Your opportunity to drive real improvements in primary health care for our primary health network
The EIS Health Limited Board welcomes expressions of interest to join our Community Council and Clinical Council. Community Council
The role of the Community Council is to: - ensure that decisions, investments, and innovations are person-centred, cost-effective, locally relevant and aligned to local health care experiences and expectations
- assist in identifying service gaps
- provide direction and leadership in relation to the integration of consumer, carer and community views into levels of primary health service operations, planning and policy development
- advocate on behalf of communities, consumers and carers
- increase consumer, carer and community participation and engagement in the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region
Clinical Council
The role of the Clinical Council is to provide strategic advice to the Board, on: - clinical issues within the region
- opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of medical and health care services and their delivery
- population health planning including the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN needs assessment
- commissioning of programs and services that support local and national health priorities
The councils have an important role in considering current issues within the PHN region and provide advice on how Board strategy may be implemented more efficiently and effectively.
Applications close 9 am Monday 30 January 2017. For more information please contact Member Support and Engagement Program Officer, Christine Russell on 8752 4907.
Measles Alert - Outbreak risk
NSW Health has advised of a measles outbreak risk, with three cases of measles detected in Sydney in the last two weeks. More cases are likely in the coming weeks. General practitioners are advised to isolate suspected cases and call the public health unit if you suspect measles. Measles containing vaccines (MMR) are safe and available free in NSW for those born during or after 1966 who have not previously had two documented doses. For more information visit our website.
Seeking GP Representatives for Antenatal Shared Care Advisory Committee
The Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) Antenatal Shared Care (ANSC) Advisory Committee is seeking EOIs for GP representatives to join the Advisory Committee. General practitioners who are affiliated with the RHW GP ANSC Program are invited to submit an expression of interest. GP representatives will provide valuable advice and input to the ANSC Program and will work collaboratively in the committee to enhance various aspects of the program. To receive more information on the opportunity including the selection criteria and application process, please contact Maternal and Child Health Program Officer Keren David on 8752 4967.
Decision support for the evaluation and management of breathlessness (dyspnea)
Professor Christine Jenkins is currently conducting research on addressing dyspnea in primary care, focusing on time-efficient, evidence based diagnostic and management approaches to the condition. A series of focus groups are being held with GPs to identify the barriers and enablers in the use of a dyspnea clinical decision support system and determine key features that would encourage GPs to implement a computer based or smart phone based dyspnea DSS. You are invited to a focus group discussion on Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 or Tuesday 24 January 2017, from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm at The George Institute for Global Health offices (KGV Building in Camperdown). A presentation/ case discussion on airways
disease will be provided afterwards. If you would like to participate, please email kcorcoran@georgeinstitute.org.au. Light refreshments will be provided.
Antenatal care over the holiday period
If you are planning to go away over the holiday period please ensure that there is cover for your antenatal patients. Antenatal care should only be provided by another Recognised ANSC GP in your practice. Alternatively the scheduled visit can be made at the hospital.
Clinical and administrative support over holiday period – RPA Women and babies/ Canterbury Hospital
Clare Jordan – GP Liaison Midwife will be on leave from Wednesday 22 December 2016 to Monday 9 January 2017. During this period any clinical concerns should be directed to the on-call O&G Registrar at the relevant hospital. Karen Wheeler – CESPHN Maternal Health Program Officer will be on leave from Wednesday 22 December 2016 to Monday 23 January 2017. For administrative enquiries, please contact Keren David
on 8752 4967 or visit the CESPHN website.
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) - Important information
If you are an allied health professional registered to receive access to the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) please note that onsite interpreting requests to CESPHN will not be available from Monday 26 December 2016 to Friday 6 January 2017 inclusive. During this time, immediate and pre-booked phone interpreting can be requested by calling TIS National on 131 450 and using your client code. For further information or if you have any queries, please contact Laura Vincent on 8752 4966.
Committee role for a psychologist/ psychiatrist - Mood Active
If you understand how valuable exercise is for good mental health, would like to have voice in advocating for it among your peers, and are keen to take on a committee role with Australia's leading mental health exercise service provider, then we want to hear from you! Our non-profit program, which is targeted at people diagnosed with depression/ anxiety, is growing fast and our committee needs to grow too. The key features of this volunteer role are oversight of participant assessment results and data, and communication with CESPHN referrers. As a committee member, you will be involved in setting Mood Active's strategic direction. Approximately two hours per week. See the Mood Active website for program details. Enquiries to: cameron.wilson@moodactive.com.au
Mycobacterium chimaera and heater-cooler devices – 14 December 2016
NSW have provided updated health information for NSW clinicians regarding Mycobacterium chimaera and heater-cooler devices. Key Points: - Contamination of LivaNova (Sorin) heater-cooler devices with Mycobacterium chimaera has been associated with serious infections post open cardiac surgery in many countries.
- Affected LivaNova (Sorin) heater-cooler devices have been used in Australia but the risk to individual patients is thought to be very low.
- Consider the possibility of M. chimaera infection in patients presenting three months to five years post cardiac surgery with symptoms of unexplained infection.
Further Information
Cold chain management over the Christmas break
Practices are advised to ensure the appropriate cold chain management of vaccines is undertaken over the Christmas and New Year period. Remember to record the minimum/ maximum temperatures and reset the fridge just before closing on last day of service. Please ensure that the fridge thermometer is checked immediately when the practice reopens. If a breach has occurred (below 2°C or above 8°C for longer than 15 minutes), please download your data logger data and call the public health unit on 1300 066 055.
Southcare Aged and Extended Community Care
Southcare Aged and Extended Community Care is a division of Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service and provides an integrated health care centre offering a range of services predominantly for frail older people and those with disabilities living in the Sutherland Shire. Southcare has recently updated their website. Click here
for current service descriptors and contact information. Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad
For those practitioners attending Residential Aged Care Facilities, click here to view the Southcare Geriatric Flying Squad hours of operation during Christmas and New Year period.
eHealth PIP update
Across NSW 18% of the population have a My Health Record.
Given this level of My Health Record coverage it should be quite feasible for a practice to meet their objective of five SHS per 1,000 SWPE (ie 0.5% of their patients) every quarter without needing to register new patients in the My Health Record system. General practices that want to increase the number of their patients with a My Health Record can provide them with information about how they can register, or they can offer assisted registration. Many clinical products (including Best Practice and Medical Director) have a built in assisted registration function, or practices can download the free Assisted Registration Tool from the Australian Digital Health Agency. General practices offering Assisted
Registration must develop and implement Assisted Registration
policies as required under the My Health Records Rule 2016. General practices that experience compelling circumstances beyond their control, which prevent them from being able to achieve their ePIP shared health summary targets for the first three quarters by 31 January 2017, are encouraged to advise the Department of Human Services as soon as possible. Practices can email their circumstances to
pip@humanservices.gov.au. General practices that do not intend to meet their requirements should opt out of the quarter to avoid overpayment. Please get in touch with the Digital Health Team at either Ashfield or Kogarah for any questions you may have in relation to the eHealth PIP.
Central and Eastern Sydney PHN Events
2016 CPD program wrap up
Thank you to all our members who have supported our CPD program in 2016. In total, we have held 178 events with 5,099 attendees! In 2017 we look forward to bringing you another comprehensive program, including expansion of the small group learning program, additional events for allied health members, CPR and new partnerships with other organisations in our region. For all the updated information regarding upcoming CPD events please visit our website.
Kogarah Office 9330 9900
Level 3, 15 Kensington St, Kogarah
Ashfield Office 9799 0933
Level 1, 158 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield
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