|
Mission Statement The mission of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice is to assist local general practitioners in providing optimum care to health consumers in the Southern Highlands area. Executive Summary This strategic plan has been based on the 1997 Southern Highlands Health Needs Assessment, completed by the Division in collaboration with the Wingecarribee Health Service (WHS). The needs assessment included a GP survey and many consultations with the Health Service, specialists and the community.
Key areas of need were identified through the assessment process with consideration to demographic and health status data, national and state priorities as well as opportunities and effectiveness for improving outcomes. The key areas of need were:
ø Mental health - services, suicide, depression and stress, including post natal depression
ø Drug and alcohol services
ø Smoking
ø Aged care - falls and dementia
ø Overweight and obesity
ø Physical activity
ø Immunisation
Since the needs assessment there has been much development on these key issues. For example:
ø The implementation of an Aged Care program addressing the prevention and management of falls;
ø Closer liaison with the WHS to improve the Mental Health Service as well as stronger links between GPs and the Drug and Alcohol Service;
ø The establishment of home detoxification shared care;
ø The development of a Suicide Prevention Kit for GPs and other health providers; and
ø Implementation of an immunisation strategy in partnership with relevant stakeholders.
Whilst the needs assessment is considered to be current, a review has been included in the 1999/2000 business plan. It has been pleasing to note that the Wingecarribee Shire Council has referred to the needs assessment substantially in the Health Issues and Strategy Paper, January 1999 as part of their Social Plan. It has been a key document in setting strategies for an intersectoral response to improving the health of the community.
This strategic plan interfaces with that of the WHS. This has largely stemmed from the structured quarterly meetings and signed agreement, which the Division has with the WHS.
The priority areas and programs that have been identified through the strategic planning process are:
1. Governance, management, administration and planning
2. Integrated services;
a) GP/hospital communication
b) Home detoxification shared care
c) Healthy eating and physical activity shared care
d) Ante-natal shared care
e) Women's health
3. Education and standards;
a) CME
b) Information technology training
c) Practice accreditation and other quality assurance activity
4. Immunisation
5. Aged care;
a) Falls prevention
b) Medication management
c) Dementia
6. Mental health;
a) Care of mental health patients
b) Suicide prevention
c) Men's health
7. Diabetes education and management
8. Cardiovascular disease
This plan also reflects the Division's experience over the last year in working on an outcomes based model. This strategic plan will be reviewed after the first year to determine any changes that are required. Background The Southern Highlands Division of General Practice was established in September 1994 and was incorporated in August 1995.
The Board comprises four elected members and one ex-officio member who is the Chairman of the Bowral and District Hospital Department of General Practice. At present there are three male and two female Board members. The Board is elected at the AGM. The Executive Director is not a member of the Board.
Currently the Division employs 3.4 FTE staff. These include an Executive Director (0.2FTE), Administrator (1FTE), Diabetes Program Coordinator (0.8FTE), Aged Care Coordinator (1FTE), Quality Assurance Coordinator (0.2FTE) and a Development Officer (0.2FTE).
Since its inception much has been achieved. There are very strong relations between the Division and GPs, with all GPs being members. At the moment this totals 37 GPs.
In 1995 the Division began its first program; the Diabetes Education and Management Program. It has been most successful at encouraging all GPs in the area to participate in the program and at improving GP care of diabetes patients.
In 1997, the Division completed a comprehensive health needs assessment of the area in collaboration with the WHS. It is noteworthy that it was the first to be performed in the Southern Highlands and has since been utilised by the Wingecarribee Shire Council to plan their role in addressing the health of the community.
In 1997 the Division worked with the Bowral and District Hospital to maintain its Level 4 grade for paediatric care. A Paediatric Department was established.
Sound partnerships have been forged with the WHS and the South West Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS). This is particularly evident with the signed agreement to work collaboratively with WHS on the priority issues identified in the Health Needs Assessment 1997. This has particularly involved improving links between GPs and the Mental Health Service and the Drug and Alcohol Service.
The Division is an active participant on the Southern Highlands Suicide Prevention Taskforce. In 1998 it developed a Suicide Prevention Kit for GPs and other service providers in collaboration with a variety of organisations and agencies eg. Dept. of School Education, Grief Counselling and the Mental Health Service. The Division continues to work on this taskforce.
In November 1998 the Division launched its Aged Care Program. A falls prevention flip chart for GPs has already been developed, partnerships with relevant agencies (eg. ACAT, nursing homes, Home Care and pharmacists) have been established and improved communication and referral systems are being forged between GPs and services.
Partnerships and Alliances
The Division has formed partnerships with the following organisations:
At a policy level -
ø SWSAHS Executive
ø Wingecarribee Health Service Executive
ø Other Divisions in South West Sydney (SWS)
ø Alliance of NSW Divisions
ø Rural Doctors Network
At a planning level -
ø SWSAHS including the Executive, Administration and Planning, the Dept. Of General Practice, Public Health and Health Promotion
ø Wingecarribee Health Service: Community Health and hospital department managers
ø Wingecarribee Shire Council
ø Other Divisions in SWS
ø Academic GP Unit of UNSW located at Fairfield Hospital
At a program level -
ø A range of Wingecarribee Health Services eg. Drug and Alcohol, Mental Health, ACAT and Women's Health
ø Academic GP Unit of UNSW located at Fairfield Hospital
ø Other Divisions in SWS
ø Integration SERU
ø Wingecarribee Shire Council
ø Southern Highlands Suicide Prevention Taskforce which includes various organisations. Eg. WHS, Dept. Of School Education, the Police Service, Ambulance, the Uniting Church and Family Support
ø Diabetes Australia
ø Numerous other consumer groups eg. Aged care groups, Cardiac Association Postcodes 2574, 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578, 2579 Geographic Spread The Southern Highlands Division is about 110 km south west of Sydney. It extends from Bargo in the north to Wingello in the south. The division includes the Wingecarribee LGA and half of Bargo and Kangaroo Valley. The Wingecarribee LGA covers an area of 2,700 square kilometres.
The majority of the population resides in the four main towns. These are Bowral, Moss Vale, Mittagong and Bundanoon. Development has largely occurred in the central areas of the LGA around the towns and the ten small villages that are situated in a semi-rural area.
The main businesses in the towns are tourism, retailing and education. There is some manufacturing. Demography Geographic Characteristics
The Southern Highlands Division is about 110 km south west of Sydney. It extends from Bargo in the north to Wingello in the south. The Division includes the Wingecarribee LGA and half of Bargo and Kangaroo Valley. The Wingecarribee LGA covers an area of 2,700 square kilometres.
The majority of the population resides in the four main towns. These are Bowral, Moss Vale, Mittagong and Bundanoon. Development has largely occurred in the central areas of the LGA around the towns and the ten small villages that are situated in a semi-rural area .
The main businesses in the towns are tourism, retailing and education. There is some manufacturing.
Total Population
As at the 1996 Census, the total population for the area covered by the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice was 40,449 .
The total population of the Wingecarribee LGA was 36,777. This represents a 9.6% increase since 1991. This is higher than the NSW rate of 5.4% and is largely attributable to migration to the area.
Population Characteristics
ø There are 18,016 males and 18,761 females in the Wingecarribee LGA. The proportion of males to females is similar for all ages except for those over the age of 70 years where the percentage of females (58%) is greater than that for males (42%).
ø Wingecarribee has a higher proportion of young people under the age of 15 years as well as people over the age of 65 years compared to NSW. However, there has been a 1.1% decrease since 1991 in the proportion of people under the age of 15 years while the population aged over 65 years has increased by 1.7% . The population is ageing with the median age increasing from 32 years in 1991 to 35 years in 1996. This was a greater increase than for NSW, which saw the median age grow from 32 years to 34 years.
Percentage of the population by age in Wingecarribee and NSW (ABS 1996 Census)
0-14 years 15 – 24 years 25 – 44 years 45 – 64 years 65 years +
Wingecarribee 24.2% 12.4% 27.4% 22% 14%
NSW 21.4% 14.2% 30.6% 21.1% 12.7%
The index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (SEIFA) for the Southern Highlands based on the 1991 census was 1.043 . The following figures give more detail of the socio-economic level in the area using 1996 Census figures:
ø The median weekly individual income for people aged over 15 years in Wingecarribee was $286. This is lower than the NSW median ($298). Wingecarribee also had the third highest proportion of low income people in South West Sydney, which again was higher than the NSW rate. The median household income in Wingecarribee was $607, which is lower compared to $653 for NSW .
ø 8.8% of households in Wingecarribee consisted of one parent families. The NSW rate is 8%. Wingecarribee also has a higher proportion of divorced people (7.2%) compared with NSW (6.4%). The percent of widowed residents (6.7%) is the same as NSW.
