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Monday 23  April

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea detected in Australia
GPs, read this health alert and key messages read more

Chronic disease management Expression of Interest: general practices in Greater Dandenong and Frankston
Check-out this opportunity read more

Expression of Interest: Suicide Prevention Advisory Groups
Would you like to make a difference? read more

Grants open: After Hours GP-led service in aged care facilities
This opportunity is open in six LGAs read more

SEMPHN GP Symposium: Assoc Prof Michelle Telfer
Register now for our inaugural event read more

Our new address
Please note our new office details read more

ePIP and the SWPE
Here are answers to some common questions read more

Dandenong: Do you know someone with lived experience of suicide who might like to help others?
Read about the free workshop in May read more

Interested in primary care nursing qualifications?
Applications for semester two are open read more

End of Life Directions in Aged Care website launched
Get information, guidance and resources read more

Genomics in general practice
This guide can assist with clinical decision-making read more

Multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea detected in Australia

The Chief Health Officer released the following alert to general practitioners on 17 April:

Key messages

  • Two cases of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea infection have been detected in Australia. The emergence of this strain, resistant to ALL antibiotics that have been in routine use to treat gonorrhoea, is a major public health concern.
  • Victorian gonorrhoea notifications have increased over the last few years in men who have sex with men (MSM) as well as in heterosexual men and women.
  • Gonorrhoea is of particular public health importance because it increases both susceptibility to acquiring HIV infection and transmissibility of HIV infection.
  • Take swabs for culture and antimicrobial resistance testing in all symptomatic patients at presentation, and in all patients with nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) confirmed infection. Obtaining swabs for culture is crucial for detecting, monitoring, and responding to antimicrobial resistance.
  • Treat gonorrhoea with ceftriaxone 500mg IM plus azithromycin 1g orally according to treatment guidelines.
  • Ensure treatment has been successful by reviewing cases for symptom resolution after one week, and undertaking test of cure by NAAT and reflexive culture two weeks after treatment. Seek expert advice for all treatment failures.
  • Ensure partner notification and treatment has been completed.

Read the full alert: Multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea detected in Australia.

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Chronic disease management Expression of Interest: general practices in Greater Dandenong and Frankston

Are you a general practice in Greater Dandenong or Frankston?

Would you like extra resources and support to better manage your patients with chronic and/or complex issues?

SEMPHN is partnering with WellNet (by Sonic Clinical Services) to offer tools and resources to support the management of your patients with chronic/complex needs who are at high risk of complications and/or hospitalisation.

The aim of the 16-18 month program is to deliver better health outcomes through the Patient Centred Medical Home model of care.

If you're a General Practice in Greater Dandenong or Frankston and are interested in this opportunity, please read and complete this Expression of Interest (EOI) to help determine your practice's eligibility and suitability for this work.

If you would like more information please contact Cate Grindlay, National Program Manager, Sonic Clinical Services at cate.grindlay@scs.com.au.

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Expression of Interest: Suicide Prevention Advisory Groups

Would you like to make a different in suicide prevention activities?

SEMPHN, in partnership with the Victorian Government, is supporting communities to reduce the incidence of suicide through a coordinated place-based approach to suicide prevention across the Greater Dandenong and Frankston Mornington Peninsula regions.

The suicide prevention place-based trials are part of an Australia-wide reform in suicide prevention, driven by the high rates of suicide and the need for a renewed approach.

The trials are one of the key initiatives identified in the Victorian Suicide Prevention Framework 2016 to 2025. The purpose is to trial a systemic, coordinated approach to suicide prevention with each site supported to implement proven suicide prevention initiatives.

SEMPHN is establishing a Greater Dandenong Suicide Prevention Advisory Group and a Frankston Mornington Peninsula Suicide Prevention Advisory Group to provide a local partnership approach for these trial sites. 

We are seeking representatives from a range of sectors and members of the community with lived experience of suicide.

Membership of the group will reflect the diversity of the local community and may include:

  • key industry stakeholders
  • representatives from organisations working in suicide prevention
  • mental health service providers
  • people with lived experience of suicide.

The PHN will provide secretariat support to the Advisory Group.

Please read and/or complete the following Suicide Prevention Advisory Group forms by COB 15 May:

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 15 June.

Please submit any questions in writing to suicideprevention@semphn.org.au.

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Grants open: After Hours GP-led service in aged care facilities

SEMPHN invites Approved Medical Deputising Services (AMDS), or general practice/s with an appropriate AMDS Licence, to apply for grants for an After Hours General Practitioner-led telephone triage and attendance service to Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF).

SEMPHN is offering grants of up to $150,000 (GST exclusive) per successful eligible AMDS to provide services to RACFs in the Local Government Areas of Bayside, Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey and/or Mornington Peninsula over an 18 month period, including:

  • a 'first point of call' telephone triage service delivered by a Vocationally Registered General Practitioner (VR GP) and,
  • GP Attendance service by VR GPs or Non VR GPs (if Non VR GP attending, remote supervision from VR GP required) to RACFs as required in the After Hours period.

This tender opportunity is an expansion of the recent successful trial funded by SEMPHN for services provided to RACFs.

To see full details, register your interest and apply for these tender go to to SEMPHN's Tenderlink page. Please note, all questions about the tenders must be asked via the online forum on SEMPHN’s Tenderlink page.

Tenders close 3pm 7 May.

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SEMPHN GP Symposium: Assoc Prof Michelle Telfer

Join us for our very first general practitioner symposium on 2 JuneMental health and young people: Providing the best primary care.

