First annual report on Quality Improvement Measures in general practices
Thank you to the 343 general practices participating in the PIP QI The current COVID risk rating
Where to find it, and what it means for PPE, testing & other items affecting healthcare The Infection Prevention Helpline is free to use
Call 1800 312 968, 9am—5pm weekdays Practice managers, are you running on empty?
We hear you—join our next Practice Network to discover practical recharging strategies Burnt out? Stressed? See these resources for mental health professionals
Learn more about TEN: The Essentials network Have your say on the design of new Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
The survey closes 20 September New Eligibility Criteria for Chronic Pain Management Clinic Services
Find out what this means for your patients and you as a referrer Professional development and events
A list of upcoming education events
First annual report on PIP QI
The Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (known as PIP QI) is a payment to general practices to encourage participation in quality improvement activities in the delivery of best practice care and patient outcomes. In the SEMPHN catchment, 87% of General Practices (343) participate in the PIP QI. The first annual report from the newly established national PIP Eligible Data Set brings together data collated by Primary Health Networks from over 5,700 general practices across 10 Quality Improvement Measures. The Measures focus on areas that represent a significant burden on the health of Australians – especially factors associated with complex and
chronic diseases. Findings include: - Nationally, 59% of regular clients who had a recorded diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes had an HbA1c result recorded within the previous 12 months in their GP record. This varied from 49.0% to 69.4% across PHNs. SEMPHN had this information recorded for above 60% of clients.
- Nationally, 73.4% of regular clients who had a recorded diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes had an HbA1c result recorded within the previous 12 months in their GP record. This varied from 66.5% to 82.1% across PHNs. SEMPHN had this information recorded for just under 80% of
clients.
- Nationally, 64.2% of regular clients aged 65 years and over had an influenza immunisation status recorded in their GP record in the previous 15 months. This varied from 47.3% to 73.5% across PHNs. SEMPHN had this information recorded for just over 70% of clients.
View the full report and data.
The current COVID risk rating
The Victorian Health Service Guidance and Response to COVID-19 Risks (VHSGR) has been developed to inform health service processes and interventions in response to changing risks of COVID-19 transmission in the community. It includes guidance on topics such as: - Personal protective equipment (PPE) use
- Health care worker surveillance testing
- Patient pre-operative testing and screening
- Elective surgery
- Visitor information
- Outpatient consultations
- Emergency Department policy
- Healthcare worker mobility.
To view the current risk rating, click here.
The Infection Prevention Helpline
is free to use
Please remember that the free Infection Prevention Helpline is available on 1800 312 968 or 9956 1046 between 9 am–5pm, weekdays. Access infection prevention and control advice including: - Guidance with sterilisation processes
- Strategies for reducing patient wait-times indoors and reducing inside
contact
- Cleaning tips for high-touch areas and washing of scrubs
- Improvements in infection control processes
- Infection prevention and vaccinations.
The service is free for general practices, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and nurse practitioner owned or led primary care practices. You can also view the APNA webinar recording on infection control or view the pharmacy video.
Practice managers, are you running on empty?
Feeling mentally drained by your work? Make sure you join our next Practice Network (13 October).
Practice leaders are running on empty and in need of real strategies to help them manage the continual load and seemingly endless demands of COVID.
In this positive and uplifting session, we'll be open and honest about the current state of depletion and provide some clear steps and actions leaders can take to feel empowered, energised and on top of their game once more.
We'll talk about how to effectively manage your time and your mental energy. When: Wednesday, 13 October, 12.30 pm–2 pm
Where: Zoom
Register here.
Burnt out? Stressed? See these resources for mental health professionals
TEN – The Essential Network is an e-health hub developed by health professionals for health professionals as part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 response. TEN is re-imagining mental health care for frontline workers, offering discrete and convenient access to mental health screening, resources, and person-to-person support. Resources can be accessed anonymously. TEN is not funded by Medicare. Your interactions with the
service won’t be recorded on ‘My Health Record’.
Have your say on the design of new Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Victorians are invited to have their say about new local mental health and wellbeing services. The development of new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services is a key part of the Victorian Government’s mental health reform, following recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. The services will focus on prevention and early intervention for adults who are experiencing mental illness or psychological distress as well as treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended 50 to 60 new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and
Wellbeing Services be established across Victoria by the end of 2026. Victorians are invited to share their thoughts on local services and the design of the treatment, care and support through the Engage Victoria website by 20 September 2021.
If you have any queries about Monash Health’s Pain Clinic, please contact 9265 1401
New Eligibility Criteria for Chronic Pain Management Clinic Services
From 1 September 2021, new criteria has been implemented at Monash Health. There is a significant shift in eligibility criteria for entry to the Pain Management Clinic. To ensure your patients are not adversely impacted, please take some time to understand the changes and ensure your referrals meet the new criteria. See Monash Health Referral Guidelines here. What does it mean for my patients? The most significant criteria change
is that patients must be at a point of being: - willing to explore living well with pain and
- willing to learn how to self-manage ongoing pain.
Patients accepted into the Pain Management Clinic will be supported under a bio-psychosocial model, including an education program, rehabilitation, psychological and physical strategies for managing pain. What does this mean for me as a referrer? This focus on self-management means that referrers: - need to be convinced that patients are ready and willing to take on a self-management rather than a medical model to chronic pain management,
- must now provide evidence that management strategies are in place.
View the information to guide GPs on the Monash website.
Professional development and events
|