ø A smaller percentage of households are rented in Wingecarribee (19%) compared to NSW (29.9%). The majority of households are fully owned (38.7%) or are being purchased (22.7%)
ø 56.4% of the population aged over 15 years left school before the age of 17 years. This is higher than the NSW rate of 51.8% .
ø The unemployment rate for Wingecarribee was 7.4%, which was lower than the NSW rate of 8.8%.
ø The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has increased by 0.4% since 1991 to be 1% of the population which is equivalent to 362 people. This is lower than the NSW rate of 1.7% which has increased by 0.5% since 1991.
ø Wingecarribee has a low proportion of people born overseas (14.6%) compared to NSW (23%) . Of those born overseas the majority are from the United Kingdom.
ø The number in each of the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Area categories based on the 1996 census are:
RRMA 1 - 2653
RRMA 2 - 0
RRMA 3 - 0
RRMA 4 - 0
RRMA 5 - 37797
RRMA 6 - 0
RRMA 7 - 0
POPULATION HEALTH STATUS
Health status data up to 1996 will not be available until the end of May, apart from hospital separation data, which was available at the time of writing this plan.
It is difficult to tease out any health issues that may be significantly different in Wingecarribee compared to NSW because of its small population and the limited data available. However, the data largely suggests that the health of the community is similar to that of NSW.
ø The major cause of death from 1990 to 1994 was circulatory diseases, followed by cancers, respiratory diseases and injury and poisoning .
ø The standard mortality rates for circulatory diseases (92), cancers (100), respiratory diseases (80) and all causes of death were not significantly different to NSW.
ø In 1995-96, males and females in the Wingecarribee LGA had the highest crude rates of separations for diseases of the digestive system and neoplasms compared to other sectors in SWS. The Standard Separation Rate for neoplasms was also significantly higher in Wingecarribee compared to NSW .
ø Life expectancy at birth is 74.6 years for males and 79.2 years for females. This is similar to NSW, which was 73.6 years for males and 79.5 years for females.
ø The main causes of Potential Years of Life Lost to 69 years were:
ø Males: injury and poisoning (1434 years)
ø Females: neoplasms (1248 years)
ø All deaths: neoplasms (2262 years)
ø Injury and poisoning accounted for the highest average PYLL per death (33.2 years)
ø Between 1990 and 1994 the crude death rate for suicides was 13 per 100,000 which was the same as the NSW rate. From 1994 to 1997 the crude number of suicides as reported in the Bowral Police records has increased from 8 suicides to 15 . There were also 5 male suicides in Bundanoon over a three week period in 1998.The Southern Highlands Suicide Taskforce has established a pilot database. GPs, Mental Health workers, the Emergency staff and the Police have been asked to register attempted and completed suicides. In the first two months 19 attempted and 2 completed suicides were registered. 11 of these were female and 10 male.
ø Falls in Wingecarribee were the major mechanism for minor and major trauma between September 1994 and February 1996. They accounted for 53% of major traumas which was higher than the South West Sydney rate of 34%. Of the minor traumas, 77% were caused from falls .
ø It is estimated that between 2-3% of the population has diabetes . This represents about 1,011 people in the Southern Highlands area covered by the Division. This could be an under-estimate due to the higher rate of older people living in the area.
ø As at Dec. 31st, 1998, 69.4% of children who turned 18 months in the previous 12 months and 80.1% of children under 18 months were fully immunised and registered on the ACIR. Groups that have been identified as being less likely to be fully age appropriately immunised include families with low household incomes, sole parents and unemployed.
3b. Total Population
As at the 1996 Census, the total population for the area covered by the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice was 40,449 .
The total population of the Wingecarribee LGA was 36,777. This represents a 9.6% increase since 1991. This is higher than the NSW rate of 5.4% and is largely attributable to migration to the area.
3c. Population Characteristics
ø There are 18,016 males and 18,761 females in the Wingecarribee LGA. The proportion of males to females is similar for all ages except for those over the age of 70 years where the percentage of females (58%) is greater than that for males (42%).
ø Wingecarribee has a higher proportion of young people under the age of 15 years as well as people over the age of 65 years compared to NSW. However, there has been a 1.1% decrease since 1991 in the proportion of people under the age of 15 years while the population aged over 65 years has increased by 1.7% . The population is ageing with the median age increasing from 32 years in 1991 to 35 years in 1996. This was a greater increase than for NSW, which saw the median age grow from 32 years to 34 years.
