The Australian Government Department of Health has released a revised version of the Pregnancy Care Clinical Practice Guidelines. The 2018 edition of the guidelines combines Module I and 2 of the Antenatal Care Guidelines, published in 2012 and 2014 respectively. A number of chapters were reviewed and updated for this …
Are you interested in shaping the guidelines for referrals around persistent pain?
Queensland Health’s Clinical Excellence Division is currently seeking nominations from clinicians to be involved in the development of referral criteria (Clinical Prioritisation Criteria) for Persistent Pain Specialist Outpatient Services. The referral criteria aim to ensure equitable and timely access to specialist outpatient services and include the minimal information that needs …
Medicare does not fund routine HPV cervical screening tests in women under 25
Routine cervical screening is not recommended in the renewed program for women under 25 years. Some women under 25 will present with an expectation for routine screening, having had previous Pap tests. It is important that these women are aware that Medicare does not fund routine HPV cervical screening tests …
Queensland Pap Smear Register transition delayed
In February 2018, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer distributed a Public Health Alert encouraging GPs to continue to remind eligible women to have their Cervical Screening Test when they are next due. This alert was due to delays in the new National Cancer Screening Register becoming fully operational. These delays continue …
Your patients may be eligible for free services
The Australian Government has commenced a national program to investigate the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on, and in the vicinity of, some of its Defence bases around Australia. Professor Brendan Murphy, Chief Medical Officer, has announced that the timeframe for blood testing under the Voluntary Blood Testing …
Practice really does make perfect
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 …
Community events coming up in the Bundaberg region
The Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre are hosting a range of community events throughout March. Local events include the local police community forum, a celebration of diversity and cultural heritage and a family fun day for under 8’s. You can download flyers for the following events: Gin Gin Police Community forum …
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 …
Free workshops to help Wide Bay health providers screen for problem gambling
Lives Lived Well is partnering with Bridges Health and Community Care to deliver free Screening for Problem Gambling Workshops in the Wide Bay – Burnett region. Workshops will be held in Hervey Bay at 10am on Weds 21 March, in Maryborough at 2pm on Weds 21 March, and in Bundaberg …
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 …