Practice Development Update
Michelle MacGillivray August 08
Learn about our new Practice Development program, find out how to correctly claim level C & D items, and more accreditation tips from AGPAL.
A New Initiative - Practice Development
We're revamping the way we handle practice support. The Practice Development Team has been formed to implement the Practice Development Program. That's where we will work with practices to identify practice-specific issues, and then assist practices to achieve agreed outcomes.
Why? Because you told us to.
The GP Needs Analysis Survey 2007 identified the following key areas for improvement:
- Improve communication about BDDGP activities and service delivery
- Increase BDDGP resource in Workforce support
- Enhance Practice Support to address needs identified by GPs
For some time we've sought to achieve a more integrated approach to our program delivery, so that knowledge and resources are shared across program areas.
What's in it for General Practices?
To begin the process, we have started contacting practices to schedule an initial practice development meeting, where we begin the dialogue and identify practice areas to focus on. Each practice is unique, and we recognise that you will have different goals.
Another important task will be a face to face meeting with every new GP, Registrar and Practice Nurse in the first month at their practice. The purpose of this visit is to orientate them to divisional activities and program areas. In addition, the immediate needs of the GP, Registrar or Practice Nurse will be identified and responded to.
There are two projects that will be rolled out by the Practice Development team; they are the Australian Primary Care Collaborative (APCC) and the Pen Clinical Audit System. Your practices will learn more about these projects shortly.
Meet the Practice Development Team
| Name | Role | Days & Hours available |
Michelle MacGillivray |
Practice Development | Monday - Thursday, 9am - 5pm |
 Danni Steele |
Practice Development and Immunisation | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 4:30pm |
 Angela Aldred |
GP Training, Workforce and Locum | Monday - Thursday, 9am - 3pm |
 Mary Shone |
Mental Health and GP Wellbeing | Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9am - 4:30pm, Tuesday 1pm - 5pm |
 Tanya Gradolf |
Primary Care Integration Coordinator | Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm |
For further information contact me on 5331 6303 or .
Correct Claiming of Level C & D Items
A fact sheet on correct claiming of the level C & D items has been developed in consultation with stakeholders including the Professional Services Review, Medicare Australia and the Australian Medical Association. It is designed to help GPs correctly determine whether any level C or D items apply to particular services they provide their patients.
Fact sheet: correct claiming of level C & D items
Accreditation Tips: Home Visits
The RACGP Standards for general practices 3rd edition require practices to have a system in place where regular patients are able to obtain visits from a GP in their home, residential aged care facility or hospital, both within and outside normal opening hours.
Criterion 1.1.3 Indicator A: There is evidence that patients of our practice access home and other visits both within and outside normal opening hours
This indicator is assessed by surveyors conducting a health record review and document review. Surveyors will look at health records of patients that have received a home visit.
Please have some of these health records available for the surveyor on the day of the accreditation visit. Surveyors may look at the practice appointment schedules to see if home visits have occurred or whether there are unbooked appointments reserved for home visits.
Criterion 1.1.3 Indicator B: Our GP(s) and staff can describe our practice's policy on home and other visits both within and outside normal opening hours, and the situations in which a visit is appropriate.
Practice team members must be aware and able to describe the practice's policy when patients telephone the practice requesting a home or other visit outside normal opening hours.
Indicator C: Our practice has a written policy on home and other visits both within and outside normal opening hours.
AGPAL have developed a written policy template on home and other visits both within and outside normal opening hours. AGPAL practices may access the template using their username and password at www.qip.com.au.
Health Record Review
Under the current RACGP Standards for general practices 3rd edition it is suggested that 25 health records be examined at random. In situations where the practice size is such that 25 health records will not be sufficient evidence from all of the doctors in the practice, at least three to four health records for each doctor will be reviewed. In addition, other health records may be needed to demonstrate home and other visits and after hours consultations.
Source DGP Assist August 2008
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/08/practice-development
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