful for those GPs who are overseas trained.

Resources

RACGP QA and CPD

Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)

Australian Doctors Trained Overseas Association

Information on medicare -including MBS and PBS

Orientation to Australian Culture -with thanks to RWAV

Resource guide for overseas trained doctors

IT Shortcuts -with compliments from Inner East Melbourne Division of GP

Useful contacts for overseas trained doctors

GP’s have an extremely important role in community healthcare however sometimes GP’s are so concerned about their patients and the community that they forget to care about themselves. Eastern Ranges GP Association stresses the importance of GP Health and believes that by gaining control of their own health, GPs will be happier accessing a GP for themselves, seek appropriate care for themselves and create a greater balance between work and home life.

Resources

RACGP Doctors Health Project

Managing the Risks of Fatigue

Managing the risk....

Need to provide easy to read information to your patients, click here for a variety of health resources.

Resources

Patient information leaflets

ERGPA offers GPs access to quality CPD that is accredited for CPD points by the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM) and is responsive to the expressed needs of local GPs.

How can GPs meet CPD requirements?

Recognised GPs are required to meet the CPD requirements of the RACGP which include a minimum of 30 category 1 CPD points and a total of 130 CPD points (Category 1 and Category 2) per triennium.

Category 2

These can be accrued in a number of ways such as:

  • Attending approved CPD events conducted by Rural Workforce Support, ERGPA  and many other organizations.
  • Reading journals and completing the CPD questionnaires
  • Participating in online activities
  • Teaching medical students in your practice
  • Viewing satellite broadcasts

Category 1

These points are compulsory and require a bit more effort, but it is not hard to obtain the necessary requirements.

Resources

Online CPD Workshops are available through the following websites

GP Learning: free of charge to RACGP members and is regularly updated

Medeserv - this is free, but you need to register.

RACGP - You can earn 4 CPD points per month based on articles in AFP which are available on line.

Clinical Audits - Vist the National Prescribing Service (NPS)

Small Group Learning Activities

RDN has designed a manual to assist rural GPs to create their own succession plan, that is, a plan for the time when a doctor will want to reduce the hours of medical service provided to the community.

Resources

Succession Planning Manual

Workforce Nurses

Resources

Employing a practice nurse -why is it financially and organisationally viabile -business cases.

There are a wide range of benefits for general practices that employ a practice nurse. The needs of individual practices and their patient population will shape the role/s a nurse will take on within that particular practice team, however likely benefits for any practice include:

Improvements in quality of care to patients

Improved work satisfaction for GPs 

Additional support for the GPs

Reduction in patient waiting times

Increased range of services offered at the practice

Increased capacity to adapt to change

Improved management of patients with chronic disease

Increased consumer satisfaction

Additional inducement to recruit new GPs

Recuitment and orientation resource for new practice nurses starting in a practice

The following resource has been developed by the government to assist general practices in the recruitment and orientation of a nurse to general practice.

Position description -Medical Receptionist with compliments Tweed Valley Medical Centre

Position description -Practice Manager with compliments Tweed Valley Medical Centre

Position description -Registered Nurse

Letter of offer

QIP Sample contract

Resources

Information on clinic administration processes

Information on clinic administration processes including:

example Practice and Procedure Manual (make sure you also check your practices own Manual as there may be slight changes) with thanks to DC Div. of GP

information on patient record keeping  (courtesy of central syd. Div of GP)

Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice -Part 1

A new online orientation program has been developed for nurses new to general practice. The program focuses on nurses who are unable to attend face to face workshops, providing them with knowledge and baseline skills required to deliver high quality and safe health care services. 

Topics covered include:

-Professional practice

-Provision of clinical care

-Management of clinical systems

-Collaborative practices

Orientation program for nurses new to general practice -Part 2

Information on the orientation program run by the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN)

Detailed information on nurse MBS items and GP Care Planning

The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items significantly increase care planning options for GPs, as well as expanded patient eligibility and increasing the assistance that practice nurses and others can provide. Practice nurses can also provide the majority of care in the Asthma Cycle of Care.

Practice nurse MBS Items

Wound Management -10996

Practice can claim when a PN provides wound management on behalf a GP.

Can be provided in any location, except when the patient has been admitted to a hospital or day-hospital facility

Can be provided in any location, except when the patient has been admitted to a hospital or day-hospital facility.

Can be claimed for the treatment of any wound, except for normal post operative care

Renumeration: $8.50

Immunisation

Practice can claim when a PN provides an immunisation service on behalf of a GP

Any vaccine registered under the Therapeutic Goods Act in Australia

Immunisations as part of home visits can be claimed

Renumeration: $8.50

Cervical Screening -10998

Practice claims when PN provides a pap test on behalf of a GP

Nurse needs to be credentialed within Victoria

$8.50

 

More information on PIP

Information on care planning

Mental Health Care Plans

QIP Performance appraisals

Nurse scholarship information

The APNA together with DoHA offer a range of scholarships for practice nurses to enhance their professional development.  These scholarships provide up to $1500 of funding for education and training.  A limited number of scholarships are available of up to $10, 000 for postgraduate study.

Practice Nurse Legal Liability

It is the Practice Nurse's responsibility to identify and clearly understand professional insurance liability

 

Practice Nurses Award

Following the commencement of Work Choices industrial laws, minimum renumeration will depend on whether a Federal Award, a National Agreement Preserving State Awards (NAPSAs) or a certified agreement applies.  For more information visit the ERGPA website:

www.ergpa.com.au

Registration requirements- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Network

Competency standards for registered nurses in general practice

Registered nurses in general practice must meet the Australian Nursing and Midwivery Council's national competency standards for registered nurses.