Name North East Valley Division of General Practice Division Number 302 Classification Urban Number of Member GPs 285 State Victoria Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 90 Postcodes Covered 3070, 3071, 3078, 3079, 3081, 3083, 3084, 3085, 3087, 3088, 3089, 3090, 30913093, 3094, 3095, 3096, 3097, 3099, 3105, 3759, 3760, 3761, 3763 Population 235,272 (2001 Census) Area Covered The Division covers the local government cities of Banyule and Nillumbik entirely, approximately 50% of the City of Darebin, and the Bulleen postcode of the City of Manningham. The spread of GP practices largely reflects the population distribution with significant clusters in Northcote, Ivanhoe, Greensborough / Eltham and Heidelberg. The remaining practices (approximately 60%) being evenly spread throughout the Division, with the exception being the sparsely populated semi-rural areas around Hurstbridge. CEO Mr Ken Mansbridge Chair Dr Peter Eizenberg Physical Address: C/- A&RMC, Repatriation Campus Locked Bag 1 WEST HEIDELBERG VIC 3081 Australia Postal Address: C/- A&RMC, Repatriation Campus Locked Bag 1 WEST HEIDELBERG VIC 3081 Australia Email: nevdgp@nevdgp.org.au Phone: 03 9496 4333 Fax: 03 9496 4349 Website: http://www.nevdgp.org.au

The North East Valley Division is an innovative and active organisation with considerable experience in the development and implementation of activities that contribute to improved local health care. The communities of Banyule, Darebin and Nillumbik are considered to be major stakeholders in the work of the Division.The Division sees its mission as being to "enhance the health care available to our community by using the skills, knowledge and experience of our general practitioners, working with other agencies, to improve the planning, evaluation and delivery of local health care services". The Division enjoys strong links with local community organisations and primary, secondary and tertiary health care and human service providers. The Division has a very high rate of member participation and a 1999 member survey found members to be very satisfied with the Division's service provision. GPs themselves are stakeholders, and the Division's mission also includes an intention "to enhance the lives of its General Practitioners through ongoing support, education and resource application". Institutional stakeholders include: Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, local private hospitals, Banyule-Nillumbik Primary Care Alliance, North East Health Promotion Centre, Bundoora Extended Care, North East Area Mental Health Service and NEAMI, North Care and Share and CarerLinks North, Royal District Nursing Service, Department of Human Services (Northern Region).

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Clinical Support Program

• Development of an academic detailing program for immunisation
• Weekly CME program which is regularly attended by a minimum of 30 GPs
• Development of tools and information for GPs on use of new MBS health assessment, case conferencing and care planning item numbers
• Diabetic and Heart Health Practice audits
• CPR training for GPs and practice staff
• Clinical attachments programs for Endocrinology, Cardiology

Linkages and representation

• Signing of a Heads of Agreement between Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre and North East Valley Division of General Practice
• Development of electronic communications systems between GPs and A&RMC
• Involvement in local planning processes including Primary Care Partnerships and municipal health planning

General Practice systems and Information Technology

• Development of Divisional cold chain quality control service
• Development of innovative World Wide Website
• Production of Division CD containing training modules, health services directory, videos and patient information
• Development of training modules for Medical Director Software

GP Professional and Personal Well-being

• Women GPs Network has met quarterly since 1997
• Doctors for Doctors initiative
• Taking the Stress Out of Primary Care courses for GPs

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

Realising the potential of Information Technologies continues to be a huge challenge for GPs. IT is impacting on their clinical decision making, prescribing, health promotion activities, record keeping and recall/reminder systems. The Division needs to facilitate whole of practice change to enable GPs to maximise their use of IT. The new MBS item numbers for health assessment, case conferencing and care planning item numbers offer opportunities for GPs to be recompensed for previously unpaid work, and to be more proactive in working with other service providers to optimise patient care. The Division hopes to provide inspiration and leadership to GPs and other local service providers to encourage uptake of the new item numbers. There are steadlily increasing demands on GP?s time, skills and energy. The Division needs to selectively target initiatives to ensure that GPs are able to access a broad range of continuing education and likages.

The Division's community is diverse, and continuously monitoring and responding to its needs is sometimes challenging. At present the Division is working closely with the local Somali community (comprising some 4000 people) to identify needs and develop initiatives to improve access to primary care.