National Prescribing Service (NPS)
Overview
The NPS Program has been set up to provide prescribers with evidence-based information and educational initiatives around Quality Use of Medicines. Participation in this program assists prescribers in making decisions, ensuring the most effective treatment for patients.
Objectives
The key roles of the NPS are to:
- Provide advice around prescribing and Quality Use of Medicines
- Ensure that consistent, independent and objective information about medicines is available for every prescriber
- Develop a national overview of quality prescribing policies, practices and resources
- Endorse best practice in prescribing
Program Details
The NPS provides independent information about new and existing medicines which is:
- Based on the critical analyses of current evidence
- Consistent with nationally recognised guidelines
- Reviewed by independent researchers and experts in clinical pharmacology, medicine, general practice and communication
The NPS contracts with divisions of general practice to appoint facilitators to tailor NPS program to meet local needs. The facilitator supports GPs by providing evidence based therapeutic information through the educational visiting programme, and small group interactive case studies.
Educational Topics for 2008:
Preventing Osteoporosis and Reducing Fracture Risk
Early Use of Insulin and Oral Antidiabetic Drugs
Educational Visiting
Educational visits generally take between twenty to thirty minutes with the division's facilitator. The facilitator visits the doctor in their own practice, at a convenient time. The visit provides health professionals with the opportunity to discuss current medications and treatment options. Two to three different therapeutic topics are offered during any year and usually coincide with the NPS Case Studies, NPS News, NPS Prescribing Practice Reviews and NPS clinical audits.
This educational activity is recognised by the Royal Australian College of General Practice – Continuing Medical Education points are awarded for participating in an Educational Visit
Small Group Case Study Meetings
Complimenting the one-to-one practice visits are the Division's small group meetings (up to 8 doctors) where we provide facilitation for the practice to come together to work through specific cases and discuss issues surrounding a prescribing scenario. Such sessions are designed to combine interactive input with current medical evidence. Please allow 1 hour of practice time for the session.
This educational activity is recognised by the Royal Australian College of General Practice. Continuing Medical Education points are awarded for participating in Small Group Case Study Meetings.
NPS Clinical Audits
The NPS provides at least two clinical audits each year. To complete a clinical audit General Practitioners are required to:
- Enrol via web NPS Website or complete enrolment forms sent with NPS Prescribing Practice Review
- Collect and submit information on the management of the condition described in the clinical audit for approximately 10 patients
- Receive expert feedback
- Review feedback and respond a set of review questions
This educational activity is recognised by the Royal Australian College of General Practice. Continuing Medical Education points are awarded for participating in NPS Clinical Audits.
The Quality Prescribing Initiative of the Practice Incentive Program
The Practice Incentive Program (PIP) aims to recognise general practices that provide comprehensive quality care and which are either accredited or working towards accreditation.
The Quality Prescribing Initiative (QPI) is one of the incentive programs of PIP, and can provide financial rewards to practices where general practitioners participate in NPS educational activities such as; Educational Visiting, Small Group Case Study Meetings and NPS Clinical Audits. Generally a practice is required to complete a clinical audit and two other NPS educational activities per year for each full time equivalent general practitioner. The QPI year is form 1 May to 30 April.
Download further information on the Quality Prescribing Initiative .
Practices can find out their educational activity requirement by contacting
Medicare Australia on 1800-222-032.
Practices can find out how many educational activities have been completed by contacting
NPS on (02) 8217-8700.
Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS)
Immediate access to evidence based information on medicines.
Call from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local phone call.
Information on;
- Drug interactions
- New drugs
- Adverse drug reactions
- Drugs and pregnancy
- Use of drugs in unapproved indications and the evidence
Phone: 1300 138 677
Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm
Acheivements
For each major topic released by the National Prescribing Service the division will provide educational visiting to at least half of the General Practitioners in the divisional area, as well as providing other educational services to all health related professionals.
Feedback on the educational visiting sessions presented so far has been extremely favourable with the majority of General Practitioners commenting that they found the sessions useful to their practice and meeting their educational needs for the topic.
Resources
Links
Contact Us
For further information please contact:
The NPS Program Manager – David Porter
Ph: 07 3274 1886
Email: dporter@bsdgp.com.au