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| Small Towns After Hours Program (STAH) | Hep C Program
The Barwon Division of General Practice has been selected by AGPN as one of 36 divisions to undertake the 2008-2010 Rural Palliative Care Project. The project follows the success of six pilot projects which significantly improved the coordination of palliative care services in the regions they were operating. The Barwon Division’s project aims to improve the level of knowledge, level of skill and the level of teamwork among palliative care professionals in the region with the view to more adequately include General Practice in the palliative care team. The program includes education for GPs and Practice nurses, identifying palliative care “link” people in each practice, developing a service directory for the region and a patient held record of care. Palliative care specialist services available in the area are also being promoted to GPs.
The Small Towns After Hours (STAH) Program is an initiative of the Barwon Division of General Practice and involves a phone service linking Registered Nurses in remote health services where a local GP is temporarily unavailable, to a GP in a larger centre who can provide over the telephone advice. The aim of the STAH Program is to support small town doctors and prolong the work life of these doctors. When GPs in small towns are sick and unable to be on-call for their local hospital, or both doctors from the town wish to attend an education evening, or simply require a few days leave, it can be very stressful for the GPs and their local communities. The STAH program is designed to relieve pressure on small town doctors so they are able to take time off without feeling as though they are leaving their community without a GP. The program is not designed to replace the need for a locum in the event that a doctor will be on extended leave. How the program works: A patient presents to a small town hospital where a GP is temporarily unavailable. The RN assesses the patient and calls a Volunteer Medical Officer (VMO) from a larger centre to receive over the phone advice. The VMO is able to prescribe over the phone medication, and fax through relevant paperwork. The RN treats the patient appropriately.
Registered Nurse Paula Murray is employed to oversee the treatment of Hepatitis C patients. Paula also educates the general public, nurses and allied health professionals about this disease. Paula coordinates clinics for infectiopus disease specisalists Drs Aidan Foy and Lex Tierney who visit Moree and Mungindi every two months. They are both happy to see general medical patients as well as patients with liver disease. The Division is fortunate to have these two very experienced specialists from Newcastle in attendance and even though their Clinics are well attended they will always see an extra patient or two in the case of an emergency. For all enquiries and referrals please contact Paula at the Moree office on 67527196 or Fax 67527397. Hep C resources:
Hepatitis C council: http://www.hepc.org.au/index.php?article=content/home Australasian Society for HIV Medicine ( ASHM) Multicultural HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Service (MHAHS)
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