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The National Aboriginal Indigenous Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) has been postponed this year due to COVID-19. It will now take place from 8 to 14 November 2020. NAIDOC Week is a great opportunity for practices to participate in a range of activities and build relationships with their local Aboriginal community. For more information about the week of celebration, including the printable poster and local events in your area, visit naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-week. As noted on the site, permission is not required to display either the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flag. However, it is required to reproduce either flag e.g on a flyer or poster.
This is a timely opportunity to review key initiatives available to Aboriginal people. HealthPathways is a great resource for practices seeking to provide optimal care for their Aboriginal patients. For further information on the following initiatives see the Aboriginal Health Initiatives pathway.
Registration for both PIP-IHI and the PBS Co-Payment occur on the same form but are two distinct initiatives. Aboriginal patients with a chronic condition within general practice benefit from being registered for the PIP IHI and Close the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-Payment. A PIP IHI registered Practice will receive payments up to $500 per calendar year based on registration of an Aboriginal patient for PIP IHI, and the chronic disease management and total patient care provided in a calendar year. ‘The patient registration payment is paid once per patient, per calendar year for patients registered between 1 January and 31 October. If a patient is registered for the first time in November or December of a year, they’ll be registered from 1 January to 31 December of that year, as well as for the following year. Practices will receive one patient registration payment of $250 in the February payment quarter of the following year.’ (PIP IHI Guidelines, Feb 2014).
HealthPathways includes a detailed breakdown of the associated financial support and target level of care (tiered payments) required to achieve the maximum payment. The PBS Co-payment Measure (CTG) helps reduce the cost of PBS medicines for Aboriginal patients. Patients most likely to benefit include those who will experience setbacks in the prevention or ongoing management of chronic disease if they do not take the prescribed medicine; and those who are unlikely to follow their medicines routine without this help. All prescriptions for PBS medicines are covered, whether used to treat chronic or acute medical conditions. Note: patients registered for the PBS Co-Payment alone only need to be registered once, and not annually.
The ITC Program is a national funded service providing a clinically qualified care coordination team to support general practice in the care of Aboriginal patients with a chronic condition who require complex or multidisciplinary care. The ITC Program is also able to provide financial assistance where a person would not otherwise be able to access essential services and medical aids in a clinically appropriate timeframe. For example, by assisting with the cost of medical appointments, or helping with the cost of specific medical aids and equipment. The service is provided in partnership with an individual’s GP, and in alignment with their GP Management Plan.
This list details all available PBS items that are limited to Aboriginal people, as Authority PBS prescriptions. The list is brand specific E.g. Spren100, Chlorsig, Ferro-f-tab.
Following the period of social isolation due to COVID-19, the Nidjalla Waangan Mia Health Centre implemented an innovative program to re-engage with their clients and encourage them to take control of their health. With many reaching for the wrong food and drinks during COVID, Yvonnie thought it was the perfect opportunity to reset and change behaviours to improve the health outcomes for their clients by running an eight-week challenge. Nine clients joined the challenge, eight with diabetes and one underweight client who was encouraged to gain weight over the weeks. Each participant was given a gym towel, water bottle, exercise and food diary and a pedometer to record their activity. The group were set weekly challenges such as drinking two litres of water or taking three ten-minute walks daily. Prizes were given for meeting the targets or being the most improved. The group met at the centre each week and began the session with a short walk before having their blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar levels and weight measured. One participant lost 3kg during the challenge despite physical limitations due to a recent surgery. All eight diabetic patients have seen a reduction in their HbA1C and cholesterol levels. There were two winners each receiving a fresh fruit and veg hamper and a gift voucher for The Athlete’s Foot to purchase well-fitting shoes
Although there were only two official winners, the entire group has benefited with many continuing to record their diet and exercise and make positive changes and take control of their health.
