Professional development opportunities and events Read more

Measles alert, 20 July
There is a confirmed case of measles in a person who was infectious in a number of locations in Melbourne Read more

SEMPHN joins discussion on elder abuse
Several local health and aged care service providers have come together to discuss the emerging issue of elder abuse. Read more

Excellent turnout for Health Care Homes update
Recently SEMPHN conducted an update and Q&A session for the catchment’s shortlisted Health Care Home general practices. Read more

LIVERability for a hep-free world
The annual LIVERability festival is a celebration for World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness of viral hepatitis. Read more

Free Meningococcal ACWY vaccine to 15–19yo
General practitioners in Victoria are encouraged to offer free Meningococcal ACWY vaccine to young people aged 15–19 years. Read more

GPs for eight new schools in SE Melbourne
Eight secondary schools in SE Melbourne have joined the Doctors in Secondary Schools program from this term. Read more

DESMOND to the rescue
DESMOND is a welcoming and non-judgemental environment where patients can plan how they would like to manage their diabetes. Read more

Bowel cancer screening project for SEMPHN
SEMPHN is partnering with Cancer Council Victoria and HotDoc to help general practices improve recall and reminders for cancer screening. Read more

New online COPD training
New online training from the Lung Foundation allows health professionals to focus on specific COPD topics and complete refresher courses. Read more

More thunderstorm asthma sessions
Additional sessions for thunderstorm asthma workshops are now available. Read more

There is a confirmed case of measles in a person who was infectious in a number of locations in Melbourne, including Sofitel Hotel, Queen Victoria Market, Tullamarine Airport and flight VA 841 to Sydney.

The case has travelled internationally recently and likely acquired the infection in Indonesia.

Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended the above places.

Isolate suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within your department/practice.

Notify the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section at the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.

Take blood for measles serology in all suspected cases.

Discuss whether to take nose and throat swabs for PCR with the Department if your suspicion for measles is high. Approval is required prior to PCR testing at the reference laboratory. PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate.

Read the full alert.

Several local health and aged care service providers came together to discuss the emerging issue of elder abuse at a roundtable hosted by Bentleigh-based Federal Member for Goldstein Tim Wilson on 20 July.

Federal Attorney General George Brandis, whose portfolio includes Human Rights, was special guest and led the discussion on ways to improve education and awareness of elder abuse amongst the wider community, including GPs who may often be the first to become aware of an issue. SEMPHN was represented by General Manager Strategic Relations Melissa Le Mesurier.

SEMPHN regularly engages with local councils, State and Federal MPs to discuss health issues and needs in our catchment.

On 14 July, SEMPHN CEO Elizabeth Deveny met with Frankston-based Federal Member for Dunkley Chris Crewther to discuss health initiatives and reforms in his electorate.

Recently SEMPHN conducted an update and Q&A session for the catchment’s shortlisted Health Care Home general practices.

With 17 of the 20 nominated practices attending, the 6 July session included:

• an update on Health Care Homes, including what support the SEMPHN Health Care Homes Team plans to provide, by SEMPHN’s GM Workforce Development Andrew Hanson,
• a Q&A teleconference session with the Department of Health facilitated by SEMPHN CEO Elisabeth Deveny, and
• group discussion about the implementation of Health Care Homes, including the Risk Stratification Tool, models of funding, patient enrolment, privacy, evaluation, My Health Record and training.

“There was high level of audience participation and vibrant networking during the event,” Health Care Homes Team Leader David Menzies said.

The annual LIVERability festival is a celebration for World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness of viral hepatitis especially in regions with a significant burden of disease associated with viral hepatitis.

Diverse Communities and the Hepatitis Challenge — Towards Elimination is a major event conducted in partnership with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, to be held at Queens Hall, Parliament House on the morning of Monday the 24th July. This summit will bring together decision makers, advocates, leading clinicians and representatives of key affected communities to explore the challenge of eliminating hepatitis B and C by 2030.  Register for this event here.

General practitioners in Victoria are encouraged to offer free Meningococcal ACWY vaccine to young people aged 15–19 years. This offer is available until 31 December 2017.

To combat a recent rise in cases of deadly strains of meningococcal disease, the Victorian Government has introduced a free, time-limited vaccination program for young people aged 15-19 as the most frequent carriers of the disease.

Patients aged 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19 at any time between 18 April 2017 and 31 December 2017 are eligible for a free dose of Menactra® vaccine.

A single dose of Menactra® provides protection against A,C,W,Y strains and will boost adolescents' protection from the C strain vaccine they likely received as a baby.

While local councils are delivering the vaccine in secondary schools, a significant number of eligible patients may not be in secondary school or may be absent when the vaccine is offered. The option to receive the vaccine from a GP is essential.

Order Menactra® vaccine using the Government vaccine order form.

Read the fact sheet for immunisation providers for details on consent, safety, reporting, eligibility and more.

Eight secondary schools in SE Melbourne have joined the Doctors in Secondary Schools program from this term

Education Minister James Merlino launched the next phase of the program, along with local GP Dr Floyd Gomes from Atticus Health, on 17 July.

SEMPHN has been helping recruit GPs to the program which makes GP consultations available to students one day a week, at no cost to them.

Supported by a nurse, GP services are delivered to students in purpose-built modern consulting rooms on the school's grounds, providing medical advice and health support including referrals for further physical and mental health management where needed.

For more information about the program and the local schools involved (with five more due to join in 2018), please visit http://www.semphn.org.au/resources/doctors-in-secondary-schools.html

For patients needing extra support with Type II Diabetes, consider referring them to the award-winning self-management DESMOND program (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed).  DESMOND is a welcoming and non-judgemental environment where patients can plan how they would like to manage their diabetes

DESMOND can help people with Type II Diabetes:

• lower HbA1c
• develop a better understanding of diabetes
• improve  physical activity levels
• take steps to lose weight
• take steps to quit smoking
• reduce risk of depression
• improve overall health

There are DESMOND courses run by Central Bayside Community Health and Peninsula Health Community Health over the next few months, as well as some in the Melbourne CBD run by Diabetes Victoria.

SEMPHN is partnering with Cancer Council Victoria and HotDoc to help general practices to improve their recall and reminder systems and processes, focusing on SMS reminders for cancer screening — Cancer Screening in General Practice Project.

Participating practices will have access to tailored support to promote bowel cancer screening to patients, and to make the most of increased awareness of bowel cancer screening through Cancer Council Victoria's new media campaign.

The exciting new campaign to encourage participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will launch in late July across a range of media including TV, radio and social media. The campaign creates an opportunity for general practices to promote bowel cancer screening.

To find out more about the Cancer Screening in General Practice Project and to find out how to get involved, see the project flyer or contact Alexandra McNaughton on 03 9514 6572 or alexandra.mcnaughton@cancervic.org.au.

New online training from the Lung Foundation allows GPs, nurses, exercise professionals and pharmacists to focus on specific COPD topics and to complete quick refresher courses.

The new modules include:

• Managing exacerbations of COPD
• Preventing deterioration of COPD (smoking cessation, immunisation and oxygen therapy)
• About COPD
• The respiratory system and COPD
• Pulmonary rehabiliation and physical activity
• Diagnosis of COPD (including case finding and spirometry)
• Inhaler device technique
• COPD medicines

Visit http://lungfoundation.com.au/health-professionals/training-and-education/ to access the online training or phone freecall 1800 654 301. Visit http://lungfoundation.com.au/health-professionals/ for additional resources.

Two additional sessions have been confirmed for the Thunderstorm Asthma workshops in August, and a few places are still available for the Berwick session as we go to press.

The additional sessions are:

• Wednesday 16 August at the Brighton Savoy Registration and details
•  Tuesday 29 August at the Rosebud Golf & Country Club  Registration and details

Places are still available for the Berwick session on Tuesday 27 July, but registrations will close Monday night so this is the last chance to register.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

26 July		Benzodiazepine Reduction Programs in General Practice GPs, Pharmacists, Nurses, AOD Workers Doncaster Details and registration
27  July		Thunderstorm Asthma Workshops GPs, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Physiotherapists Berwick Details and registration
28 July		Respiratory update GPs Melbourne Details and registration
29 July		Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD)-Module 2 GPs Ballarat Details and registration
2 Aug		Dandenong Practice Networks Practice Managers, Practice Nurses Dandenong Details and registration
3 Aug		2017 Clinical audit & education program GPs Melbourne Details and registration
5 Aug		2017 Successfully Working with Women and their Health GPs Parkville Details and registration
10 Aug		St Kilda Practice Networks Practice Managers, Practice Nurses St Kilda Details and registration
12 Aug		Acute Eye Conditions and Paediatric ENT GPs East Melbourne Details and registration
16  Aug		Real-Time Prescription Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities GPs, Pharmacists, AOD Workers, Nurses Glen Waverley Details and registration
16 Aug		Thunderstorm Asthma Workshops GPs, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Physiotherapists Brighton Details and registration
17 Aug		Frankston Practice Networks Practice Managers, Practice Nurses Frankston Details and registration
17-18 Aug		Australian Youth AOD Conference 2017 Allied Health Professional, GPs, Other Melbourne Details and registration
29 Aug		Thunderstorm Asthma Workshops GPs, Practice Nurse, Pharmacist, Physiotherapists Rosebud Details and registration

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

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