The NPS program has been established to provide unbiased information on therapeutics to medical practitioners and is available to all doctors in the New England area. Although funded by contract with the Commonwealth, the NPS is independent of government and is not affiliated with the pharmaceutical industry. The program is delivered locally by the Division’s NPS Facilitator and includes:
· One-to-one Practice visits on specific topics;
· Small group case studies and discussions;
· Clinical audits (RACGP points per audit).
Benefits of an NPS visit
Each visit qualifies as an NPS activity for the Quality Prescribing Initiative (QPI) of the Practice Incentive Program (PIP).This payment usually works out at around $1000 per year for each Full Time Equivalent (FTE) GP in a practice. The practice must complete 3 NPS activities per FTE GP between May and April of the following year (eg. 3 FTE GPs = 9 NPS activities). Many doctors not registered for PIP also have NPS visits and find them useful in providing easy access to objective information on specific therapeutic areas.
How to arrange NPS visit?
When the NPS facilitator has prepared a topic, an invitation is faxed to each practice and followed up with a phone call to reception staff to arrange a time convenient to the GP. The visit usually takes 20-30min depending on the topic and the GP’s level of interest. The topic can also be covered in a group at the practice using a case study format (takes 60mins). Some topics are also offered as a dinner case study meeting with GPs, Pharmacists and, at times, Practice Nurses. The evening is a good opportunity to meet with other health professionals in the local area.
NPS also provides:
· Therapeutic Advice and Information Service (TAIS): 1300 138 677
· Australian Prescriber, an independent publication providing readily accessible information about drugs and therapeutics:
www.australianprescriber.com