What We Do
The Division's main functions include:
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The CPD Scheme for General Practitioners operates over a three-year triennium and assists GP members to maintain professional competence, update existing and attain new or additional knowledge and skills. Evening educational events are mostly held monthly and a major CPD weekend is organised annually, usually in August. Education topics are selected on the basis of a needs analysis of members. Education events are also organised on a regular basis for practice nurses and practice staff.
Immunisation
The aim of our Immunisation Program is to improve the quality and levels of vaccination services provided by general practice. The overall goal is to improve immunisation rates across Australia and more specifically to achieve and maintain fully immunised coverage rates of 95% or higher in children under seven years of age. On 2 occasions North West Slopes Division of General Practice has achieved the highest immunisation coverage rate for children aged 0 to 7 years for any Division of General Practice in Australia and we regularly achieve the Number 1 status for any NSW Division of General Practice.
Chronic Disease Management
Our Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program supports general practice in appropriate prevention, early identification and best practice management strategies for people suffering chronic disease and assists general practices in the early diagnosis and effective management of people with chronic diseases. The North West Slopes Division 'Chronic Disease Management' program focuses primarily on Diabetes and Mental Health.
Quality Use of Medicines
The National Prescribing Service (NPS) is an Australian non-profit organisation that operates at arm’s length of the Government and is independent of the pharmaceutical industry. The NPS provides a nationally coordinated range of prescribing initiatives and funds Quality Use of Medicine programs & initiatives Australia wide. The Division’s NPS Coordinator is an accredited pharmacist who visits GPs in their practices at times convenient to them to provide them with independent, unbiased, consistent and up-to-date medicine information that is evidence based and peer reviewed.
The Medication Management Review Facilitator Program (MMR Facilitator Program) supports the implementation of Home Medicines Review (HMR) which aims to increase the appropriate use of medications and reduce the incidence of 'medication misadventures', thereby assisting in improving patient health outcomes. The HMR adopts a collaborative approach and involves the consumer, their general practitioner, their pharmacy, and other relevant members of the health care team.
More Allied Health Services (MAHS)
The MAHS Program is designed to help people living in rural areas to gain access to various allied health services. Eligibility for the service is postcode based. The services provided under the MAHS Program are aimed at patients who would not normally be able to afford the service. In our Division these services are provided by physiotherapists, a dietitian and a podiatrist.
Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP)
The MSOAP program provides specialist medical services in rural and remote locations of NSW. The objectives of MSOAP are to increase visiting specialist services in areas of identified need, support medical specialists to provide outreach medical services in rural and remote areas, facilitate visiting specialist and local health professional communication about ongoing patient care; and increase and maintain the skills of regional, rural and remote health professionals in accordance with local need.
Practice Support
The Division provides practical support in the form of tools and information, to assist GPs and their practice teams provide safe and high quality care to their patients. The Division assists practices achieve and maintain accreditation, assists with recruitment, and provides educational upskilling opportunities for practice staff.
Nursing in General Practice Program
This program is an important part of the Division's practice support activities and aims to increase the number of Nurses working in general practice to relieve workforce pressure; improve the prevention and management of chronic disease; and improve the integration and access to and quality patient care.
Contact Details
NORTH WEST SLOPES DIVISION OF GENERAL PRACTICE
Suite 3, 180 Peel Street
Tamworth NSW 2340
Phone: 02 6766 1394
Fax: 02 6766 1372
Email: division@nwsdgp.org.au