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Monday 27  February

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Huge month at SEMPHN with $1.8 million funding awarded
Mental health, chronic disease and immunisation have received funding from SEMPHN read more

Suicide prevention initatives for six more communities
Dandenong is one of the additional sites to receive suicide prevention initiatives read more

Are you a GP interested in improving local cancer pathways? 
SEMPHN is looking for GPs and can pay for your time read more

Are you treating patients with chronic pain?
Would you like a specialist pharmacotherapy support nurse to give support and guidance? read more

Pharmacotherapy nurse practitioner scholarships
Get support to complete your training and enhance services read more

My Health Record smartphone app
Patients can get easier access to their My Health Record read more

Alfred Allergy Symposium 
This full-day symposium has a focus on interactive case discussions read more

Insulin-dependent diabetes in Australia
AIHW has released a report on 2015 data read more

Practice nurses - want financial help getting to conferences, training days or for further study?
The Australian College of Nursing has scholarships available read more

Heavy menstrual bleeding: diagnosis and management
There's a free webinar on 28 February read more

RANZCP 2017 Congress - Adelaide
This year's theme is 'Speaking our Minds. Telling our Stories.' read more

Foods that do good
Get information about digestive problems, including lactose intolerance read more

Huge month at SEMPHN with $1.8million funding awarded

This month, $1.8 million in funding has been either awarded or is currently up for tender in the priority areas of mental health, chronic disease and immunisation.

SEMPHN’s funding opportunities and news are communicated via our SEMaphore newsletter, and there’s one being released today.

Sign-up here to receive SEMaphore straight to your inbox.

Previous editions of SEMaphore can be viewed on our website.

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Suicide prevention initiatives for six more communities

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) will partner with the Victorian State Government to help an extra six communities develop local strategies to prevent suicide.

The Victorian Government announced six place-based suicide prevention initiatives earlier this year:

  • Mornington Peninsula and Frankston
  • Brimbank and Melton
  • Whittlesea
  • Mildura
  • La Trobe Valley
  • Ballarat.

PHNs will expand on this to establish additional place-based suicide prevention sites in:

  • Dandenong
  • The Macedon Ranges
  • Benalla
  • Maroondah
  • Great South Coast 
  • Bass Coast.

PHNs will work with local services, schools and communities to develop and deliver suicide prevention plans that address local priorities and build on existing services and supports based on identified local needs.

A suite of interventions will be delivered in each site. The interventions may include:

  • suicide prevention support training for frontline staff including police and ambulance
  • gatekeeper training for people likely to come into contact with at risk individuals
  • school-based peer support and mental health literacy programs
  • community suicide prevention awareness program
  • responsible suicide prevention reporting by media
  • reducing access to lethal means of suicide.

The partnership will boost other Commonwealth-funded suicide-prevention initiatives by PHNs that involve working with GPs, health services and communities to deliver better care and results.

The Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016-25 sets a target to halve Victoria’s suicide rate by 2025.

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Are you a GP interested in improving local cancer pathways?

Optimal Care Pathways are national guides to the best cancer care.

The pathways:

  • describe key stages in a patient’s cancer journey - diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care
  • define optimal care.

SEMPHN is looking for GPs to help:

  • localise the Optimal Care Pathways
  • ensure information is relevant
  • make sure the pathways are useful in the primary care setting.

If you take part:

  • you will attend a maximum of three, one-hour meetings
  • you will be remunerated for your time.

Please contact Alisha Jackson to express your interest via email Alisha.Jackson@semphn.org.au or 8514 6615.

This project is being delivered through PHNs in partnership with Cancer Council Victoria and the Integrated Cancer Services.

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Are you treating patients with chronic pain?

Did you know:

  • treatment of chronic pain should be managed differently to that of acute pain?
  • long term use of prescription opioid medication can lead to tolerance and withdrawal issues?
  • better chronic pain management can lead to improved social, occupational and recreational activities?

SEMPHN, Peninsula Health and the Peninsula Model are offering a limited number of clinics the use of specialist Pharmacotherapy Support Nurses to provide free one-on-one patient support and GP guidance aimed at providing improved primary health care and management of patients with chronic pain.

It includes:

  • in-reach clinical support to identify and engage patients with chronic pain that may benefit from a medication review
  • improved management of chronic pain and improved access to appropriate support services for patients who have complex psychosocial issues
  • GP training and support provided on the medical management of opioid dependence
  • support by the pharmacotherapt support nurse for several weeks

To see if your clinic is eligible, please contact Jacqueline Apostolopoulos, Pharmacotherapy Liaison Coordinator on 0429 808 317 or email jacqueline.apostolopoulos@semphn.org.au.

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Pharmacotherapy nurse practitioner scholarships

The Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network is offering Scholarships for nurse practitioner candidates working in the AOD sector in the Southern and Eastern Melbourne metropolitan region.

This covers the Local Government areas of:

  • Stonnington, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.
  • Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Booroondara, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Knox, Monash.

The scholarships can support nurses to complete their nurse practitioner training and add to the pharmacotherapy treatment service system.

The nurse training will support GPs, addiction medicine specialists and allied health providers in the Southern Eastern Melbourne metropolitan area.

