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Monday 26  June

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Tenders open for mental health services
Support consumers with severe mental illness read more

Illness intervenes in CEO Sleepout
Your donations will make a difference read more

Last chance to register - Practice Management Masterclass
Hurry - a few places are still available on 6 July read more

Increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM)
Please read this health advisory read more

My Health Record: new medicines view    
A major update has been released read more

Expired PKI certificates might be preventing you accessing My Health Record
Get some tips to troubleshoot errors read more

Victorian vaccine schedule changes - new vaccines from July
Read about these important changes read more

Influenza vaccination during pregnancy
Only one in three women get the vaccine read more

Biannual Frankston Forum: Medicinal cannabis, alcohol and opiods - why, how and when to stop
Come along on 12 July read more

South Eastern Melbourne Housing Guide launched
This online guide brings housing information together read more

Alzheimer's Australia Dementia Advisory Committee
The committee is looking for five new members across Australia read more

General practice and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Here's how to support bowel cancer awareness month read more

Tenders open for mental health services

SEMPHN is seeking organisations to deliver a Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) service in one or more Local Government Areas (LGAs) within our catchment.

MHICC services are designed to support consumers with a severe mental illness who have complex needs and will benefit from improved coordination of their care over long periods.

The main parts of the service are

  • clinical nursing services
  • family support and liaison
  • care co-ordination and liaison (clinical and non-clinical services)
  • improving access to psychiatrist and psychological care.

MHICC will replace the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) later this year.

MHICC services are part of our Mental Health Stepped Care Model and are in line with Australia-wide changes in mental health services.

More information 

  • An information session about the tender was held last week. A recording of the session and the presentation slides are available here.
  • Apply for these tenders on SEMPHN's Tenderlink page. A separate submission is required for each LGA.
  • Please note, all questions about the tenders must be asked via the online forum on SEMPHN’s Tenderlink page by 28 June.
  • Tenders close 3pm 10 July.

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Illness intervenes in CEO Sleepout

Illness meant that SEMPHN CEO Elizabeth Deveny couldn't participate in the sleepout part of the 2017 Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

This would have been Elizabeth's fifth consecutive CEO Sleepout, so no-one can doubt her commitment to the cause. The cause however, remains, and donations to the CEO Sleepout will still assist homeless people.

Just as Elizabeth didn't choose to be ill, one of the lessons she's learned in her four years of sleeping rough with the CEO Sleepout is that homeless people don't choose to be homeless if there's any viable alternative.

Elizabeth thanks those who've already donated to support her. Donations are tax-deductible and will make a big difference to the lives of homeless people.

Go here to donate and support Elizabeth's commitment.

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Last chance to register - Practice Management Masterclass

A few places are sitll available for the full-day Practice Management Masterclass on 6 July in Sandringham. The masterclass is for practice managers working in the SEMPHN catchment.

The course will be facilitated by Medical Business Network CEO Mark Danato and Manager Brett McPherson who have more than 50 years of experience in the health industry between them.

On completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • identify the difference between a practice manager and a business manager
  • outline the key profitability factors important in medical services
  • understand the importance of gathering critical information to analyse and evaluate the performance of the practice
  • describe five strategic areas that will assist in creating a successful medical service
  • articulate what success looks like for your organisation, and begin to formulate a business plan outlining the process for achieving that success.

Register by 29 June here.

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Increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM)

The Deputy Chief Health Officer has issued the following advisory to health professionals:

  • Victorian syphilis and gonorrhoea notifications have increased in the last few years, with cases reported predominantly in men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • Syphilis and gonorrhoea can be transmitted by unprotected vaginal, anal and oral sex.
  • Syphilis and gonorrhoea infection increases both susceptibility to acquiring HIV infection and transmissibility of HIV infection.
  • Cases of ocular and neuro-syphilis are occurring in MSM with early syphilis in Victoria.
  • The emergence of antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea is concerning worldwide.
  • Obtaining gonorrhoea culture swabs is crucial for monitoring antimicrobial resistance.
  • Screen at risk groups: MSM at least annually and higher risk MSM more often for gonorrhoea and chlamydia. HIV positive MSM should have a syphilis test every time they have blood tests for routine HIV monitoring.
  • Inform contacts of sexual partners of syphilis and gonorrhoea cases at the time of diagnosis.
  • Test and treat sexual contacts of syphilis and gonorrhoea cases without waiting for test results
  • Educate patients about prevention strategies and early symptom recognition.

