CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Based on local and national health priorities, and the Division's general innovative approach, the Capricornia Division undertakes the following programs:

Health Partnerships

The Health Partnership program involves the integration of health services with other health care providers, health promotion involving GPs and the community, as well as improving the quality and coordination of indigenous health care.

Population Health

The Population Program is involved in the areas of diabetes, mental health, and immunisation.

Supporting GPs

The Division aims to support GPs though practice development and management, helping with medical workforce issues, GP health and well-being, as well as Information Management and Information Technolgy.

Division Management and Corporate Governance

The Division Management and Corporate Governance program involves a number of areas including:

• financial management
• corporate governance
• human resource management
• operating environment
• staff IM/IT

Information Management and Information Technology

The Division's Information Management and Information Technology (IM/IT) Program has been the most progressive and well received of all of the Division's programs. There has been keen interest in practice-based computer training-currently the Division has a 98% computerisation rate. The program has provided a high level of training and support for both GPs and practice staff over the past six months. Capricornia Division is also offering members a helpdesk service for practice management, and clinical software and practice computer manuals have been developed and circulated to all surgeries. The Division has also taken an advocacy role on behalf of Division members who have experienced problems associated with software and upgrade packages.

The Division is currently trialing the Central Queensland Doctors (CQDOC) network. As part of the CQDOC Wide Area Networking (WAN) project, the Division is also undertaking a trial to test the efficiency of email as the primary communication vehicle between the Division Executive, members and external agencies. It is envisaged that the Division will develop a Communication Plan over the next twelve months to clearly define internal and external communication processes.

In the area of electronic data transfer, the Division has been working on circulating and confirming surgeries fax numbers with hospitals. Currently, faxing protocols apply, however, the electronic version of the common admission will be utilised from mid June 2000.

Mental Health

The Mental Health Program was developed in collaboration with QDGP and received GPAPP funding. The aim of the program is to facilitate a better level of communication and service integration between GPs and the Rockhampton Mental Health Unit (RMHU) and to date this has been achieved. In particular, the involvement of case managers and psychiatrists from the RMHU in the delivery of the GP upskilling program has contributed to building a better relationship and greater understanding between the two partners. As a result a core group of GPs,

especially in the Yeppoon area, have developed a lead role in the development of further education sessions and the commitment from local private psychiatrists has greatly enhanced the upskilling program.

The Division, in partnership with members of the Indigenous Health Reference Group (IHRG), has also produced the video No Shame UR Not Alone to raise awareness of youth mental health issues in the indigenous community. The video has been distributed to nine centres including child and youth mental health services, indigenous mental health services, indigenous community youth centres and indigenous health services, and has been used successfully in the GP upskilling program as an introduction to cross-cultural awareness training. The IHRG is now developing support materials and a training module for facilitators using the video. Further cross-cultural awareness training is planned through the Indigenous Health Program. Addressing workforce support issues, Capricornia Division, in consultation with local hospitals (Rockhampton Hospital, Mater and Hillcrest private hospitals), Central Queensland Medical Imaging and the AMA, identified the production and distribution of a video and brochure for marketing purposes as one strategy for attracting suitably qualified medical personnel to the area. The Division coordinated the design and development of the video and has dispatched the video to approximately 21 medical practitioners considering appointments in the Capricornia region. Feedback on the effectiveness of the video as a marketing tool suggests that the video contributed to attracting three specialists and two General Practitioners to the region in recent months.

The second phase of this marketing strategy, the design and production of a brochure to accompany the video, is currently in draft stage awaiting content material to be supplied by other stakeholders.