Through engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts in the field, topics for the sexual health portal will focus on the aspects of sexual health that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and their communities. These topics include safe sex, healthy relationships, sexuality, sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses, sexual disorders and reproductive health. Funded by the Australian Department of Health, the portal has information about publications, policies, health promotion and practice resources, organisations and workforce information to provide up-to-date relevant information for those working in this important area. Broome based artist Bec Morgan’s painting titled ‘Where the fresh water meets the saltwater’ is the featured art of the new portal and represents the freshwater and saltwater people coming together. For more information go to Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has produced an updated Review of kidney health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Kidney disease is a serious health concern for people living in Australia with one in three adult Australians at an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience an increased burden of kidney disease, particularly those living in remote communities. Click here to access this review. The review is accompanied by:
As a valued subscriber to our Practice Connect newsletter, we would appreciate your feedback on our publication to ensure it remains relevant and useful for practices. The survey should take no longer than two minutes to complete. Your feedback will be used to guide future improvements. Please submit your feedback to us by COB Friday 11 December. For further information regarding this survey please contact the Practice Assist Team on 1800 2 ASSIST or practiceassist@wapha.org.au
CLICK HERE TO START THE SURVEY
A brief reminder to all practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Quality Improvement (QI) that quarter 4 commenced on 1 November. To be eligible for this quarter, practices must undertake continuous quality improvement and share data with WAPHA at least once each quarter or hold a valid exemption from the Australian Department of Health. For further information, please speak with your Primary Health Liaison or Comprehensive Primary Care Facilitator, or alternatively please contact Practice Assist on 1800 2 ASSIST or practiceassist@wapha.org.au
As part of our support for general practices, Practice Assist maintains a library of useful resources in our Practice Assist Resource Library. These resources range across different topics from GP Accreditation, Practice Incentives Program, to the latest in resources around COVID-19. These are some of our newly, and or updated resources in our Resource Library.
We would appreciate your feedback on our resources for use in your practice use, please email practiceassist@wapha.org.au with ideas and comments.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is developing National Safety and Quality Primary Healthcare (NSQPH) Standards to assist primary healthcare services to minimise the risk of harm and improve care for patients. Following workshop sessions undertaken in 2019, the Commission now has a draft set of Standards available for feedback, with the intention that the NSQPH Standards will be finalised and published in 2021. Consultation on the draft NSQPH Standards is open until Friday 27 November 2020, and you can provide your feedback in three ways:
All primary healthcare providers, consumers, peak professional bodies, and other sector representatives are invited to provide feedback, including those who are currently assessed against profession-specific standards. The draft NSQPH Standards can be downloaded here. For more information on the development and consultation, or to provide your feedback or register for an online forum, please visit the Commission’s NSQPH Standards page.
The University of Melbourne, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM), Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) and the VCS Foundation have undertaken a project for the Commonwealth Department of Health to understand how the primary healthcare workforce engages with the national cancer screening programs (bowel, breast and cervical). Findings from this study have led to the development of communication materials to assist in boosting participation, education and engagement. The current phase invites General Practitioners, practice managers and practice nurses to participate in a focus group discussion (via Zoom) to review and provide feedback on the developed communication materials. The focus group discussions will occur in early December 2020, with all participants receiving a $50 gift card for their time. For further details please click here, and or if you are interested in participating, please email Kristi Milley, National Manager at the University of Melbourne kristi.milley@unimelb.edu.au or contact via mobile on 0411 873 253.
The National Digital Health Workforce and Education Roadmap (the roadmap) was released in September 2020 by the Australian Digital Health Agency. The roadmap outlines skills and capabilities required by the Australian health workforce to maximise the use of digital health. Join national digital health leaders and your healthcare peers in a webinar that discusses the pathway to ensure our health workforce has the skills and confidence to deliver world class digital healthcare. Please register here and you will be provided with a personal calendar invite including your link to join the session.
As part of the implementation of the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019 – 2024, the Department of Health has funded development of a two-part Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) which aims to upskill WA health professionals in Nutrition and Weight Management Training including brief interventions for weight management care. This is a Health Networks Project with the training developed by researchers at the University of Newcastle, together with EMHS and Curtin University. We are inviting you to pilot test the training to ensure it is fit-for-purpose for WA health professionals, based on your expertise in this area. Participation involves completing two Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs):
For further details about the training pilot, including the link to the Information Statement and training click here. If you have any further questions, please email EMHS.ObesityPreventionStrategy@health.wa.gov.au
To celebrate the Drop the Jargon Day, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is proud to launch a new health education toolkit My Body. My Health. Written in plain English, the toolkit was developed to help migrant and refugee women learn about their health and healthy lifestyle choices. Created in collaboration with the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, the toolkit is a series of five presentations that aim to deliver positive health messages to women. It can be used by health professionals, educators and organisations that support migrant communities. The toolkit can be found on the Jean Hailes website.
