By Dr. Andrée Rochfort, Director, Health in Practice Programme, Irish College of General Practitioners
The Irish College of General Practitioners
The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2009 (1984-2009). Prof Chris van Weel, President of Wonca World, gave the Foundation lecture at the 25th Anniversary celebrations in Dublin on 7th November 2009. At this function, a presentation was made to Dr Michael Boland (past EQuiP member, past president of Wonca World) called the ‘Gradam Award’; ‘gradam’ is the Gaelic word for ‘honour and distinction’.
The following sections list some of the Quality Initiatives active and ongoing in ICGP.
Quality in Practice Committee
The ICGP Quality in Practice Committee (a Subcommittee of the Education Committee) produces impact documents and guidelines on clinical and non-clinical areas on topics of relevance to general practice. In many instances these documents are produced in conjunction with outside bodies. The following impact documents are available to ICGP members:
n Asthma Control in General Practice
n Avoiding Pitfalls in Repeat Prescribing: A Practical Approach
n COPD Management
n Cardiovascular Disease in Women
n Diabetes Type 2
n Domestic Violence
n Haemochromatosis
n Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Patients
n Prostate Cancer
n Warfarin in General Practice
n Guide for Primary Care Staff on Alcohol Problems
The Quality Committee also supervises the competition for the annual ICGP Quality Improvement Award (sponsored by Hibernian Aviva Health). Further information on the activities of the Quality in Practice committee can be found at www.icgp.ie/go/in_the_practice/quality_initiatives.
ICGP Health in Practice Programme - Promoting Healthy Practices
The ICGP set up the Health in Practice (HiP) programme in March 2000 as a system of health education, health information and to promote quality improvement in personal healthcare and occupational health for GPs in Ireland.
In May 2001, the programme launched its first publication “Managing Occupational Health and Safety in General Practice” which has since been updated into the 2nd Edition (2007) which is an online publication. Regular articles and reviews are published in Forum, the monthly journal of the ICGP.
In November 2001, the ICGP HiP launched its Healthcare Service for GPs and their families as a national programme provided by 150 health professionals. This service coordinates a confidential system of primary healthcare, psychological therapy, psychiatric assessment and occupational health advice. This enables GPs and their families to have direct access to confidential formal healthcare in the same way that non medical patients do. Doctors on the specialist training programmes for general practice, and in the newly establishing GPs group (NEGS) may also access the service.
“Doctors Health Matters” is an established programme of educational activities (lectures, workshops, seminars) for GPs, specialist training programmes, medical students as delivered by the ICGP Health in Practice (HiP) programme. New topics are added annually and on request by discussion with the Director. This education programme for doctors has developed links with the European Association of Quality in General Practice, EQuiP (www.equip.ch ) which is a Wonca Europe network organisation, and also with the recently established European Association of Physician Health, EAPH (http://eaph.eu). HiP upholds the ethical standards of the Medical Council in service delivery and education. For further information see www.icgp.ie/hip.
Forum between ICGP and College of Psychiatry, Ireland
On the 21st November 2008, a joint forum of the Irish College of General Practitioners and the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland was launched. This joint initiative is a step in improving service access and encouraging a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. practitioners in Primary Care & Specialist Mental Health Services aim to advance the interface between these services functions. Shared education can provide an excellent platform for each partner to gain a greater understanding of their colleague's strength and service limitations.
Forming this Forum will foster greater collaboration between the Colleges and will support the delivery of an effective and comprehensive mental health service.
The aims include advancement and promotion of education of medical personnel in mental health /psychiatry; promotion of best clinical practice in the treatment of mental illness at primary care level; and promotion of the image of mental health/ psychiatry in primary care/secondary care. The aims will be achieved through raising awareness, developing standards, developing links and educational partnership.
The Forum is composed of three representatives from each of the two colleges and meet four times per year. In November 2009 the Forum established three working groups on the following topics: The Mental Health Act (looking at procedures for involuntary admission); Physical Health needs of people with mental ill-health and Quality of care indicators for depression. These three working groups of the Forum will examine issues of shared interest.
ICGP Partnership with Patients
This project was set up in 2009 as one of the core strategies of the ICGP and it is consistent with the patient-centred approach of our national health strategy. The projects ‘Vision’ is to enhance the College's awareness of the needs of patients and to foster a partnership between patients and the College. This reflects the need to involve the knowledgeable patient in building a safer health system. Further details on the aims of this project can be read at www.icgp.ie/go/about/parnership_with_patients.
The National General Practice Information Technology (GPIT) Project
The Irish College of General Practitioners and the Health Service Executive came together at the end of 2006 to restructure and reactivate the National General Practice Information Technology (GPIT) Group. There are two parts to the group, an educational section headed with 10 GPIT facilitators around the country, and a projects section. Each of the two sections have a project manager. GPIT provides practice based support, training and advice to GPs with Information Communication Technology issues. It is also involved with certification of GP Practice Software Management Systems, developing electronic referral systems and promoting interoperability. Further information from www.icgp.ie/go/in_the_practice/information_technology.
E-Learning Education for Quality
The ICGP E-learning Unit goes from strength to strength in proving education for GPs in order to keep up to date with current standards of patient care, with developing particular interests and services in their practices and with supporting GPs throughout their professional career. Further information from www.icgp.ie/go/courses/e_learning.
