Professional Development Events - General Practitioners

NPS Webinar for GP's - Imaging in respiratory tract infections
NPS Better choices Better health will be holding its first webinar for GP's on Thursday 10 May 2012 on the topic of 'Imaging in respiratory tract infections'. Two webinar sessions will be held on Thursday 10 May 2012: 1.30-2.30pm (1.00-2.00pm SA & NT, 11.30am-12.30pm WA) and 6.00-7.00pm (5.30-6.30pm SA and NT, 4.00-5.00pm WA) By attending the webinar, GP participants will: Understand when imaging is appropriate and refine their knowledge of best practice guidelines for imaging Know which test to use, and associated risks and benefits Ask the experts questions, live or after the event Learn how to manage inappropriate imaging requests Explore a complex case with the experts Qualify for 2 (Category2) RACGP QI & CPD Points and/or 2 ACRRM PRPD Points + 2 PRPD Radiology MOPS Points for the 2011-2013 triennium on completion of the on-line evaluation form  The webinar is intended to complement the valuable work of facilitators and is part of a multifaceted suite of services offered by NPS for GP's in order to strengthen behaviour change. It will help inform GP decisions about medical tests and will provide the opportunity to have questions related to imaging in respiratory tract infections answered by a specialist. In addition, by providing this new service we aim to reach new GPs and introduce them to the valuable work that we do nationally at NPS and that is also available through your local NPS program. We invite you and the facilitators in your Division/Medicare Local to view a recording of the webinar, which will be available from 17 May at www.nps.org.au/rtiwebinar If you would like to be notified when the recording is available, please email webinar@nps.org.au You will also be able to submit questions to the imaging experts online after viewing the recording. Level 7/418a Elizabeth St            P. (02) 8217 8640        Independent, not-for-profit and evidence based, NPS Surrey Hills NSW 2010                F. (02) 9211 7578        enables better decisions about medicines and medical PO Box 1147                             M. 0418 267 854           tests. We are funded by the Australian Government Strawberry Hills                        AMcrae@nps.org.au       Department of Health and Ageing. NSW 2012                                www.nps.org.au
APNA Coordinated Veterans' Care Program
The Coordinated Veterans' Care (CVC) Program online training is specifically designed for general practitioners, practice nurses, community nurses and Aboriginal health workers as an opportunity for professional development to effectively use the CVC Program for their patients. Module one, two and three are available now! These modules are designed to build your capacity to provide effective chronic condition self-management support to veterans enrolled onto the CVC Program. All three modules have been accredited for RACGP QI & CPD, ACRRM PDP and have been endorsed by APNA and RCNA. A certificate of Completion is awarded upon sucessful completion of Module One, and a Certificate of Competence will be  awarded upon successful completion of Module Two. Module One - Coordinated Veterans' Care: Is Your Service Ready? Module one is designed to provide background information on the CVC program. It outlines the aims of the CVC program, eligibility criteria for veterans' participation, GP financial incentives, benefits of home visits and more. Module Two - Care Planning and Coordination with the Flinders Program. Module two has been designed as a flexible, self-paced learning tool enabling individuals to design their own study timetable. You do not have to complete this module in one session; it may be completed over a number of sessions. You will need to complete Module 2, Sections 1 to 4 online, then submit a completed Care Plan to Flinders University and receive feedback on the submitted Care Plan. You will then be eligible to attend a one day workshop to complete a second Care Plan and finish the module. Module Three - Managing Care Plans with disease - specific elements. this module includes five sections and will take approximately six hours to complete. The actual time taken to complete this module will vary depending on the amount of time you spend reviewing the clinical guidelines and other resources. Further resources are also available on http://www.cvcprogram.net.au As part of Module Two of the CVC Program online education and training, there will be an opportunity to attend a face to face, one day workshop. To register to attend a workshop please visit  http://www.flinders.edu.au/medicine/sites/fhbhru/dvacvc/workshops/ For further information please phone 1800 652 357 or email FMCDVA-CVC@health.sa.gov.au
2012 WESTERN TRAUMA COURSE Saturday, 3 November 2012
The Western Trauma Course (WTC) is a product of the Western Australian Trauma Education Committee (WATEC) and is a highly sought after multidisciplinary one day programme, conducted in Western Australia since 1997. GPs who attend the WTC can achieve the following points: RACGP - 40 Category 1 points ACRRM - 20 CME points ANZCA Cat2/Level 2 - 18 points As yet, a venue has not been confirmed More Information To Come
CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING FOR THE INDIGENOUS HEALTH PRACTICE INCENTIVE PAYMENT