Percentage of the population by age in Wingecarribee and NSW (ABS 1996 Census)
0-14 years 15 - 24 years 25 - 44 years 45 - 64 years 65 years +
Wingecarribee 24.2% 12.4% 27.4% 22% 14%
NSW 21.4% 14.2% 30.6% 21.1% 12.7%
The index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (SEIFA) for the Southern Highlands based on the 1991 census was 1.043 . The following figures give more detail of the socio-economic level in the area using 1996 Census figures:
ø The median weekly individual income for people aged over 15 years in Wingecarribee was $286. This is lower than the NSW median ($298). Wingecarribee also had the third highest proportion of low income people in South West Sydney, which again was higher than the NSW rate. The median household income in Wingecarribee was $607, which is lower compared to $653 for NSW .
ø 8.8% of households in Wingecarribee consisted of one parent families. The NSW rate is 8%. Wingecarribee also has a higher proportion of divorced people (7.2%) compared with NSW (6.4%). The percent of widowed residents (6.7%) is the same as NSW.
ø A smaller percentage of households are rented in Wingecarribee (19%) compared to NSW (29.9%). The majority of households are fully owned (38.7%) or are being purchased (22.7%)
ø 56.4% of the population aged over 15 years left school before the age of 17 years. This is higher than the NSW rate of 51.8% .
ø The unemployment rate for Wingecarribee was 7.4%, which was lower than the NSW rate of 8.8%.
ø The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has increased by 0.4% since 1991 to be 1% of the population which is equivalent to 362 people. This is lower than the NSW rate of 1.7% which has increased by 0.5% since 1991.
ø Wingecarribee has a low proportion of people born overseas (14.6%) compared to NSW (23%) . Of those born overseas the majority are from the United Kingdom.
ø The number in each of the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Area categories based on the 1996 census are:
ø RRMA 1 2653
ø RRMA 2 0
ø RRMA 3 0
ø RRMA 4 0
ø RRMA 5 37797
ø RRMA 6 0
ø RRMA 7 0
4. POPULATION HEALTH STATUS
Health status data up to 1996 will not be available until the end of May, apart from hospital separation data, which was available at the time of writing this plan.
It is difficult to tease out any health issues that may be significantly different in Wingecarribee compared to NSW because of its small population and the limited data available. However, the data largely suggests that the health of the community is similar to that of NSW.
ø The major cause of death from 1990 to 1994 was circulatory diseases, followed by cancers, respiratory diseases and injury and poisoning .
ø The standard mortality rates for circulatory diseases (92), cancers (100), respiratory diseases (80) and all causes of death were not significantly different to NSW .
ø In 1995-96, males and females in the Wingecarribee LGA had the highest crude rates of separations for diseases of the digestive system and neoplasms compared to other sectors in SWS. The Standard Separation Rate for neoplasms was also significantly higher in Wingecarribee compared to NSW .
ø Life expectancy at birth is 74.6 years for males and 79.2 years for females. This is similar to NSW, which was 73.6 years for males and 79.5 years for females.
ø The main causes of Potential Years of Life Lost to 69 years were:
ø Males: injury and poisoning (1434 years)
ø Females: neoplasms (1248 years)
ø All deaths: neoplasms (2262 years)
ø Injury and poisoning accounted for the highest average PYLL per death (33.2 years)
ø Between 1990 and 1994 the crude death rate for suicides was 13 per 100,000 which was the same as the NSW rate. From 1994 to 1997 the crude number of suicides as reported in the Bowral Police records has increased from 8 suicides to 15 . There were also 5 male suicides in Bundanoon over a three week period in 1998. The Southern Highlands Suicide Taskforce has established a pilot database. GPs, Mental Health workers, the Emergency staff and the Police have been asked to register attempted and completed suicides. In the first two months 19 attempted and 2 completed suicides were registered. 11 of these were female and 10 male.
ø Falls in Wingecarribee were the major mechanism for minor and major trauma between September 1994 and February 1996. They accounted for 53% of major traumas which was higher than the South West Sydney rate of 34%. Of the minor traumas, 77% were caused from falls .
ø It is estimated that between 2-3% of the population has diabetes . This represents about 1,011 people in the Southern Highlands area covered by the Division. This could be an under-estimate due to the higher rate of older people living in the area.
ø As at Dec. 31st, 1998, 69.4% of children who turned 18 months in the previous 12 months and 80.1% of children under 18 months were fully immunised and registered on the ACIR. Groups that have been identified as being less likely to be fully age appropriately immunised include families with low household incomes, sole parents and unemployed. Membership There are 34 GPs who are members of the Division. This represents all GPs working in the area.
