The new General Practice in Aged Care Incentive commenced on 1 July, providing incentive payments to general practices and general practitioners for delivering regular visits and care planning to permanent residents living in residential aged care. This may result in some changes in the way that general practitioners deliver services to residents living …
Planning for Seniors Month
In October, we celebrate older Queenslanders and their ongoing contribution across the region —whether as older persons ageing in our community, or an aged care resident, carer, grandparent, or advocates. Seniors Month is all about increasing the social connectedness of older people and their communities because we all want to …
Winter immunity for a safer community
We all know people in our community who are at greatest risk of suffering severe symptoms from flu include people aged over 65, and people with a medical condition. While most residents and staff in aged care settings will already have received their annual flu shot, we can all do …
COVID-19 vaccination rates in aged care are low
It is important to ensure the safety of our community, especially older people. Older age continues to be the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19. Regular vaccination is the best protection from severe illness, hospitalisation or death from COVID-19. The recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is: …
National Bowel Screening program extended to 45-49 year olds
There are upcoming changes to the National Bowel Screening Program. From 1 July 2024, the Department of Health is lowering the eligible screening age for the program from 50 to 45 years of age. What does this mean for patients aged 45-49? Eligible people aged 45 to 49 can be …
Clinical Societies welcome more than 1000 health professionals across the region
Country to Coast, QLD’s fourth round of Clinical Societies events wrapped up on 12 June, totaling more than 1000 participants and thousands more connections forged since the program launched in August 2023. CCQ Director for Healthy Ageing and host for Round four, Julie Dymock was delighted with the record attendance …
Become a Cyber Warden and help keep your business cyber-safe
Did you know that the 2022 ransomware attack on an Australian health insurer exposed the sensitive data of 9.7 million Australians? Digital transformation in the primary care sector can unlock amazing opportunities and new ways of working, but it comes with risks that must be understood and managed. Cyber security, …
Help shape a new approach to health and wellbeing in your community
Country to Coast, QLD’s My Healthy Community survey is open until 14 July to all Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast residents aged 18 and over. Help us get the word out to your patients, staff and clients, so we can all understand what really keeps our community healthy …
Telehealth for RACH Impact Statements
In 2023, many RACHs applied for Telehealth grants. If you did receive a grant, please note the extended final due date for the Telehealth Grant Impact Statement for RACH is approaching fast, with submissions due at close of business, Tuesday 10 June 2024. You also should have received a reminder …
Reminder Digital Health Maturity in your RACH
On 23 April, we reached out to all Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) across the region to better understand how you use digital health in your everyday operations. We were also keen to hear how we could better support your facility, with help tailored to your individual needs. While we …
GPACI and MyMedicare registration launch 1 July
The General Practice in Aged Care (GPACI) Incentive payments will launch Monday 1 July 2024 and will replace the current Aged Care Access Incentive. GPACI Incentive payments are available to participating general practices supporting older people living Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) with regular visits and care planning services. The aim …
Persistent Pain focus for next Clinical Societies round – Register now
Persistent Pain – Innovation and Interdisciplinary Care is the focus for Round 3 of Country to Coast QLD’s Clinical Societies events, identified by Round 2 participants as the highest priority topic in Central Queensland, and the second highest priority topic for Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast. Chronic pain is a …
Expression of Interest – General Practice opportunity in Imbil
Country to Coast, QLD (CCQ) is inviting Expressions of Interest for the delivery of primary healthcare services in Imbil, a beautiful rural town located in the Gympie region in Queensland. With a population of 1300 in Imbil and nearby communities, this regional town currently relies on a local pharmacy as …
Bundaberg and Rockhampton residents welcome Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Rockhampton and Bundaberg residents are choosing access to bulk-billed urgent care without a visit to the emergency department, with the recent opening of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in each regional city. Funded by Country to Coast, QLD through the Australian Government’s PHN Program, the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide same-day …
University of Sydney and BreastScreen Sunshine Coast Breast Density Trial
Breast Screen Sunshine Coast has commenced a randomised controlled trial in conjunction with The University of Sydney, BSQ and the BSQ Sunshine Coast service. This is the first research in the world to test the immediate and ongoing impacts of breast density notification on women and the health service in a …
EOI: Queensland Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network Steering Committee
Expressions of Interest are invited for General Practitioner (GP) membership of the Qld Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network Steering Committee. Further information about the role can be found in the attached EOI and details about the QRSCN Steering Committee can be found in the attached Terms of Reference. Applications should include: …
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Research – Skin cancer
Are you a skin cancer professional? QIMR Berghofer Medical Research is conducting a study on skin cancers, and needs your valuable input. This research aims to document the prevalence of shave biopsy for diagnosing thin lesions suspicious of melanoma, as well as understanding the clinical and other factors contributing to …
Health Workforce Scholarship program 2024
Round 1 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program will be opening on 15 January 2024, managed by Health Workforce Queensland, this scholarship and bursary funding of up to $10,000 helps qualified health professionals in remote and rural Queensland retain and enhance their skills, capacity, and scope of practice. The HWSP …
Queensland Clinical Guidelines – Neonatal now published
Queensland Clinical Guidelines (QCG) wishes to acknowledge and thank clinicians for their support and involvement in the development of statewide clinical guidelines and neonatal medicine monographs, these guidelines have been published at www.health.qld.gov.au/qcg: Neonatal stabilisation for retrieval (Guideline Number: MN23.18-V3-R28) Neonatal hypoglycaemia (Guideline Number: MN23.8-V13-R28) These guidelines replace the previous …
Australian Digital Health Agency – beware of scammers
The Agency has received reports of fraudulent phone calls from individuals or organisations who claim to represent the Australian Digital Health Agency. These have been reported to the Agency over the last week. We want to reassure you that the Agency would never ask any health provider or consumer to …