If your Practice is registered or is considering registration for the Indigenous Health Practice Incentive Payment, this notice is for you. A requirement for the IH PIP is that two staff members from your Practice (including one GP) take part in an endorsed Cultural Awareness Training (CAT) within 12 months of signing up for the program.  Failure to meet this requirement can put your Practice at risk of losing Indigenous Health Incentive Payments which are due to be paid or have already been paid to you. For Practices who are yet to meet this requirement, below is a list of CAT providers who are endorsed and offer training online which is convenient for rural and remote Practices: The Centre for cultural Competence australia www.ccca.com.au FREE RACGP online training available to members now and to non-members from the end of September at www.gplearning.com.au (please note : if members commence online training now it must be completed before the RACGP web upgrade which commences at the beginning of September or all information will be lost.  Non-members will need to wait until the end of September for training to become available) FREE Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health (CUCRH) www.cucrh.uwa.edu.au If you require any further information about the Closing the Gap Program, PBS Co-Payment Measure or Cultural Awareness Training, please do not hesitate to contact Emma Host, Program Officer on 9621 1530 or emmah@wheatbelt.com.au
RACGP / ONLINE CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM
RACGP will be closing off the ClinEd and gplearning sites from 28 August 2011 as they are transferring their education programs to a new system called LMS. Unfortunately, they are unable to save all previous work and therefore someone mid-course will not have their completed work saved or transferred to the new system.  The State Based Offices and Divisions of General Practice have expressed their concern and frustration with this situation.  Currently RACGP are advising that all current people enrolled in all courses need to be completed by 28 August 2011. It has been requested that no new Cultural Awareness Training students are to be enrolled without this deadline being highlighted. The link below will have the updates on this matter as the new system becomes live and new enrolments can be taken. http://www.racgp.org.au/aboriginalhealth If you require any further information, please contact Roslyn Smith by email on rsmith@wagpnetwork.com.au
Identifying and Managing Autism Spectrum Disorders
Identifying and managing children with autism spectrum disorders is the focus of a new online active learning module created by the RACGP. The new Autism Spectrum Disorders Category 1 active learning module is available on the glearning website at www.gplearning.com.au and is suitable for GP's and pediatricians.
Managing Acute Low Back Pain in Primary Care
Wheatbelt GP Network, in partnership with NPS – Better choices, Better health is offering an interactive workshop on: Managing acute low back pain in primary care This workshop provides a valuable opportunity to discuss up-to-date, independent, practical, evidence-based information on managing acute low back pain with an emphasis on reducing inappropriate use of imaging tests in this context. The interactive case-based workshop includes a presentation and an opportunity to discuss important aspects of care with other General Practitioners. This program will focus on: - Undertaking a thorough history and physical examination to assess for the presence of serious clinical conditions (red flags) - Using lumbar imaging only in patients found to have red flags - Reassuring patients that low back pain is rarely serious, most pain settles quickly and imaging does not often explain the reason for pain  - Providing adequate analgesia including regular paracetamol for short-term symptomatic relief  - Advising patients to stay active, avoid bed rest and continue as normally as possible. What’s in it for me? - An opportunity to discuss evidence-based information and access key resources - Time-efficient education with peers - A Quality Prescribing Initiative (QPI) activity within the Practice Incentives Program and eligible for RACGP QA & CPD and/or ACRRM program points. Please download the Course Flyer and Registration Form.
Advance Health Directives
As you are most likely aware, in Feburary 2010 the Acts Amendment (Consent to Medical Treatment) Act 2008 came into effect in Western Australia enabling people to plan for medical, lifestyle and other healthcare decision making if in the future they are unable to make those decisions for themselves.  The Act introduced changes to sections within the Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, the Criminal Code and the Civil Liability Act 2002. The Act introduced Advance Health Directives (AHDs) and Enduring Power of Guardianship (EPGs).  An AHD is a legal document in which an adult with full legal capacity can express their wishes about future medical treatment.  An EPG is an instrument by which an adult can appoint an enduring guardian to make important personal decisions on their behalf in the event that they lose capacity to do so. A self directed e-learning resource providing easily accessible information on the Act and its two legal instruments is now available online.  Click here to access the e-learning package.
