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WA Primary Health Alliance, along with our logistics partner, has been working tirelessly to fulfil all PPE orders since the arrival last month of supplies from the National Medical Stockpile. Over the past two weeks, we have processed and dispatched more than 400,000 pieces of PPE to more than 500 organisations. We continue to work diligently through the large number of orders we are receiving from general practices. Our aim is to dispatch orders within two weeks of receipt of a complete PPE order form. Please note that WA Primary Health Alliance is reliant on mask allocation and supply chain distribution from the National Medical Stockpile which is subject to change based on COVID-19 prevalence across Australia. For enquiries on existing requests, or to access the unique form link for your organisation, please contact our PPE Response team at pperesponse@wapha.org.au For further information on eligibility for PPE allocations, please see the following factsheets:
In response to the increasing numbers of requests for support coming into our Practice Assist service, we have created a COVID-19 Positive Patient Response guide to assist with managing COVID-19 positive patients. As we experience increasing numbers of COVID-19 within WA, many General Practices will be faced with the notification of a patient being COVID-19 positive. Ensuring that you staff are aware of what to do with this information is vital in supporting both the patient and the staff managing this information. Practice Assist has created a COVID-19 Positive Patient Response guide to assist with managing this situation.
The guide encompasses a flow chart to follow when notified, and the back page is a supporting document that elaborates on the flow chart and provides useful links to assist you. Use the handy QR code to access the guide on Practice Assist for reprinting as well as the use of the links referenced in the supporting document (page 2).
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to evolve, so must the resources that are developed to support practices. The following documents have undergone a detailed review
Our Practice Assist Team is available to support you with these documents and can be contacted for one to one support at Practice Assist via email or phone 1800 2 ASSIST (277 478).
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging and difficult time for general practice with increased barriers to healthcare for patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who may have little understanding of the English language and hesitancy when it comes to vaccinations. As a result, it is important that practice staff do everything they can to identify and support CALD patients by providing culturally competent care, which is defined as care that respects diversity in the patient population and cultural factors that can affect health and health care, such as language, communication styles, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. To make it easier for practices to engage and communicate with members of their local CALD communities, we have collated a list of COVID-19 Resources for CALD Patients which includes a range of posters, social media tiles and videos in some of the most common languages spoken in Western Australia, other than English. If you require resources in more languages, visit the HealthyWA website. In addition to using the above resources, your practice team can provide culturally competent care to CALD patients and deliver better health outcomes by keeping in mind the following:
If you would like further information about supporting your CALD patients, contact the team at Practice Assist by calling 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478) or emailing practiceassist@wapha.org.au
The Australian Government Department of Health has created this handout to address the lack of clarity around appropriate medical exemptions from vaccination. The handout can be used as a guide for GPs to share with patients to explain who is able to receive a vaccine exemption and under what circumstances.
VCF Connect enables clinics to self-manage information published about their clinic on the Vaccine Clinic Finder.
The Australian Government Department of Health has created these FAQs to answer some common questions about the VCF.
WA Primary Health Alliance has produced vaccination stickers that we are sending to general practices. This is to let people entering your premises know that your staff are fully vaccinated, and to encourage your patients and other visitors to get vaccinated, if they are not already. The stickers can be easily removed, when no longer required. We hope you find these useful. For additional supplies, please contact communications@wapha.org.au
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its guidance on the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
It contains information on:
The WA Department of Health’s HealthyWA Managing COVID-19 at home and in the community resources have been updated.
Patients can find the Quarantine and isolation guidelines here and information on COVID-19 positive children here
The Telethon Kids Institute resources are designed to help families. The resources include advice from Institute scientists for staying physically and mentally healthy during COVID-19, insights for kids dealing with unique health challenges, cyber safety guidance for parents as our kids spend more time online, and tips, activities and community engagement news for the whole family. With the WA State Government announcing Level 2 public health measures which expanded mask wearing requirements for children in years 3 to 6 at school in all public indoor settings, the Institute’s masks for kids guidance may prove helpful. Read more
The following content updates have now been published on the HealthPathways site:
To keep access to digital health tools such as Electronic Prescribing and My Health Record, you must have a current NASH Certificate installed. NASH Certificates may be expiring in March 2022 for many organisations. Your NASH certificate may originally have had an expiry date past March 13 2022, however due to the upgrade of the NASH PKI certificates to NASH SHA-2 Certificates, your digital health services will discontinue working from March 13 unless it was renewed after September 2021.
If your NASH certificate is not renewed prior to March 13 you will lose access to Electronic Prescribing, Healthcare Identifiers, Secure Messaging and My Health Record. This will affect your ability to upload and access My Health Record, consequently affecting your ePIP incentive.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) is hosting multiple webinar session dates that will step you through the process of requesting and renewing a NASH certificate for your organisation.
