Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice
|
Name Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice
|
| Division Number |
316 |
| Classification |
Urban |
| Number of Member GPs |
233 |
|
| State |
Victoria |
| Year Established |
1993 |
| Number of Member Practices |
78 |
|
|
|
|
| Postcodes Covered |
3196, 3198, 3198, 3199, 3200, 3201, 3910, 3911, 3912, 3913, 3915, 39169, 3918, 3919, 3920, 3926, 3927, 3928, 3929, 3930, 3931, 3933, 3934, 3936, 3937, 3938, 3939, 3940, 3941, 3942, 3943, 3944
|
| Population |
266,469 (2001 Census)
|
| Area Covered |
851 square kilometres
|
| CEO |
Dr John Siemienowicz |
|
|
|
|
| Physical Address: |
| Frankston Health Centre |
| Level 2, 12-32 Frankston Flinders Road |
| FRANKSTON VIC 3199 |
| Australia |
| Postal Address: |
| PO Box 496 |
| FRANKSTON VIC 3199 |
| Australia |
|
|
|
|
The Mornington Peninsula Division of General Practice has a unique geographic location that falls within the boundaries of two local councils, Mornington Shire Council and Frankston City Council and the Peninsula Health Care Network. The strong hospital integration is a result of a past history of a community hospital initially run by General Practitioners with specialists as invited participants. An active GP unit maintains the strength of liaison and cooperation between GPs and the local healthcare network. There are in excess of 70 GPs at both Frankston and Rosebud Hospitals on the staff. The major stakeholders include General Practitioners, local, regional and national governments on a federal and state level, local health service providers and the community. The collaboration of the healthcare network, Monash University through Peninsula School of Computing and Information Technology and the Division was a first in establishing an electronic messaging system between GPs and the healthcare network.
The Division's high general practitioner participation rate is a result of strong visionary leadership by General Practitioners in the area.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Stroke Primary Prevention
The Stroke Primary Prevention Program was conducted by the Division in conjunction with the Monash Medical Centre's Neuroscience department and commenced in October 1998. It identified people at risk and provided an intervention to modify risk factors. The Program recruited 59 GPs, more than 25% of the Division's membership, and more than 620 patients.
Data gathered by participating GPs has been analysed by the Monash team who provided general practitioners with feedback on the progress of their patients. The Program was very successful and GPs have learned valuable new skills in the management of risk factors .It is anticipated that a large persentage of GPs have incorporated the program into their ongoing practice. This will be evaluated before deciding to move on with a CD ROM version of the program and the enrolment of further GPs and patients.
Participation of Members
Achieving participation of members in activities and knowledge of the strategic directions set for the Division is reliant on the business of the Division being relevant to members needs. A survey of all members was conducted in 1999. This forms the basis of our planned CME activities and has acted as an indicator of GP satisfaction.
Outreach to the community
GPs have been available for community talks on a range of topics including healthy ageing, cancer awareness, men's health and asthma.
GPs have provided Schools with classroom. 12 Secondary Schools have been involved with most of the talks aimed at year 9 and 10 students. It is planned to move more specifically to the Centre for Adolescent Health Youth Access Program in the year 2000-2001.
Asthma
The aim of this program was to increase the awareness of all aspects of asthma amongst primary school teachers. Teachers were trained over a 14-month period with 52 schools involved. On evaluation the teachers' knowledge had increased by 93% and confidence in dealing with a child with asthma had increased.
Kosovar Refugees - Portsea Safe Haven
This was an example of the power of the Division together with the general practitioner population, local healthcare network and state government working as a team in establishing the Portsea Safe Haven. This was an exemplary GP model of care that was successful and efficient - serving over 400 refugees in an extremely short time frame.
"GPs in Cyberspace"
The Division in partnership with the Peninsula Health Care Network and Monash University pioneered an electronic messaging system. This provides daily up to date information to general practitioners on admissions and discharges and presentations at A&E. Further developments in this area are continuing to include other health service providers such as the Royal District Nursing Service.
Hospital Liaison and Integration
The Division was a pioneer in developing a Heads of Agreement with a Health Care Network. This was signed on 28 August 1996. The strong history between General Practitioners and Frankston and Rosebud Hospitals has resulted in widespread GP representation on hospital committees that include:
- Information Technology
- Women's Health
- Paediatrics
- Medical Staff Association
- Discharge Planning
- Integrated Care Centre Project Control Group
Walks Program
The program began early in 2000 and attracts a regular group of about 60 walkers to its bi-weekly sessions. The program is a collaborative effort between the Frankston Community Health Centre, the Falls Prevention Program, a shopping complex and the Division, to provide a safe, all-weather venue for walkers.
Diabetes - a successful program handed on
Since 1994 the Division, in collaboration with local specialists, diabetes educators, and community health services, developed and conducted a highly successful diabetes program. Educating more than 700 people per year with Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). It also conducted an Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) program - assisting general practitioners and their patients in the conversion to insulin use. 70 patients per year were seen under this program., A Young Adults Diabetes Service was added to the Divisions programs .to address the individual needs of young adults through a multidisciplinary team approach in the management of their (IDMM). Negotiations with local community health centres, health care network and the Department of Human Services began in 1997 and after 18 months of negotiation additional funding was allocated to maintain ongoing diabetes education on the Peninsula, provided by the two community health services using the Divisions model. The Division maintains the database for the program.
National Diabetes Supply Scheme
The Division was the first in Australia to open a National Diabetes Supply Scheme. This service provides 10,900 points of service per year. It is a highly regarded service for the community on the Peninsula with the nearest alternative in Caulfield, Melbourne involving three hours of travel for some members of the community.
Practice Visits
Experience has shown the success and worthwhile nature of practice visits by GPs to GPs, by Practice Staff to practices in the areas of IM/IT, Accreditation, Immunisation. This will be applied to the mental health program in the future. A broad base of informed, skilled general practitioners, practice managers, practice nurses and practicestaff is becoming one of the Divisions fastest growing assets. It has led to inter practice liaison, strong practice networks and links between General Practitioners.
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
- Primary Care Partnerships
- Possible changes in General Practice - eg corporatisation
- The Enhanced Primary Care Package
- GPs services to at risk population groups recognising the social determinants of health
- Co-location with the Peninsula Health Care Network and Frankston Community Health Centre to the newly built Frankston Integrated Centre
