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Tuesday 13
June
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In this edition
Professional development opportunities and events read more
Tenders open for mental health services
Support consumers with severe mental illness read more
My Health Record - Assisted Registration Policy
You need to have one of these read more
Chronic Hepatitis C pathway available now
SEMPHN has developed an easy-to-follow guide read more
Have your say about urgent after-hours primary care services funded by the MBS
Use the survey link to feedback read more
Get the most out of MBS item numbers
There's online training for diabetic retinopathy read more
Medicinal cannabis, alcohol and opioids
Come to the biennial Frankston forum read more
Volunteer GPs for Australian Medicines Handbook
Reference group members are needed read more
New website for Decision Assist
There's improved content and functionality read more
Have the CHAT with your patients this winter
Encourage patients with COPD to stay well this winter read more
Get involved in Men's Health Week
Download and print resources for your waiting room read more
Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards
Nominate an exceptional worker, consumer or organisation now read more
Victorian Active Ageing Partnership Forum
Do you provide physical activity opportunities for older people? read more
Teenage smoking and drinking down, while drug use rises among older people
AIHW has released a report read more
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Tenders open for mental health services
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SEMPHN is seeking organisations to deliver a Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) service in one or more Local Government Areas (LGAs) within our catchment.
MHICC services are designed to support consumers with a severe mental illness who have complex needs and will benefit from improved coordination of their care over long periods.
The main parts of the service are
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clinical nursing services
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family support and liaison
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care co-ordination and liaison (clinical and non-clinical services)
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improving access to psychiatrist and psychological care.
MHICC will replace the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) later this year.
MHICC services are part of our Mental Health Stepped Care Model and are in line with Australia-wide changes in mental health services.
More information
An information session about the tender will be held 8.30am-12noon on 20 June in Keysborough. Register here. The session will be recorded and available to view on the SEMPHN website after the session.
Register your interest and apply for these tenders on SEMPHN's Tenderlink page. A separate submission is required for each LGA.
Please note, all questions about the tenders must be asked via the online forum on SEMPHN’s Tenderlink page by 28 June.
Tenders close 3pm 10 July.
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My Health Record - Assisted Registration Policy
Did you know that if you're registering patients for My Health Record that you must have an Assisted Registration policy?
The RACGP has a template for Assisted Registration Policy. Once you remove the instructions, you'll probably find that your version of the policy is only about one page.
For more information, see the Assisted Registration note in the ePIP Notebook.
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Chronic Hepatitis C Virus pathway available now
More than 74,200 Victorians live with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and death.
Several new Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C have been made available on the PBS General Schedule.
SEMPHN has developed a Chronic Hepatitis C pathway to help GPs who have patients presenting with HCV.
The pathway:
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Have your say about urgent after-hours primary care services funded by the MBS
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The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce’s Clinical Committees have released another six clinical committee reports for public consultation:
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Urgent after-hours primary care services funded by the MBS
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Dermatology, Allergy and Immunology
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Diagnostic Imaging – knee imaging
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Diagnostic Imaging - pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
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Renal Medicine
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Spinal Surgery
Acess the online survey until 21 July. Please use the online surveys (rather than emailing your comments directly) for accuracy and transparency when analysing feedback.
The recommendations are released publicly for the purpose of obtaining stakeholder feedback and are not final.
More reports are being released for consultation in July and August. There's a full timeline of the 2017 public consultation plan.
Why your thoughts are needed:
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This is an opportunity for the Australian public, including health professionals, to have their say about the recommendations proposed by the clinical committees, prior to these recommendations being made to Government.
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Stakeholder input from previous rounds of consultation has been critical in shaping the Review to date. It is important that this process is upheld throughout the Review.
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Public consultation with stakeholders, including health professionals and consumers of MBS services remains integral to the process established by the MBS Review Taskforce. To date, The MBS Review has been a robust process with good working collaboration amongst a range of health professionals and consumer representatives. This collaborative effort will ensure that the interests of patients will be at the centre of deliberations.
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Get the most out of MBS item numbers
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In November last year, two MBS item numbers were listed to support diabetic retinopathy screening and monitoring in general practice and primary health care.
Research that informed the listing has been used to deliver an online module 'Establishing a functional diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening service in general practice and primary health care services'.
This is an opportunity for practices to make full use of both MBS items. It provides a comprehensive guide for GPs, practice managers, practice nurses and Aboriginal health workers to establish a functional DR screening service which suits their practice.
The module is based on the findings of a three year National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) trial which identified that general practices, with appropriate camera and in-practice training, achieved mean effective DR screening rates of 99% compared with an NHMRC estimated national rate of 50%.
In the module, GPs and practice staff will learn about:
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the new DR MBS item numbers: 12325 and 12326
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requirements for a safe and effective DR service.
The module takes approximately 6 hours to complete and costs $350 (this price includes access for all practice staff members via a dedicated log-in).
For more information or to enrol.
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Medicinal cannabis, alcohol and opioids - why, how and when to stop
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The effects of drugs, whether recreational or pharmaceutical, can be attractive to many people.
For an in-depth look at the indications and debate that surrounds the use of medicinal cannabis and a fresh approach to the management of alcohol and opioid dependence, come to the biannual Frankston forum on 12 July hosted by the Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network.
