Saturday, July 31, 2010

Health Promotion Program

The health promotion program aims to build the capacity of general practitioners and general practice staff to take a systematic approach to plan and implement health promotion, prevention and early intervention activities.

The health promotion team is involved in a range of projects and activities including:
- Supporting practicies with the uptake of new and existing initiatives such as: Lifescripts and  preventive health assessments.
- Providing educational visits on a variety of topics for GPs, nurses and practice staff.
- Implementing studies in general practice.
- Providing opportunities for general practice to participate in community forums.
- Collaborating with State and local health services to advocate on behalf of general practice.

What’s On Offer?
There are many opportunities for health promotion and prevention in general practice. Current activities of the health promotion team are:

Consumer Engagement Strategy
The GP Network has a Consumer Engagement Strategy. The Health Promotion Officer implements this strategy and facilitates collaboration between local GPs and the community.

The strategy consists of:
- Six-monthly focus groups for gathering consumer input into general practice, the programs and services of the GP Network and local health issues.
- Health education presentations by GPs to schools, community groups and organisations on requested topics.
- Recruitment of consumer representatives for program reference groups.
- Six-monthly review of all consumer input received by the GP

Youth Health
The health promotion team collaborates with service providers, young people, consumer and community organisations and other stakeholders to facilitate young people's access to general practice services.
Project Youth: GPs for Young People
(funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)
 
Two resources have been developed including a list of GPs with an interest in youth health. All GPs included in the publication completed a youth friendly self assessment. The GPs listed are divided into the local government areas of Boroondara, Whitehorse, Maroondah and Manningham. Additional information includes nominated youth specific areas of interest, other languages spoken, and full contact details. This valuable resource for schools and youth related services is available by clicking here
 
The second resource, ‘Visiting a Doctor’ brochure has been specifically developed for youth aged 15-25 years of age. The brochure provides valuable information about privacy, Medicare, bulk billing, confidentiality, waiting times, obtaining test results and referrals. For hard copies of the brochure, or the list of GPs, contact the health promotion team on 8878 3755 or email mpurcell@megpn.com.au Alternatively, you can dowload a copy here   

Youth focused resources
For a list of youth focused support services click here
For a Tip Sheet about how you and your practice can be additionally youth friendly click here
For fact sheets on a variety of youth focused topics including: bullying, eating disorders, stress etc, visit Youth BeyondBlue at www.youthbeyondblue.com/factsheets-and-info   

Child Protection Health Assessment Pilot Project
A pilot project involving seven practices within the GP Network catchment is aiming to develop a system to make sure each child and young person in protective care (for the first time) has a comprehensive general practitioner health assessment and is linked in with a general practice.

Hepatitis B website
To assist GPs with investigation and management of diagnosed patients

Heatwave Brochures

What is a heatwave?
A heatwave is a period of unusual and uncomfortable hot weather that could impact on human health, community infrastructure such as the power supply and public transport, and services.

Heatwaves can affect anybody and cause illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke which may be fatal (Victorian Government, Department of Health).

Your patients could be at risk! Print off a heatwave brochure (Large text/Small text), also available in Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Mandarin, Turkish, and Vietnamese, to inform your patients on things they can do to take care of themselves.

Alcohol Guidelines

The Australian Alcohol Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol recommend that both women AND men drink no more than two standard drinks a day over their lifetime if they want to reduce their risk of being harmed by an alcohol-related injury or disease.

The Guidelines can be found at www.nhmrc.gov.au

2010 Health Weeks

2010 Health Weeks Calendar (July - December)
2010 Health Weeks Calendar (January to June)

Patient Services – Exercise and Osteoporosis

Guide for patient Osteoporosis services

45 – 49 Year Old Health Check

The aim of this health check is to assist with the prevention of chronic disease and to enable early intervention strategies to be put in place where appropriate. The health check is available to people between 45 and 49 years of age (inclusive) who are at risk of developing a chronic disease. Please see the MBS items section, under Resources for further information.

The following resources are available on the RACGP website:
Presentation – explaining the 45 health check and what GPs and their teams need to do
Checklist – based on the Red Book, providing an evidence-based summary of the key factors to be assessed
Template letters to patients
MBS item descriptor
www.racgp.org.au

RACGP Books

RACGP Red Book
Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice

RACGP Green Book
Putting prevention into practice

SNAP Guidelines
A population health guide to behavioural risk factors in general practice

Lifescripts

What is Lifescripts
Practical tips for GPs
Fax back lifescripts
Motivational interviewing

Maintaing a healthy weight
Eating well for health
Increasing physical activity
Quitting smoking
Reducing alochol related harm

Lifescript Assessment Tools

Physical activity assessment
Alcohol use assessment
Smoking assessment
Weight management assessment
Nutrition assessment

Lifescript Prescriptions

Prescription Active lifestyle
Prescription Healthy eating
Prescription Healthy weight
Prescription Low risk alcohol use
Prescription Smoke free life

BreastScreen Victoria GP Resource
Although a doctor's referral is not required for women to attend BreastScreen Victoria, the Program works closely with GPs and their dedication and ongoing contribution is greatly appreciated. GPs are instrumental in encouraging initial participation and return-to-screening attendance and in the event of a breast cancer diagnosis, women are referred back to their GPs for care and management.  To access a BreastScreen request form go to: www.breastscreen.org.au  


The Health Promotion Team
For more information please contact the health promotion team on (03) 8878 3755 or:

Senior Health Promotion Officer

Myra Purcell
Graduate Health Promotion Officer
mpurcell@megpn.com.au