CTEC - Clinical Training and Education Centre
In collaboration with the Motor Accident Authority of NSW (MAA), Genesis Ed has developed an online educational module on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). This is the first of a two part series.  This module, based on the current MAA guidelines for general practice, covers the history, examination and assessment following closed head injury. This module is accredited with the RACGP, ACCRM and the RCNA.  Upon completion of the module participants will be awarded either 2 category 2 points, 1 PD point or 1 CNE. On completion of this module participants should be able to: •  Accurately assess and diagnose patients with MTBI •  Indicate appropriate use of assessment tools - Abbreviated Westmead Post Traumatic Amnesia Scale (A-WPTAS) •  Describe prognostic indicators •  Identify appropriate use of the patient advice sheet •  Ensure patient safety by appropriately educating patients with MTBI To participate in this interactive module click here - Module 1 - The key diagnostic features in mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)
Department for Veterans Affairs Information Package for General Practitioners
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is constantly examining methods to improve communication with General Practitioners (GPs), specifically, how to raise awareness of the various DVA-funded health services available to their veteran patients. To assist in addressing this, DVA as developed an Information for Medical Practitioners package, particularly aimed at newly graduating GPs, those practising in rural and regional areas, and GPs who are International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Moreover, it can be utilised as a ‘refresher’ for any GP who treats members of the veteran community. The package consists of: - an Introduction; - three information modules; - a list of web links to information referred to in the modules; - two useful DVA reference documents - the DVA Funded Health Services and DVA Treatment Entitlement Cards Charts; and - feedback form. The modules, which can be used either individually or sequentially, consist of: Module 1: Introduction to DVA Module 2: DVA’s Health Programs – Hospital, Medical and Allied Health Services Module 3: DVA’s Health Programs – Health and Related Services The package is designed to be downloaded from the DVA website and the modules used either in PowerPoint presentation form as training tools by GP educators/organisations or in hard copy form, along with the other components of the package, as a reference document for individuals/practices. The package will provide GPs (in any location) with a broad overview - a ‘snapshot’ - of DVA and its health services, together with relevant links and contact details to gain further detailed information.  Click Here to access the Information for Medical Practitioners Package web-site.
Managing Breast Symptoms
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has released a new category 1 activity learning module to coincide with Australia’s Breast Cancer Month (October). gplearning has just released the new ALM, Managing breast symptoms, which has been designed to help provide optimal primary care management to women presenting with a new breast change or symptom. This online ALM aims to improve the early detection of breast cancer through a systematic evidence-based approach to the investigation of breast symptoms (the Triple Test), which can detect more than 99% of breast cancers. Suitable for general practitioners (GPs), breast physicians, GPs with an interest in breast medicine, women’s health practitioners and practice nurses, this ALM is comprised of six individual modules of approximately 1 hour each (a total of 6 hours structured learning). Short questionnaires at the beginning and end of the activity will act as predisposing and reinforcing components and must be completed. On completion of this activity the learner should be able to:                • Assess and investigate a patient who presents with a new breast symptom.                • Demonstrate and document how to work through the systematic management process, the Triple                 Test, which will detect more than 99% of breast cancers.                • Inform and counsel women and their families about risk of breast cancer.                • Inform and counsel women about primary prevention measures to help decrease the incidence of breast cancer                • Inform and counsel patients and their families and address issues of follow-up and survivorship for patients                  living with breast cancer. The Managing breast symptoms ALM has been developed in collaboration between the RACGP and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre to maximise effective and widespread delivery of current health care information and service strategies to learners. This activity has been approved for Women's Health and Breast Medicine points. Components of this activity can be completed alone, for RACGP QA&CPD Category 2 points, or as a complete ALM for Category 1 points. Completion of the activity is approved for 40 Category 1 points in the RACGP QA&CPD Program. For QA&CPD points for the Current Triennium, visit www.gplearning.com.au and enrol in the Managing breast symptoms ALM which is accessible from the Category 1 menu on the catalogue.
AGPAL Online Learning
AGPAL has partnered with ThinkGP, to develop six online learning modules including                   •  Quality Improvement and Accreditation                   •  Process of Resable Equipment                   •  Infection Control                   •  Health Information Managemnet                   •  Practice Management                   •  Practice Services Click on the link to the AGPAL Online Learning Website for further information.