The National Prescribing Service is a non-profit organisation independent of government and the pharmaceutical industry, to improve the health outcomes for consumers through judicious, safe and effective prescribing. The key roles of the National Prescribing Service are:

• To provide advice about quality prescribing and quality use of medicines
• To develop a national overview for quality prescribing policies, practices and resources
• To endorse best practice in prescribing
• To provide national leadership to ensure that consistent, independent and objective information about medicines is available for every prescriber

Practice visits/one-to-one academic detailing /case study meetings

The NPS program employs a consultant pharmacist who meets with the GP in their practice to discuss evidence-based therapy on a particular topic; recent topics have included Type 2 Diabetes, Antithrombotics, Hypertension. The NPS provides detailing aids and key messages and objectives for the visit.

Benefits to the GP

• The program provides an opportunity to discuss current, independent, evidence-based information with an experienced consultant pharmacist
• It is a time-efficient educational opportunity as the pharmacist provides visits to the GP’s practice
• The NPS develops resources for each topic for the GP to keep
• The visiting program is recognised as a Quality Prescribing Initiative activity within the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) and is eligible for RACGP QA&CPD and/or ACRRM program points

The program aims to assist GPs to keep up to date with the latest evidence-based, independent information on the quality use of medicines. Program activities include:

• Individual Practice Visits: Involves GP and our Consultant Pharmacist. Visit takes place at the GP’s practice at a time convenient to the participant.
• Small Group Case Studies: Involves a group of GPs and our Consultant Pharmacist. Discussion is centred around a real-life case scenario.
• Incentives for participating GPs include RACGP CPD points and PIP Payments under the Quality Prescribing Initiative.

For more information about the National Prescribing Service program, please contact Coralie Edwards, NPS Portfolio Coordinator, on 9376 9261, po09(at)ppcn.org.au.

New Topic – Opioid Therapy in Chronic Pain: Use a Planned Approach

• Use of a pain management plan to manage a patient with chronic pain.
• Why opioid therapy should be initiated as a short term  therapeutic trial.
• Steps to reassess the benefit of ongoing opioid therapy in chronic pain.
• Options for dealing with ‘breakthrough’ pain.

Please click on the link provided here for a copy of the flyer/registration form for educational visiting on: OPIOID Flyer_v2 JAN 2011.  To organise an educational visit on this topic, please contact Coralie Edwards on 08 9376 9200 or via email po09(at)ppcn.org.au

Having Problems Meeting your Practice’s QPI Activity Requirements for the PIP?

NPS have a brochure that clearly defines what the PIP (Practice Incentive Payment), what the QPI (Quality Prescribing Initiative) is and what the QPI activity requirements are, as well as descriptions of the various QPI activities. For a copy of this brochure, please click: PIP_brochure_08. Additionally, NPS have recently released the new QPI Planner for the current QPI year (1st May 2010 to 30th April 2011). Use the planner to plan the number of QPI activities needed for your Practice for the QPI year. For a copy of this planner, please click: QPI Planner

QPI PIP Payment – 30th April 2011 DEADLINE

Practice Managers – you would have recently received your Practice’s quarterly Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Payment statement from Medicare that documented your Practice’s participation (by GPs) in Quality Prescribing Initiative (QPI) activities for the current QPI year; 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2011.

 Has your Practice met its QPI activity requirements?  If not, you risk missing out on your QPI PIP payment.

 Should you need more information on NPS clinical audits, go to: http://www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/activities/clinical_audits_for_gps or call NPS on (02) 8217 8700

Information on the PIP, including eligibility criteria, practice requirements and payments is available via the Medicare Australia PIP enquiry line on 1800 222 032 or at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/pip