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The Art of Weaning off Pharmacotherapy - presented by Dr David Jacka, Addiction Medicine Specialist- Monash Drug and Alcohol Service
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Medicinal Cannabis - presented by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Addiction Medicine Specialist- St Vincent's Hospital
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Fresh Approaches to Treating Alcohol Dependence - presented by Dr Ferghal Armstrong, Lead General Practitioner at Black Fish Medical.
For more information contact SEMPHN Pharmacotherapy Liaison Coordinator Jacqueline Apostolopoulos on jacqueline.apostolopoulos@semphn.org.au or 0429 808 317.
Register here
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Volunteer GPs for Australian Medicines Handbook
The Australian Medicines Handbook has started a reference group for its range of electronic products.
They are seeking GPs who would be willing to be on the reference group. There's no payment, but reference group members would be treated as peer reviewers and receive free books/subscriptions and acknowledgement in publications.
If you do not consider yourself a 'techie' and are interested, please contact Jean-Pierre Calabretto from the AMH on (08) 7099 8800 or jcalabretto@amh.net.au.
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New website for Decision Assist
Decision Assist has launched a new website with improved content and functionality. The site is now responsive on mobile phones and tablets.
Decision Assist provides education, resources and advisory services to support aged care and general practice workers in palliative care and advance care planning.
The website has a new resource centre and news and events area – shared with Advance Care Planning Australia – to make it easy to find resources and tools to support advance care planning and palliative care.
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Have the CHAT with your patients this winter
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Lung Foundation Australia’s winter campaign, Have the CHAT, encourages people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to stay well and out of hospital.
This is a great opportunity to remind your patients about the symptoms of an exacerbation, including:
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Coughing more than usual
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Harder to breathe than usual
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Any change in sputum (phlegm) colour and/or volume
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Tired more than usual (less active)
Lung Foundation Australia has developed a suite of evidence-based resources to support health professionals in timely identification and management of COPD exacerbations.
To help raise awareness amongst your patients and how to manage an exacerbation visit Lung Foundation Australia's website where you can access a range of education and awareness resources.
A few fast facts:
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COPD is the second leading cause of preventable hospitalisation in Australia.
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Each exacerbation does long-term damage. In people hospitalised due to COPD, the risk of death may be greater than a heart attack.
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A delay of 24 hours or more in seeking treatment for an exacerbation doubles the chance of hospital admission.
For more information about the campaign visit here or freecall 1800 654 301.
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Get involved in Men's Health Week
Men’s Health Week (12-18 June 2017) is a wonderful time to celebrate men’s health and get men thinking about looking after themselves better.
Download and print men's health resources for your waiting room here.
The Men’s Health Information & Resource Centre is also providing free resources called Healthy Body – Healthy Mind: Keeping the Balance which explores the different ways men and boys are managing to keep healthy, physically and emotionally, in a busy and sometimes challenging world.
For more information visit www.menshealthweek.org.au
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Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards
The Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) is holding the Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards, celebrating the exceptional efforts of workers, consumers and organisations in ending homelessness.
The 2017 awards cover seven difference categories:
Click on the awards above to nominate an exceptional worker, consumer or organisation.
Nominations close 5pm 4 August.
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Victorian Active Ageing Partnership forum
Do you provide physical activity opportunities for older people as part of your work?
You're invited to the Victorian Active Ageing Partnership Research and Practice Forum 2017 on 24 August.
The purpose of the forum is to improve the knowledge and capacity of relevant service providers to successfully engage older people in physical activity opportunities. There will be presentations from academic speakers and service providers, with case studies and practice examples.
Professional development points and continuing education points are available from Physical Activity Australia and Fitness Australia.
For more information email programs@move.org.au or phone 03 8531 8000. Book here.
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Teenage smoking and drinking down, while drug use rises among older people
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Younger Australians' smoking and drinking habits have improved according to a report released on 1 June by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). When it comes to illicit drug use among older people, a more complex picture has emerged.
The report presents first results from the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, including information on nearly 24,000 Australians' use of - and attitudes toward - tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.
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The proportion of Australians who smoke daily nearly halved from 24% in 1991 to 13% in 2013, but showed little change from 2013 to 2016 (12%).
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The proportion of Australians who have never smoked went from 60% in 2013 to 62% in 2016. In teens, this went from 95% to 98% in 2016.
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The proportion of Australians drinking alcohol daily and weekly is falling, while less frequent drinking (less often than weekly) is becoming more common. A smaller proportion of teenagers are drinking alcohol, down from 28% in 2013 to 18% in 2016.
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Younger age groups (under 40) are also less likely to have recently used illicit drugs than in the past. But, the proportion of people in their 40s who had used illicit drugs in the last 12 months rose from 14% to 16%.
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Overall, the most common recently used drugs were cannabis (10%), misuse of pharmaceuticals (5%), cocaine (3%), and ecstasy (2%).
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Recent use of meth/amphetamines has fallen, but the report shows a continuing trend toward 'ice' (rather than other forms, such a powder).
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Meth/amphetamine has overtaken excessive drinking of alcohol as the drug of most concern to Australians (40%).
Read the full media release. A detailed report into the survey's findings will be released later in 2017.
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