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Victoria's latest restrictions
Special Aged Care WebinarWith the surge in numbers in Coronavirus cases, SEMPHN is conducting a webinar to provide insights on COVID and aged care and to hear from those involved in treatment and triage. Join us on Thursday 6 August from 12 pm–12.45 pm by registering here. Donning and doffing PPEThe Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed a video to support the use of PPE for all health professionals during the pandemic. Presented by Dr Penny Burns, FRACGP and Dr Jonathan Adams, FRACGP, this short video provides a step by step guide on how to apply, remove and dispose of PPE safely and how to sanitise your hands. More Support for Practice Principals and ManagersThe impacts of COVID-19 and competing pressures on business are changing the landscape of running general practice. In May and June, we asked for general practice feedback on the business supports they need to help run their businesses. As a starting point, we have developed a range of videos and supporting notes to provide guidance on general practice business needs. The videos include:
Head to our website to view each of the videos and supporting notes and watch out for updates on specific business training related to these topics in the future. Future directions for the Place-Based Suicide Prevention TrialsThe Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016-2025 sets a target to halve Victoria’s suicide rate by 2025. The Victorian Government has been partnering with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to deliver the Place-Based Suicide Prevention trials. The trials were established in 2016, initially running until June 2020. In February 2020, it was announced that trials would be extended for a further two years until June 2022. SEMPHN and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) have agreed on an approach to the extension of the Place-Based Trials in the SEMPHN catchment. The Place-Based Suicide Prevention Trials will include an expansion of the two geographical regions to now include Casey and Cardinia as well as existing trial sites of Greater Dandenong, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. GPs needed to support aged care facilitiesThe Department of Health and Human Services is seeking immediate support from local doctors to assist at four aged care facilities managed by Healthscope. Healthscope is currently caring for over 45 residents from impacted aged care facilities at its Bellbird Private (Blackburn), Latrobe Private (Bundoora) and within isolated wards at Knox Private (Wantirna), and John Fawkner (Coburg) sites. Many of the residents are COVID-positive. Healthscope will ensure all GPs will be appropriately remunerated for their time and expertise. GPs will be credentialled for all Healthscope sites as Visiting Medical Officers, to provide in-patient medical care. GPs will also be provided with training and be supported on-site by credentialled specialists where any medical matter requires escalation. All Healthscope sites carry extensive PPE to protect their medical professionals, workforce and patients. Healthscope’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Victoria Atkinson has further outlined the urgent need for help in a short video. Please contact Anne Moutsos, Healthscope Victorian Business Development Manager, at anne.moutsos@healthscope.com.au or mobile 0420 895 910 if you would like to learn more. TelehealthUsing telehealth for aged care ‘visits’Australians living in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. Extra precautions are needed to minimise their risk of exposure. However, it is also essential that they continue to have access to medical services for their ongoing care. Telehealth consults provide a safer option for both patients and staff and are now funded by Medicare as part of the COVID-19 temporary MBS item numbers. SEMPHN can set your practice up with Health Direct’s VideoCall, at no cost during the COVID-19 response. It is a video consultation program specifically designed for health care, with many useful features including:
We will setup VideoCall and provide you with step by step training to get you started as well as ongoing support. Contact our Digital Health team digitalhealth@semphn.org.au or 03 8514 4460 to help. Changes to MBS Telehealth itemsChanges to the COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services were recently made, particularly to the eligibility criteria. The main change is that general practices can only perform a telehealth consult where they have an ‘existing relationship’ with the patient. However, this requirement does not currently apply to practices in the SEMPHN region, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Victoria. For more information, see the MBS factsheet, which can be found in the MBS Telehealth section of our Health Vital IT guide to remote consultations Practice Managers, let's get digital!SEMPHN and Thinktank Social, are inviting practice managers to a live webinar on Re-assurance and growth marketing through digital and social media. In this 60-minute webinar Practice Managers will discover:
Presenter: Sam Mutimer from Thinktank Social EducationWhat is the role of a GP during and after cancer treatment?Don't miss out on this cancer care webinar series. The series kicks off next week Tuesday 11 August. The series will help GPs gain insight into:
Register for the webinars below: All webinars take place on a Tuesday at 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
What's new in immunisation? Explore the NIP Changes in this webinarDid you know there are significant changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccination schedule recommendations that commenced on 1 July? Dr Peter Eizenberg will present a one hour webinar Thursday, 20 August at 7 pm clarifying very significant changes to the Pneumococcal recommendations. These changes have far-reaching implications for scheduling and funding especially for the medically at-risk and older Australians including people with existing reminders for Pneumococcal vaccination. Also covered will be the updated meningococcal recommendations including the targeted funding of meningococcal B for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander children less than 2 years, as well as Meningococcal B and ACWY vaccines for people of all ages with some medical risk conditions. When: 20 August, 7 pm–8 pm EducationNPS Medicinewise offers education from your clinic or homeNPS MedicineWise is now offering independent, evidence-based education from the comfort of home. NPS can provide a virtual visit via video call for their latest topics, Paediatric asthma: breathing new life into diagnosis and management, and opioids, chronic pain and the bigger picture. Just like visits to your clinic, virtual visits via video call are approved under the RACGP & ACRRM CPD programs. The visiting material is sent to you in advance as electronic and/or hard copy depending on your preference and they can carry out virtual visits via a range of different video conferencing platforms including Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Each visit can be scheduled at a mutually convenient time – including before or after standard work hours. To make an appointment simply contact your local NPS MedicineWise educator, Melissa Riley on 0405 308 038 or mriley@nps.org.au Explore the Carer Awareness in General PracticeAbout 1 in 8 people in Australia are carers. Caring can have a significant impact on a carer's physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing. Learn how to support and improve carers’ wellbeing with the new Carer Awareness in General Practice education kit. VTPHNA has released new Carer Awareness Education to help GPs and practice nurses identify and support people who are in a carer role and to better understand and help them to improve their health and wellbeing. The education kit was developed with input from GPs, practice nurses, carers and Carers Victoria. Explore the Carer Awareness in General Practice online education at vtphna.org.au/carers Have you seen RACGP's new CPD platform?The RACGP has launched an intuitive new CPD platform with a stronger focus on education. RACGP members will now be able to more easily access and report continuing professional development (CPD) activities through the new, easy-to-use myCPD platform. The new quick log feature allows GPs to quickly submit professional development activities undertaken as part of their daily work, including reading medical journals, running practice meetings and listening to medical podcasts, as well as other external activities not directly focused on their clinical practice. GPs can upload supporting documents
and photographs thus removing the administrative burden often involved in submitting CPD activities. Professional development and events
For an overview of all events, visit SEMPHN's event calendar. |