The diversity of projects undertaken to date reflect the Division’s desire to both assist local general practitioners to meet individual patients’ needs and to emphasise the important role for general practitioners in addressing national health priority areas.
Practice Support
There are five Practice Support Officers (PSOs) within the GPNN Practice Support Team. Your PSO is your point of contact at the Network.
The Practice Support Team provides a wide range of support to all staff within general practice, including General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers and Practice Staff. Support can be provided via on-site visits, phone, email, fax and post. On-site assistance can be one-on-one or in small groups, at a time that suits the practice.
The Practice Support Team also coordinates the Practice Manager Network and Practice Nurse Network, providing educational events, networking opportunities and regular email updates.
Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI)
The Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI) announced in the 2008-09 Federal budget, aims to improve access to primary care for residents of Aged Care Facilities through two distinct components. The first of these involves access to GPs, while the second provides for additional Allied Health Services.
The ATAPS Project is a component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative (BOiMH) funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and managed locally by GP Network Northside.
The ATAPS Project provides a referral pathway for GPs in the GP Network Northside and Northern Sydney GP Network areas, to refer patients with mental health disorders to low cost psychological services. The project links GPs with psychologists to provide patients, who would benefit from focused psychological strategies, with access to these services.
Health Service Collaboration (including ABHI)
Northside Better Health Initiative
In February 2006, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a four-year, national program called the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) to strengthen the health system’s ability to promote good health and reduce the burden of chronic disease. GP Network Northside (GPNN), Northern Sydney GP Network (NSGPN) and Central Coast Division of General Practice (CCDGP) are working together as a consortium to improve the management of patients with chronic illness, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and, where patients are admitted to hospital, ensure that the treatment provided is consistent with that patient’s existing primary health care plan.
GP Collaboration Unit (GPCU)
“Building a high quality interface between Area Health and General Practice, aimed at improving the health of the community in the Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Ryde and the Northern Sydney area”
The Northside GP Collaboration unit works with Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai, Royal North Shore and Ryde Hospitals, and is jointly funded by the Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) and GP Network Northside.
The GP Collaboration Unit was established to improve communication between NSCCAHS Hospitals and General Practice and ensure GP representation on relevant Area Health Committees . Priority areas include working with Shared Care Programs:
- Shared Antenatal Care
- Mental health
- Drug and Alcohol
Shared Antenatal Care (SAC)
The SAC Program is coordinated through the Northside GP Collaboration Unit (GPCU). GPCU is a partnership between Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) and GP Network Northside (GPNN). The GPCU has been established to improve communication between GPs, Royal North Shore, Ryde and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospitals. The main focus of the unit will be to administer the SAC Program for GPNN and will also administer the SAC program for Manly Warringah Division of General Practice (MWDGP)
Lifestyle Modification Program
The subsidised Lifestyle Modification Program (LMP) is a group education program targeting 40 to 49 year olds who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Under this program, GPs can refer eligible, ‘at risk’ patients to a subsidised Lifestyle Modification Program (LMP). A co-contribution of up to $50.00 may apply (waived for concession and health card holders).
Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)
Home Medicines Review (HMR)
GP Network Northside works, in partnership with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, to facilitate collaboration between general practice, pharmacy and other relevant health professions, to provide Home Medicine Review (HMR), also known as Domiciliary Medication Management Review (DMMR), services to patients living in the community.
HMR’s help to reduce the number of adverse drug effects, caused by the incorrect use and unsafe mixing of medicines, by assisting patients to better manage their multiple medications at home and by optimising the Quality Use of Medicines, that is:
- selecting management options wisely
- choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary
- using medicines safely and effectively.
National Prescribing Service (NPS)
GPNN works in partnership with the National Prescribing Service (NPS) to bring local health professionals accurate, balanced, evidence-based information about medicines, through its educational visiting program.
GPNN provides:
- educational visits & small group case study discussions
- workshops that encourage development of critical appraisal skills
- local promotion of nationally conducted clinical audits
- education for consumers about QUM issues
| Address |
Unit 8, 6-18 Bridge Road, PO Box 784 HORNSBY NSW 2077 |
| Tel | 02 9477 8700 |
| Website | www.gpnn.org.au |