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Network News at a glance

COVID-19 update from SEMPHN
Register for our upcoming webinars;  read FAQ on elective surgeries; protect older Australians; and access audio recordings of COVID-19 screening questions.

Hepatitis A outbreak
Health advisory from the Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment)

Carbon monoxide and gas heater safety
Health advisory from the Chief Medical Officer

ePrescribing resources
Read more or sign up to the upcoming webinars (26 & 27 May)

Last chance to register: SafeScript - Tackling the Difficult Conversations
Plenty of front-row seats available in this webinar (26 May)!

Ask the experts: caring for people with CVD during COVID-19 webinar
Join the conversation on 26 May

Back by popular demand:  Riwka Hagen and Kym Poyner
Register for a second Q&A session on 4 June

Practice Nurses, mark your diaries for 3 June for a diabetes update
Maggie Stewart, a credentialled diabetes educator, will lead this session

APNA’s Transition to Practice Program is open for applications
Submit applications by 5 June 2020

Free access to local Alcohol and Other Drug treatment pathways
16 AOD pathways available on the SEMPHN website

Butterfly Foundation launches new virtual group for 18–24 year-olds
An online treatment group for various eating disorders

Professional development and events
A list of upcoming education events

 

SEMPHN's COVID-19 GP Webinars now fortnightly

  • Register now for our next GP Webinars on Tuesday 2 June or 16 June at 12.30pm.
  • Read more notes and view previous recordings on our website. 
 

PPE webinar series

To support the appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) The Department of Health and Human Services will be hosting a ‘PPE webinar’ series, hosted by Andrew Wilson, Victoria's Chief Medical Officer, and chair of the PPE Taskforce.

  • Register for the next webinar on 26 May, 12pm–1pm. 
  • Submit questions before the event on www.sli.do using the event code #K350
 

FAQs on elective surgery

Australian hospitals recommenced elective surgery, investigations and procedures on 27 April 2020. Frequently asked questions in the link below support health services and clinicians to implement the requirements.
Read more. 

 

Protecting older Australians

A highly precautionary approach has been adopted across the aged care sector in responding to the pandemic:

  • restricting visitors’ access to residential aged care services, 
  • screening visitors and staff on entry to residential facilities.

​Read more.

 

Audio recordings of COVID-19 screening questions for non-English speaking patients

Bolton Clarke has translated important COVID-19 screening questions in 25 languages. 

These questions may assist in assessing clients or patients before they enter face to face interactions in health care or residential facilities. 

Access the recordings here. 

COVID-19 Information for health professionals (updated daily)
COVID-19 information for community members
 

Health advisory

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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. 

 

Health advisory

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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. 

 

Prescibing

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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

 

Education, prescribers 

Register here

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. 

 

Education

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. 

 

Education, practice managers

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. 

 

Education, practice nurses

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. 

 

Practice nurses

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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.

 

Pathways

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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. 

 

Eating disorders

Read more

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.

 

Professional development and events

26 May: Victorian Integrated Care Community of Practice (PM) - Bayside & Glen Eira 
All 
Online webinar

26 May: Annual Frankston Forum: SafeScript - Tackling the Difficult Conversations 
Allied health, general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, practice managers
Online webinar

26 May: Electronic Prescribing Update for Dispensers
Pharmacists
Online webinar

27 May: Electronic Prescribing Update for Prescribers
General practitioners
Online webinar

27 May: Ask the experts: caring for people with CVD during COVID-19 webinar
General practitioners
Online webinar

28 May: Voluntary Assisted Dying, someone's asked me about it, now what?
General practitioners
Online webinar

2 June: Lunch webinar: update with SEMPHN CEO and GP peers
General practitioners, practice nurses
Online webinar

3 June: Diabetes update
Practice nurses
Online webinar

4 June: Q&A session on how general practice can adapt in the world of COVID-19
Practice managers
Online webinar

For all events, visit SEMPHN's event calendar. 
For more information, contact events@semphn.org.au

 
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