GP Liaison

Aim

Improving patient orthopaedic care by improving communication with GPs to optimise a shared care model. Utilising integrated systems to keep GPs involved throughout the patient journey

Stake Holders

GP Liaison Registrar – Toan Phu

GP Liaison Phone 0402 968 483 – held by Sunshine Orthopaedic HMO – currently Mark Reich

Olivia Vaccaro
Adult Orthopaedic Clinic Nurse Unit Manager
Olivia.Vaccaro@wh.org.au
0412881359

Morgan Pink
Paediatric Orthopaedic Clinic Nurse Unit Manager
morgan.pink@wh.org.au
0407 125 145

EMR Hacks to Improve GP Communication

EMR GP Communication Hacks – Outpatient – Clinician Letter

  • Use clinician letter to type outpatient clinic notes
  • Notes will automatically be sent to GP as a letter to improve communication
  • Also saves time on dictating or typing a letter

Steps: EMR > Outpatient View > Clinician Letter

Outpatient progress note gets sent to GP as Clinician Letter. Save your time on dictation!

Currently most notes are written as ‘Outpatient Progress Notes’. GPs have no way to access these!

EMR GP Communication – Dictation Hacks – PowerChart Touch

  • App instantly converts dictation speech to text
  • Uploads to EMR as clinician letter & sends to GP
  • Notes available instantly compared to delay with Fluency Dictation App

Steps: PowerChart Touch > Clinician Letter > Microphone

Communication to GPs – Discharge Summaries

JMOs please include in all discharge summaries:

GP Orthopaedic Hotline Ph. 0402 968 483
Contact this number to reach the Sunshine Orthopaedic Team for any questions about this patient. For new referrals please contact Orthopaedic Registrar On Call via Hospital Switchboard on 8345 6666

Sample discharge summary:

GP Liaison Phone

Phone Number: 0402 968 483
Password: 57575

Person responsible:

  • Sunshine Orthopaedic Registrar: Toan Phu
  • Sunshine Orthopaedic Resident: Xuechen Qiu (Andy)

Role:

  • To liaise with GPs to communicate and coordinate management of Orthopaedic Outpatients known to the unit
  • Examples of patients:
    • post-operative patients
    • patients known to Orthopaedic Fracture or Elective Clinic
  • Examples of tasks:
    • Clarifying post-operative plans
    • Checking patients have clinic appointments
    • Booking and expediting appointments
    • Checking that patients are on the waitlist for surgery
      • Not for upgrading category

Not suitable referrals:

  • All new referrals must be directed to the Sunshine Orthopaedic Registrar On Call via switchboard on 8345 6666
  • Triaging – this is a registrar decision making process
    • Upgrading waitlist category for clinic appointment or surgery
      • GP to send updated referral to Orthopaedic Clinic & specify change in clinical situation requiring expedited review
      • Call Orthopaedic Registrar On Call if needing to discuss expediting surgery

Logistics:

  • Divert phone number to your personal mobile at the start of the rotation
  • Otherwise, need to carry the phone at all times
  • GP Log Book needs to be filled out for every phone call. Email Orthopaedic Registrar Toan Phu at the end of every week an update quoctoan.phu@wh.org.au

If unsure how to manage call, escalate to Orthopaedic Registrar at the operation or Orthopaedic Registrar On Call

Logbook:

  • Every phone call needs to be logged on the logbook for audit and patient care
  • Patient’s details, GPs details including return phone number must be recorded so that GP can be contacted if management plans change
  • Put registrar’s name in action if discussed with one
Patient Date/TimeGP & contact noQuery Time of call back to GPAction
      
      

Authors

Toan Phu 2023
Discussed at Unit Meeting 22/9/23