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Health advisoryIncreasing notifications of infectious syphilis in women of reproductive ageNotifications of infectious syphilis among women of reproductive age have substantially increased, particularly in major cities of Australia, posing an increased risk of congenital syphilis and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Specific actions for clinicians include:
ReferralsEaster: SEMPHN and HeadtoHelp referrals closed on public holidaysSEMPHN's Access & Referral will be closed from 2 April (Good Friday), and will open again for referrals on Tuesday 6 April from 8.30 am. Any referrals that come through during this time will be processed from 6 April onwards. The HeadtoHelp phone line will also be closed from 2 April (Good Friday) and open again for referrals on Tuesday 6 April. A voicemail will be used at this time with this information, and HeadtoHelp will attend to any messages left by callers from 6 April onwards. For those seeking urgent help during this time:
Health advisoryNew infection control pilot projectMurray PHN on behalf of the state Department of Health and Victorian PHNs, will seek submissions from today for suitably credentialed and qualified infection prevention and control professionals to develop and pilot a phone and remote video-based advisory service that will deliver individual, tailored infection prevention and control assessment and support services to health services across Victoria. Click here for more information, including how to register for tenders. Do you know someone who would like to share a story about their health?We are looking for people who are willing to be interviewed about their health experiences. The interviews will be shown as a series of (de-identified) presentations or videos including audio interviews, quotes, and illustrations to portray stories like 'Sam' - to the left of this article. We are looking for people with certain demographics and experiences, including:
After completing the interview, participants will be compensated for their time. I’m a health professional – how can I share this opportunity with my clients?
ReferralsSEMPHN now uses DocuSign for contractsWe’re changing the way we manage contract execution. From 1 April 2021, SEMPHN will use DocuSign — a secure, digital way to manage contracts online with less waiting and more certainty. With one click providers can sign contracts and SEMPHN receives notification immediately. No need to copy, scan or post. Like to know more about DocuSign? Got any questions? COVID-19COVID-19 pages for health professionalsSEMPHN has a number of COVID-19 information pages for health professionals on our website. Follow the links to access SEMPHN's pages on: COVID-19COVID vaccination home visitsThe Department of Health has advised that General Practitioners are permitted to take vaccine to the homes of housebound patients as part of the Phase 1B rollout, provided that GPs manage the vaccination cold chain. This is positive news for those who are infirm and at home and provides flexibility for patients and GPs. All vaccinations are required to be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) as per the current practice for COVID vaccinations. For more information on the AIR, visit www.healthvitalIT.com.au How does the COVID-19 vaccine affect people with cancer?Cancer Australia has released information on the COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer. This includes a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the COVID-19 vaccines and cancer, and links to health professional guidance and research articles. Cancer Australia’s Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer were developed with input from people affected by cancer, clinicians and other key cancer control stakeholders, and queries and concerns raised on social media. The answers to the FAQs are based on information and evidence currently available in Australia and internationally. The FAQs and information will be updated regularly as new information emerges. Webinar: Hot Topics in Vaccine ScienceThe Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) is hosting a webinar about Hot Topics in Vaccine Science on Monday 12 April 2021, 7pm – 8:30pm AEST. An expert panel will be presenting the latest information on Influenza in 2021, Allergies and COVID-19 vaccines, and an update on the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate. When: Monday, 12 April, 7 pm – 8:30 pm Practice Managers, save the dates for Quality ImprovementPractice managers join us on 14 April, 12.30 pm –1.30 pm for part one of a two-part series on Quality Improvement (QI). In this first session, led by Dr Paresh Dawda, we will be exploring the basics of Quality Improvement in general practice. Part 1 Part two will look to the next steps of QI, translating theory into practice. Part 2 What is the role of practice nurses in sexual health? (webinar)Practice nurses, join us on 15 April, 7 pm – 8 pm for a webinar about the role of the practice nurse in sexual and reproductive health. Our guest speakers are:
When: Thursday, 15 April 2021, 7 pm – 8 pm All Are Welcome: LGBTQI+ Inclusive Practice Toolkit for GP PracticesEnliven Victoria and Thorne Harbour Health are proud to launch their LGBTQI+ Inclusive Practice Toolkit for GP Practices. Do you want to make small but meaningful steps in your journey to inclusive practice? Don’t have sufficient resources to undertake Rainbow Tick accreditation? The All Are Welcome website can support you to these small steps and to frame them as Quality Improvement activities for accreditation purposes. Not sure where to start? Your practice can choose to focus on Knowledge and Understanding, Attitudes, Communication and/or Practice Environment. A very simple checklist has been included to help practices to decide where to focus first. You can then use the QI activities suggested on the website, or opt to design your own. Resources are provided to assist you to implement each QI activity. You can also share some of your LGBTQI+ Inclusive Practice activities or resources so that they can be showcased on the website to inspire other practices. ResourcesWhich online mental health portal?Online mental health resources can be confusing. There's so much available and it's hard to know what's useful. One place to start to find information about what’s available and what will help people's psychological wellbeing, are portals. There are three major Australian portals:
If you prefer to speak to someone about local mental health services, contact our Access & Referral team on 1800 862 363 (8.30 am—4.30 pm weekdays) or call HeadtoHelp on 1800 595 212, Monday to Friday, 8.30 am—5 pm. Professional development and events
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