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Monday 15  January

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Referrals open: new mental health services 
Get free mental health support for low-income patients read more

Free e-learning to help your practice with refugee and asylum seeker health care
Get support to give the right health care read more

Codeine changes come into play 1 February
Are you ready for the rescheduling? read more

GP training for the management of opioid dependence
Module 1 and 2 training is coming up read more

Codeine rescheduling - practice tips for GP, pharmacy & practice readiness
Come to this event on 6 Febraury in Glen Waverley read more

My Health Record: Medicine Information View
Reduce the time it takes to get a complete picture of your patients' medications read more

Free workshop: My Health Record in Pharmacy
Pharmacists, learn all about it on 30 January read more

Do you know someone with a lived experience of suicide in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula?
There's an opportunity to be involved in local suicide prevention activities read more

After cancer treatment, help your patients maintain their health
Check out these local exercise physiology programs read more

Do you work with an outstanding practice nurse?
Nominate now for the APNA nurse awards read more

End of grass pollen season monitoring
Forecasts will resume on 1 October read more

Referrals open: new mental health services

Did you know that you can refer patients into two new mental health services, funded by SEMPHN?

Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) – flexible psychological services for people with mild-moderate mental illness, like mild depression and anxiety. Replacing Access To Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS).

Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) – flexible support and clinical services for people with severe-complex mental illness. Replacing Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP).

The new services are for people with health care cards or who can’t afford/access similar services and especially designed for people from hard-to-reach population groups.

How can I refer?

Fax a referral and GP Mental Health Treatment Plan to fax: 9793 9052 or call SEMPHN Mental Health Intake on ph:1800 862 363 (business hours) for priority assistance.

Find referral forms here.

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Free e-learning to help your practice with refugee and asylum seeker health care

Almost 14,000 humanitarian entrants are accepted into Australia each year.

General practice plays a key role in supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Many people have very complex health conditions, either having had interrupted healthcare access before coming to Australia, or due to coming from regions with higher burdens of specific diseases and conditions.

SEMPHN, in collaboration with the Victorian Refugee Health Network (VRHN) and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN), has developed e-learning to support general practice in delivering high-quality health services to refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria.

The new resource Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health is available on SEMPHN’s Practice Coaching website.

There are five video lessons from Refugee Health Fellows and other experts in the field of refugee health working in Victoria’s Local Health Network (Monash, RCH, Royal Melbourne). 

Topics include:

  • Identifying refugees and asylum seekers in your general practice
  • Working with interpreters and ensuring effective communication
  • Conducting a refugee health assessment and common illnesses
  • Immunisation for asylum seekers and refugees
  • Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS): Focus on refugee health.

On completion (approx. two hours), participants are issued a Certificate of Completion which can be used to demonstrate CPD.

Registration for Practice Coaching is quick and free. Register here.

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Codeine changes come into play 1 February

From 1 February, all medicines that contain low-dose codeine will no longer be available from pharmacies without a script.

You may find more people coming to your practice or pharmacy seeking advice or help.

Here are four things you can do to prepare for the changes:

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GP training for the management of opioid dependence

With codeine being rescheduled to 'prescription only' on 1 February, it's an important time for GPs to understand opioid dependence.

Codeine dependence is treated in the same way as any type of opioid dependence - with Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD), also commonly known as Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT) or Pharmacotherapy.

RACGP provides Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training for GPs, which consists of two parts:

Module 1 – Safer Opioid Prescribing
A two hour online training presented by specialist MATOD GPs, accredited for 4 Category 2 RACGP QI&CPD points for the 2017-2019 triennium. Click here for learning objectives and registration.

Module 2
A full day interactive workshop presented by specialist MATOD GPs, accredited for 40 Category 1 RACGP QI&CPD points for the 2017-2019 triennium.  Click here to register for the first available workshop for 2018 on 18 February.

Learning outcomes:

  • Outline the potential benefits and risks associated with opioid prescribing.
  • Recognise, prevent and respond to problematic pharmaceutical opioid use.
  • Identify the legal issues regarding the prescribing of buprenorphine and methadone.
  • Implement safe and effective opioid and or methadone prescribing as part of a broader pain management plan.
  • Safely and effectively prescribe buprenorphine and or methadone for opioid dependence.

Please note, any GP can prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone for up to five patients without doing the above training. 

For more information click here or contact A4PN@semphn.org.au.

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Codeine rescheduling - practical tips for GP, pharmacy & practice readiness

Being ready for codeine rescheduling, and working closely with other health professionals, will help make sure that patients affected by the rescheduling are effectively managed.

Don't miss this opportunity on 6 February in Glen Waverley to upskill, engage with expert speakers and prepare yourself for the changes.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the rationale behind the rescheduling of low-dose codeine medicines to Prescription Only
  • Understand how to manage patients in the GP and pharmacy setting who are impacted by codeine rescheduling, including management of pain, dependence and referral to ancillary services
  • Implement a practice-wide systematic approach and response to codeine rescheduling in the General Practice setting.

Speakers

  • Dr Matthew Frei - Addiction Medicine Specialist, Turning Point (Eastern Health): The rationale for codeine rescheduling
  • Dr Ferghal Armstrong - General Practitioner: GP case studies and discussion
  • Irvine Newton - PSA educator and Pharmacist: Pharmacy case studies and discussion
  • Anastasia Dimitriou - Practice Manager, Mediclinic Clayton: Implementing a practice-wide response to codeine rescheduling

This activity has been approved by the RACGP QI&CPD Program. Total Points: 4 Category 2 points. Activity ID: 119822.

Cost: Free. A light meal will be provided at 6:30pm.

Register here.

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My Health Record: Medicine Information View

The Medicine Information View in My Health Record offers a consolidated view of a patient’s medication information.

Data is gathered from:

  • prescription, dispense and PBS records (up to two years)
  • most recent Shared Health summary and Discharge summary
  • event summaries, e-referrals, specialist letters
  • patient’s personal health summary – allergies, adverse reactions.

It will 'quick sort' and display so you can view:

  • date order
  • alphabetical order
  • medicines & allergies on one screen.

You can also identify:

  • duplicates in medications
  • medications a patient may have stopped taking.

The Medicine Information View can reduce the time it usually takes to search through recent summaries or relevant documents to find a more complete and up-to-date view of a patient’s medications.

This view can be found in most clinical information systems under the DOCUMENTS LIST.

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Free Workshop: My Health Record in Pharmacy

Following the My Health Record expansion program, all Australians will have a record by the end of this year unless they indicate that they don't want one.

This will support timely access to important health information by both patients and their treating healthcare providers, and improve patient health outcomes.

A Pharmaceutical Society of Australia workshop on 30 January in Parkville will introduce My Health Record and explore its features and functionalities, and benefits and uses, as they relate to pharmacy practice. The workshop will prepare you to engage with the system and integrate it with your clinical workflow.

The activity is accredited for up to two hours of Group 2 CPD suitable for inclusion in your individual CPD plan.

This is a free event, but participants need to register here. Light refreshments, tea/coffee and workshop materials will be provided.

For more information contact digitalhealth@psa.org.au or phone 1300 369 772.

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Frankston Mornington Peninsula: chance to be involved in suicide prevention activities

People with a lived experience of suicide in the Frankston Mornington Peninsula region now have an opportunity to be actively involved in suicide prevention activities.
 
Roses in the Ocean is offering a SEMPHN-funded workshop, called 'Our Voice', on February 15 and 16 in Mornington. It's free of charge for participants (spaces strictly limited).

Lived experience of suicide can be:

  • being bereaved by suicide
  • having experienced suicidal thoughts
  • having survived a suicide attempt
  • supporting someone who has been suicidal.

The workshop is designed to help people understand how their own lived experience can help to reduce the rates of suicide and its impact in a local community.

Interested participants need to read the document 'Am I ready' and then submit an Expression of Interest. They will receive a phone call from a member of Roses in the Ocean who will provide further workshop details.

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After cancer treatment, help your patients maintain their health

Once people finish their treatment for cancer, whether it's chemotherapy with or without surgery, their lives change. Some will live with long term medical issues and many will have a body that's changed. All people should be encouraged to stay healthy through healthy eating and physical activity.

Referring to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist is great way to give your patients the right advice and support.

Exercise Physiology programs like these are located aross South Eastern Melbourne:

The Peninsula Health Community Health Cancer rehabilitation program in Frankston and Rosebud offers a Group Survivorship program that include an exercise physiologist.

Or, you could consider private, allied health-led cancer rehabilitation programs.

For people who are unable to access a face-to-face service, Cancer Council Victoria's phone line (13 11 20) offers a Healthy Living After Cancer phone coaching program as well.

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Do you work with an outstanding practice nurse?

Now's the time to recognise the great work of your colleagues!

Nominations are open for APNA Nurse of the Year and APNA Recently Graduated Nurse of the Year.

The APNA Nurse Awards recognise exceptional nurses for their leadership and excellence in the field of primary health care nursing: nurses who inspire others and provide a voice on behalf of their community.

The award winners will be presented at the 10th annual APNA National Conference: Nurseforce for the Future in Brisbane in May 2018.

Applications close on 23 February. See eligilibity criteria and nominate now.

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End of grass pollen season monitoring

To coincide with the end of grass pollen season, Victoria’s epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasting system stopped delivering forecasts on 31 December.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasts will resume at the start of the 2018 Victorian grass pollen season on 1 October.

People with asthma or hay fever should not be complacent when it comes to their asthma management and symptom control. Please remind patients to take preventer medication regularly as prescribed and to use inhalers correctly.

More information on thunderstorm asthma and asthma first aid.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

23
Jan
  Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program- Part 2 
Pharmacists
Webinar- attend via through live streaming on mobile phone, tablet or computer.
Details and registration
 
30
Jan
  My Health Record in Pharmacy
Pharmacists
Parkville
Details and registration
 
31
Jan
  Holmesglen Multi-disciplinary meetings (MDM) 2018
GPs
Moorabbin
Details and registration
 
31
Jan
  Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training Workshop
Relationship Counsellors
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
1
Feb
  Common vulval conditions: all that itches is not thrush
GPs
Webinar
Details and registration
 
3
Feb
  Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training Workshop
GP, Practice Nurse
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
6
Feb
  Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention training workshop
Practice Administration, Practice Managers
SEMPHN Dandenong
Details and registration
 
6
Feb
  Codeine Rescheduling - Practical Tips for GP, Pharmacy & Practice Readiness
Allied Health Professional, GP, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Practice Manager
Glen Waverley
Details and registration
 
8
Feb
  SANE Suicide Prevention Workshop
Mental Health Workers
Mornington
Details and registration
 
9-10
Feb 
  Contemporary Chronic Disease Management Workshop
Nurse
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
11
Feb
  Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program- Part 1
Pharmacist
Cranbourne
Details and registration
 
13
Feb
  Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Training Workshop
Relationship Counsellors
Pakenham
Details and registration
 
15
Feb
  Practice Management Masterclass - Last Masterclass for this Financial Year
Practice Managers
Frankston
Details and registration
 
15
Feb
  St Kilda Practice Networks
Practice Nurse, Practice Managers
St Kilda
Details and registration
 
15
Feb
  Our Voice: Empowering lived experience to save lives
Anyone with a lived experience of suicide who lives, works or studies in the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula region.
Mornington
Details and registration
 
15
Feb
  The power of primary care in prostate cancer
GP, Practice Nurse
North Melbourne
Details and registration
 
18
Feb
  Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) - Module 2
GPs
East Melbourne
Details and registration
 
25
Feb
  Hepatitis B s100 Prescriber Course
GPs
Eumemmerring
Details and registration
 

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

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