Flu Surveillance – GP Assistance Needed Urgently
VIDRL March 08
The VIDRL is recruiting GPs in rural areas into the flu surveillance program. The Division encourages local GPs to become involved in this program. There are significant benefits for both GPs and patients.
- Access to a free influenza PCR diagnostic service;
- Clinical Audit points (40) for participation in two surveillance periods (May to September) over two years;
- Weekly report containing collated information about flu activity; and
- Contribution to a study on influenza vaccine effectiveness from surveillance data.
All the practice needs to do is:
- Take swabs and complete a short tick box assessment from a sample of patients with an influenza-like illness (symptoms, age, sex, flu vaccination status, clinical impression, ATSI status)
- Compile a weekly tally sheet (total number of consultations for the week, total number of patients with flu-like illness)
Time is short - the surveillance period commences in May, so briefing and preparation in the practice needs to happen in April.
For more information, or to register a new recruit, please contact Kristina Grant or Kylie Carville at VIDRL, Tel: 9342 2686 or visit the VIDRL website
This Clinical Audit activity has been approved by the RACGP QA&CPD program. Worth 40 category 1 points for steps 1–5.
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/03/flu-surveillance
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