Quality Improvement Council

Quality Use of Medicines Program

Main Resources

Sandra Lonergan
Program Coordinator
Email: sandra.lonergan

What is the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Program?

Bayside GPN’s QUM Program aims to promote to health professionals and the community quality use of medicines -the judicious, appropriate, safe, effective use of medicines.

What does the Quality Use of Medicines Program do?

Up-to-date, evidence based unbiased medicines information is provided to local GPs and their practices through our educational visiting program and promotional activities.  It is supported by the National Prescribing Service (NPS) who provide resources and training to our Program Coordinator. In addition, education is available to local pharmacists, the community and where relevant other health professionals.

The educational visiting program provides two to three different topics each year. Other NPS resources and activities are promoted to general practices, pharmacists and the community.

How can the Quality Use of Medicines Program help you?

The program provides a valuable opportunity for GPs and other health professionals to discuss up-to-date, independent, practical, evidence-based information on current therapeutic issues with our trained Program Coordinator, and with other general practitioners.

Convenient, time efficient education is provided via –

  • one-on-one educational visits lasting around 30 minutes
  • small group case study meetings lasting around 60-80 minutes

These activities qualify as Prescribing Initiative (QPI) activities within the Practice Incentives Program and are eligible for RACGP QA & CPD points.

What has the Quality Use of Medicines Program achieved?

Since 1999, 21 different therapeutic educational visiting programs have been conducted in BGPN. In 2010-2011 GPs, pharmacists, practices nurses and other health professionals participated in education in the following

  • Opioid use in chronic pain: use a planned approach
  • Management Options to maximize sleep

  • CVD risk: Guiding Lipid Management

 

Current Visiting Program

Balancing benefits and harms of antipsychotic therapy
Commencing Sept 2011 to Feb 2012.
To make a booking for a one-on-one visit
or small group case study meeting CLICK HERE

This program will focus on:

  • An Individualised approach in assessing benefits and harms of antipsychotic therapy.
  • Tips to engage patients/carers in recognising and managing adverse effect.
  • Ways to reinforce to patients the importance of adherence to antipsychotics when prescribed.
  • A Planned approach to assess the ongoing need for antipsychotics for behavioral symptoms of demenia.

Upcoming topic:

Antibiotic resistance and respitory tract infection (preliminary title)

Commencing March 2012 to July 2012.

To make a booking for a one-on-one visit or small group case study meeting email
sandra.lonergan