Professional development opportunities and events read more

Seasonal flu rates at near-record levels
Promote prevention measures and consider vaccination read more

SEMPHN Board applications now open
Apply now read more

Government announces decisions on MBS Taskforce recommendations
A statement and factsheets are available read more

Have a say in Real Time Prescription Monitoring training
It's coming to your practice in 2018, so here's your chance to make sure the training will work for you read more

Pharmacists, have you heard?
Important changes come into play from 2018 read more

HPOS and PRODA: it's all in the numbers
General practice, interact with the DHS electronically read more

Managing iron deficiency anaemia in general practice
SEMPHN is hosting an education session and cannulation training read more

Last chance to register - Refugee health & wellbeing in general practice
Would you like to better assess and manage patients with a refugee background? read more

New pathology results viewer launching soon for The Royal Melbourne Hospital
RMH pathology results will move from CIS to AUSCARE read more

Get involved in Women's Health Week
There's a different focus every day between 4-8 September read more

Dementia Awareness Month: You are not alone
Here are some things you can do this September read more

DHHS issued the following heatlh advisory on 25 August:

Key messages

• Seasonal influenza rates are peaking currently and are at near-record levels, leaving many Victorians unwell and placing severe pressure on health services and primary care.
• Respiratory outbreaks, primarily in aged care settings, are at highest recorded levels.
• Promote prevention measures including vaccination, good hygiene practices and social distancing for those who are unwell to prevent influenza spreading further.
• Vaccination will provide protection and with around two months of the season remaining, is still a valuable protection measure.
• Influenza must be notified in writing within five days of laboratory confirmation.

Read the full advisory

Return to top

 

The Board is constantly seeking to enhance its structure to meet the skills and experience required for the effective oversight and governance of SEMPHN’s activities. 

Applications are now open for a General Practitioner non-executive director.

In line with SEMPHN’s priority areas, SEMPHN is particularly interested in applications from GPs with an interest or specialty in chronic disease, digital health, mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population health or aged care.

Applications are also open for a second non-executive director where being a general practitioner is not a requirement.  People working in primary care in the SEMPHN region who have a strong governance background are encouraged to apply for this position.

Applicants for either position should complete the application form and email this to Elizabeth Deveny at ceo@semphn.org.au by 15 September 2017. 

More information

Return to top

 

The Government recently announced decisions on a number of recommendations provided by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce released for public consultation in 2016.

The following is available:

• A statement from the MBS Review Taskforce Chair, Professor Bruce Robinson, in relation to the Government response on the recommendations.
• Factsheets outlining some of the key changes and how these changes impact health consumers and health professionals.
• Detailed factsheets on the changes.

More public consultations are also now open for the following four clinical committees:

• Cardiac services
• Endocrinology
• Intensive care and emergency medicine
• Pathology – endocrine tests.

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.

The online survey is available here until 4 October.

There is also an indicative timeline of the 2017 public consultation plan.

Return to top

 

Real Time Prescription Monitoring is on its way, and your input into training is needed. Your practice’s insights are important!

The Victorian Government has committed to Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) in Victoria. RTPM will roll out via a software system to more than 1,900 medical clinics, 1,300 pharmacies and 200 hospitals

RTPM is a clinical decision support system that will allow prescribers and community pharmacists to access an up-to-the-minute medication supply history of certain high risk medicines for their patient at the point of consultation.  This will enable health practitioners to intervene earlier for people at risk of harm and respond appropriately to patient needs.

Primary health networks, health providers and partners will deliver training to primary care prescribers and community pharmacists. 

How can you have your say in the training development?

Please complete this 20 minute survey by 5pm, 6 September, to ensure that appropriate training for RTPM can be designed and delivered.

For more information about the survey, email RTPMtraining@westvicphn.com.au or phone (03) 5222 0806.

Information on the RTPM project is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website or phone (03) 9096 5633.

Thank you for your support!

Return to top

 

In February 2018 codeine is being up-scheduled to 'prescription only'. Real time prescription monitoring of drugs that are prone to abuse will also roll out in 2018.

What does this mean?

As a pharmacist, you'll need information and resources for patient counselling in the coming months as you prepare your patients for the need to get prescriptions for any opioid-containing medication.

Bill Suen, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia branch director, will be presenting at a SEMPHN event on 6 September in Dandenong to answer questions about this important change in pharmacy.

The pharmacist-only event will also provide a thorough look at Naloxone and how it saves lives. Attendees will learn how to recognise, respond to and reverse an opioid overdose by administering naloxone.

Register for the event here.

Return to top

 

If you've switched your HPOS sign-in process to PRODA, you may have found yourself lost in a maze of numbers.

The most important number to take note of is your new RA Number. You will get a new one when the PRODA registration process is complete.

If you have a Provider Number, you need to link it to your PRODA account to use Medicare-based services.

Other numbers that can be used to link services include:

• HPI-I & HPI-O
• AHPRA number.