This event is especially for South Eastern Melbourne GPs to give you the opportunity to build connections with your fellow GPs, share stories and learn from each other.

Among the speakers will be Associate Professor Michelle Telfer (pictured at right) from The Royal Children’s Hospital. Dr Telfer is a Paediatrician and Adolescent Medicine Physician and the Head of Department of Adolescent Medicine. Her focus of work is in the clinical care of adolescent patients and clinical research.

Dr Telfer’s presentation will give GPs the tools the RCH uses, which can be used in GP practice for engaging and identifying risk factors in young people when it comes to suicide and self-harm.

The event will be held at Pullman & Mercure Melbourne Albert Park and is RACGP-accredited for 9 Category 2 points.

Spaces are limited so register here now.

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Our new address

Please note our new address for your records and meetings/visits to our office:

South Eastern Melbourne PHN          
Level 2, 15 Corporate Drive                  
Heatherton 3202.            

We look forward to welcoming you into our new space!

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ePIP and the SWPE

Getting familiar with your SWPE (Standardised Whole Patient Equivalent) helps with the ePIP, and could mean the difference between meeting your target uploads or not.

To reduce the risk of being asked to pay back money, we’ve compiled a list of the common questions we’re asked:

  • Where is my SWPE?
    It is found on the PIP payment slip. The payment slip is mailed to your practice each quarter, and also appears as a PDF file in HPOS.
  • Can my SWPE change and which one should I use?
    The SWPE can change if there is a change in your practice’s circumstances. To avoid missing your target because you are aiming for a lower figure, make sure you always use the SWPE value stated in your last Payment Advice.
  • How do I calculate the number of Shared Health Summaries the practice needs to upload?
    The number of uploads should be at least 0.5% of your practice's most recent SWPE. In other words: SWPE x .005.
  • We are a new practice or new to PIP, how do we find our SWPE?
    If your practice is new to ePIP, you will be given a default SWPE level of 1000 in order to calculate the quota in the first quarter in which you participate. This equates to five Shared Health Summaries. Note that if your SWPE is less than 1000, it will also be set to 1000 by default.

See our GP ImproveIT resource to learn more about the ePIP.

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Dandenong: Do you know someone with lived experience of suicide who might like to help others?

Roses in the Ocean is offering a SEMPHN-funded two-day workshop, called 'Our Voice', on 10 and 11 May in Dandenong.

It's free of charge for participants (spaces strictly limited).

‘Our Voice’ is a program for people with a lived experience of suicide who are ready and keen to explore opportunities to be involved in suicide prevention activities.

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.

See the flyer or complete an expression of interest here.

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Interested in primary care nursing qualifications?

The Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne offers a Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Primary Care Nursing. 

Applications for semester two are open until 31 May (late applications accepted) for the following courses:

For more information contact Tracy Murphy tracym@unimelb.edu.au.

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End of Life Directions in Aged Care website launched

A new website funded by the Department of Health, End of Life Directions in Aged Care, was launched recently.

It provides health professionals and aged care workers with information, guidance and resources to support palliative care and advance care planning.

A key feature of the website is a set of five online toolkits covering residential aged care, home care, primary care, working together and legal matters.

The primary care toolkit gives guidance on the steps involved in supporting advance care planning, as well as fact sheets/guides, discussion starters, patient resources and podcasts.

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Genomics in general practice

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has released a new guide to help GPs in genetics and genomics.

Advances in genetics and genomics offer great potential for identifying patients at risk of disease and targeting treatment. However, for this to happen, GPs need up-to-date knowledge.

Genomics in general practice is designed to assist in clinical decision-making by presenting a snapshot of the identification and diagnosis of a range of genetic conditions, and the use of genetic testing and technologies encountered in general practice.

The guide will also help GPs to provide information on genetics and genomics to patients and their families and refer to specialist services as required.

Check out Genomics in general practice on the RACGP website.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

28
Apr
  Mastering Patient Care: COPD and its comorbidities 2018
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
1
May
  Cultural Respect & Appreciation Workshop
GPs, Practice Nurse, Practice Manager
Doveton
Details and registration
 
2
May
  Holmesglen Multi-disciplinary meetings (MDM) 2018
GPs
Moorabbin
Details and registration
 
2
May
  Targeting Anxiety in Youth
Psychologists, Counsellors and other mental health professionals working with children and adolescents. 
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
5
May
  Mending Hearts - A Comprehensive Update in Cardiology
GPs
Malvern
Details and registration
 
7
May
  Heavy menstrual bleeding: Delivering best practice care forum
GPs, Nurses, Women's health services, Surgeons, gynaecologists/obstetricians
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
10
May
  Our Voice
for people with a lived experience of suicide
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
10
May
  Quality Improvement Strategies
GPs, Managers, Practice Nurse, Owner/Principal, Practice Administration
St Kilda
Details and registration
 
10
May
  APNA National Conference
Nurses
Brisbane
Details and registration
 
16
May
  Diagnosis and Management of Syphilis, Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia in Primary Care
GPs & Sexual health clinicians
Melbourne
Details and registration
 
24
May
  Older Person Mental Health First Aid Course
Mental health Workers, Aged care, Gps
Frankston
Details and registration
 
25
May
  Primary Care Asthma Update
Aboriginal Health Worker, Allied Health Professional, GPs, Nurses, Pharmacist
Dandenong
Details and registration
 

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

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