Professional development opportunities and events read more

Confirmed measles case in Melbourne
Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset read more

Important vaccination update: men who have sex with men (MSM)
Read this updated alert read more

Pharmacists, the flu season is coming soon
We're supplying free bags to promote the uptake of the flu vaccine read more

GPs, here are 5 things to know about codeine changes
Do you know what do leading up to 1 February? read more

Codeine rescheduling - practical tips for GP, pharmacy & practice readiness 
Come to this free evening session on 6 February read more

Pharmacists, free pharmacotherapy training is coming
Come to the training on 11 February in Cranbourne read more

Do you know someone with a lived experience of suicide in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula area?
There's an opportunity to be involved in local suicide prevention activities read more

Make your time count - use 'teach-back' to ensure patients understand
Check-out these simple and easy guides read more

New service in Caulfield helps people self-manage diabetes Refer to the multidisciplinary team read more

The Deputy Chief Health Officer issued the following alert to general practitioners and hospital emergency departments on 17 January.

Key messages:

• There has been one confirmed case of measles in Melbourne with the infection likely to have been acquired overseas.
• The case was infectious while on Emirates flight EK404 which departed Dubai 10 January at 9.20am and stopped in Singapore before arriving at Tullamarine on 11 January at 9am.
• The case spent approximately three hours at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport on 11 January 2018 (approximately between 9am and midday), particularly around the international baggage collection area.
• The department is attempting to contact passengers who shared the international flight into Melbourne. Information has been provided to Melbourne Airport to distribute to employees working in the affected areas.
• Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended any of the places listed below. Secondary cases may have symptoms start anytime from 18 January until 29 January 2018.
• Manage suspected cases in the GP setting if appropriate and avoid sending to a hospital emergency department unless the patient is severe enough to warrant admission to hospital. Take blood for measles serology in all suspected cases and isolate suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within your department/practice.
• Notify the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section at the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.
• Discuss whether to take nose and throat swabs for PCR with the department if your suspicion for measles is high. Approval is required prior to PCR testing at the reference laboratory. PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate.

Read the full alert.

Return to top

 

The Deputy Chief Health Officer issued an updated alert to health professionals on 12 January.

Key messages:

• An outbreak of hepatitis A has been identified in Victoria, with 27 confirmed outbreak cases. Widespread local transmission is occurring and the outbreak is affecting gay, bisexual and other MSM, and people who inject drugs.
• Offer a free, two-dose course of monovalent inactivated hepatitis A vaccine to all MSM who live in Victoria and all people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months and live in Victoria, available from 22 January until 31 December. Please consider bulk billing your patient to assist this public health initiative, and record the vaccinations on the Australian Immunisation Register.
• Consider hepatitis A infection in patients presenting with a compatible clinical illness, especially those who are MSM or a person who injects drugs. Take blood for serology (IgM) and liver function tests, advise against sexual activity and food preparation for others, and notify the Department immediately by calling 1300 651 160.
• Three other vaccines are now being provided for free to MSM in Victoria throughout 2018 - meningococcal ACWY vaccine to combat an outbreak of meningococcal C, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent HPV-related cancers in MSM, and hepatitis B vaccine (an ongoing program).
• If you are an immunisation provider please order free hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal ACWY and HPV vaccine now from the Department for your MSM patients or clients.

Read the full alert here.
Read a fact sheet about MSM here.
Read a fact sheet about people who inject drugs here.

Tip: With respect to finding all your MSM patients, sexuality can be recorded in Medical Director and Best Practice (under Family and Social History), but it is not available in POLAR GP yet.

Return to top

 

Community pharmacies are proven advocates for the influenza vaccine.

Pharmacists play an important role in promoting annual vaccinations to those at high risk of complications from influenza.

SEMPHN is offering pharmacies in south eastern Melbourne a simple initiative that aims to promote the uptake of the flu vaccination to your customers.

We'll supply each pharmacy with 2000 free bags that display health messages promoting the flu vaccination (1000 medium and 1000 large – see image at right).

We'll also be providing free posters specifically developed for pharmacies that promote the influenza and whooping cough vaccinations. 

Please contact Nadera, Provider Support Officer at SEMPHN via email nadera.rahmani@semphn.org.au as soon as possible if you're interested in receiving the paper bags and posters - quantities are limited.

Return to top

 

As you're aware, from 1 February, all medicines that contain low-dose codeine will no longer be available from pharmacies without a script.

GPs, did you know?

• There are alternatives to codeine for managing pain. Learn more from Pain Australia, the Pain Management Network and the Hunter Integrated Pain Service.
• Codeine dependence can be managed by you within your clinic. All GPs can prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone for up to five patients without doing training. The RACGP has a 16 minute instructional video on prescribing buprenorphine/naloxone.
• Support for managing dependence and pain is available from GP mentors and Addiction Specialists.
  Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS): ph: 1800 812 804.
  Pharmacotherapy Network GP Mentor and Addiction Specialist support: ph: 0428 785 371.
• Some patients may need a referral to Alcohol and other Drug, specialist pain or specialist addiction services. Contact DirectLine for Alcohol and Drug/Addiction referral support: ph: 1800 888 236. It's also a good idea to familiarise yourself with local specialist pain and addiction services.
• Continuing professional development and training is available. RACGP has put together information for Victorian GPs to help prepare for the codeine changes: case studies, links and resources are available here. GP training to prescribe Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) can be accessed here.

Knowing about MATOD is particularly important after 1 February when codeine becomes prescription only.