Read the full Advisory: Increase in syphilis and gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men (MSM).

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digital health

My Health Record: new medicines view

A major update to the My Health Record has just been released.

The Medicines Information View function automatically scans the documents in a patient’s record and extracts any medicine data.

The documents it searches include:

  • PBS uploads
  • the most recent Shared Health Summary and Discharge Summary
  • Event Summaries and Specialist Letters uploaded since the last Shared Health Summary.

The new view appears in the Other Documents List in the latest version of your clinical software. Note that the On Demand Training environment does not have the latest versions.

For support or questions about the new function in your clinical software, contact your vendor’s helpdesk, or the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471.

SEMPHN’s digital health team provides advice and support for My Health Record and other digital health systems. Contact them on 03 8514 4460 or digitalhealth@semphn.org.au.

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Expired PKI certificates might be preventing you accessing My Health Record

It's that time of year again when PKI certificates tend to expire. A few practices have noticed their access to My Health Record stopped, and we've found that it's because of an expired organisation/site certificate.

If you’re encountering errors that stop you from:

  1. validating patients’ IHI numbers
  2. accessing a patient’s My Health Record
  3. uploading a Shared Health Summary

...then PKI is probably to blame. Check out our PKI resource, which explains the different types of PKI and has install instructions for Medical Director and Best Practice.

For more help, check with your IT provider, or call the digital health team on 8514 4460.

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immunisation

Victorian vaccine schedule changes - new vaccines from July

Do you provide immunisation? Here are some important vaccine schedule changes from July:

  • Rotarix® vaccine replaces RotaTeq® vaccine from 1 July 2017 for the schedule points at two months and four months of age.
  • Read how to use rotavirus vaccines during the brand switch period in Table 1 of the document. Be familiar with potential scenarios and responses during RotaTeq® to Rotarix® switch period in Table 2. Read the evidence for vaccine effectiveness and safety of mixed or reduced dose schedules.
  • Quadracel or Infanrix IPV is to be supplied at the four year old schedule point for DTP-IPV vaccine.
  • Quadracel is an equivalent DTP-IPV containing vaccine for children at the fourth birthday.
  • Engerix B Paediatric or  H-B-Vax II Paediatric is to be supplied for the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
  • Engerix B Paediatric vaccine is an equivalent hepatitis B containing vaccine for infants at birth.

All immunisation resources such as the Government supplied vaccine order form and the vaccine schedule will be updated to reflect the schedule changes for the new vaccines that will be distributed to your service.

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Influenza vaccination during pregnancy

Vaccination remains the best protection pregnant women and their newborn babies have against influenza.

Despite influenza vaccination being available free to pregnant women on the National Immunisation Program, vaccination rates remain low with only one in three pregnant women receiving the influenza vaccine.

Influenza infection during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery and even death in newborns and very young babies.

Pregnant women can have the vaccine at any time during pregnancy and they benefit from it all through the year.

Video for health professionals:

Videos for pregnant women:

For more information visit the Immunise Australia website.

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Biannual Frankston Forum: Medicinal cannabis, alcohol and opioids - why, how and when to stop

The effects of drugs, whether recreational or pharmaceutical, can be attractive to many.

For an in-depth look at the indications and debate that surrounds the use of medicinal cannabis and a fresh approach to the management of alcohol and opioid dependence, go to the biannual Frankston Forum on 12 July.

