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Clinical Communique Issue 6 - 21 July 2016
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GP Views - Dr Swapnil Singh, Broken Hill
Dr Singh has worked at the Broken Hill Super Clinic since April 2014, where he applies his vast surgical experience to provide comprehensive care to patients. He is also involved with the MSK Project with the Far West Local Health District to streamline management of osteoporosis and arthritis care and runs a dedicated MSK Clinic for patients.
Dr Singh sees a major challenge of working in a rural community as the lack of regular specialist care and long waiting times for consults. He feels general practice plays an important preventative role in decreasing acute care admissions and improving quality of life for patients, while reducing long-term health care costs.
His original specialisation was as an orthopaedic surgeon in India and then worked for eight years to achieve fellowship in the UK. Having worked day and night for 18 years as a hospital doctor, the move to Broken Hill was a welcome opportunity for a work-life balance and more time with his wife and two children.
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Practice Support Team Expands to Bourke
Western NSW PHN would like to welcome Therese Gale to the Practice Support Team. Therese will be based in Bourke, while also servicing the region including Brewarrina, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri and Cobar. Therese has over eight years experience as a Practice Manager in Bourke where she was most recently with RaRMS (Rural and Remote Medical Services) and previously Ochre Health. A true local to the area, she was born in Bourke and completed her schooling in Orange.
WNSW PHN Practice Support Services include assisting general practice with business modelling, Digital Health, Clinical Software, Chronic Disease Management, PIP, Staff Training and participation in the Quality Health Improvement Program (QHIP). Contact: Therese Gale, therese.gale@wnswphn.org.au or 0439 104 597. | |
Find out more >> |
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New EEG Clinic at Dubbo Hospital
Dubbo Hospital's new Electroencephalography (EEG) clinic has commenced, treating patients who require tests to assess the electrical activity of their brain. EEG is used to evaluate a variety of medical problems including seizures, blackouts and to help people suffering from epilepsy. “An EEG clinic at Dubbo means that patients who require this service do not have to travel outside of Dubbo to have the necessary tests” said Brendan Davies, Dubbo Hospital Neurophysiology Technician. The EEG service will be available for children aged two and older, and all adults, five days a week, and will cover both inpatients and outpatients. It will be a public clinic and entirely bulk billed.
Contact: Brendan Davies 02 6809 6006. Please fax referrals to Specialist Medical Centre 02 6881 6569.
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ePIP Quarter Ends 31 July
Sunday, 31 July marks the end of the first ePIP Quarter since the revision of Requirement 5 to include the uploading of Shared Health Summaries (SHS) for 0.5% of your practice’s SWPE. You can track how many SHS your practice has uploaded in the quarter through the Pen Clinical Audit Tool. If you have any questions or require support, contact WNSW PHN.
Contact: Leigh Urquhart (Bathurst) 0412 378 501, Brooke Winterton (Dubbo) 0428 098 920, Natalie Miani (Broken Hill) 0437 692 614.
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Find out more >> |
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New Contact Details - Population Health, Western NSW LHD
Population Health is now situated in the old Macquarie Credit Union building at 23 Hawthorn Street, Dubbo. Please update your contacts for all enquiries regarding immunisation, infectious diseases, environmental health and health promotion. Phone: 1300 066 055 (or 02 6809 8979), Fax: 02 6841 2368, Secure Fax: 02 6841 2261.
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Improving the use of Discharge Summaries
The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) established a Discharge Planning Taskforce to optimise the delivery and content of Discharge Summaries. To inform this process, a survey of GPs was conducted in May across the WNSWLHD area that provided excellent suggestions for improving discharge summaries in relation to both delivery and content. The feedback gained was discussed by the Taskforce, with the main outcomes to create and implement a discharge summary template that incorporates content recommendations and conduct Medical Officer education by the WNSWLHD on the use and preparation of discharge summaries. Contact Margo Mackenzie: Margo.Mackenzie1@health.nsw.gov.au or (02) 6809 6454. | |
Find out more >> |
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Practitioner Changes
Dr Rick Newton, General Practitioner (Tullamore) has retired after practicing in the community for over 17 years. Dr Michael Atalla from Tottenham has taken over the practice.
Dr Chris Halloway, obstetrician and gynaecologist (Bathurst) has retired after a career of over 40 years including practicing in Bathurst, Dubbo and Mudgee. Dr Fulcher will be taking over the practice upon Dr Halloway’s retirement.
WNSW PHN would like to thank both doctors for their contribution to primary health in the community. |
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Training and Events
WNSW PHN organises regular CPD events for doctors and health professionals. These are listed on our website. Upcoming events organised or supported by WNSW PHN include:
- Advanced Life Support - 23 July, Bathurst
- Medical Professionals Forum - 27 July, Dubbo
- Managing Chronic Pain Using Telehealth Services - 2 August, Broken Hill
- Re-Thinking Dying with Dementia - 3 August, Dubbo
- Re-Thinking Dying with Dementia - 4 August, Orange
- Risk Management Update for General Practice - 4 August, Bathurst
- Re-Thinking Dying with Dementia - 5 August, Bathurst
- Chronic Hepatitis C - 18 August, Broken Hill
- Immunisation Update Evening - 25 August, Broken Hill
- Perineal Injury Repair Course and Hands-on Workshop - 10 September, Dubbo
- Emergency Masterclass Simulated Education - 17 September, Lightning Ridge
- Emergency Masterclass Simulated Education - 15 October, Coonabarabran
- Emergency Masterclass Simulated Education - 29 October, Bourke
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Full events calendar >> |
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Contact Western NSW PHN
Dubbo Head Office - Phone: 1300 699 167 Email: admin@wnswphn.org.au
Address: First Floor, 187 Brisbane Street, Dubbo NSW 2830www.wnswphn.org.auWhile the Australian Government helped fund this document, it has not reviewed the content and is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provide herein.
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