No images? Click here What's happening Approved services 2021-2022 Service visit dates and activity reports As we near the end of the 2021-2022 financial year, service providers are encouraged to enter outstanding Service Activity Reports and confirmed visit dates into the Visit Information Portal (VIP) as soon as possible. This will ensure any funds made available from cancellations can be redistributed to other service providers before the end of the financial year. If you need assistance with using the VIP please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Annual review for outreach services for 2022-2023 The Regional Services team has completed the annual review of outreach services for 2022-2023. All services funded through Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF), Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP), Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS), Follow up Ear and Hearing Health Services (FEHHS) and Eye and Ear Surgical Support Service (EESS) were reviewed in preparation for the 2022-2023 financial year. Thank you to service providers for your participation in this process. Endorsement will now be sought from each Regional Working Group, the State-Wide Advisory Forum and Australian Government Department of Health (AGDoH). Following final endorsement from the AGDoH, a Payment Schedule with approved 2022-2023 services through RHOF, MOICDP, VOS, FEHHS and EESS will be issued to service providers (expected in June 2022). If you have any questions about the process, 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 AGDoH regarding the continuity of this program. All service providers and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. Visit Information Portal user guide and improvements Service providers have now transitioned to the new outreach reporting system, the Visit Information Portal (VIP). We thank service providers for your patience during this period of transition and for reporting system errors or improvements. Updates for improved usability have been made to the portal, including removal of slider bars and free text boxes for data entry. The user guide for the portal has been updated to reflect these changes. To report any errors with the portal or suggestions for improvement, or for a copy of the user guide, please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Outreach Services and COVID-19 COVID-19 restrictions in some communities may continue to have an impact on face-to-face Outreach service delivery. The Regional Services team continues to work with service providers to vary services to telehealth to minimise the impact of COVID-19 and to support the continuation of services where possible. To view a list of telehealth resources to assist and support the establishment and maintenance of a telehealth service, please visit the Rural Health West website. Regional Services team update With Laura Watkins commencing parental leave and Freya Byrnes relocating to the Kimberley, the Regional Services team are delighted to introduce our new team members. Sofia Filipe will be joining the team as an internal transfer. Sofia has been with Rural Health West for over three years and is looking forward to her new role within Regional Services. We also welcome Kelly Claessen to Rural Health West. Kelly has recently graduated from a Bachelor of Health Promotion and Marketing and has completed practicums in the Kimberley and North Metropolitan Health Service. Sofia and Kelly will be commencing with the team in May. All service providers previously managed by Laura or Freya will be notified of their program contact in the coming weeks. Expressions of interest - outreach opportunities to Albany Amity Health is seeking a Neurologist and a Speech Pathologist to deliver outreach services to Albany and surrounding towns. Amity Health is a not-for-profit organisation providing health services to the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions. The organisation has vacancies for an outreach Neurology service, which delivers five visits to Albany per year, and a Speech Pathology service which delivers outreach services to Walpole and Jerramungup. For more information, please contact Noelene Robinson at nrobinson@amityhealth.com.au. Upcoming webinar: Digital health webinar for specialists Digital health tools are changing how healthcare is delivered in Australia. Access to My Health Record is transforming health service delivery and supporting continuity of care across the country. Please join the Australian Digital Health Agency, WA Primary Health Alliance, Northern Sydney PHN and special guest Dr Patrick Coleman (Physician - Specialist in Nephrology and Hypertension, Dale Street Medical Specialists) and other speakers, to hear how digital health is transforming care. Healthcare professionals and practice managers from across all sectors, and especially those in specialist medical practice, are encouraged to attend, hear these success stories and be inspired to start using digital health. The Outreach programs are delivered by Rural Health West on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health. |