Professional development opportunities and events Read more

Consumer-level recall of NovoPen Echo insulin cartridge
Novo Nordisk A/S, in consultation with the TGA, has initiated a consumer-level recall of some batches of their NovoPen Echo insulin cartridge holder. Read more

Real-Time Prescription Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities
Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) is to be implemented to reduce overall prescription drug-related harm. Read more

Sleeping bag donation warmly received
Sleeping bags collected as part of SEMPHN's Community Sleepout in June have been distributed. Read more

Health examination requests for people seeking asylum
Some people seeking asylum have received letters from DIBP requesting that they get additional health tests. Read more

Is your privacy policy working?
The news of Medicare numbers being available for sale on the dark web is a timely reminder to review your privacy policy and how well it is working. Read more

My Health Record: another app now connects
Another smartphone app is now licenced to connect to the My Health Record. Read more

Campaign targets violence against healthcare workers
WorkSafe Victoria and DHHS have launched a public campaign to reduce verbal and physical assaults on Victorian healthcare workers. Read more

The Federal Department of Health has advised that pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S, in consultation with the TGA, has initiated a consumer-level recall of some batches of their NovoPen Echo insulin cartridge holder after detecting there is a possibility they may crack or break if exposed to chemicals in certain cleaning agents.

More details.

Misuse and harms associated with prescription medication is an increasingly significant public health issue in Victoria.

Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) is a State government initiative to be implemented throughout Victoria in 2018.

Find out how this initiative will help to promote quality use of medicines and reduce overall prescription drug-related harm at an Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network event on 16 August in Glen Waverley.

Registration and details are available online​. Further information from Jana Dostal 0428 785 371 or jana.dostal@semphn.org.au

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Eight SEMPHN staff took part in the Vinnie's Community Sleepout in early June, spending a cold winters night sleeping on carboard sheets in the basement carpark at SEMPHN's Heatherton office.

As well as providing an eye-opening experience of sleeping rough, the event raised nearly $800 for Vinnies Sleepout and bought and collected sleeping bags to be distributed to people sleeping rough in the community.

This week we received feedback from staff at the Berwick Soup Van that the sleeping bags had been distributed and had been warmly received.

SEMPHN staff in their 'bedroom' for the Vinnies Community Sleepout

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Please check whether patients currently seeking asylum have received any letters from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) requesting that they get additional health tests at a Bupa medical centre.

The letters have apparently been sent to individuals with no record of IHMS screening being completed.

Despite the letters requesting additional tests, the Royal Children’s Hospital's Immigrant Health Service website suggests DIPB will accept previous results if provided on this Excel template.

More information about the letters is available on the Royal Children’s Hospital Immigrant Health Service website (scroll about halfway down the page) and from the Victorian Refugee Health Network.

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The news of Medicare numbers being available for sale on the dark web is a timely reminder to review your privacy policy and how well it is working.

• Do you know who has access to what?
• Are passwords secure and hard to guess?
• Are computer screens locked when left unattended?

RACGP has resources on privacy, including a privacy policy template, a patient privacy pamphlet template and general information about managing health information in general practice.

SEMPHN's ImproveIT resource has an article giving advice on 5 key areas to focus on:

• Staff awareness of online security
• Desktop and device security
• Email security
• Network security, and
• Working safely with online applications, websites and the Cloud

The federal government has commissioned a review into the HPOS following the news about Medicare numbers for sale on the internet.

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Another smartphone app is now licenced to connect to the My Health Record. Telstra’s HealthNow app  (iPhone only so far) is still in development, but Telstra Health plans to include diagnostic imaging and hospital check ins.

HealthNow joins HealthEngine, Healthi, My Child's eHealth Record  and Tyde in providing mobile access to the my Health Record.

Healthi, probably the most feature-rich app of the group, recently introduced new features including printing documents from the app and ability to add in family members’ records.

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Up to 95% of Victoria’s healthcare workers have experienced verbal or physical assault.

WorkSafe Victoria and DHHS have launched a public campaign — ‘It’s never OK’ — to improve awareness of this issue across the healthcare sector and broader Victorian community.

New TV advertisements can be viewed on the campaign website worksafe.vic.gov.au/itsneverok.

The website offers a suite of resources and tools to help you better prevent, manage and respond to the risk of occupational violence and aggression.

As employers, general practices are responsible for providing a safe workplace. This includes identifying violence and aggression risks, putting controls in place to reduce these risks, and promoting staff reporting and incident investigation.

In the coming weeks your clinic may also receive a campaign pack in the mail, including a campaign brochure and posters to display in waiting rooms and staff areas. Use and disseminate these resources and share the message that, no matter what the situation, occupational violence and aggression is not part of the job.

For more information about where to find guidance and support services, or to order further resources for your workplace, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/itsneverok

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

19 July		Multi-disciplinary meetings (MDM) 2017 GPs Moorabbin Details and registration
19 July		Melbourne Diabetes MHPN Meeting GPs Carlton Details and registration
20 July		Social Media & healthy Development Where To From Here? Frankston Details and registration
26 July		Benzodiazepine Reduction Programs in General Practice GPs, Pharmacists, Nurses, AOD Workers Doncaster Details and registration
27  July		Thunderstorm Asthma Workshops GPs, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Physiotherapists Berwick Details and registration
28 July		Respiratory update GPs Melbourne Details and registration
29 July		Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD)-Module 2 GPs Ballarat Details and registration
2 Aug		Dandenong Practice Networks Practice Managers, Practice Nurses Dandenong Details and registration
3 Aug		2017 Clinical audit & education program GPs Melbourne Details and registration
5 Aug		2017 Successfully Working with Women and their Health GPs Parkville Details and registration
16  Aug		Real-Time Prescription Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities GPs, Pharmacists, AOD Workers, Nurses Glen Waverley Details and registration

For more information about events contact Stephenie Cook ph: (03) 8514 6609 or events@semphn.org.au

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