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 …
Q fever vaccination is advised for people at high risk who work with farm animals
General practitioners may be asked to test and vaccinate individuals, or work with an employer (such as a meat processor) to test and vaccinate staff. Q fever is an illness caused by the Coxiella burnetii bacteria. The main carriers are farm animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Other animals …
New clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has updated its Guidelines for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis. The latest recommendations indicate that people with osteoarthritis should adopt a combination of lifestyle changes and regular exercise. The guidelines also indicate that cognitive behavioural therapy may be appropriate to …
A My Health Record can help you avoid stroke damage or even death
Having a My Health Record could potentially save a stroke victim’s life or prevent serious brain damage as early action based on correct health information is critical after a person has had a stroke. Australians are being encouraged to get a My Health Record during National Stroke Week this week …
HealthPathways localises over 400 referral pathways across the Sunshine Coast
The HealthPathways program launched in November 2016 and has since become a go-to resource for many GPs by providing localised referral pathways. These localised pathways provides valuable information for managing patients and reviewing required information for public and private specialist referrals. If you haven’t used HealthPathways yet, it is a …
Mumps outbreak in the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast areas
Several confirmed cases and a small number of likely but unconfirmed cases of mumps have been identified in students in the boarding school at St Brendan’s college. The purpose of this communique is to provide you with some information about the steps being taken to minimise further spread in the …
Are hearing checks part of an annual check up for your patients?
Hearing loss due to normal ageing (presbycusis) is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. One in six Australians have hearing loss with 60 percent of people over 60 and 70 percent of people over 70 experiencing hearing difficulties. People living with diabetes or those with cardiovascular issues …
New opportunities to promote research
Good quality research that translates into improved health outcomes in the community is the cornerstone of modern healthcare. Within the PHN boundaries, there are an increasing number of research facilities with a health focus. Our PHN has developed a research opportunities page on our website to help bring researchers and …
Join Black Dog Institute’s Mental Health Community of Practice
Black Dog Institute’s Mental Health Community of Practice is a private online community for health professionals with an interest in mental health. The community is facilitated by medcast and combines education and knowledge sharing activities. To join the Mental Health Community of Practice, you need to be a Health Professional …
Direct action needed to cure hepatitis C
In March 2016 a number of direct acting antiviral medications for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection were made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. These medications are highly effective, curing over 95 percent of those treated, have little or no adverse side effects and are easily self-administered. General …
Are you confident in providing end of life care for older Australians?
How do you know if your older patient is nearing death? How can you better manage their symptoms and help them die well? End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) is a free, government-funded resource designed to connect you with evidence-based tools and resources in palliative care and advance …
Grants to aid further study in Parkinson’s care
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) is now offering a Postgraduate Unit of Study Parkinson’s Care. This is a national initiative that highlights the importance of the role of Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists across communities, especially in regional areas where access to neurology services is limited. Parkinson’s Queensland Inc (PQI), has …
Supporting carers to manage breakthrough symptoms safely
caring@home aims to improve the quality of palliative care service delivery across Australia by developing resources that support people to be cared for, and to die at home, if that is their choice. caring@home is a national project, led by the Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative, and funded by the …
Public Health Advisory to GPs in Wide Bay Food recall – potential Listeria contamination
There is a current trade recall of frozen vegetables due to concerns about possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall is a precautionary measure following an investigation in Europe of an outbreak of a specific strain of L. monocytogenes with 47 cases across 5 EU countries. The outbreak, dating back …
You can now get all cervical screening records in one place
The National Cancer Screening Register will be able to provide healthcare providers with the patients’ full cervical screening history regardless of the state or territory where test was performed. Previously, healthcare providers have been contacting state and territory registers for cervical screening histories pre 1 December 2017, and the NCSR …
Can your experience improve outcomes in delivering paediatric services?
Children’s Health Queensland is currently developing its health services plan, the Children’s Health and Wellbeing Services Plan 2018-2028 (CHWSP). The CHWSP will identify the key health service directions and strategies for the efficient and effective alignment of Children’s Health Queensland’s services to the needs of our community over the next …
Nambour General Hospital redevelopment confirmed
In a letter to stakeholders, the Board Chair and Chief Executive have confirmed a multimillion dollar redevelopment of the Nambour General Hospital. Construction on the $86 million project is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2019 and will be completed in December 2022. The redevelopment will deliver: expansion …
GP media training coming to Wide Bay
Communicating with Clarity – GP Media and Communications Training Presented by CCQ with Rowland Communications Health professionals are regularly approached by the media to comment on public health issues – from healthy lifestyle recommendations to outbreaks of infectious disease. In order to communicate effectively during a media interview, health professionals …