Our core activity is delivering practice support so that GPs and primary care providers are better placed to provide care to patients, keeping them healthy and out of hospital.
We supported the 266 accredited general practices in our region to prepare for accreditation or re-accreditation.
We made over 1,600 visits to 335 general practices and primary health care providers in the region, including delivering 704 reports across a range of topics including eHealth, accreditation and data quality.
221 local general practices worked with us to improve the quality of their patient data.
18 general practices participated in clinical audits.
A total of 238 practices in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region have now registered to receive the Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) Quality Improvement payment and these practices will work with us to undertake continuous quality improvement activities.
Our team of 10 General Practice Liaison Officers (GPLOs) are GPs who work closely with hospital outpatient departments, community health services and primary care to reduce waiting lists and improve the patient experience.
Speaking at the recent GP Breakfast as part of the Metro North Health Forum, General Practice Liaison Officer Dr Srishti Dutta and Primary Care Liaison Manager Amanda Queen introduced the audience to the PHN Enhanced Quality in Practice (EQiP) program. EQiP is a practice led program designed to provide support at all stages of the quality improvement journey.
There are 706 GPs in the region registered with the Health Provider Portal (the Viewer).
GPLO Dr Srishti Dutta, GPLO Dr Kristen Riley and GP and Geriatrician Gurudev Kewalram, speaking at the GP breakfast briefing as part of Metro North Health Forum on 16 October 2019.
The GPLOs lead an education program to GPs across the region. Delivered in conjunction with specialists at Metro North facilities, the RACGP-accredited education ensures GPs are up-to-date with the latest clinical guidelines and hospital processes and have an understanding of local services and referral options.
2018/19 events included maternity, older persons, gynaecology, gastroenterology and hepatology, epilepsy, pain management, rheumatology, respiratory, chronic kidney disease, paediatrics, fracture management, general and cancer genetics.
Over 504 participants attended GP education events which culminated in over 50 GPs and practice managers attending the GP breakfast briefing as part of the Metro North Health Forum on 16 October 2019.
During February and April 2019, 56 allied health professionals attended workshops designed to assist the sector with accessing the NDIS. These were hosted by Brisbane North PHN in partnership with Carers Queensland.
In December, the PHN launched the Patient Information Booklet: Accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme at Changing Lives, Changing Communities in Caboolture, as part of the Queensland Council of Social Services statewide series of events.
Queenslanders with Disabilities Network Chief Executive Officer Paige Armstrong, Queenslanders with Disabilities Network Chairperson Nigel Webb, Partners in Recovery Manager at Brisbane North PHN Kathy Faulkner and Moreton Bay Regional Council Access and Inclusion Officer Andrew Monaghan.
During 2018/19, 51 GPs completed maternity education and approximately 34 GPs completed gynaecology education
Over 300 GPs across the region are now aligned to deliver shared care with Metro North.
In collaboration with the Metro North Public Health Unit, we facilitated eight immunisation catch up events for 175 local practice nurses in 2018/19.
We developed the Live Well, Age Well campaign in response to the low rates of vaccination for adults aged 65 years and over.
The campaign resources prompt health professionals to check in with older patients and start the immunisation conversation.
We tackled some of the dangerous and pervasive myths about childhood vaccines within our new animation, released to coincide with World Immunisation Week in April.
The video was developed as part of Brisbane North PHN’s annual Medical Mums campaign and tackles some of the main myths known to be causing vaccine hesitancy.
During 2018/19, we developed 81 localised pages to cover a range of clinical conditions bringing the total including service pathways to 433 pages.
Since July 2018, there have been over 58,855 page views on the Brisbane North HealthPathways website and more than 4,340 users accessing 12,250 sessions.
The pathway accessed most frequently has been the routine antenatal care pathway and the resource page about the Health Provider Portal which gives GPs access to hospital records.
The new GP to GP referral page launched in February also had a high number of views with over 160 GPs offering specific procedures listed on the page.
In March, the mobile friendly platform was launched, making the website easier to read on all devices including mobiles and tablets.
The Medical Assisting program provided training to 56 students across Queensland.
In August 2018, a further 17 students graduated as Medical Assistants following 18 months of formal training.
225 Medical Assistants have graduated the program since its inception in 2010.
Our Service Navigator helpline received 256 calls for information about local services from Hospital and Health Service staff, service providers and community members.
In May 2019, the annual Brisbane North Allied Health Collaborative forum was held with over 87 people in attendance.
958 residents in the region were enrolled in the My health for life program during 2018/19, with 708 completing the program.
Receptionist Sarah Wise at Griffin Medical Centre, holding a Health Care Homes patient enrolment pack.
PHN Practice Development Officer Amie Horwood, practice nurse Noeleen Trotter, practice manager Kim Bullivant, Dr Vinod Lal and practice nurse Gavin Bullivant from Caboolture Indigenous and Community Medical.
16 general practices are working with the PHN on the Health Care Homes trial.
There are 1,182 patients enrolled in the trial within the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.
GPLO Dr Srishti Dutta, Metro North HHS Project Manager Mai Eames, Caboolture Renal Clinic Nephrologist Dr Sarah Mon, Caboolture Renal Clinic Advanced Renal Pharmacist Judith Burrows, PHN Practice Development Officer Marisol Hernandez and Caboolture Renal Clinic GPwSI Dr Gary Chang.
Keeping Kidneys in the Community is a collaboration between Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS), the PHN and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) improving the care delivered to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Caboolture catchment area.
27 GPs attended Keeping Kidneys in the Community education events in 2018/19.
These provided a unique opportunity for primary care to build partnerships with Metro North Kidney Health Services, including clinicians from the Caboolture Hospital GPs with a Special Interest (GPwSi) clinic.
