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Monday 27  March

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Building Capacity for General Practice - grants coming
Grant opportunities with a total funding pool of around $2.5 million will open soon read more

New mental health model and services coming soon 
Soon you'll hear about changes to the way mental health services will be delivered in our catchment read more

Health Care Homes - brief update
The successful applicants are likely to be announced in April read more

Recall - EpiPen 300 microgram adrenaline injection syringe auto-injector
This recall might affect your patients with EpiPens read more

Cancer update
National cervical screening program and colorectal cancer guidelines are available read more

2017 seasonal influenza vaccine program
The vaccine is pre-allocated to clinics in early April read more

Are you a clinician supporting patients with Hepatitis C?
SEMPHN is supporting a range of educational activities read more

Medicare billing assurance toolkit
Do you want to reduce the risks of incorrect MBS billing? read more

Final chance - have a say in the allied health workforce
Comment on the occupational therapy, social work and psychology workforce read more

Building capacity for General Practice - grants coming

Soon, SEMPHN will release a tender for grants with a total funding pool of around $2.5 million for a large number of General Practices within the SEMPHN region.

The grants will build capacity of systems and processes to support General Practice for areas such as care coordination and digital health.

Sign up for information updates via SEMPHN'S commissioning newsletter.

The information evening about the tender on 30 March has been postponed and those registered will be contacted personally. New dates will be advised shortly. 

Register your interest for these grants on SEMPHN's Tenderlink page.

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New mental health model and services coming soon

Soon you’ll hear about changes to the way mental health services will be delivered in our catchment.

Changes are happening in mental health approaches, and service types, across all PHNs, guided by the Australian Government.

Why is mental health changing?

Forty percent of SEMPHN residents have mental health needs.

Last year, SEMPHN consulted with a range of consumers and providers in our catchment and undertook literature reviews and data analysis about what's working in mental health, and what's not.

This, combined with the fact that there is an imbalance of access to services for consumers (in terms of where and what services are offered), has led to SEMPHN developing innovative approaches to mental health primary care.

By delivering a greater range of treatment options to match a range of needs and locations, people will have better access to services that can help.

In line with the Commonwealth's guidance for PHNs, SEMPHN has developed a Mental Health Stepped Care Model (currently at final draft stage) that is being used to plan and develop mental health services.

Commissioning opportunities for mental health services are coming soon and will be announced via our SEMaphore newsletter (sign-up here), with information sessions shortly after.

For information about the tender as it's released, register your interest via SEMPHN's Tenderlink page.

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Health Care Homes - brief update

SEMPHN now has a Health Care Homes team in place so we can provide the best support when the Department announces the successful applicants.

We understand these announcements will now be made in April 2017, so please keep a lookout for notifications from the Department in coming weeks.

If you have any questions or would like a practice visit regarding Health Care Homes, please contact the team at hch@semphn.org.au.

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Recall - EpiPen 300 microgram adrenaline injection syringe auto-injector

Alphapharm, in consultation with the TGA, is recalling four batches of EpiPen 300 microgram adrenaline injection syringe auto-injectors. EpiPens from affected batches can be returned to pharmacies for a refund or exchanged for one from a different, unaffected batch free of charge.

EpiPen is used in emergency situations to treat people who are having a severe allergic reaction (also known as anaphylaxis).

EpiPens from the four affected batches may contain a defective part that could result in the auto-injector failing to activate or a need to apply more force than normal to activate.

The affected batch numbers are:

Batch number   Expiry
5FA665               April 2017
5FA6651             April 2017
5FA6652             April 2017
5FA6653             April 2017

For more information visit here

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Cancer update

National Cervical Screening Program guidelines

The new National Cervical Screening Program guidelines are now available. The guidelines cover the management of screen-detected abnormalities, screening in specific populations and the investigation of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

The guidelines are available now to allow health professionals to prepare for the transition to the renewed National Cervical Screening Program. They are for reference purposes only until the renewed program is implemented.

View the short form summary of the recommendations, or the recommendations in full.

Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer

The draft clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer are open for public consultation until 8 April. Get more information, or give your feedback as part of the consultation.

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2017 seasonal influenza vaccine program

Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. Recent evidence suggests protection against influenza may start to decrease from three to four months following vaccination. Early vaccination needs to be balanced with this.

The quadrivalent influenza vaccine is pre-allocated to all medical clinics in early April. Top-up vaccine can be ordered on receipt of your pre-allocation.

For advice for immunisation providers regarding the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2017 visit Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

Read the updated Influenza chapter of The Australian Immunisation Handbook, 10th Edition (6 March 2017)

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Are you a clinician supporting patients with Hepatitis C?

SEMPHN is supporting the following opportunities for clinicians who work with patients who have Hepatitis C:

1. A full-day educational activity on 30 April for clinicians working in alcohol and drug settings. This day will build skills and knowledge to prescribe direct-acting antivirals (DAA) treatment regimens for Hepatitis C infection. The event will be in Dandenong with registrations opening soon. Please check the SEMPHN events calendar for details.

2. An online Q&A session with Dr Thomas Schultz, Infectious Disease Physician, on April 19 at 7pm.  Join the Skype meeting by phone or computer to have your questions answered about curing Hepatitis C.

3. A Hepatitis C Special Interest Group (SIG). The group gives clinicians the opportunity to stay in contact, share resources and improve knowledge through a dedicated online discussion group.  An opportunity to come together for at least one education/networking dinner is proposed for mid-2017. Please email Kate.ryan@semphn.org.au for more details.

4. A free online webinar Medication update for Pharmacists.

5. A free online learning module for GPs Curing hepatitis C: Your role as a GP.

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Medicare Billing Assurance Toolkit

Do you want to reduce the risks of incorrect MBS billing and increase the efficiency of your practice? The Medicare Billing Assurance Toolkit can help.

The toolkit includes a range of checklists, templates and suggestions to make it easier for GPs and their practices to manage risks that inadvertently cause incorrect billing under Medicare.

The toolkit has been developed by the Department of Health, which worked closely with peak health bodies, including the AMA.

The full toolkit is on the Department of Health’s website.

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Final chance - have a say in the allied health workforce

Victorian allied health practitioners, employers and managers are invited to identify issues that influence the accessibility and effectiveness of the allied health workforce in Victoria.

Occupational therapy, Social Work and Psychology are currently being researched by the Allied Health Workforce Research Program.

The survey can be completed by individual practitioners as well as employers and managers of psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists who work in any employment sector or setting in Victoria.

You can forward the survey to colleagues who may not have access to the survey.

For more information, see the Program Factsheet and Frequently Asked Questions.

The research program will inform policies and programs within the Department of Health & Human Services regarding health workforce development and reform for the allied health professions and the associated training system.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

     
28
Mar
Opioid Pharmacotherapy Small Group Learning - Southern
GPs
SEMPHN Dandenong
Details and registration
 
28
Mar
Pancreatic cancer - navigating the journey
GPs, Practice Nurse,Community
Webinair: Your computer or mobile device
Details and registration
 
29
Mar
Dandenong Practice Networks
Practice Nurse, Owner/Principal, Practice Manager
Dandenong 
Details and registration
 
31
Mar
2017 Successfully Working with Women and their Health
GP's
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
3
Apr
LGBTI Aged Care Training
Allied Health Professional, Manager, Practice Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, Pharmacist
South Melbourne
Details and registration
 
5
Apr
Naloxone Training for Pharmacists
Pharmacists
Mornington
Details and registration
 
6
Apr
Suicide Prevention Workshop
Allied Health Professional, Practice Nurse, Mental health, Nurse, Psychologist
South Melbourne
Details and registration
 
6
Apr
Opioid Pharmacotherapy Small Group Learning - Bayside
GPs
St Kilda
Details and registration
 
19
Apr
Curing hepatitis C: Your questions answered
GP's
Webinar
Details and registration
 
20
Apr
Frankston Practice Networks
Practice Nurse, Owner/Principal, Practice Manager
Frankston
Details and registration
 

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

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