CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Diabetes

This program supports and extends GPs work in effectively managing Diabetes. The Diabetes Nurse Educator visits practices, Diabetes CME evenings are held regularly, and clinical attachments to Repatriation General Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre are available. GPs are assisted to set up a register of Diabetic patients and recall them for regular clinical reviews based on well-researched clinical management guidelines. This systematic approach is expected to greatly improve the health outcomes of patients.

Information Technology

This program underpins many other Divisional activities. As well as providing significant one-on-one assistance to GPs and practices, through a range of different strategies, e.g. practice visit service by a Computer Consultant, Information Technology (IT) training sessions on the most popular clinical, practice management and other office programs, it has established a dedicated Help Desk to coordinate these activities.

Access to Services

A major focus of this program is improving communications between the Division and hospitals, improving admission and discharge notification procedures, and developing a range of shared care programs. At the community level, it aims to increase the knowledge of and access by GPs to the wide range of those services operating in the area, and promote health services and communitys access to GPs and the Division. Through this program, community members are recruited to the Divisions structures, consultation processes and events.

Health Promotion/Disease Prevention

This supports GP services to patients by encouraging increased referral to inhouse practice activities, developing prevention programs within the practice and supporting GP involvement with other programs such as State prevention activities and the programs of other providers, e.g. National Heart Foundation. Much of the work within the prevention area is based on the principles enunciated in the RACGPs Green Book Putting Prevention into Practice.

Continuing Medical Education

This program has been developed to meet the ongoing medical education needs of GPs with an emphasis on the Divisions four priority health areas. It is based on the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) quality assurance principles involving pre and post knowledge questionnaires, and GPs involved in planning and as facilitators for the various activities. The program has recently been accorded self-assessed status for Continuing Medical Education (CME) points by the RACGP.

Mental Health

Better communication between the Division, GPs and the various mental health services (both community and hospital based) operating in the region is a major focus of the program. It also provides a range of educational opportunities for GPs in mental health. A major focus is also developing mental health shared care arrangements.

Immunisation

Emphasis is placed on education of GPs and practice staff and targeting practices with immunisation rates lower than 80%. These activities have resulted in the Division achieving an immunisation rate of 84.3%. Two GP peer educators supported by a full-time Local Immunisation Coordinator are engaged in the program.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

• Southern Areas Breastfeeding Support Service
• Palliative Care
• Asthma, Exercise in Schools/Exercise in Sport (two projects)
• Health Information Amongst
• NESB Groups
• Interpractice Visits
• Yankalilla Rural Health Program
• Community Collaboration Project
• Mental Health Project
• GP Womens Health Network
• GP in the Hospital
• Kangaroo Island Diabetes Project
• The Menopause Project Supporting Women in the Middle Years
• GP Upskilling in Dermatology at Flinders Medical Centre