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Monday 7
January
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In this edition
Professional development opportunities and events read more
Health alerts: hepatitis A outbreak
Read more about a free vaccination program read more
Health alert: measles in Victoria
Read more about notifiable conditions read more
Do you want to learn more about SafeScript?
Our website has some handy links read more
Mark your diaries for SEMPHN's new Practice Networks
Join us in Frankston or Dandenong this February read more
Cancer Council Victoria awarded tender to boost bowel cancer screening
Find out how they plan to increase screening in our catchment read more
Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) for Victorian GPs
Read more about the 2019 training dates for Module 2 read more
Do you have patients who find it hard to attend geriatrician appointments at Caulfield Hospital?
Accessing telehealth improves access to care read more
What are the most frequent reasons patients visit their doctor?
Read more in this nation-wide report read more
Join the conversation for World Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 7-13)
What do your patients need to know? read more
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Health alerts: hepatitis A outbreak
Since late last year, there has been a hepatitis A outbreak in Victoria.
As a result, the free two-dose hepatitis A vaccination program has been extended until 30 June 2019 for all men who have sex with men, people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months, homeless rough sleepers and adult prisoners.
Consider hepatitis A infection in patients presenting with a compatible illness in these risk groups and take blood for serology (IgM). Advise that sexual activity should be avoided while results are pending.
Notify all suspected cases of acute viral hepatitis without waiting for serology results to the Department by calling 1300 651 160.
Read the full alert here.
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Health alert: measles in Victoria
There have been two confirmed cases of measles who may have been infectious whilst at a number of places in Victoria between 10 and 22 December 2018.
Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset.
Notify the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.
Free measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is now available from GPs and some pharmacies for all eligible adults born during or since 1966.
Read the full alert here.
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Do you want to learn more about SafeScript?
We have launched a new page on our website to house all the information you need about SafeScript – real-time prescription monitoring.
SafeScript is a clinical decision support system that allows doctors and pharmacists to access an up-to-the-minute medicines supply history of certain high-risk medicines for their patient(s) at the point of consultation.
Find out more about accessing the SafeScript Hub, SafeScript training and the SafeScript portal by visiting the page.
SEMPHN's SafeScript page is available via the Resources - Alcohol and Other Drugs page.
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Mark your calendars for SEMPHN's new Practice Networks
Practice Managers and Practice Nurses work hard to create effective relationships between the practice and patients.
These network meetings aim to provide you with ongoing support, connections and training to aid you in your work.
Mark your calendars for the first dates of 2019:
Frankston, 14 February:
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When: 8.00am to 11.00am (registrations from 7.30am)
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Where: Functions By The Bay, Cnr Plowman Place and Young Street, Frankston
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Registration
Dandenong, 20 February:
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When: 5.30pm to 8.30pm (registrations from 5.00pm)
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Where: Atura Dandenong, 5-17 Doveton Avenue, Doveton
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Registration
Practice Managers will learn about Change Management. Practice Nurses will learn about Best Practice Continence Management (bladder and bowel). All participants will earn 2 CPD hours.
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Cancer Council Victoria awarded tender to boost bowel cancer screening
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Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, with one in 13 people diagnosed each year. Early detection can result in 90% of bowel cancers being treated successfully. Right now, fewer than 40% are detected early.
To improve early detection and better health outcomes for our community, SEMPHN has awarded Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) the tender to partner with University of Melbourne (UoM) to increase the rates of people participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP).
CCV & UoM have developed a comprehensive plan to;
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Mobilise our community to do bowel screening via a public education campaign, ads in local newspapers, radio targeted social media advertising, convenience advertising and a range of other promotion and educational activities
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Visit General Practices to increase staff knowledge about NBCSP, through team-based nurse-led education.
The plan covers the entire SEMPHN catchment, with more intensive effort in the Cities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Mornington Peninsula.
There will be targeted activities to reach Sri-Lankan, Indian and Vietnamese communities, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as these groups are known to have particularly low bowel screening rates.
The program will run from January 2019 to June 2021.
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Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) for Victorian GPs
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RACGP is offering two modules of training for Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) for GPs.
Module One is available online and focuses on evidence-based practice and consultation approaches that help prevent, identify and manage problems arising from opioid prescribing.
This education is an interactive two hours’ session presented by MATOD specialist GPs and is accredited for 4 Category 2 RACGP QI&CPD points.
Module Two is face-to-face workshop on MATOD for Victorian practitioners who wish to support their opioid dependent patients by prescribing methadone or Suboxone as part of their treatment planning.
This education is an interactive session presented by MATOD specialist GPs and is accredited for 40 Category 1 RACGP QI&CPD points.
This workshop takes place on Sunday 17 February, at RACGP House, 100 Wellington Parade East Melbourne.
Register here or view the flyer here for more information.
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Do you have patients who find it hard to attend geriatrician appointments at Caulfield Hospital?
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Geriatricians from Caulfield Hospital are using telehealth to improve access to specialist care for frail, older adults living in aged care facilities.
The Geriatrics Clinic Telehealth service includes:
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A comprehensive face-to-face assessment in person at the facility or Caulfield Hospital
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A detailed holistic plan addressing patient problems
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Telehealth review appointments with patients, their families, GPs and care providers
How does a telehealth appointment work?
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Just like any other outpatient appointment with patients/residents speak to their specialist via a video call, using a computer or device in a virtual consultation room
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GPs, practice nurses and aged care facility staff are encouraged to participate and support consultations (MBS Telehealth item numbers are available for GPs)
How to refer:
A GP referral to the Geriatrics Clinic is required. If a comprehensive geriatric assessment is needed, please state on the referral.
Fax GP referrals: 9076 6435
Referral enquiries: 9076 6800
Cost: All consults with geriatricians are bulk billed. There is no cost to patients.
Telehealth enquiries: Helen Mertin, Project Officer on 9076 6424 (Mon, Tues, Thurs) or at h.mertin@alfred.org.au
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What are the most frequent reasons patients visit their doctor?
A new report on general practice in Australia, released by the Department of Health and NPS MedicineWise, shows that the three most frequent reasons recorded as to why patients go to a doctor are to obtain a prescription, for review of their conditions, and for upper respiratory tract infections.
The General Practice Insights Report 2016-17, shows that the top five chronic conditions patients presented with to GPs were hypertension, depression, dyslipidaemia, anxiety and asthma.
This report will help GPs to understand the health of their practice population and to provide the best possible care to patients.
The findings were derived from completely de-identified information from 2.1 million patients who attended 475 general practices across Australia.
Read the full report here.
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Join the conversation for World Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 7-13)
This week is a good reminder to talk to your patients who are interested in conceiving a child about the importance of folic acid.
A lack of folic acid increases the risk of babies developing serious birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spinabifida and anencephaly.
This is why it’s so important that women increase their intake of folic acid before they try to conceive, in order to prevent most NTDs.
Read or print the folic acid leaflet, or download the social media kit for conversation about folic acid this week.
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