EPC Toolkit Launch
BDDGP April 08
Almost 60 people attended, in person and by teleconference, the launch of a new toolkit developed by the Division. GPs, practice managers and nurses, receptionists, division staff and representatives from GPV and community agencies took an interactive tour of the toolkit, to see its main features and capacity.
The toolkit is designed to guide GPs, practice staff and other health practitioners through the specifics of Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) items. It is structured in two parts; a Decision Tool and a set of Useful Guides: summaries, guides, links and templates for practice software. Each toolkit can be reached with a single click from the Toolbox on the BDDGP home page.
Pictured above, from the Division and practices, are members of the development team for the EPC and Mental Health Toolkits: Dr Mark Churcher, Mary Shone, Sharon Lowe, Andrew McPherson, Gail Schuler, Dr Rimas Liubinas, Maggie Eggleston and Tracey Ho
The occasion began with a networking session and light lunch before the audience was seated in the BHS theatre where they were joined in teleconference by personnel at Beaufort, Daylesford and Skipton. Presenters discussed and demonstrated a variety of perspectives on the toolkits.
From the GP standpoint these tools provide an easy reference point to identify the most appropriate item for the patient. Adopting their use will save GP time, generate detailed needs assessments for individual patients and appropriate referrals to other skilled practitioners, particularly practice nurses and allied health personnel. In the future this can be expected to lead to improved patient care and better population health.
From the practice perspective nurses, managers and receptionists can apply their specializations to gain enhanced professionalism, increased skills, more effective use of time, cost savings and revenue generation.
In summary, it was clear that these tools will be a time-saver. They are easy to find and use. There are obvious benefits to patients by enhancing the variety and level of care from a range of health practitioners. The tools make the items easy to understand and locate. The financial analysis demonstrates that the benefits outweigh the costs meaning there will be financial advantages to early adopters.
The division thanks the nurses, practice managers and GPs who have contributed to the development and testing of these tools.
The BDDGP also gratefully acknowledges the funding provided by the Department of Health and Ageing and Grampians Integrated Cancer Services without which this project could not have been undertaken.
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/04/epc-tool
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