National Prescribing Service Program

The National Prescribing Service (NPS) facilitator is responsible for delivering the NPS program within the Illawarra. This involves practice visits to GPs in their surgeries, participating in and organising continuing education activities and consumer education.

Activities

Practice Visits

The National Prescribing Service facilitator is responsible for providing independent drug information to Illawarra GPs. Practice visits are offered on therapeutic topics, as advised by the National Prescribing Service.

Visits currently offered are on the topic of

antithrombotics in general practice.

Future visits will be on the

improving drug use in heart failure

diabetes

The NPS Heart Failure program will also include an Echocardiography module, with expert assistance in the workshops provided by Dr Astin Lee. Workshops have been confirmed for Kiama GPs (17th May), central sector GPs (7th June) and the northern sector GPs (June 21st).

Case studies

Using case studies developed by the NPS, several GPs within one practice can participate in a small-group case study discussion with the NPS facilitator, usually in the setting of a lunchtime meeting. Variations on these cases can be completed along with invited pharmacists, to illustrate the concept and processes of Home Medicines Review (see Home Medicines review Program).

Clinical Audits

The NPS provide three clinical audits each year, which are available through the IDGP. These are free to prescribers, and completion qualifies for RACGP points as well as one recognised activity under the Practice Incentive Program (Quality Prescribing Initiative). In 2005, the first audit offered is

Drug use in type 2 diabetes.

which is currently available. The closing date is Friday 8th July.

RACGP Group 1 Active Learning Module opportunities

The NPS activities for this year can contribute to the RACGP Group 1 Active Learning Module points. Six hours of education around the cardiovascular theme need to be completed, and participating in the NPS activities contributes to the required time.

Other roles

The NPS facilitator also devotes time to other Quality Use of Medicines activities, which involves liaison work with other health care providers (see resources).

Regional Medication Advisory Committee

A Regional Medication Advisory Committee is coordinated by the NPS facilitator for the benefit of local Residential Aged Care Facilities and visiting General Practitioners and pharmacists. This committee has been responsible for multidisciplinary development of policies, protocols and documents applicable to QUM in the aged care setting. These include:

recommendation for choice of emergency oral antibiotics
Complementary Alternative Medicines Resource manual including facility policy, disclaimers, sources of drug information
Safe Handling of Cytotoxics in Residential Aged Care Facilities manual, which includes information for prescribers, pharmacists and nursing staff, as well as monographs on more commonly used medicines in this setting (methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide)

nurse-initiated medications

Medicines Information

Independent drug information is available for General Practitioners by directly contacting the NPS facilitator (details below) or the NPS Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS) on 1300 138 677.

Consumer information is available from the NPS (Medicines Line) on 1300 888 763.

Databases that allow for on-line searching at no charge include: