COVID-19 update

Read about:

• COVID-19 cases in the region
• Vaccination and previous COVID infection
• New treatments for COVID-19
• Booster eligibility
• COVID care in the community 
• Accessing pulse oximeters
• Additional PPE available
• CESPHN Vax at Home service
• and more...

Immunisation update

Read about:

• TGA provisionally approves Novavax COVID-19 vaccine NUVAXOVID
• AIR Reports: COVID-19 vaccination status (AIR042A) report
• Booster dose interval shortened to 3 months
• Dose intervals for vaccination of 5-11 year old children
• Third primary dose for immunocompromised children
• Vaccine exemption following COVID infection – 6 weeks or 6 months?
• TGA COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report
• Shingrix approved for use in people ages 18 year and over
• ...and more!

CESPHN Strategic Plan 2022-2024 

Our Strategic Plan for 2022-2024 is available now. Read on to gain an understanding of what the PHN's vision is for the future and what we plan to accomplish across our three goals:

• improve the integration of care,
• improve practice in primary health care and
• commission local health and wellbeing services.

Thank you to Amy Lea Hill-Trindall for creating the beautiful artwork that features in the Plan, entitled 'Supporting Our Mob in Health'.

SafeScript NSW - what is it? 

In 2019, there were 1,644 unintentional deaths due to drug overdoses in Australia. The introduction of SafeScript NSW is part of NSW Government’s commitment to reduce harm from monitored medicines and help save lives. SafeScript NSW is a computer software that provides prescribers (e.g. general practitioners) and pharmacists with real-time information about a patient’s prescribing and dispensing history for certain high-risk medicines.

SafeScript NSW will be introduced in the central and eastern Sydney region in May 2022. 

Register for Healthdirect video call training

Healthdirect, in collaboration with the RACGP, are offering free CPD courses that support GPs and Practice Managers to use video call more confidently.

Essential video call training 
This module is for GPs new to video call and Practice Managers who may be implementing telehealth into their practice workflows. It covers the basic functionality of the platform. 

Advanced video call training 
This module covers more advanced use of the platform.

Why use Active Script List? 

Active Script List (ASL) is a token management solution to help people with multiple prescriptions. It helps pharmacists to simplify their patients' customer experience and build meaningful rapport. Find out how using Active Script List may improve your pharmacy and your patients by watching a one minute video.

Integrating online mental health programs into practice

THIS WAY UP offers a range of tailored online courses that can help your clients to learn strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood. It also offers GPs and mental health professionals resources to help treat their patients and enhance their practice. Read on to find out about different health professionals' experiences in caring for their patients and the benefits of integrating THIS WAY UP to your practice during a pandemic.

Check your NASH PKI expiry date and renew on time 

Current NASH SHA-1 certificates are being transitioned to more secure SHA-2 certificates. All current SHA-1 certificates expire on 13 March 2022. National Authentication Certificate for Health (NASH) is used to securely access services such as My Health Record, ePrescribing and Secure Messaging with high level of encryption. 

If your NASH PKI certificate expires you will no longer be able to access or upload documents to My Health Record and you may not be able to issue or dispense an electronic prescription. If you are unsure about your NASH status, please contact us urgently at digitalhealth@cesphn.com.au.  

You can also register for an instructional webinar and learn to request and renew a NASH PKI.

New Clinical Information System My Health Record Q+A session

30 minute sessions aimed at GPs, specialists, practice managers, practice nurses and Aboriginal health workers interested in learning more about My Health Record and how to use it most effectively in routine practice. Using a software simulation platform, the instructor will answer questions or demonstrate available features of My Health Record using the stated Clinical Information System.

Use the below links to register:
Best Practice
Genie (for specialists)
Medical Director
Communicare
Zedmed

Register for Topbar webinar for general practice

Join a short demonstration and learn how Topbar, a clinical decision support system, can be used in general practice to enhance practice efficiency. Learning outcomes include:

• Understand Topbar data governance.
• Learn and understand Topbar functionality.
• Learn about the Apps available on Topbar, and their benefits and purpose.
• Know how to access resources to optimise your working with Topbar.

Target audience: GPs, practice nurses, practice managers, PHN Practice support team, and practice receptionist.

Date: Tuesday, 8 February 2022 
Time: 1-1.30 pm

Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service (DASAS) is a phone call away

The Drug and Alcohol Specialist Advisory Service is a free telephone service for health professionals in NSW who require advice on the clinical management of alcohol and other drug issues. The service is funded by NSW Health and managed and staffed by St Vincent’s hospital Sydney who are able to provide general advice and can connect callers to on-call Addiction Medicine Specialists who can provide further clinical advice. 

You can contact DASAS on (02) 9361 8006 or free call 1800 023 687 for regional and rural NSW callers. 

The Alcohol and Other Drug Information Service (ADIS) telephone service is also available to provide 24 hour 7 day a week telephone counselling, support, referrals and information for those affected by alcohol or other drugs.  

ADIS counsellors are trained to work with people who are concerned about their own alcohol and drug use, as well as callers who are concerned about their family or friends. ADIS is a free service which is available to all residents of NSW. Call ADIS on 1800 250 015.

eReferrals to the SLHD - webinar 

General practices using Best Practice, Medical Director and Genie can easily and securely submit electronic referrals using Healthlink Smartforms technology directly from their clinical software. The Sydney Local Health District now has over 65 clinics accepting electronic referrals with more being connected in 2022. 

