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Deliver physical group therapy in Residential Aged Care FacilitiesSEMPHN is pleased to invite eligible organisations to tender to deliver group physical therapy sessions in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across South Eastern Melbourne. About the serviceDelivering an allied health group therapy program is a temporary measure aimed at improving the physical functioning of aged care residents who are at risk of deconditioning (a decrease in muscle following a period of inactivity) due to COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Services are to be provided to 20 participating RACFs in the SEMPHN catchment. A list of these RACFs is provided in the tender specifications on SEMPHN's eProcure. Applicants can tender for more than one facility. Applying for this tender
Key dates23 April 2021: Tender opens SEMPHN NewsLocal practice manager speaks about care coordination and PHN supportIs working with a Primary Health Network worth it? (Yes!) We chat with Maria Rodriguez, Practice Manager, MediClinic in Clayton to find out why. Maria describes her clinic, the care coordination program and her experiences working with South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN). On working with PHNs, Maria explains: "We have a small team here, but SEMPHN has larger experience, a larger pool of resources, and that's, for practices like us, something that's really an advantage to us. And it's readily available, so why not use it?" COVID-19COVID Vaccine Planning with POLARPOLAR has a Vaccine Planning report that can help unravel the eligibility criteria of the COVID vaccine phases. Even if you’re not a vaccine clinic, the report can help monitor your patients. The report features:
Want to know more? Contact the Digital Health Team on digitalhealth@semphn.org.au or 03 8514 4460. LegislationInformation Sharing Schemes now include GPs and practice nursesFrom 19 April 2021, GPs and practice nurses are included in Victoria’s legislated Family Violence and Child Information Sharing Schemes. This expands information sharing obligations for GPs and practice nurses. The schemes require Information Sharing Entities (ISEs) to share information to assess and manage family violence risk and to promote child wellbeing and safety. GPs will be required to share relevant information when requested (recording what is shared). The schemes will also allow GPs to request information from other ISEs and to voluntarily (proactively) share information. The new legislated information sharing schemes:
More Information about the reforms, requirements under the legislation, guidance on what can and cannot be shared, including the list of ISEs can be found at:
ImmunisationQuick overview of influenza updates and resourcesDownload the new Government-funded vaccine order form to place an order for all vaccines. Orders for all vaccines are now being processed and despatched. Please combine flu orders with orders for other vaccines where possible to limit pressure on the delivery system. Please plan and allow 5 business days for vaccine deliveries during flu season (consider public holidays when placing your vaccine order). Vaccine orders may be adjusted to ensure continuity of stock throughout the influenza season. 2021 Influenza resources:
The Immunisation Unit has been notified of several administration errors where clients have received the wrong influenza vaccine brand for their age. Please take care to always check a person’s age and choose an age-appropriate brand before administration. Use MVEC’s Table 2: Influenza brand registered for each age group in 2021 as an easy reference guide. Webinar: STIs Essentials for Primary Care in South East MelbourneThis informative and interactive session will provide you with the understanding and tools required to confidently manage common STI screening and care, making sexual health a routine, everyday part of your primary health care practice. Learning Objectives:
When: Thursday, 6 May 2021, 6.30 pm—8.30 pm Free suicide prevention training for pharmacists in Casey (12 May)SEMPHN in conjunction with the Black Dog Institute is offering free training for suicide prevention in pharmacies in the Casey region. This training is offered as part of the Place-Based Suicide Prevention Trials which is a partnership between the Victorian Department of Health and Victorian Primary Health Networks. This training aims to increase pharmacists’ skills and confidence in:
One pilot session will be conducted on 12 May for pharmacists in Casey region. If you work in the Casey region and are interested in this free pilot session, register today! When: 12 May 2021, 7.30pm – 9.30pm Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) MasterclassMany clinicians have found themselves looking after patients who they believe require an intervention to address opioid dependence. While the opioid pharmacotherapy program has been around for many years, factors such as high cost, the large time investment required, and stigma have played a big role in making this a less-than-attractive option for many patients. Long-acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) is a formulation of buprenorphine pharmacotherapy that has the promise to be a true game-changer in the area of Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Join us at this Community of Practice event in which specialist clinicians will provide a comprehensive discussion of LAIB. Light refreshments will be provided. When: Wednesday, 26 May, 7 pm – 9 pm Practice managers, register for Part 2 of Quality Improvement webinarsAfter a very informative Part 1 covering the basics of Quality Improvement (QI) in general practice, we are inviting practice managers to join us on Wednesday, 16 June at 12.30 for Part 2. In this second session, led by Dr Paresh Dawda and Angelene True, we will be looking at the next steps of QI, translating theory into practice. Learning outcomes for Part 2:
When: Wednesday, 16 June, 12.30 pm New online bowel cancer screening module: Free for SEMPHN GPsGeneral Practices in the SEMPHN area can now access a new, free online learning module developed by Cancer Council Victoria in conjunction with Professor Jon Emery from the University of Melbourne to increase bowel cancer screening participation rates. The ‘Increasing Bowel Cancer Screening in General Practice’ module takes 30 minutes to complete and can be accessed at any time. Key topics covered in the module include:
The SEMPHN area has the second-lowest bowel screening participation rate in Victoria, only 44% of eligible people did the test in 2018-2019. The module can be accessed here. Interested to learn more about skin cancer in general practice?Applications are now open for the Dermoscopy for Victorian General Practice Program. Cancer Council Victoria and the Victorian Department of Health are giving GP practices the chance to receive both a fully subsidised Heine DeltaOne dermatoscope and enrolment to the Australasian College of Dermatologists’ Practical Dermoscopy course to get upskilled in skin cancer diagnosis and management. The course includes self-paced online modules, clinical case studies, a one-day practical workshop and a final two-hour virtual exam. Completion of the course will result in 30 PRPD points with ACRRM and 40 Category 1 QUI and CPD points with RACGP. To apply and find out more, visit sunsmart.com.au/dermoscopy or email dermoscopy@cancervic.org.au. Applications close Thursday, 13 May. Professional development and events
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