New general practitioner clinical advisory service commences across Victoria from April 2019
From April 2019, Victorian general practitioners (GPs) can access the General Practitioner Clinical Advisory Service (GPCAS), a peer-to-peer advice service for GPs to help them support patients with prescription medication concerns and complex needs.
With funding from the Victorian Government, the GPCAS will commence alongside the statewide roll-out of SafeScript, a clinical tool that provides doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists with access to patients’ prescription history for certain medicines to enable safer care for their patients.
GPs requiring advice or support can contact one of their local GP Clinical Advisors, who can provide mentoring support and options for treatment of pain, anxiety, insomnia and associated addiction issues.
To contact a GP Clinical Advisor, GPs should call the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS Victoria, 1800 812 804), a Victorian helpline service that has been providing addiction medical specialist phone support to GPs for more than two decades.
Turning Point Director Professor Dan Lubman said:
“This is a fantastic new initiative, with GP Clinical Advisors able to provide mentoring and support about prescribing and treatment options within two business days.” GPs requiring a more urgent response should still call DACAS.
Prof Lubman said the service will aim to match GPs with a GP Clinical Advisor from their region, so as to provide additional support from a local area perspective. Each of the six Primary Health Networks across the State have been assigned two GP Clinical Advisors who have received comprehensive training in the management of pain, anxiety, insomnia and associated addiction issues. More information about our GP Clinical Advisors can be found on the DACAS website.
Prof Lubman said the service was an important step forward in supporting GPs’ clinical needs: “With increasing harms related to prescription drugs accompanied by growing concern in the community, the establishment of this service comes at an opportune time.
“Turning Point is pleased to play a role in ensuring GPs receive the advice they need, and are supported to provide the best care for their patients.”
To access GPCAS, GPs can call 1800 812 804 and ask to be referred to the service.
More information
For more information please visit the DACAS website or email [email protected]
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