The HPOS article on our ImproveIT resource explains the numbers, what they’re for, and how HPOS and PRODA work together.

Return to top

 

Did you know that there are high rates of iron deficiency anaemia and associated potentially preventable hospitalisations in our catchment?

With this in mind, SEMPHN is offering education for GPs and practice nurses to recognise iron deficiency anaemia and consider how this condition can be managed in general practice. 

An evening education session will cover:

• recognising and managing iron deficiency
• strategies to support the safe and sustainable administration of iron infusions in general practice.

When: Tuesday 19 September 6.30pm – 9pm (light supper available between 6 – 6.30pm)
Where: Brooklands of Mornington
CPD: This activity has been accredited with the RACGP for 4 category 2 points for the 2017 – 19 triennium.  Activity no. 110170

Register here.

People who attend the evening education session are then eligible to attend one of two cannulation training sessions on 23 or 28 September. Both sessions will be at Brooklands of Mornington from 9am – 1pm. Registration for these sessions will be available upon registration for the education session.

Return to top

 

GPs and practice nurses, would you like to be able to better assess and manage patients with a refugee background?

There are only about five places left for this full-day education session 'Refugee health & wellbeing: essentials for assessment and management in general practice' on 2 September in Dandenong.

The session is delivered by SEMPHN in partnership with Monash Health.

Presented by refugee health experts from Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing, topics will include:

• the current context of refugees in Victoria
• conducting a refugee health assessment
• communication strategies
• billing
• managing common infectious diseases
• developing immunisation catch-up schedules and paediatric issues.

Register here by 28 August or for more information contact Stephenie Cook on stephenie.cook@semphn.org.au or 03 8514 6609.

The event is accredited with the RACGP for 40 Category 1 points.  Activity number: 108244.

Return to top

 

Do you use Clinical Information System (CIS) to access pathology results for The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH)?

In the coming months, RMH pathology results will be moving from CIS to ‘AUSCARE’.

To be able to access AUSCARE, you’ll need to register. Go to the RMH website for more information about AUSCARE and how to register.

Return to top

 

The Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week is a week dedicated to all women across Australia to make good health a priority.

When it comes to health, many women put the wellbeing of others ahead of their own. Get involved in this National event and help encourage all women to make their own good health a priority and start making positive changes that can last a lifetime.

During the week of 4-8 September, there's a different focus each day:

• Monday: Heart health
• Tuesday: Mindfulness
• Wednesday: Bone health
• Thursday: Physical activity
• Friday: Sleep and fatigue

Women who register will be emailed practical tips, tools, motivating videos and health advice from experts each day during the week, relating to these areas.

Let your patients, workplace and local community know about Women’s Health Week by downloading the free promotional materials.

SEMPHN will be hosting a staff morning tea with donations given to Mums Supporting Families In Need.

Return to top

 

Find out more about dementia during Dementia Awareness Month this September.

People affected by dementia report that their experience is often isolating, and studies show a high level of stigma toward people living with dementia.

As part of the event-filled month with a theme of 'You are not alone', Alzheimer’s Australia will host a public lecture series given by international guest speaker Professor Steven Sabat, entitled Forget Memory Loss - what about the person? 

The Melbourne lecture is on Thursday 14 September, ZINC, Federation Square, Melbourne.

How can you get involved?

• Check out the calendar of events and print resources for your waiting room here.
• Check-out the health professionals section on the Alzheimer's Australia website to help the people you work with to manage the day-to-day and big picture challenges that dementia can bring.

Return to top

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Dates		Event
31 Aug		Cabrini GP Lecture Series - Melanoma GPs Malvern Details and registration
2 Sep		Refugee health & wellbeing: Essentials for assessment and management in general practice GPs, Practice Nurse Dandenong Details and registration
4 Sep		Wounds R Us - Skin Integrity Seminar Clinicians undertaking wound care/management Frankston Details and registration
6 Sep		Naloxone Training for Pharmacists Pharmacists Dandenong Details and registration
6 Sep		Supporting the mental health of people living with obesity webinar Mental Health Practitioners Webinar Details and registration
10 Sep		Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training - Module 2 GPs East Melbourne Details and registration
12 Sep		2017 Melbourne Private Day Course in Infection Prevention & Control to all General Practice staff Practice Nurse, Receptionists Parkville Details and registration
12 Sep		SANE Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers Dandenong Details and registration
14 Sep		Putting the pieces together: Working with BPD clients in the AOD Allied Health Professionals, Case workers, Mental Health Nurses Fitzroy Details and registration
14 Sep		Cabrini GP Lecture Series - Acute medical emergencies in the GP setting GPs Malvern Details and registration
14 Sep		Understanding BPD presentations: A workshop for General Practitioners GPs Fitzroy Details and registration
16 Sep		Demystifying the diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome GPs Prahran Details and registration

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

Return to Top