Eligibility criteria for membership are:
ø Members must be registered to practice by the NSW Medical Board.
ø Members must be predominantly practicing as a general practitioner.
ø The principle place of practice must be within the Division.
ø Estimation of numbers is not an issue due to the small size of the Division.
GP/Population Ratio and Other Relevant Information
The full time Equivalent (FTE) GP/population ratio is 1:1700.
There are 20 male and 14 female GPs.
All GPs, except one, live in the area.
There are 6 group practices and 7 solo practices in the main centres of Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale. There is also one solo practice in the outlying villages, along with branches of two of the group practices.
There is one one doctor town in the division and the smaller villages are not serviced by a GP.
It is often difficult to obtain locums, especially for the solo practices. Issues Local Health Services
There is one public hospital located in the area - the Bowral and District Hospital. It is a 72 bed Acute Care Hospital. It provides care for general medical, general surgical, level 3-4 paediatric, level 4 obstetrics and orthopaedic services. There is an eight bed high dependency unit and an Emergency Department with full medical cover .
Bowral Private Hospital is the only private hospital in the area. It has 90 beds and provides post natal services, rehabilitation, medical services and surgical services (orthopaedic, general surgery, eye surgery, ENT, Urology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental, gastroenterological procedures, gynaecology and spinal surgery).
Other health services include the Bowral Community Health Services: This includes Primary Health Nursing, Women's Health, Aged Care Assessment Team, Occupational Therapy, Sexual Assault Counselling, Health Promotion, Alcohol and Drug Service, Mental Health Counselling and Needle and Syringe Exchange.
Gaps in services in the area identified in the needs assessment were mental health services, physiotherapy services and youth health services.
Mental health services, while available, were considered to be poorly integrated and managed and under-resourced. This has and is continuing to be addressed.
Physiotherapy services are also available, but there are long waiting lists for public care and the cost of private services are too expensive for patients.
There is no youth health service in the local area. The WHS will be taking the lead in addressing this over the next year.
Links with the local Health Service
The Division has very strong links with the Wingecarribee Health Service. To begin, the Division is situated in the grounds of the Bowral and District Hospital so informal links have developed with services.
On a formal level, the Division has regular meetings with the General Manager and other executives of the Health Service in the form of a Coordination Committee. This committee was established to improve links between GPs and the Health Service and to plan integrated services and programs. Other service managers are involved in these meetings when relevant. These meetings have led to a signed agreement between the Division and WHS.
As well as links with the local Health Service, the Division meets regularly with the South West Sydney Area Health Service (SWSAHS) Executive to discuss opportunities for GP and health service partnerships, including communications, shared care, public health service etc.
Partnerships and Alliances
The Division has formed partnerships with the following organisations:
At a policy level -
ø SWSAHS Executive
ø Wingecarribee Health Service Executive
ø Other Divisions in South West Sydney (SWS)
ø Alliance of NSW Divisions
ø Rural Doctors Network
At a planning level -
ø SWSAHS including the Executive, Administration and Planning, the Dept. Of General Practice, Public Health and Health Promotion
ø Wingecarribee Health Service: Community Health and hospital department managers
ø Wingecarribee Shire Council
ø Other Divisions in SWS
ø Academic GP Unit of UNSW located at Fairfield Hospital
At a program level -
ø A range of Wingecarribee Health Services eg. Drug and Alcohol, Mental Health, ACAT and Women's Health
ø Academic GP Unit of UNSW located at Fairfield Hospital
ø Other Divisions in SWS
ø Integration SERU
ø Wingecarribee Shire Council
ø Southern Highlands Suicide Prevention Taskforce which includes various organisations. Eg. WHS, Dept. Of School Education, the Police Service, Ambulance, the Uniting Church and Family Support
ø Diabetes Australia
ø Numerous other consumer groups eg. Aged care groups, Cardiac Association Needs GP Needs
The following needs were identified through the needs assessment conducted in 1997 and ongoing assessment of need through the board, general meetings and contact with GPs.
ø Clinical practice support
ø Improved communication links between GPs and other health care providers, particularly with the mental health service
ø Information technology support
ø Quality assurance and practice accreditation
ø Health promotion support
Community Needs
Community needs were identified in the 1997 needs assessment as well as through an update of relevant health data and national, state and local health priorities. The needs include:
ø Mental health - particularly service provision, suicide, depression and stress;
ø Diabetes;
ø Immunisation;
ø Aged care - particularly falls in older people, medication and dementia;
ø Domestic violence and child protection;
ø Drug and alcohol;
ø Youth health; and
ø Overweight, obesity and physical activity
Local Health Service Needs
Local Health Service needs were identified through the 1997 needs assessment and ongoing liaison and planning with WHS. The needs include:
ø Integration of services;
ø Improved communication with GPs;
ø Improved Mental Health Service;
ø An integrated approach to immunisation
Division needs
These needs have been identified by the Board and division staff. They include:
ø Ongoing performance review of the division
ø Increased GP involvement
ø Staff appraisals
ø Review of information technology and other resources Report Summary The Division has worked solidly this financial year to support GPs through the development of new services (After Hours, More Allied Health and Ambulatory Detox Services), continued assistance with diabetes education and management, aged care, healthy eating, accreditation, immunisation and information technology as well as the provision of CME.
GP satisfaction with the Division continues to be supported by the 100% GP membership and participation in Division programs. GP membership has remained at 39.
The Division also has a very committed Board with strong GP support. Board members are also involved in Division committees along with GPs who are not Board members.
A major highlight of the year has been the Division's high uptake rate of EPC items (76%). It has the highest uptake of all rural divisions and is the only Division in NSW where all EPC providers are using all three categories. This has been achieved by focusing on the GPs through division based academic detailing, linking EPC items to Division programs, particularly the diabetes and aged care programs, and through a strong partnership with the Health Service. The Division anticipates it will achieve higher rates once the Allied Health Worker begins in August.
Improved health outcomes for glycaemic control (51% of patients have achieved glycaemic control within 1% of the upper limit of normal), an increase in the diabetes three and six monthly reviews and increased referrals to the Healthy Eating Program have occurred along with the uptake of care plans. The Coordinators of these programs directly attribute these positive results to care planning.
Another highlight has been the development of the After Hours Service. A lot of groundwork was covered to ensure the service meets the needs of GPs. GPs were involved through general meetings and the opportunity to participate in sub-committees to set the service up. A subsidiary company was formed and a board elected. The service was operationalised in July 2001.
Other achievements through the year include:
ø The implementation of the Medication Review Committee. Over the year the committee has reviewed the medications of 48 patients in the nursing homes. This has involved the participation and education of 8 GPs (20% of members).
ø High community and patient attendance at aged care workshops and presentations - 45 patients attended Safety First Seniors workshop, 95 community members attended falls prevention education and 122 attended workshops on Advance Care Directives.
ø 50% of GPs attended at least one CME and 38% attended all five sessions.
ø The Division took a leading role in South West Sydney (SWS), along with the Macarthur Division, to incorporate information technology solutions into improving communication between GPs and the Health Service by running a joint IT Forum for Divisions and health service providers. A pilot to email discharge notification from the hospital to GPs will proceed in 2001 using Public Key Infrastructure. If successful, it will be rolled out to the rest of SWS.
ø The Division ran two Medical Director workshops that were well attended and provided technical assistance to 75% of practices. Practice computerisation is high - 78% of practices had computers in October 2000.
ø The immunisation rate has steadily increased to 83.7%. This was a 3.7% increase since the previous year. 44% of the practices increased their immunisation rates over the year.
ø The Ambulatory Detox Service was established in June 2001 by the Wingecarribee Health Service, after reviewing the previous detox program with the Division.
Program Staff Details
Ms Gail Atkins - Aged Care Officer
Qualifications
ø Diploma of Teaching
ø Registered Nurse
ø Bachelor of Health Science
Relevant experience
ø School and TAFE teaching - 2 years
ø Hospital service - 4 years
ø Nurse educator to Harbison Retirement Village and Nursing Home - 6 years
ø Southern Highlands Division of General Practice - 3 years
Ms Jill Snow - Program Officer Diabetes Education and Management Program
Qualifications
ø Registered Nurse
ø Diabetes Educator
Relevant experience
ø Mental health, rehabilitation and community nursing - 10 years
ø Diabetes CNC with Community Health - 4 years
ø Diabetes educator - Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, Macarthur and Southern Highlands Divisions of General Practice - 6 years
Ms Janelle Mulholland - GP Support Officer
Qualifications
ø Registered nurse
ø Graduate Diploma in Health Service Management
Relevant experience
ø 20 years nursing in a variety of health disciplines, most recently in chronic and complex care.
|
|
print version
email this page
