Hepatitis A outbreak

• There has been an outbreak of hepatitis A among people who use drugs (primarily but not exclusively by injection), as well as people experiencing homelessness in Victoria. As of 6 May 2020, there have been 56 confirmed cases and 6 possible cases of hepatitis A associated with this outbreak since July 2019.
• A free single-dose hepatitis A vaccination is available for people who use drugs or are experiencing homelessness until 31 August 2020.
• Vaccination is available at GP clinics providing specialised services to people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness as well as via a mobile outreach service.
• Consider hepatitis A infection in patients presenting with a compatible illness in these risk groups and take blood for serology (IgM).
• Notify all suspected cases of acute viral hepatitis without waiting for serology results to the Department by calling 1300 651 160.

Read the full alert here. 

Carbon monoxide and gas heater safety

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas that may cause symptoms including tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, nausea, weakness, confusion or chest pain if inhaled. Symptoms can be mistaken for a flu-like illness. Very high levels of carbon monoxide can be fatal.

This winter many Victorians are at home for longer periods due to the current circumstances of coronavirus (COVID-19) and may be running gas heaters for longer periods than usual.  This could increase the risk of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning if domestic gas heaters are not regularly maintained, or operated without adequate ventilation (fresh air). 

Medical professionals should:

• exercise a high level of suspicion if similar symptoms are occurring in other members of the household, and the person reports feeling better when away from the house. People and pets may become unwell at the same time.
• test for carboxyhaemoglobin levels in any person with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
• notify the Environmental Health Unit, Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 761 874 of any cases of confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.

Read the full alert here. 

ePrescribing resources

Our Health VitalIT resource has useful information and easy to follow guides to help your practice prepare for ePrescribing. 

Also, the Australian Digital Health Agency is hosting webinars about ePrescribing. During the webinars, there is an opportunity to have your questions answered.

• Electronic Prescribing Update for Dispensers – Tuesday 26 May: 6.30pm to 8pm.  
  Register Here
   
• Electronic Prescribing Update for Prescribers – Wednesday 27 May: 6.30pm to 8pm.
  Register Here

You can also contact SEMPHN's Digital Health team on  03 8514 4460 or email digitalhealth@semphn.org.au

Last chance to register: SafeScript - Tackling the Difficult Conversations

SafeScript presents an opportunity to reduce harms associated with high-risk medications, to promote quality use of medicines and to support patients with substance use disorders such as opioid dependence. Join us for this live Webinar to learn more about how to navigate the honest, and sometimes difficult, conversations which have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives and health outcomes of your patients.

This webinar will take into consideration changes to practice due to COVID-19, such as physical distancing and telehealth, and the current mandatory SafeScript period. 

Topics and Speakers 

• Prescribing Suboxone to manage opioid dependence in primary care - Dr David Jacka, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Monash Drug and Alcohol Service
• Effective conversation strategies to address substance misuse - Dr Anne Marie Diggins, GP and Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network GP Mentor
• SafeScript-related role-plays and case-based discussions - Dr Ferghal Armstrong, GP and Addiction Medicine Registrar at Turning Point, Eastern Health

When: 26 May,  7pm - 9pm. 
Where: Online
Register here. 

Ask the experts: caring for people with CVD during COVID-19 webinar

Social distancing and strict hygiene measures are particularly important for people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) given their increased vulnerability to the most severe complications of COVID-19.

Together with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) and NPS MedicineWise, the Heart Foundation is hosting an ‘ask the expert’ style webinar aiming to: 

• Explore the link between COVID-19 and CVD, including the cardiac manifestations of the infection 
• Highlight key takeaways from recent guidance produced by the Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand relating to the management of CVD during the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Exchange strategies to stay connected with cardiac patients in the community and support maintenance of their treatment and medication plans 
• Provide advice on how to leverage recent MBS and medicine related policy changes to support the management of CVD in primary care.

When: 26 May, 7pm
Register here. 

Back by popular demand:  Riwka Hagen and Kym Poyner

Practice Managers are invited to our next webinar: Q&A Session on How General Practice Can Adapt in the World of COVID-19.

Due to the fantastic response to the Q&A session with Riwka Hagen and Kym Poyner on 13 May, Riwka and Kym will join us once more for a second Q&A webinar on Thursday, 4 June 2020 at 12.30pm. 

They will answer questions remaining from the first session, along with any new questions you provide.

Practice managers can register here. 

Practice Nurses, mark your diaries for 3 June for a Diabetes update

Maggie Stewart, a credentialled diabetes educator, will join us in this webinar to provide a Diabetes Update on Wednesday 3 June at 6.30pm.

Maggie has been working in health care for 36 years specializing in diabetes for the past 15 years.

Maggie’s’ passion is to enable people living with diabetes to understand and be able to manage their condition so that their diabetes is one piece of their life, not their whole identity.

Maggie works with people living with diabetes combining best practice evidence with real life daily challenges to achieve best health outcomes.

Practice nurses can register here for the webinar. 

APNA’s Transition to Practice Program is open for applications

APNA’s Transition to Practice Program is a 12-month education, support and mentoring program for nurses new to primary health care.

APNA is looking for:

• Nurses, whether recently graduated or experienced nurses, who have transitioned into primary health care
• Experienced primary health care nurses to be mentors

Applications close 5 June 2020. Don’t let this opportunity be the one that got away, find out more at www.apna.asn.au/transitiontopractice

The Transition to Practice Program has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

Free access to local Alcohol and Other Drug treatment pathways

Did you know that SEMPHN has over 150 local health care pathways available online?

This includes 16 assessment and referral pathways relating to Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) including:

• Alcohol use and dependence
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Benzodiazepine Use and Dependence
• Cannabis use and dependence
• Deprescribing pathway
• Drug Seeking Behaviours
• Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD)
• Medicinal Cannabis
• Methamphetamine (Ice) Use and Dependence
• Opioid Pharmacotherapy Dispensing - Information for pharmacists
• Opioid use and dependence
• Poisoning and Drug Overdose
• Prescribing Drugs of Dependence
• Prescribing Naloxone.

Access SEMPHN's AOD pathways here. 

Butterfly Foundation launches new virtual group for 18–24 year-olds

Butterfly is piloting its first Virtual Youth Program Group on 22 June for eating disorder treatments.

Content has been developed in line with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) treatment and the program will run for 20 sessions delivered over 10 weeks. The focus will be initially on behavioural change, followed by maintenance skills and relapse prevention strategies.

The program will be facilitated by therapists and delivered via a videoconferencing platform that meets data privacy and safety requirements as determined by the Privacy Act of 1998.

The groups will be held Tuesdays and Thursday evenings each week for 2-3 hours.

The Butterfly's Virtual Youth Program is offered to young adults aged 18-24 years who have symptoms consistent with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, binge eating disorder, Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders, or disordered eating.

Contact treatment@butterfly.org.au or leave a voicemail message for us at 02 8456 3915 and we will return your call with more information.

If you would like to refer a client, please complete a treatment referral form on our website here.