The National Asthma Council Australia has released a new evidence-based resource for primary care health professionals to help explain the latest treatment options for patients with severe asthma. The Monoclonal antibody therapy for severe asthma information paper was developed based on the latest available evidence and implications for practice in primary care. …
Be aware of the Christmas tree ‘sneeze and wheeze’
With the trend for Australians to put up Christmas trees early, experts from the National Asthma Council Australia have warned that your festive tree can trigger asthma symptoms and nasty respiratory problems. Being allergic to a Christmas tree – often called the Christmas tree syndrome – is a condition that causes wheezing, …
AMAQ Regional Private Practice Series on this week
The AMA Queensland Regional Private Practice Seminar Series Two: Workplace policies and risk management will be hosted, on 5 & 6 December, in Bundaberg and Rockhampton this week. Join Michelle Cowan, Senior Industrial Officer, AMA Queensland and Paul Copeland, Director, William Buck to examine the set-up of a policy framework …
Natural disaster recovery resources for families with infants and young children
It’s Queensland, where summer doesn’t always mean ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next’. For many Queensland families, this summer is likely to bring continued drought and bush fire risk. Other families may endure storms, cyclones or flooding. While extreme weather events can be stressful for adults, children aged 0 to …
Queensland Health awards Referral contract
Queensland Health has awarded a contract to BPAC Informatics Pty to provide their eReferrals solution capability SeNT to be integrated as part of the Queensland Health Smart Referrals solution. The Smart Referrals solution is a key initiative of The Queensland Health Specialist Outpatient Strategy launched in 2016. The BPAC eReferral …
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners can supply and administer scheduled medicines
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners working in isolated practice areas in Queensland now have the authority to supply and administer scheduled medicines in accordance with amendments to the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996. These authorities apply to staff of both Hospital and Health Services and Aboriginal and …
My Health Record legislation amendments pass Senate
Last week the Federal Minister for Health announced an extension to the My Health Record opt out period until 31 January 2019. The opt out portal and help line will remain open and available until then, however people can still opt-out or opt-in at any time in their lives. Further …
Looking back on maternal shared care in Rockhampton
Dr Helen Wiltshire, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN’s GPLO for Maternity Care The inaugural GP Antenatal Shared Care workshop was held in Rockhampton on Saturday 20, October 2018. The update was presented by CCQ and the Rockhampton Hospital. It provided an update for GPs who wish to undertake …
Reflections of a QDHP phone counsellor
Dr Michael Kennedy reflects on his experience as a phone counsellor for the Queensland Doctor’s Health Programme, and encourages others to consider joining the team. Years ago an opportunity arose. It was akin to a tap on the shoulder. I began this job of taking the calls for DHAS(Q), now …
Quick guide to cervical screening
According to Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF), almost 45% of Australian women aren’t up to date with their cervical screening. From 12-18 November 2018, ACCF will be running a campaign for National Cervical Cancer Awareness week. This presents a great time to focus on the importance of cervical cancer screening …
New tool improves mental health screening
Federal Government funding has enabled ten general practices across the Central Queensland, Wide Bay and the Sunshine Coast to roll out StepCare, an innovative digital screening and treatment service for common mental health conditions. Federal Member for Fairfax, Mr Ted O’Brien said the service, funded by CCQ would provide new …
Some final points to consider for My Health Record
Benefits for health professionals The My Health Record system presents health professionals with an opportunity to not only improve workflow efficiency but also to improve patient care. Much time is spent chasing up key information such as test results and current medication lists. This presents a significant period where attention …
Graduate certificate in Primary Health Paramedicine
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) attends to over 1,000,000 incidents per year. Over 400,000 of these incidents are considered non-life threatening, or subacute. The QAS is designing a training program that will enable many of our experienced paramedics to better manage these subacute patients. The QAS recognises that health professionals …
Meet our new GPLO in Bundaberg
My name is Fionna Hadden and I am really excited to have joined the Bundaberg Office of the CCQ as a GP Liaison Officer. I am looking forward to meeting you all over the coming months but wanted to take the opportunity to briefly introduce myself and welcome your communication …
Updated: Cases of infectious syphilis in Central Highlands
The outbreak of syphilis in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people continues in North Queensland. There have also been increased syphilis notifications in men who have sex with men, notably in the Cairns and Hinterland HHS area. Recently there have been several cases of infectious syphilis diagnosed within Rockhampton …
Resources improve palliative services to home-based patients
Most Australian palliative care patients prefer to be cared for at home and the majority want to die at home, though less than 10 per cent achieve that wish, according to a 2017 report by the Australian Productivity Commission. caring@home today released a range of best practice and consistent resources …
Palliative care survey for GPs and practices
The Australian Government has engaged PHNs to improve coordination and integration of palliative care across primary, secondary, tertiary and community health services to support at home palliative care for people who choose it. A key activity of the program is to conduct a service mapping exercise to identify the availability of services within the …
Deliver care coordination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
CCQ announces an opportunity for health and/or social service providers to bid to operate the Integrated Team Care Program in Bundaberg. The PHN invites all existing organisations who provide health and/or social services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Bundaberg Local Government Area to participate in an …
New portal supports end of life care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet have launched the new Palliative Care and End-of-Life Resource portal for the workforce who support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The palliative care and end-of-life portal is designed to assist health professionals who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander …
Recommendations for preconception carrier screening
New position statements from the RACGP and RANZCOG recognise the importance of preconception carrier screening. Patients may present to general practice looking for information regarding rare genetic conditions and the role of genetic testing. What is preconception carrier screening? Preconception carrier screening is genetic testing performed ideally prior to pregnancy, …