To help support your practice get the most out of your patients’ My Health Record, you will soon be receiving handy desktop guides on accessing some of the most useful features for Best Practice and Medical Director. These will come directly to practices via post. Specially developed by the WA Primary Health Alliance Digital Health Team, the guides providing step-by-step reminders on how to access features like ‘Finding Medicare Overview’ and ‘Uploading a Shared Health Summary’. Please email the Practice Assist team on 1800 2 ASSIST or by email practiceassist@wapha.org.au or alternatively contact your WA Primary Health Alliance Primary Health Liaison or CPC Facilitator if you would like to order additional guides or require further support with My Health Record.
Beyond the C – Hepatitis C Elimination in Your Practice aims to increase the number of patients screened, tested, treated and linked to appropriate care for hepatitis C (HCV), within a General Practice setting. Health practitioners who sign up will be guided by our General Practice Nurse Consultant to conduct HCV case finding and clinical auditing within their own practice, to improve the identification of new cases, follow up, treatment and monitoring.
If you would like to sign up, or learn more about the project, visit the website or contact BeyondtheC@ashm.org.au
A new resource has been uploaded onto our Practice Assist website. It outlines the various ways the MCDC can assist immunisation providers. For example:
This new resource can be accessed here
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) are asking that all nurses involved with immunisations take a 3-5-minute survey about their vaccination education. The information gathered will help state and territory health departments prepare for the Australia-wide rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine. The link to the survey can be found here. Please complete the survey by 13th November.
The PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool is a resource that has been developed by the Immunisation Coalition using the pneumococcal disease vaccination recommendations in the Australian Immunisation Handbook to assist immunisation providers. The tool was recently updated to include changes that came into effect on 1 July 2020. The tool is available on the Immunisation Coalition website. Further detailed information regarding pneumococcal disease is available in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) Secretariat advises that a public consultation is now open on proposed changes to the recommended use of the rabies vaccines.
This public consultation will remain open until 11.59PM on Wednesday 18 November 2020.
For further information or to make a submission, click here. Contact the ATAGI secretariat via email ATAGI.Secretariat@health.gov.au if you have any questions regarding this consultation.
Nurses know the NIP funded vaccines inside-out, but how often do you speak to your patients about the recommended vaccines, but not funded ones?
APNA’s latest Nursing Australia podcast discusses how to raise this sometimes-tricky conversation and share the reasoning behind recommended vs funded vaccines. Listen to the podcast here.
The Immunisation Coalition's 2020 Shingles update for GPs, Immunisation Nurses, Pharmacists and other immunisation professionals will be held on Wednesday 11th November 2020 from 3.00pm – 4.00pm (AWST). This free webinar will provide useful information about clinical features of the disease, transmission, complications, and vaccination recommendations. You can register for the webinar here.
AMA (WA) through its Medical Products division, has secured a new contract with Sanofi to supply private influenza vaccines for patients not eligible for government-funded NIP vaccine and will be able to supply practices at the same time as initial NIP vaccine distribution from WA Health. Practices should be looking at their active patient base to determine quantities and encouraged to confirm orders by COB Friday 18 December 2020. Click here to view and download the order form. Email any enquiries to vaccines@amamedicalproducts.com.au
Researchers at Curtin University are currently looking for participants aged 18 years or over to test a free, self-help CBT guide to improve mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide provides ideas from international experts to improve mental health and wellbeing in children, teenagers, adults and older adults. Participants need not have mental health problems to join in, as the guide provides strategies to improve general wellbeing. To participate, visit the covidcbt.org website, or for further information, please view the flyer here.
The following content updates have now been published on the HealthPathways website:
To access HealthPathways please contact your WAPHA Primary Health Liaison or email the HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wapha.org.au
The NPS MedicineWise Quality Improvement hub has practical information, tools and resources for health professionals and general practice staff, to help improve the quality of health care. You can find information about
The Quality Improvement hub is available on the NPS MedicineWise website: https://www.nps.org.au/quality-improvement-hub.
