No images? Click here What's happening Welcome back Happy New Year from the Regional Services team. We hope you had a relaxing break over the Christmas period and we look forward to working with you in 2022! Variations to approved outreach services Service providers are kindly reminded to notify the Regional Services team if they require any changes to services (i.e. sessions, travel) prior to the completion of a visit. This will ensure the new Outreach reporting portal, the Visit Information Portal (VIP) is updated promptly and you can submit the Service Activity Report post-visit. Service visit dates and activity reports Outstanding Service Activity Reports and confirmed visit dates for 2022 can now be added to the VIP. More information is provided below on how to access and use the new portal. If you need assistance entering visit dates please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Program funding update Healthy Ears - Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL) contract expiry All contracts funded through the HEBHBL will expire 30 June 2022. Rural Health West is currently awaiting advice from the Australian Government Department of Health regarding the continuity of this program. All service providers and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. Outreach services and COVID-19 Rural Health West has a responsibility to minimise the risk of outreach service providers inadvertently carrying COVID-19 to a rural community. Please be reminded of the Western Australian Government directions that healthcare and health support workers are to be fully vaccinated in order to enter healthcare facilities and will be required to show proof of vaccination to the practice or health provider. As an important service provider delivering vital services to rural and remote communities, please maintain regular communication with the regional site or remote community you are providing services to and follow their COVID-19 protocols for visiting services. If you are unable to fulfill your agreed schedule of visit, please contact the Regional Services team to submit a variation if required. Advice for workers from Australian Government Agencies, services and programs visiting remote communities during COVID-19 can be viewed here. New online reporting system Launch of the Regional Services Visit Information Portal (VIP) The Regional Services Visit Information Portal (VIP) has now launched. The VIP has been developed by Rural Health West to replace the Outreach Management System (OMS) and to save service providers time entering visits dates and reporting on Outreach visits while providing a more user-friendly experience. All registered administration contacts will have received login details via email from Microsoft Power Apps inviting you to open the VIP Service Provider app. If you are a registered administration contact and cannot access the VIP Service Provider app please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Training support for the VIP The following resources have been made available for all service providers to assist in the transition to the VIP:
Outreach evaluation National Rural Health Outreach Services Program Evaluation survey Outreach host facilities and health professionals will be emailed on 31 January 2022 by Health Policy Analysis to complete a survey as part of the Australian Government Department of Health's national evaluation of Rural Health Outreach Services. The email will include a set of instructions and a personalised link to complete the survey. The survey will be asking host facilities and health professionals for their feedback on the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of the outreach programs. The intention is to evaluate the outcomes of the programs to inform future policy rather than to assess the performance of individual Fundholders or service providers. The evaluation is being conducted between now and September 2022. If you are a host facility of Outreach services or a health professional who delivers services as part of the Outreach programs and do not receive a link but would like to contribute to the survey, please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. The Outreach programs are delivered by Rural Health West on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health. |