Medicare Australia is changing the requirements for practices to receive the above payments. Practices that wish to claim the August 2009 eHealth PIP payments will need to meet the
following criteria:

• Have secure messaging capability in place by 31 July 2009. A list of authorized vendors will be available from NEHTA in April.
• Have, or applied to have, a PKI location certificate for the practice & individual PKI certificates for each GP in the practice by 30 April 2009. Registration forms are available at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/pkiforms
• Provide all GPs in the practice with access to the current editions of a range of key electronic clinical resources outlined in the eHealth Incentives Guidelines.

For further information please visit the links below
or alternatively contact Janeen at the Division
janeen@ahdgp.org.au

Looking for a plain language guide to the minimum requirements and features that your general practice should consider in selection of a broadband internet connection? The guide is useful for those considering broadband connectivity for the first time, and provides timely advice for clinics reviewing internet access requirements following the cessation of Broadband For Health incentive payments on 31 December. Many clinics have services funded under the program for some time yet, it is important to note that contracts may continue on the current terms if not renegotiated, making it a good time to make sure that your plan represents good value. The material has been developed by the network of eHealth officers, located within AGPN and each State Based Organisation, and has been extensively user tested with Divisions and GPs. For more information contact Paul Giacometti at AGPN on pgiacometti@agpn.com.au 02 6228 0825. Or to obtain a copy of the guide see http://www.agpn.com.au/broadbandguide

Are you interesting in a secure messaging system which will allow your practice to send & recieve encrypted referrals, reports or results??

Click the links below for information from a variety of vendors specialising in secure messaging products:

• ArgusConnect
• Medical Objects
• Nexus Online

The Broadband for Health Programme is a $35 million Australian Government program to provide broadband Internet access to GPs, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) nationwide.

Changes to HIC & Broadband 4 Health: How to meet your security conformance requirements

Click here for further information about HIC Online initiatives

The General Practice Computing Group (GPCG) is the peak national body for general practice computing - providing a strategic and co-operative approach to Australian GP informatics.  IM/IT Education Materials for General Practice The GPCG have recently produced a series of documents that seek to raise capacity and knowledge of using IM/IT in General Practice. These educational documents can be downloaded by browsing the ADGP website or individually from the following links: Module 1 Computers Gps and Patients issues in General Practice Module 2 Computers and Practice Management Module 3 Computers and Clinical Care Module 4 Electronic resources Module 5 Computer Security GPCG Security Guideline (February 2005) GPCG Firewall Guideline (June 2005)