CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Women's Health Program
The Women's Health Program incorporates the Antenatal Shared Care Program (ANSCP) with the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW), as well as various focus topics including breast disease, gestational diabetes, gynecological diseases, infertility, pediatrics, menopause, post natal depression, and pelvic floor. The program aims to support the continuity and quality of patient care. The Division is working towards the refinement of existing networks between medical professional groups, government departments and other key stake holders, and for the maintenance of collaborative programs with SESDGP, South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (SESAHS) and other relevant stakeholders in Women's Health. The ANSCP component of the Women's Health Program has grown to 250 GP members between the Division and the South Eastern Sydney Division (SESDGP) over eight years, and has established a strong liaison with the RHW, SESDGP and Central Division.

Services provided by the Division include a database of GPs, a bimonthly newsletter, Biannual O & G update meetings held in collaboration with SESDGP and the RHW, a monthly article in ESDGP newsletter, and regular CME activities. Barriers to achieving the Division's aims have been the cultural barriers to collaboration between GPs and other health care workers and agencies, and the continued encouragement of culture change.

Mental Health Program
Current focus of the Mental Health program is on establishing clinical training positions for GPs in Drug and Alcohol Centres, increasing communication between mental health programs across Divisions, and the ongoing participation in the NHMRC/SERU dissemination of guidelines for the management of mental health.

The area demographics indicate that Eastern Sydney has a high concentration of people with mental illness and drug and alcohol problems. There are two large mental hospitals within the area, and the GP is often the patient's first point of contact with the health system. The objectives of the program are to support the continuity and quality of patient care via the refinement of existing networks between medical professional groups, government departments and other key stake holders, and the maintenance of a collaborative program with SESDGP, SESAHS and other relevant stakeholders.

As a result of the program the Division has achieved the establishment of regular clinical supervision meetings, developed a patient held medical record book, and has held regular educative activities for GPs. Barriers to achieving the Division's aims have been the cultural barriers to collaboration between GPs and other health care workers and agencies, and the continued encouragement of culture change.

Immunisation
The Immunisation Project is focussed on decreasing vaccine preventable diseases, as well as increasing communication between Divisional GPs and key stakeholders. The aim of the project is to increase the rate of age appropriate immunisation rates in the area by increasing community awareness at GP level.

As a result of the program there has been an improvement in ACIR figures, and the Division has recruited GP practices staff to attend ACIR training. Services provided by the Division include the distribution of high quality external fridge monitors and practice immunisation manuals free of charge to practices visited, and early Childhood and Day Care centres contacted to continue talks to parents. Also, a referral service for GPs to refer concerned parents for more detailed immunisation advice has commenced. The Division has also written regular articles via InFocus to keep ESDGP members up to date on immunisation, an organised and academic detailer to visit GPs regarding ACIR reporting and cold chain monitoring. The only problem has been that GPs are not automatically sent correct ACIR forms, and that the project is coming to an end.

Shared Care for Older People
The aim of the Shared Care for Older People (SCOP) program is to support the continuity and quality of patient care in the aged. The Division aims to do this by working collaboratively with SESAHS and SESDGP in an effort to provide more coordinated care for the aged. The Division has produced an Aged Care Services Directory. Due to funding restrictions and evaluation of the program, focus has changed from evaluating patients' needs of community services to enabling GPs to understand the services available.

GP Support and Services
The current focus of the program is on GP peer support and health, and assistance with PIP, accreditation and Enhanced Primary Care (EPC). The aim of the program is to educate, provide information and information packs to GPs. The Divison provides workshops and information sessions to assist GPs with the management of their practices and achieving a balance between work, family and leisure. Achievements of the program have been the success of the GP Business Advantage workshop series, information session on PIP, accreditation, amalgamation and infection control. Also, a GP Forum to provide interactive feedback on GP needs and expectations from the Division, as well as monthly Articles in ESDGP Newsletter.

Barriers the Division has encountered have been the apathy towards the Division and its services by some GPs. Also, the GP culture reluctance to become involved in Practice Management issues including Strategic Planning, and suspicion of PIP, accreditation and Government motives.

Information Management and Information Technology
The program is designed to support the Division Information Management and Information Technology (IM/IT) infrastructure and to educate GPs on IM/IT. The Division provides help desk facilities for GP information on IM/IT.

Aims of the program include encouraging GPs to take up the IT components of PIP, improving GP computer literacy, encouraging GPs to use Medical/Clinical software in their practices, and maximising efficiency of Divisional support processes through the use of IM/IT.

Achievements of the program have been the success of computer tutorials for GPs on the internet, basic computer operations, computer hardware for practices, touch typing and clinical/medical software. Also, the networking of the Division Office, and the ongoing development and maintenance of a Divisional website.

Services provided by the Division include; flexible one-on-one tutorials on any computer area at times convenient to members of the Division, the basic Help Desk facility, advice on hardware, software demonstrations and group tutorials on IM/IT areas of interest.

The Division has found that problems arise with GPs having a fear of the unknown, and a reluctance to become dependant on a technology which is not fully understood. Other barriers have been the initial cost of implementation and the reluctance to reveal a lack of knowledge and skills in this area.

Enhanced Primary Care
Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) provides Medicare payment to GPs who undertake or coordinate the health management of target groups including older citizens and patients with chronic conditions. Objectives and aims are

• to provide Data on General Practices participating, to offer education and information on EPC Guidelines to GPs,
• and to assist with the identification of other health care providers willing to be involved in the program. The Division's services include; providing information and workshops, and newsletter articles.

Quality Prescribing Program
The Quality Prescribing Program (QPP) is aimed at achieving a reduction in the risk of medication-related problems, and to support the continuity and quality of patient care. The aims of the program are to increase the following: communication between Divisional GPs and key stakeholders, collaboration between GPs and other service providers, and participation. The Division provides education sessions, regular practice visits, and has developed and distributed information material promoting QUM/QPP.

GP Education
The aim is to increase the provision of educational programs for Divisional GPs. This includes holding monthly Continuing Medical Education (CME) meetings in conjunction with SVC Clinic. The CME meetings are held on a variety of topics including; Asthma, Child Protection, Diabetes, and Surgical Reskilling.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

• Palliative Care Pilot Project
• Hepatitis C
• Homeless Youth Pilot Project
• Asthma Pilot Project
• Child Protection