On Saturday March 10, 2018, PHN hosted “Practice Makes Perfect? – getting the most out of your practice”. This conference, targeted to general practice staff, covered topics including effective communication (including dealing with aggressive patients), MBS Item Numbers for chronic disease management and mental health; Use of Practice data for …
How is the NDIS roll out going?
According to the latest quarterly figures the NDIS is now supporting more than 140,000 Australians as the health reorm continues to roll out across the country. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is currently providing quarterly updates to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council. The NDIA says that …
Tips to avoid a data breach in your practice
Whilst understanding that issues of patient confidentiality are in the forefront of GP’s minds, we are continually challenged by new technologies that may not be as secure as they initially seem. For instance, email (gmail, yahoo, outlook, apple mail) is not a secure means of sending patient clinical information (referral …
Quality Improvement Incentive delayed
The Practice Incentive Program (PIP) is a key driver to quality care in the general practice sector. PIP is aimed at supporting general practice activities that encourage improvements in quality care, enhance capacity and improve access and health outcomes for patients. The PIP Quality Improvement (QI) Incentive will continue to …
The HPV vaccine updated on the National Immunisation Program
In a letter to GPs, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy has said that the National Immunisation Program for HPV vaccination will now be a two dose schedule of the 9-valent HPV vaccine Gardisil®9. The new vaccine is now replacing the 4-valent Gardisil vaccine and can be ordered through …
Kidney health week is coming soon
Kidney Health Week 2018 is coming soon, and Kidney Health Australia are calling on practices to help raise much needed awareness of kidney disease. According to Kidney Health Australia, one in three people living in Australia is at increased risk of kidney disease, and 90% of kidney function can be …
Preventing Cervical Cancer: take a look at the changes
Changes in the national screening program are underway, Gardasil 9 is coming and the National Cancer Register is up and running The end of 2017 saw the implementation of changes to the way we screen for cervical cancer risk in Australia: HPV testing every five years replaces Pap smears every …
Telephone counselling and support services available for pharmacists
It is vital that services exist to help support the health of health professionals. In the same way that doctors and nurses have specific services available such as Doctors Health Advisory Services and the Nursing and Midwifery Support Line there is a support service for pharmacists. The Pharmacists’ Support Service …
Seeking new members to join the Clinical Council
CCQ (the PHN) is seeking new members to join an existing GP-led, multidisciplinary Clinical Council in the following areas: Central Queensland Wide Bay Sunshine Coast The PHN is seeking new members, who can act in a strategic advisory capacity, to the CEO and Board of the PHN. The aim is to improve …
Focus on diet, nutrition and eating smart this week
Much of the chronic disease burden is attributable to factors such as overweight and obesity and inadequate diet that can be reduced or prevented by behavioural and lifestyle changes. This is a pressing challenge faced by our communities where rates of overweight and obesity, a major driver of Type 2 …
Join a Community Advisory Council for your area
CCQ is currently calling for new members to join the Community Advisory Councils in each area. The Community Advisory Councils (CACs) are in place across each of the three areas of the PHN catchment. The Councils have two functions; to advise and influence the PHN Board to ensure investments are …
Funded influenza vaccine for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
According to Queensland Health, influenza causes the majority of hospital admissions in children under five years of age. From April 2018, the Queensland government is providing free influenza vaccine for children aged between 6 months to less than 5 years of age to ensure all children in this age group …
Department of Health releases new National Cervical Screening Program information
Friday, 1 December 2017 marked the commencement of the renewed National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) supported by the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Screening women under 25 years of age Routine cervical screening is not recommended in the renewed program for women under 25 years. Some women under 25 …
Paediatric asthma surge in February
The National Asthma Council Australia is asking doctors to help their young asthma patients have a great start to the school year by ensuring their healthy return to the classroom. Parents and carers need to be prepared so they and their kids with asthma are confident about managing their asthma …
New data breach legislation is on the horizon
The new Mandatory Data Breach reporting scheme requires organisations to conduct assessments of suspected data breaches and notify individuals likely to be at risk. From 22 February 2018, it will be mandatory for organisations to notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Organisations will need to notify any …
Help your patients get access to the NDIS
To allow the NDIA to determine whether a person meets the disability or early intervention access requirements to join the NDIS, evidence of disability may need to be provided to the NDIA. Evidence of disability includes information on what the disability is, how long it will last and its impact …
Are you ready for the changes to codeine?
All health providers should be aware of the changes to codeine scheduling. From next Thursday, 1 February 2018, patients will need a prescription for all medicines containing codeine. The PHN has developed a new resource to help practices prepare for the codeine changes which are just around the corner. You …
Getting kids in Gympie ready for school
Child therapy services in Gympie have receive a $120,000 funding boost to kick off the new school year. Debbie Blumel, CEO for Children’s Therapy Centre said families in Gympie would be able to access free therapy sessions for developmentally vulnerable children. “If parents, child care providers, GPs or specialists have …
Upgrade your skills with the heart foundation ambassador bursary
The Heart Foundation’s Health Professional Ambassador Program (HPAP) is open to health professionals who wish to update their knowledge, skills and develop the confidence to improve cardiovascular health outcomes in their workplace. Applicants must be a registered Practice Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health …
Join the Integrated Care Alliance
The Integrated Care Alliance is currently seeking new representatives. The alliance was formed to ensure integration occurs from an organisational and system level with the patients at the centre of the health system. Members of the alliance meet bi monthly to work collaboratively on projects that consider the entire patient …