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New testing sites for Casey and Greater Dandenong Four new testing sites have opened and residents are urged to get tested if they have any symptoms.
Westfield Fountain Gate has also been included on the daily list of high risk locations and anyone who visited between 18 August and 6 September. Financial Support – https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/covid-19-worker-support-payment Food and Social Support is available on local government websites: To access translated resources visit the DHHS website. Telehealth extends to 31 March 2021 Read the media release. New COVID Clinical Pathway for General PracticeSEMPHN is working with the local Hospital Networks to ensure COVID positive people receive ongoing care in the home when suitable. COVID positive people who are low risk are managed by their GP. Medium and high risk patients will be managed by their local public hospital network (Alfred Health, Monash Health or Peninsula Health) in collaboration with local Community Health services. The GP Management of COVID positive patients pathways is available on the SEMPHN website. As the pathway is updated, based on new evidence and local public hospital network services and support, we will notify you via our COVID-19 newsletter, Network News and our website. Information for unwell students returning to school A fact sheet has been developed to support schools in sharing information about unwell students with their school community. The fact sheet contains information that will help schools explain to parents and carers that:
For more information, download the factsheet or email health.advice.education.vic.gov.au. Has 'COVID fatigue' set in with your infection control practices?Reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission requires much more than your staff and patients wearing a mask. An impressive 114 practice managers, practice nurses and other clinical staff joined our lunchtime webinar last week discussing the topic: Has COVID fatigue set in with your infection control practices? If you missed it, you can view the recording here. Check out the articles on our dedicated webpage. Practice Managers, register for the next network meeting!SEMPHN will be hosting the next virtual Practice Managers Network Meeting on 23 September on the important topic of self care. When: 23 September, 12.30pm - 1.30pm Practice Nurses, learn about compassionate communication at the next network meetingJoin us for the next practice nurse network meeting via zoom webinar on Thursday 8 October at 7:00pm - 8:00pm where we will be discussing the topic Compassionate Communication.
You're encouraged to submit any questions you may have prior to the event by emailing events@semphn.org.au, and you can also ask questions on the night. Introductory training: Motivational InterviewingWe have limited places available to attend one of three Motivational Interviewing training events in October. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, person-centred way of guiding conversations about change. The approach provides practical skills to reduce 'stuckness' and resistance and open up more productive conversations about change. The aim is to support the patient to resolve ambivalence and strengthen their motivation for positive behaviour change that is meaningful for them. MI has emerged as a more effective intervention than direct persuasion for promoting change in behaviour. The trainer is Helen Mentha, a clinical psychologist and one of Australia's leading trainers in Motivational Interviewing. Participants will learn:
Only 33 registrations are available across the dates and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please note, only one attendee allowed per general practice. A further 10 registrants will be placed on a waitlist and offered a registration if a cancellation occurs. When: 6,13 and 22 October 2020 (same training repeated on each date, you only attend one). ImmunisationRecent updates to the Australian Immunisation RegisterThere have been some recent improvements to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). These changes improve functionality for vaccination providers and make it easier for people to stay up-to-date with their immunisations. ImmunisationMedicare guidance on immunisationImmunisation colleagues have received reports that some general practices have been charging fees for uploading immunisation histories and calculating catch-up schedules for clients including newly arrived residents, refugees and people seeking asylum. This contravenes Medicare billing guidance in two ways: 1. When a medical practitioner bulk bills an immunisation service, they cannot make additional charges for that service. The only exception is where they give the patient a vaccine from their own supply held at their premises. The additional charge must only be to cover the supply of the vaccine. Medicare considers the uploading of immunisation history and calculating catch-up to be part of the immunisation service. 2. A practitioner receives an AIR information payment for completing an immunisation schedule for an eligible patient and recording it on the AIR regardless of the patient holding a Medicare card. AIR information payments are for:
The practitioner cannot charge patients additional fees for uploading immunisation histories to AIR or calculating immunisation catch-up schedules. For further information, please refer to Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note GN.12.32 and Vaccination provider information payments. EducationAlfred Health GP Education SessionsThe Alfred's GP Liaison Service is working with various Alfred Health specialists to provide monthly GP education sessions where you can hear from specialists and participate in a Q&A. End of Life Care and Advance Care Planning in 2020 Tuesday 29th September 1-2pm
RSVP: GPs and practice nurses, to join this session please email gp.liaison@alfred.org.au and you will be sent the private direct link to the session, along with instructions on joining via Microsoft Teams. You can access Microsoft Teams via Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browsers if you do not have Microsoft Teams installed. World Heart Day Webinar: The future of CVD risk assessmentTo celebrate World Heart Day this month, the Heart Foundation is partnering with the World Heart Federation to host a global clinical debate on the future of CVD risk assessment. There is growing interest in the use of novel imaging techniques, clinical biomarkers and genetics to augment traditional CVD risk assessment. The Heart Foundation has convened a panel of international and local experts to debate the topical question 'Should population-based CVD risk assessment models make way for individualised risk prediction techniques?' The webinar will be facilitated by Heart Foundation's Chief Medical Advisor Prof Garry Jennings and include expert panellists Prof Stephen Nicholls, Prof Gemma Figtree and world expert in cardiovascular disease prevention and epidemiology, Prof Donald Lloyd-Jones from Northwestern University, Chicago.
Professional development and events
For an overview of all events, visit SEMPHN's event calendar. |