Return to top

Being ready for codeine rescheduling, and working closely with other health professionals, will help make sure that patients affected by the rescheduling are effectively managed.

Don't miss this opportunity on 6 February in Glen Waverley to upskill, engage with expert speakers and prepare yourself for the changes.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the rationale behind the rescheduling of low-dose codeine medicines to Prescription Only
• Understand how to manage patients in the GP and pharmacy setting who are impacted by codeine rescheduling, including management of pain, dependence and referral to ancillary services
• Implement a practice-wide systematic approach and response to codeine rescheduling in the General Practice setting.

This activity has been approved by the RACGP QI&CPD Program. Total Points: 4 Category 2 points. Activity ID: 119822.

Cost: Free. A light meal will be provided at 6:30pm.

Register here.

Return to top

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is holding the next pharmacotherapy training for pharmacists in Cranbourne on 11 February. 

Register your interest by contacting Marina Hanna, Professional Practice Pharmacist PSA on 9389 4000 or marina.hanna@psa.org.au.

Pharmacotherapy is a professionally rewarding service to deliver in your pharmacy, and is particularly relevant now with the upcoming codeine changes. Why?

• Retain patients who have attended your pharmacy for codeine and now require pharmacotherapy
• Build long-term relationships with your patients by actively engaging in their recovery
• Aid in clinical decisions through regular collaboration with prescribers
• Develop skills and knowledge specific to medication or substance misuse, including early identification of patients at risk of dependence.

The training is available to all pharmacists and pharmacy staff (members and non-members of PSA).  The training is free and attracts up to 7 Group 2 CPD credits.

The training is also available online via modules and webinar. Contact the Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network for more information or support.

Return to top

People with a lived experience of suicide in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula region have an opportunity to be actively involved in suicide prevention activities.
 
Roses in the Ocean is offering a SEMPHN-funded workshop, called 'Our Voice', on February 15 and 16 in Mornington. It's free of charge for participants (spaces strictly limited).

Lived experience of suicide can be:

• being bereaved by suicide
• having experienced suicidal thoughts
• having survived a suicide attempt
• supporting someone who has been suicidal.

The workshop is designed to help people understand how their own lived experience can help to reduce the rates of suicide and its impact in a local community.

Interested participants need to read the document 'Am I ready' and then submit an Expression of Interest. They will receive a phone call from a member of Roses in the Ocean who will provide further workshop details.

Return to top

If your patient doesn’t understand what conditions they have and what you're asking them to do, they can’t manage them.

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health has simple and easy guides including Using the teach-back technique and How to use teach-back with an interpreter.

All clinicians can benefit from using this technique, especially with patients who have low health literacy.

Return to top

Caulfield Community Health Service (CCHS) has a new service to help adults with Type 2 diabetes self-manage their condition.

The service offers access to a diabetes nurse educator, dietitian and exercise physiologist who work with clients to help them achieve their goals.

Diabetes Nurse Educator, Lynette Schroen, says the service is person-centred. "Our clients have mixed needs - from learning about appropriate food choices to wanting to exercise more. The service is about supporting them develop healthier lifestyles," Lynette said.

Attendance does not count towards the five allied health services available through Enhanced Primary Care (EPC).

Standard fees for service are income tested ($9.90 for low income earners, pensioners or health care card holders, $15.10 for medium income earners). No clients will be disadvantaged by the inability to pay.

To refer, fax a referral letter to Caulfield Access on fax: 9076 6733.

For clinical enquiries please contact: Lynette Schroen on ph: 9076 4102 (Mon, Wed, Thurs).

The type 2 diabetes service team (from L-R): Helen Mertin (Project Coordinator) Julia Kent-Hughes (Dietitian), Sara Marwick (Exercise Physiologist) and Lynette Schroen (Diabetes Nurse Educator)

Return to top

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

23 Jan		Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program- Part 2  Pharmacists Webinar- attend via through live streaming on mobile phone, tablet or computer. Details and registration
30 Jan		My Health Record in Pharmacy Pharmacists Parkville Details and registration
31  Jan		Holmesglen Multi-disciplinary meetings (MDM) 2018 GPs Moorabbin Details and registration
1 Feb		Common vulval conditions: all that itches is not thrush GPs Webinar Details and registration
3 Feb		Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training Workshop GP, Practice Nurse Dandenong Details and registration
6 Feb		Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention training workshop Practice Administration, Practice Managers SEMPHN Dandenong Details and registration
6 Feb		Codeine Rescheduling - Practical Tips for GP, Pharmacy & Practice Readiness Allied Health Professional, GP, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Practice Manager Glen Waverley Details and registration
9-10 Feb		Contemporary Chronic Disease Management Workshop Nurse Melbourne Details and registration
11 Feb		Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program- Part 1 Pharmacist Cranbourne Details and registration
15 Feb		Practice Management Masterclass - Last Masterclass for this Financial Year Practice Managers Frankston Details and registration
15 Feb		St Kilda Practice Networks Practice Nurse, Practice Managers St Kilda Details and registration
15 Feb		Our Voice: Empowering lived experience to save lives Anyone with a lived experience of suicide who lives, works or studies in the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula region. Mornington Details and registration
15 Feb		The power of primary care in prostate cancer GP, Practice Nurse North Melbourne Details and registration
18 Feb		Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) - Module 2 GPs East Melbourne Details and registration

For more information about events contact Stephenie Cook ph: (03) 8514 6609 or events@semphn.org.au

Return to Top