Current Topic

Change

Controlled Drug Prescriptions

• Audit section removed.
• Sentence added saying that controlled drugs are part of general prescribing audit.
• Practices can choose to audit controlled drug prescribing separately if they wish but this is not compulsory.

Confidentiality

• Information about training added.
• Added to consult the Health Information Privacy Code or ask the privacy officer if unsure.
• Recommendation added to consider developing processes for making information anonymous if sharing for legitimate purposes.
• Links added to supporting policies.
• New heading to distinguish business/operational information from medical information.
• Form reworded to make bullet about operational information clearer.

Collecting Patient Data

• New section: Gender and sex data.
• Link added to MOH interim document Gender and Sex Data Protocol. This document is not yet mandated but is considered current best practice.

Support People, Chaperones, and Observers

• Minor edits to align the topic with the latest, updated guidance document from the Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health. Includes additional wording that the support person should be aware of the practice's expectations around mobile devices and social media.

Staff Health and Immunity

• Blue important information box updated. The outlined timeframes and process for returning work have been replaced with links to the Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health's guidance, so that the most recent information is accessible.

Hazardous Substances

• Required information for the hazardous substances inventory updated after update to the Foundation guidance.
• Removed UN number, storage requirements, and hazardous waste.

Violent and Abusive Patients

• Removed link to Armed robbery as no description form is cited or available
• General edit; removed any hint of violent or abusive patients being welcome, and improved instruction for recovery time.

IT Security

• Digital images added.
• Best practice is to use a practice camera and delete the images after saving to the PMS.

Patient Information Privacy

• Heading added to make this information easier to find.
• Information added:
  • Use the practice camera if possible.
  • Delete image straight after saving.

Handling Lab Specimens

• Page removed from GPDocs.
• This page is not viewed often and we don't consider it necessary for either IPC or health and safety.

Ordering Tests and Investigations

• Page removed from GPDocs.
• Decision made that GPDocs should focus on policies for managing test results rather than processes for ordering tests.
• Practices are welcome to add lab or radiology contact information to their Contact List page if needed.

HealthInfo for Patients

• Page removed because it is no longer needed.

Liability Insurance

• Page removed because it is no longer needed.