Paul Bennett, Program Manager Sydney Health Pathways and eReferral SLHD Project and Sarah Friend, eReferrals SLHD Project Officer will conduct an interactive presentation using Medical Director and Best Practice software to demonstrate how easy the process is and also to answer your question.

Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Time: 7.00 pm

Managing COVID-19 boosters in your practice

Three new COVID-19 reports are coming to CAT to help you manage and track booster doses and immunocompromised patients:

- COVID-19 Vaccine Dosage Administration Report
Audit COVID-19 vaccines given at the practice. 

- COVID-19 Booster Dose Report
Identify patients who are eligible for the COVID-19 booster dose. 

- Immunocompromised Report
Find immunocompromised patients for recall and track their vaccination status. 

Improving health care for people with intellectual disability 

Sutherland Shire Council would like to hear from people with lived experience about their Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The council is hosting two events that give the community a chance to have their say:

• Focus group for people with Intellectual Disability or Autism
  Date: Monday, 7 February 2022
  Time: 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm 
  Further information and registrations.
   
• Disability Inclusion Action Plan Roundtable
  Date: Wednesday, 9 February 2022,
  Time: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm 
  Further information and registrations.

CESPHNs Project GROW is ensuring primary care providers have access to the most up-to-date and useful tools, resources, and information to assist their patients with intellectual disability.  

Go4Fun: Free health lifestyle program 

Go4Fun online is a free 10-week evidence based healthy lifestyle program delivered to families with 7-13 year old children who are above a healthy weight. The program includes online activities and phone-based health coaching which families can complete in the comfort of their home.

A referral from a trusted source, such as a GP, allied health professional or practice nurse, is often the motivation a family needs to join Go4Fun. The program is designed to complement the patient care you offer, and provides you with a practical solution for patients and their families.

Complete the survey on GPs attitudes and prescribing intentions for e-cigarettes

Researchers at Monash University are investigating GPs attitudes and prescribing intentions in regards to e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. We are inviting Australian GPs to take part in a short 5-minute online survey that aims to understand the current levels of GPs' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and prescribing intentions in respect to e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

Participants will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three $500 gift vouchers upon completion of the online survey and a gift voucher will be offered to 15 participants who take part in the qualitative interviews valued at $100 each.

Assistance with CTG PBS co-payment registrations

It has been evident that a significant number of patients who have been receiving reduced co-payments for their PBS general schedule medicines under the program have not been correctly registered for the program. Initially scheduled to cease on 31 January 2022, the Department of Health has now confirmed that there is a further extension to the registration grace period to 30 June 2022 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients receiving these payments.

HIV s100 accredited prescriber course

The accredited prescriber course is delivered entirely online as a 4-week course with pre-course and post-course activities. Presentations and case discussions will be delivered by specialists and s100 prescribers with expertise in the treatment and management of HIV.

Upon successful completion of this training and the associated case assessment, participants may apply to the relevant state departments of health for authority to prescribe section 100 drugs for the management of HIV.

Course starts: Thursday, 10 February at 7.00 pm

Hepatitis B nursing: advanced management and care

This two-part facilitated online training course is designed for nurses who have high or at high-risk case load of patients living with chronic hepatitis B. The course will provide nurses with advanced practical skills and knowledge in hepatitis B nursing. The course includes presentations and case discussions that introduce the epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis B, vaccination, testing, fibrosis assessment, advanced liver disease, stigma, discrimination and the cultural context of hepatitis B nursing.

Dates:

• Wednesday, 16 February at 9.00 am
• Friday, 18 February at 9.00 am - 1.00 pm

BreastScreen NSW is open 

BreastScreen NSW services are working hard to minimise delays for women who are due for their two-yearly mammogram. Please note however, that some clinics are impacted by the need to redeploy staff to support the COVID-19 pandemic response, and this may affect individual services.

A new contraception and medical abortion digital network

SPHERE has launched the Australian Contraception and Abortion Primary Care Practitioner Support (AusCAPPS) Network aiming to support primary care clinicians in the provision of long-acting reversible contraception and medical abortion across Australia.

We invite any GPs, practice nurses and community pharmacists working in primary care to participate in the AusCAPPS Network. It is an online network to connect and chat with peers and clinical experts, access national network of providers and keep up-to-date with the latest research resources.

To get involved, register at Medcast. AHPRA verification is required. For more information, please contact ausCAPPS.trial@monash.edu.

Psychosocial issues in transgender health and overcoming barriers to healthcare

Join us online for presentations and a panel discussion around supporting the health of gender diverse and trans patients.

When: Wednesday, 9 February 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs, AHPs, nurses, sexual health care providers
RACGP points: 3

E-Referrals to SLHD Healthlink SmartForms - webinar 

Join us for this interactive demonstration on the electronic referrals to the Sydney Local Health District, including new eReferrals (maternity services).

When: Tuesday, 15 February 7.00 pm – 7.45 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs and practice staff

Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body.

Advancing the role of GPs in holistic care of people with severe mental illness 

Join us online for this workshop on overcoming the stigma and providing essential primary care for people with severe mental illness.

When: Tuesday, 1 March 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: GPs
RACGP points: 3

Allied health: infection prevention and risk management whilst still seeing patients

Join us for a pandemic infection prevention and control update, presented by Margaret Jennings, a microbiologist, antimicrobial, infection prevention and educator.

When: Thursday, 3 March 7.00 pm – 8.15 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: Allied health professionals working in private practice

Triage 2022 for general practice 

Presented by Karen Booth, this triage education webinar is specifically for non-clinical staff for telephone and walk in presentations.

When: Monday, 7 March 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: Practice staff, practice managers, practice nurses, reception and allied health reception