COVID-19 UPDATE

As restrictions are lifted vigilance is essential

With COVID-19 restrictions easing it is more important than ever to remain vigilant. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Traces of COVID-19 are still being identified in sewage treatment plants.

Last week a new case of COVID-19 was identified in a staff member working at a Sydney hotel complex. People who travelled on the light rail at specific times on 27, 28, 29 and 30 November are advised to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative test. People who travelled in the same train carriage on these dates are asked to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, even if they receive a negative test result. For full details see here.

HealthPathways: Sydney
HealthPathways: South East Sydney 

Check the NSW Health website for COVID-19 updates.

For local advice visit the CESPHN coronavirus webpage.

VOX POP

Supply of masks to general practice and allied health GP/AHP

CESPHN is continuing to support general practice and allied health practitioners with masks to help stop COVID-19. We will be processing online orders for masks up until Wednesday 16 December.  This will allow Australia Post time to deliver before the xmas and new year public holidays.  Online mask orders will commence again the week of 4 January 2021.

Please consider your stock requirements during this time and place your order accordingly  CESPHN Mask Request Form - COVID-19.  If you have further questions please email coronavirus@cesphn.com.au

Expanded allied health access for aged care residents   GP/AHP/COMM

The government has announced changes to the Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program, a program that provides access to a wide range of allied health services. The program is currently capped at five annual sessions across all allied health disciplines.

However, the new announcements mean that:

• All allied health professions eligible to provide services under the CDM program will be eligible to claim one annual assessment item per aged care resident.

• All allied health professions eligible to provide services under the CDM program will be eligible to claim a flag fall to assist in the cost of travelling to a residential aged care facility.
   
• Three professions— exercise physiology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy —will be eligible to provide an additional five annual sessions to aged care residents. This will bring the total annual number of sessions that aged care residents can access to ten with five restricted to the new COVID-19 musculoskeletal interventions.

The changes will take effect from 10 December 2021.

Expanded mental health access to residents of aged care homes  GP/AHP/COMM

The Medicare Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners program, which currently funds up to 20 face-to-face sessions with a psychologist, mental health occupational therapist, or mental health social worker, will now be available to any residents of an aged care home. 

The Better Access items will continue to require a GP referral for an initial six sessions with additional referrals required to access the next blocks of four and ten sessions. All allied health professions eligible to provide services under the Better Access program will be eligible to claim a flag fall to assist in the cost of travelling to a residential aged care facility.

Immunisation Update 9 December 2020 GP/AHP

10 free discount codes available for Benchmarque Foundations of Immunisation course.

Keep up to date with the latest immunisation news:

• Protecting your vaccines over summer
• Managing anaphylaxis including FREE anaphylaxis e-training course
• Mandatory reporting of flu and COVID-19 vaccines to AIR

The Men’s Table – A mental health group for men GP/AHP/COMM

The Men’s Table creates a unique environment for men to openly share their stories, challenges, highs and lows with a group of men in a respectful and trusting atmosphere. The groups are peer-led, supportive, accessible and are held monthly. 

Head to Health – finding trusted digital mental health resources GP/AHP/COMM

Head to Health is the Australian Government’s digital mental health gateway, bringing together evidence-based apps, online programs, online forums and phone services as well as digital information resources from Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.

Digital mental health resources are especially beneficial for people with or at risk of mild to moderate mental health difficulties. 

Annual health checks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians GP/AHP/COMM

Only about 30 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are accessing the MBS 715 health check. Resources have been developed to help improve the uptake of 715 health checks in the community.

Research opportunity - SPHERE COPD Study GP

The SPHERE COPD study is evaluating the feasibility of a system designed to remotely monitor the health of COPD patients in the community. Participants will be provided with a pulse oximeter and peak flow meter tethered via Bluetooth to a pre-configured smartphone and asked to provide daily measurements.

Demonstration available at: https://youtu.be/EzKMq9EMVcU

Interested GPs can contact Tom Bradbury at: tbradbury@georgeinstitute.org.au.

‘Here & Now’ – new TransHub resources for clinicians  AHP/GP

Here & Now is a new set of resources for trans people who have experienced sexual assault, including two videos for health professionals to support trans patients. 

You can also download two new pronouns posters for your clinical spaces, including one for you to include your own name and pronouns.

Survey: Telehealth in Australian primary care during COVID-19 GP/AHPs

Researchers from the University of Wollongong, University of Notre Dame Australia, University of Sydney and Bond University are asking GPs, nurses and allied health professionals working in primary care to provide feedback on their experiences of using telehealth during COVID-19.

This short 10-minute survey will help inform advocacy and current health policy. 

Your patients' journey through the health system – the LUMOS Project  GP

Would your practice benefit from detailed reports on your patients' journey through the health system? The LUMOS project now allows your practice data to be linked to public hospital and other NSW Health data sets.

Keep your clinical software up to date  GP

General practices, it's important to take the time to install software updates as soon as they become available. Installing regular updates reduces vulnerabilities and increases your business’s protection against loss of money, data and identity. Continuing to use old software versions can leave your practice open to attacks and cybercrime. 

PSS end of year arrangements GP

PSS referral places are very tight this month. Due to increased demand for most of this year, all our PSS providers are close to full capacity. 

Consequently not all December PSS referrals will be able to be placed, and most will need some days to be processed. We will keep you informed. 

If you would like to discuss other referral options for your patients, you can still call the CESPHN Mental Health Intake line on 1300 170 554, or refer to this guide here.

International Medicine in Addiction Conference 2021 GP

Registrations for the International Medicine in Addiction Conference, IMiA21 Virtual, are open.

IMiA will be running virtually on 26 to 28 February, and will deliver an engaging educational agenda to delegates across the world.

This year’s conference will again present an innovative scientific program and international keynote speakers to delegates, while focusing on the relationships doctors build with their patients and communities.

EVENTS