The staff member who is the Organisation Maintenance Officer (OMO) needs to attend as they are responsible for renewing NASH certificates. OMOs are also encouraged to check they can log into PRODA prior to attending, to ensure the demonstrated steps can be easily completed following the session.
Webinar details: (14 dates to choose from) Choose a date and register
The ADHA have also released the Renewing your NASH PKI Certificate quick guide to assist you with this process for your practice. For further support and information on renewing your NASH Certificate please contact Practice Assist.
As digital health is becoming ever more sought after in General Practice, the Digital Health Team at WA Primary Health Alliance want to offer their assistance in as many ways as possible. The Digital Health team understand that not everyone engages in the same way, and so are offering new ways to learn about all the digital health tools that are available to your Practice. Each fortnight edition of Practice Connect, we will look to update you with videos, imagery and written information on all the important tools. Please stay tuned via Practice Connect, and then visit our Digital Health Toolkit and view the Digital Health - 'How To Series' and select a way in which you would like to learn. This fortnight we are fully focused on ePrescribe. On our Digital Health Toolkit page you will find written information as well as videos on everything to do with ePrescribing, from how to install it on your clinical software, to what the patient receives and how you can cancel or resend in the instance of an issue. Also we have pulled together an FAQ on ePrescribing so if you have a specific question, we are sure it will be answered there. Should it not be please email us at ehealth@wapha.org.au to discuss further. As this ‘how to’ series is new to WA Primary Health Alliance we would love to hear your feedback, especially if you find the information useful and if so, what medium do you prefer it in. You can email us with your feedback or any questions you may have on ehealth@wapha.org.au
Learnings from colleagues on the east coast have indicated that using telehealth services during the pandemic has been critical for the health care of their patients, and the survival of their practice. If you are not telehealth enabled please contact our Digital Health Team or see the Digital Health resources below. The Department of Health has extended the healthdirect Video Call COVID- 19 GP Program to 30 June 2022.
This provides free Video Call access for general practitioners working in private practice and/or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).
In collaboration with the RACGP, Healthdirect Australia is offering CPD courses that support GPs and Practice Managers to use Video Call more confidently and effectively. The following free courses are run by Healthdirect’s RACGP Education Activity Representatives:
This module is for GPs new to Video Call and covers the basic functionality of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers who may be implementing telehealth into their practice workflows. Register here for essential training
This module covers more advanced use of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers and anyone interested in how Video Call can reshape the provision of services to patients or clients. Register here for advanced training Please contact the healthdirect Video Call team if you have any questions.
Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. It is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over. Vaccination against influenza this year is even more important. Over the COVID-19 period there has been lower exposure to influenza virus and lower levels of influenza vaccine coverage compared to previous years. With borders reopening a possible resurgence of influenza can occur in 2022. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released advice to support vaccination providers ahead of the 2022 influenza season in its Statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2022.
ATAGI has advised that influenza vaccines can be co-administered (on the same day) with a COVID-19 vaccine. Subject to the availability of influenza vaccines, co-administration with COVID-19 booster vaccines could be a prompt for influenza vaccination.
The highest level of protection occurs in the first 3 to 4 months following vaccination. Annual vaccination should ideally occur before the onset of each influenza season. This is usually from June to September in most parts of Australia but may be atypical this year. Vaccinating from April provides protection before the peak season.
The WA State Program also provides influenza vaccinations to children aged 5 years to Year 6.
Register now for the upcoming WA Department of Health 2022 Influenza Update webinar.
The WA Department of Health is currently working on pre-allocating Fluad®Quad for providers, and will be in contact next week regarding the number of doses pre-allocated to your practice. The pre-allocation of vaccine will be for the first week only, after which providers can order through the usual ordering process. Following pre-allocation, providers will be able to order once per week. Please ensure that you review the pre-allocated quantity next week, and contact vaccineorders@health.wa.gov.au if you would like to adjust your pre-allocated quota of Fluad®Quad. Instructions will accompany the email with your pre-allocated doses.
The WA Health Immunisation Program provides free online immunisation education updates, which serve as a yearly refresher for all immunisation providers within Western Australia, as well as keeping individuals up to date with any changes. These online modules are required to be completed annually. The Immunisation Program has moved to a new online learning management system for online Immunisation Education modules. Users must be registered by WA Health before they are able to access and complete the modules. Once registered, they will have approximately two weeks to complete any modules and save a PDF of their certificate before their access is revoked. Individuals wanting to access the modules must complete the Google form on the Immunisation Education webpage. Once submitted, they will receive an email from Rise Education within 3 days, with details on how to register and access the modules. It is important to note that users will need to be individually registered and will not be able to forward used registration emails from Rise Education, as they are for individual registration only.
