New Face & New Role in the BDDGP Team
Tanya Gradolf, BDDGP September 08
I have recently joined BDDGP as the Primary Care Integration Coordinator, having returned to Ballarat from NSW late last year.
About me
I graduated from the South Australian College of Advanced Education (Sturt) in Adelaide with a Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing) in 1986; entering the workforce as a Registered Nurse (now known as Div 1).
Before entering General Practice in 1993 I worked in a variety of positions:
- 1 year in medical/renal ward at Launceston General Hospital
- 1 year on Q1 (medical) at Ballarat Base Hospital
- 6 months in paediatrics at Shepparton Base Hospital
- 3 months at a private surgical hospital in Shepparton
- 3 years at the Anne Caudle Centre in Bendigo (long term & rehab)
Finally I entered General Practice as a Practice Nurse/Manager in 1993. This was a solo practice in Barham - 2 solo practices in town. A very steep learning curve followed - more on the management side. I stayed there for 3 years and saw the introduction of Divisions, Better Practice Program (which became the Practice Incentive Program), and accreditation.
Following the birth of my first child and a move to Kempsey (NSW), I left general practice for a few years. When son number 2 was 18 months I re-entered general practice as a part time practice nurse and saw the beginnings of MBS EPC item numbers.
On the move again, I became involved in the setting up of a new practice in 2001. This involved all aspects of practice development from setting up the practice premises and equipment and consumables purchase to employment of staff and setting policies/procedures.
Last year my family and I made the very difficult decision to leave our lives in Kempsey and return to Ballarat. Between arriving in Ballarat and beginning to work for the Division I've continued to work as an AGPAL surveyor, a qualification I received 2006.
How I can help your practice
Having been an AGPAL surveyor, I am passionate about quality care in general practice.
After years of involvement with divisions as a member, I am now excited to be the one in the helping chair!
I hope I can help practices develop real world solutions for general practice whilst assisting them to deliver high quality patient services.
My role of Primary Care Integration Coordinator is funded by the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI). I can help your practice with anything to do with Chronic Disease Management. That includes helping set up systems like recalls, reminders and registers, and MBS items to assist manage chronic disease.
Another exciting initiative is on the way. PEN Clinical Audit Tool (CAT) is software that gives practices a 'big picture' look at their patients, including data on disease burdens. I'll post more on this soon!
Anyway, I look forward to working with you all. If you want to get in touch, email me at .
This article is available online at http://bddgp.org.au/article/2008/09/tanya-gradolf
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