Presented by the Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network, topics and speakers include:

  • The Art of Weaning off Pharmacotherapy - Dr David Jacka, Addiction Medicine Specialist - Monash Drug and Alcohol Service.
  • Medicinal Cannabis - Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Addiction Medicine Specialist- St Vincent's Hospital.
  • Fresh Approaches to Treating Alcohol Dependence - Dr Ferghal Armstrong, Lead General Practitioner at Black Fish Medical.

Learning outcomes:

  • Develop appropriate treatment plans for alcohol dependence
  • Identify the challenges and issues associated with ceasing opioid pharmacotherapy
  • Explain and critique the issues behind the cannabis debate.

This Activity has been approved by the RACGP QI&CPD Program Activity ID: 101348. Total Points: 4 Category 2 points.

Register here.

Please contact SEMPHN Pharmacotherapy Liaison Coordinator- Jacqueline Apostolopoulos for more details via jacqueline.apostolopoulos@semphn.org.au or 0429 808 317.

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South Eastern Melbourne Housing Guide launched

An online South Eastern Melbourne Housing Guide has been developed for community workers to help clients with housing needs.

The SEMPHN-funded guide was developed when Partners in Recovery (PIR) Frankston saw the need to share housing information.​

PIR is a community mental health service specifically working with people that experience severe and enduring mental illness.

PIR, along with SEMPHN and many community organisations, worked together to develop the guide so that information and skills can be shared and help clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

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Do you have patients living with dementia?

Alzheimer’s Australia is seeking expressions of interest from people living with dementia to become members of the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Advisory Committee.

The committee supports people with dementia to have a voice in advocating for the needs and priorities of people with dementia - including service provision, information, support and education.

Committee members provide advice on policy and advocacy work, national programs, and work to promote dialogue between those with dementia and service providers with a view to promoting a better understanding of their social and care needs.

The committee meets monthly by teleconference, 1-2 times per year face to face, and communicates on a regular basis through email.

For more information phone Leanne O'Neill on (02) 62788900 or email nat.admin@alzheimers.org.au.

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bowel cancer awareness month

General Practice and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Did you know...

  • that if found early, nine out of 10 cases of bowel cancer can be successfully treated?
  • that a recommendation from you is an important motivator for people to do bowel cancer screening?

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month - a great time to promote bowel cancer screening and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).

How does the program work?

Eligible 50-74 year olds are mailed bowel screening kits to complete at home. From 2019, all eligible people aged 50-74 years will be invited to screen every two years. An online eligibility calculator is available here.

How can you support participation in the program?

For more information please email nbcsp@health.gov.au

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

6
July
  Culturally sensitive ways of working with Aboriginal families impacted by alcohol and other drugs
Health and community service workers
Rosebud West
Details and registration
 
6
July
  Practice Management Masterclass
Practice Managers
Sandringham
Details and registration
 
12
July
  Biannual Frankston Forum: Medicinal cannabis, alcohol and opioids
GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacist
Frankston
Details and registration
 
15
July
  Demystifying the diagnosis and management of IBS Syndrome
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
18
July
  Perform CPR - a workshop for GPs
GPs
East Melbourne
Details and registration
 
19
July
  Multi-disciplinary meetings (MDM) 2017
GPs
Moorabbin
Details and registration
 
19
July
  NDIS - Understanding the needs of our service providers
Local service providers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
20
July
  Social Media & healthy Development Where To From Here?
Frankston
Details and registration
 
21 & 28
July
  Contemporary Chronic Disease Management-Frankston
Nurses
Frankston
Details and registration
 
26
July
  Benzodiazepine Reduction Programs in General Practice
GPs, Pharmacists, Nurses, AOD Workers
Doncaster
Details and registration
 
27
July
  Everyday practical recommendations for working with cognitively impaired AOD clients
Allied Health, Case worker, Mental Health Nurse
Fitzroy
Details and registration
 
28
July
  Respiratory update
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 

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

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