The Safer Families Centre, University of Melbourne is leading Pathways to Safety - The Readiness Program, a national domestic and family violence (DFV) training program for primary care. Evidence shows primary care providers have a crucial role to play in addressing DFV. At least one in 10 women attending general practice will have experienced DFV, and it is estimated a full-time GP sees up to five unidentified abused women per week. Even so, GPs are the highest professional group disclosed to by current survivors, even more than police. The Pathways to Safety program will help to streamline pathways and reinforce a team approach to recognition and referral. Participants of the program receive accredited in-practice education, tools and support for the whole of practice to effectively identify, respond and refer individuals and families experiencing DFV. Find out more and register your interest here Pathways to Safety’ is part of The Readiness Program, Safer Families Centre.
We are calling for expressions of interest from clinicians, allied health professionals, consumers and peak body representatives across WA who are passionate about chronic heart failure and interested to take part in an expert reference group. The Chronic Heart Failure Expert Reference Group is being established as part of the Community Health and Hospitals Program, which will develop and implement models of multidisciplinary care, led by general practice, for chronic heart failure patients in Western Australia. Chronic Heart Failure Expert Reference Group Members will have the opportunity to guide and inspire public, private, community and non-government health sectors to partner in the provision of best practice for chronic heart failure management. Find out more and register your interest by Tuesday 8 March 2022.
Injury Matters is committed to improving the patient journey across community, primary and acute care and can support your practice by connecting your patients with services that address their specific health needs. Injury Matters offers free information, resources, and training to support the prevention of injury and recovery in those affected. Whether it be supporting frail patients prevent falls via the Stay On Your Feet® online directory or connecting patients involved in a road crash with additional emotional and psychological support, Injury Matters can assist you to provide high quality care to your clients across a variety of injury topics.
For busy practitioners wanting to stay up to date with evidence-based practice in preventing injury, Injury Matters offers convenient screening and assessment tools, referral pathways as well as professional development opportunities in-person and online.
Injury Matters team of injury prevention experts and specialised trauma counsellors deliver programs and services free of charge on behalf of the state government including, our Road Trauma Support WA and injury/ falls prevention programs, that are of benefit to your team and your patients.
To find out more about information, training or to order free patient resources for your practice visit www.injurymatters.org.au or speak to one of our friendly team (08) 6166 7688.
WA Health’s first patient facing app, Manage My Care, is coming soon. Manage My Care is an app and web portal that gives patients and carers 24-hour access to their public outpatient appointments and referrals. Users can:
For more information, visit the Healthy WA Website Manage My Care
NPS MedicineWise continue to offer several GP CPD topics on the quality use of medicines. These topics are conveniently available to be delivered at a time that suits you, either at your practice or by video call.
Early diagnosis of heart failure and effective management in primary care prolongs lives, keeps people out of hospital, and improves quality of life. Book here
Improving the safe use of medicines with anticholinergic effects for older people can have a positive impact on quality of life and reduce the risk of side effects. Book here
This program is designed to help GPs assess people aged 16–24 years who present with psychological distress, and discuss medicines and non-medicine management options for depression and anxiety disorders. Book here
Three infant formula products are subject to a national FOOD RECALL due to potential microbial contamination. The products are EleCare®, Similac® and Alimentum®
Details of the affected batches are on the recall notice issued by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. The TGA has also issued an alert to raise awareness of the Food Recall. EleCare® products are PBS Authority items. Although EleCare® products and other amino acid synthetic formula infant feeds on the PBS are not ‘prescription only’ products, their cost will likely limit purchase occurring without a prescription. The Food Recall Notice recommends changing to a suitable alternative product as soon as possible. Pharmacists may wish to review existing patients treated with these specialised infant formulas and proactively source alternative products. Depending on the infant’s medical condition, it may be appropriate to refer the infant’s parents/guardian back to their usual prescriber for advice. If needed, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has a Guide for Milk Substitutes in Cow’s Milk Allergy which may help pharmacists select an alternative product.
The Tool Kit provides useful fact sheets, user guides, checklists, business plans, posters and other resources covering all aspects of the day-to-day operations of successful general practices.
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health to develop a series of on-demand webinars on evidence-based practice. Comorbidity Project webinars are freely available and focus on building capacity in relation to evidence-based practice approaches to the management and treatment of co-occurring alcohol and other drug (AOD) and mental health conditions. Attendees can register for our upcoming webinar below. All previous webinars are freely available via the Comorbidity Project webinar library. Presenters: Esther Toomey (Central and Eastern Sydney PHN), Kate Hocknull (Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre) and Dylan Clay (Weave Youth and Community Services) Register here
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is delighted to share the learning content of the three Living with COVID-19 Webinars that were hosted by dynamic presenter Katrina Otto in the early months of this year. Within these sessions, Katrina addressed topics that were highlighted by practices in the recent WAPHA practice survey and discussions with practice managers. See below for the individual session topics and the links to their recording.
More details on our presenter and the course she delivers can be found here: www.trainitmedical.com.au For more events you may be interested in, see our website for all upcoming events. This calendar is updated regularly so keep your eyes peeled!
Shifting the focus: the pandemic and children – two years on Presented by The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne 22 March