In Practice: Practical pain management

This week’s In Practice also includes information on how to bill MBS item 10997 correctly, measuring outcomes in perinatal care, an ACT member meet up, and a host of resources aimed at helping patients experiencing or committing family violence.
 
Practical pain management: Things I didn’t know but wish I had
Webinar: Wednesday 17 April, 7.00 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1.5 EA hours
 
GP and pain specialist Dr Rob Park will discuss practical ideas that can be implemented with patients experiencing chronic pain, as well as how to classify chronic pain patients into sub-types, which can be used to choose the correct therapeutics.
 
The webinar will also include pharmacological golden hints, the ‘when, why, what and how’ of pain procedures and injections, and the type of language GPs can use with patients to help better their understanding.
 
Register online.
 
Correct billing of MBS item 10997
The Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has published a new fact sheet which provides examples of how MBS item 10997 can be claimed by medical practitioners.
 
The item number is intended for patients with chronic or terminal medical conditions who need access to ongoing care in between structured reviews of their chronic disease management plan.
 
Services under item 10997 are provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of and under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
 
The fact sheet can be accessed on the DoHAC website or via the ‘Practice nurse services’ tab on the RACGP’s MBS education webpage.
 
Measuring outcomes in antenatal and postnatal care
Webinar: Tuesday 16 April, 7.00 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1 EA hour
 
Meeting Measuring Outcomes CPD hours can feel daunting and complex, but it does not need to be.
 
During this webinar, Dr Ka-Kiu Cheung, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Antenatal and Postnatal Care, will provide ideas of practical quality improvements that can be implemented into practice.

Dr Cheung will explore examples of some of the key criteria that GPs can focus on, allowing attendees to better support patients during and after pregnancy.

The webinar will also explore how members can use the RACGP’s Measuring Outcomes tool to document CPD.
 
Register online.
 
Overcoming barriers for addressing domestic and family violence
Webinar: Tuesday 7 May, 12.30 – 1.15 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1 EA hour
 
Domestic and family violence (DFV) is common, with one in three women being subjected to DFV worldwide. However, there are significant barriers to help-seeking by survivors, and identification of DFV by health providers.
 
This RACGP webinar aims to give participants an understanding of these barriers and how they can be overcome, as well as survivor expectations of health practitioners, and a model that can be used to improve readiness to address DFV.
 
Speakers include Dr Jennifer Neil, GP and University of Melbourne and Monash University educator, and Associate Professor Laura Tarzia from the University of Melbourne’s Department of General Practice.
 
Register online. 
 
The Safer Families Centre has also developed a clinical audit CPD activity for GPs on intimate partner violence (IPV) identification and initial response that compliments this webinar. The activity aims to provide a better understanding of IPV and how to identify and ask patients about it.
 
GPs will also strengthen their capacity to identify barriers to asking about IPV and how they can be overcome. The activity attracts up to 10 hours of CPD Measuring Outcomes for GPs.
 
For more information on this audit activity, or to download the audit template, visit the Safer Families website.
 
Motivational interviewing strategies to address domestic violence
Workshop: Wednesday 24 April, 12.30 – 2 pm (AEST)
 
The Safer Families Centre is hosting an online workshop to help GPs and primary care staff enhance their skills and confidence when responding to patients experiencing domestic violence, by using motivational interviewing strategies appropriate to the patient’s different stages of action and change.
 
For more information and to register, visit the Safer Families website.
 
Breaking the barriers: Patients who use domestic and family violence
Advanced workshop: Thursday 16 May 12.00 – 1.30 pm (AEST)
 
This online advanced workshop is designed to support GPs and clinical primary care provider staff to enhance confidence in responding safely and sensitively to disclosures of using domestic violence.
 
It will also cover how to consider the whole family when working with people who use violence. The workshop is best suited to GPs and clinical staff who already have a base knowledge of how to identify when violence is occurring and safely engage with people who use violence.
 
For more information and to register, visit the Safe Families website.
 
ACT member meet up
Date: Friday 10 May, 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Venue: Hotel Realm Canberra, 18 National Circuit, Barton
Cost: Complimentary for members, registration is essential
 
The RACGP NSW&ACT Faculty is hosting a relaxed member meet-up event at the High Courtyard North of Hotel Realm Canberra.
 
Forge meaningful connections, collaborate, and network with ACT members, Faculty councils and New Fellows.

Register online.
 
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chronic disease domestic and family violence MBS Medicare pain management perinatal care