Some of the service system enhancements that nurse practitioners may offer in the AOD context are:

  • advanced assessment, consultation and education
  • pharmacotherapy specific clinical support
  • support and enhance the interface between the pharmacotherapy program and the AOD sector.

For more information and eligibility, visit here or contact Bernadette Lane, Coordinator Pharmacotherapy Network on 98514 6616 or via bernadette.lane@semphn.org.au. Applications close 3 March.

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My Health Record smartphone app

If you’re a practice who worked hard to meet the new ePIP requirements, you might be interested to know that patients now have easier access to their My Health Record via a usable smartphone app.

In other words, the ecosystem continues to grow and there’s now an increase in the likelihood of the documents you’ve uploaded actually being seen.

One of the main advantages of the app is that it only requires the username and password one time. Once it’s been entered, the app enables access via a PIN.

If any of your patients are interested in the app, point them to yourhealthi.com.au, where they can choose to download the iOS or Android versions.

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Alfred Allergy Symposium

A full-day Allergy Symposium at the Alfred Hospital on 18 March has been designed by specialists from The Alfred Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Service with GP input and is being delivered with support from SEMPHN. 

There is a focus on interactive case discussions of important allergic presentations including:

  • aero-allergy
  • thunderstorm asthma
  • drug allergy
  • food allergy
  • paediatric allergy
  • anaphylaxis
  • venom allergy
  • allergic skin conditions
  • occupational and environmental allergy

Cost: $180
RACGP QI&CPD Activity Number: 88722.

For further information and to register visit here.

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Insulin-dependent diabetes in Australia

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a report on the incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia.

In 2015, there were 28,775 people who began using insulin to treat their diabetes in Australia - 63% had type 2 diabetes, 26% had gestational diabetes, 9% had type 1 diabetes and 2% had other forms of diabetes or their diabetes status was unknown.

For more information check out the dynamic data display Incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia.

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Practice Nurses – want financial help getting to conferences, training days, or to do further study?

The Australian College of Nursing’s Scholarships for 2017 are open till 28 February.

The scolarships can be used for undergrad, post grad, or short courses, seminars and conferences. 

Find out more.

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Heavy menstrual bleeding: diagnosis and management

Jean Hailes is hosting a free webinar for health professionals on 28 February 7:30pm - 9:00pm.

The webinar will use case studies to explore a range of important issues relating to the management of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Topics covered will include:

  • Terminology and classification of abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Consultation essentials
  • Investigation and referral
  • Management options

Panel speakers:

  • Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM, MBBS, Hon LLD, FRANZCOG, FRCOG   Gynaecologist
  • Dr Janine Manwaring MBBS (Hons), FRANZCOG Gynaecologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon
  • Dr Amanda Newman MBBS, FRACGP General Practitioner

Register here.

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RANZCP 2017 Congress, Adelaide

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is hosting the ANZCP 2017 Annual Congress in Adelaide from 30 April – 4 May.

The congress is an educational event in Australasia for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals and this year’s theme is ‘Speaking our Minds. Telling our Stories’.

A broad and interesting scientific program will discuss the latest developments in mental health.

Keynote speakers include:

  • Professor Anthony Bateman (UK): Borderline Personality Disorder and psychotherapy
  • Professor Sir Mason Durie KNZM (NZ): Indigenous contributions to mental health
  • Professor Nav Kapur (UK): Suicide prevention, mental illness and depression
  • Dr Charles Kellner (USA): Electroconvulsive therapy
  • Commissioner Helen Milroy (AUS): Child psychiatry, trauma and indigenous health
  • Professor Dame Til Wykes DBE (UK): Rehabilitation

To view the conference program, visit the Congress website. Registrations are now open.

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Foods that do good

Health professionals can now get accessible, evidence-based and holistic nutrition information about digestive problems, including lactose intolerance.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1 Mar Mental Health Compass Information Session
All
Dandenong South
Details and registration
 
1 Mar Introduction to Bowel Cancer and Screening
Practice Nurses
Webinar
Details and registration
 
2 Mar Cabrini Lecture Series: Update on new medications and the increasing role of technology in diabetes (Lecture 2)
GPs
Brighton
Details and registration
 
5
Mar
Hepatitis B s100 Prescriber Course
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
7 Mar Suicide Prevention Workshop
Allied Health Providers, Mental Health Workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
9
Mar
   
Alcohol & Illicit Drug Use in LGBTIQ Communities
Allied Health Professional, GPs, Pharmacist
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
9
Mar
Cabrini GP Lecture 3, Common Foot & Ankle problems
GPs
Malvern
Details and registration
 
10
Mar
Suicide Prevention Workshop
Allied Health Professional, Case worker, Practice Nurse, Mental health Nurse, Psychologist
South Melbourne
Details and registration
 
16 Mar Understanding and responding to AOD issues
Health Professionals
Fitzroy
Details and registration
 
16
Mar
Cabrini GP Lecture 4, LUTS and the Prostate
GPs
Malvern
Details and registration
 
18 Mar The Alfred Allergy Symposium
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
18
Mar
Breast, Gynae and Prostate Cancer in Primary Care
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
22
Ma
r
Maximising Mental Health in Aged Care
GPs,  Aged Care Managers, Aged Care Nurses, Pharmacists, Allied Health Professionals
Mornington
Details and registration
 

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

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