AAPM has made available updated JobKeeper 2.0 templates for their members. If you are an AAPM member you can access this information here
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 (the Act) will commence 1 July 2021. The following resources are available to help service providers and staff consider the impact that voluntary assisted dying will have on their service.
For more information, download a copy of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2019 or visit the WA Health Voluntary Assisted Dying web page.
The 2021 conference theme of lessons learnt from past disasters will focus on learnings and effects from the recent disasters that have impacted both Australia and the world and how we can prepare for future adversities. The conference will focus on dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and COVID-19. Delegates will share ideas and challenges with forward thinkers, whilst having the opportunity to network with colleagues. The WA Rural Health Conference 2021 will provide clinical updates, case studies, small group discussions and workshops covering topics relevant to the rural workforce. Travel support provided to medical practitioners, nurses and midwives who work and live in rural Western Australia, and their partners. For further information or to register please visit WA Rural Health Conference 2021
Partner Education Grants offer the partners of rural West Australian medical professionals, nurses and midwives financial support towards their own professional development. Grants of up to $1,000 per successful partner are available and can be used towards expenses such as course fees, conference registration, membership to professional associations and training related expenses such as course resources, direct travel and accommodation costs.
To review frequently asked questions including eligibility criteria and to apply please visit the website .
The WA Rural Health Awards celebrate the achievements of clinicians who have enhanced the range and quality of medical care available in rural locations. These awards are an opportunity to shine the spotlight on health professionals who have contributed to rural health in Western Australia. When news of the COVID-19 pandemic broke, the world hit unchartered waters and health professionals rose to the challenge. Never has there been a better time to acknowledge these heroes. Nominations are now open for the 2021 awards in the following categories:
Professional and personal pressures can arise for general practice teams at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. To support GPs and practice staff to look after themselves and take the necessary steps to support their wellbeing, WA Primary Health Alliance is offering three free confidential counselling sessions via its Wellness Program. Provided through AccessEAP, and available to all WA-based general practice staff, the program offers confidential sessions with a counsellor who can offer information and assistance in navigating the COVID-19 response as well as other personal and professional issues. Issues that can be addressed during counselling sessions include:
WA Primary Health Alliance continues to operate a significant logistical strategy to distribute masks during the COVID-19 pandemic to general practices, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, pharmacies and allied health practices that meet the criteria of the Department of Health Tranche 4 guidelines. For mask requests, visit the Practice Assist website. Please note, re-orders will not be accepted within five business days (Mon-Fri) of the previous request, except in exceptional circumstances. Please send all general queries in relation to the National Medical Stockpile to Stockpile.Ops@health.gov.au.
This year, the International Diabetes Federation is marking World Diabetes Day by celebrating the millions of nurses around the globe who provide care and support to people living with diabetes. Held every year on November 14, World Diabetes Day aims to raise awareness of diabetes and associated issues. Alisha Miles, Prevention Manager at Diabetes WA, applauded the IDF’s choice of theme, noting that nurses had a huge role in enabling people with diabetes to self-manage. They were also often a source of psychological support. However, they also had an additional role in relation to diabetes, that sometimes went unrecognised. “They don’t just help people manage their diabetes, nurses play a big role in helping people to understand that they may be at risk of type 2 diabetes, and then encouraging and enabling them to take steps to avoid that diagnosis.” Ms Miles coordinates Let’s Prevent, a free program that enables adults at risk of type 2 diabetes to make sustainable lifestyle changes that will help them avoid or delay that life-altering diagnosis. The Let’s Prevent program has been running in the South West region since 2018 and recently expanded to the Mid-West. Practices in both of these regions are able to directly refer their patients into the program – which is free for eligible adults. For more information on Let’s Prevent – or to book a patient into an upcoming session – visit www.diabeteswa.com.au/lets-prevent
Visit our Webinars & Workshops page at www.practiceassist.com.au for the events calendar.
2020 Joint Australasian HIV & AIDS Sexual Health Conferences: VIRTUAL Presented by APNA
AAPM WA Peer to Peer Support Networking Presented by AAPM