22 August 2024
WA Primary Health Alliance acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners and Elders of this country and recognises the significant importance of their cultural heritage, values and beliefs and how these contribute to the positive health and wellbeing of the whole community. Throughout this newsletter, the term 'Aboriginal' is used to refer to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, unless stated otherwise.
-
Clinician Assist has now replaced HealthPathways WA and continues to be managed locally by WA Primary Health Alliance. It provides access to the same trusted local guidance, features and functionality and remains available at no cost. Developing and managing this website locally will allow WA Primary Health Alliance to better tailor the service to local user requirements into the future, supported by a unique login for each user to increase security.
HealthPathways WA users and new users will need to register for Clinician Assist and create a unique login. This quick, simple process is part of the improved security of the new site. Health professionals registered with AHPRA will be automatically verified by the system and given immediate access. All other users may experience a slightly longer verification period; however, our team will be prioritising these registrations.
For a comprehensive guide to Clinician Assist WA, live demonstrations will be available monthly and are CPD accredited for 1 Educational Hour through RACGP. View upcoming dates and register. Support is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AWST. Contact the Practice Assist Help Desk via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au or by telephone 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478), or your usual WAPHA contact. Register now or find out more here.
You may be aware that the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) launched on 1 July 2024. Eligible providers and practices registered in MyMedicare can now receive incentive payments for providing care planning and regular visits to their registered patients who live in a residential aged care home. The Department of Health and Aged Care have recently published some new resources on the department’s website to further inform and assist the following groups: GP’s and general practices
We are excited to share that the first Primary Sense nurse facing prompt – Child due vaccination has now been activated. Developed by representatives from the Australian Primary Health Nurses Association in the Clinical Advisory Group, this prompt uses the same logic as the Child Immunisations Report for children aged 0 to 5 years who are due or overdue for vaccinations. To get the most out of Primary Sense, ensure that the desktop application is installed on the Nurses computers and configured within your practice. Please see the instructions below:
Primary Sense prompts help identify potential gaps in care for various patient cohorts and clinical scenarios.
For questions related to access or use of Primary Sense please email practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900).
If you're a recent graduate or working outside a hospital for the first time, APNA's FREE Transition to Practice Program (TPP) is for you! This ten-month program offers exclusive access to educational tools and resources, and an experienced nurse mentor to guide you every step of the way. Experienced Registered Nurses and nurse practitioners are wanted to become mentors (in person or online) and help nurses reach their full potential. In addition to being paid ($2,700) for your time on the program, you will be well supported by APNA and provided with relevant CPD and resources. APNA especially welcomes applications from nurses working in primary health care in rural and remote settings, such as Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations. Applications close on Friday 6 September 2024. Apply now!
RACGP Member GPs can participate in two new RACGP CPD accredited quality improvement activities with clinical audits and PDSA cycles developed by the WA Primary Health Alliance Quality Improvement Team. Participating in the virtual RACGP CPD accredited quality improvement activities will equip GPs with valuable skills and insights to enhance clinical practice and drive continuous improvement, while helping to meet CPD requirements. There are currently two activities available:
Activity #1 (15 CPD hours): Optimising health outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder patients with high complexity.
For further information and enrolment details, email QI@wapha.org.au
Child and Adolescent Community Health (CAHS) are now accepting referrals for a new community-based health lifestyle pilot in eligible East Metropolitan suburbs. The program is designed for families of children and young people affected by higher weight, who would like to make a healthy lifestyle change. Information about the program, including eligibility criteria and the referral form, is available on the CAHS website.
Watch the third part in our video series with Dr Walid Jammal from Hills Family General Practice, as we discuss the potential of digital health to transform primary care. Dr Jammal highlighted the importance of using existing data extraction and decision-making tools such as Primary Sense. He also discussed the potential for My Health Record, which is set to change with the government's commitment to making it more usable and friendly for both patients and providers. In addition, Dr Jammal mentioned the emergence of tools such as AI, transcription tools, and decision support tools, all of which are part of a big national digital strategy. Watch more!
The Awards acknowledge the dedication of health professionals who have enhanced the range and quality of medical care available in rural Western Australia. Whether it's through exceptional patient care or leadership in clinical practice, we want to celebrate those who make a difference. To learn more about each award category and the nomination criteria, please visit the 2025 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards website. Rural Health West looks forward to receiving your nominations and celebrating the outstanding contributions of rural health professionals in WA. Nominations close 4 September 2024.
Join an ongoing 12-month Balint group to reflect on cases with colleagues. During each small-group online session, you can expect to improve how you handle difficult situations and overall sense of professional satisfaction. Registration fee is fully reimbursed at the completion of the program.
More information Proudly supported by WA Primary Health Alliance’s suicide prevention program.
The Community Palliative Care Resources Box is now available to support the provision of quality end-of-life care for people who choose to be cared for at home. The new Resources Box is an update of the standard caring@home package for carers (first released in 2018) and contains a suite of resources that can be used by health professionals to teach families and carers who are supporting a dying person at home. The Resources Box is designed to be stored centrally and contains resources that can be used with several patients and families. caring@home resources are free of charge and applicable Australia-wide. Learn more
The End-of-Life Care Program (EOLCP) has collaborated with the Royal Australian College of GPs to develop an online toolkit to assist GPs to support and improve the care of patients in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Western Australia. The online toolkit is designed to provide WA GPs working in aged care with relevant and practical information and resources on a range of clinical topics. The toolkit includes nine online modules with downloadable resources and links to tools, referral pathways and specialist services, and provides guidance for GPs to navigate Medicare Benefits Schedule item numbers for different consults. The toolkit has been designed to contribute to CPD. To learn more or use the new online toolkit, visit the toolkit for GPs working in Western Australian residential aged care.
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) established the LGBTIQA+ Stakeholder Reference Group after achieving Rainbow Tick accreditation in 2019 to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring people of diverse bodies, identities and experiences have access to safe, inclusive and culturally appropriate primary health care, and to help WAPHA mature our inclusive practice and inform, guide and support our work. The LGBTIQA+ Stakeholder Reference Group comprises a diverse range of experts in the field of LGBTIQA+ health service delivery and those with lived experience. Following our recent re-accreditation, we are expanding our membership and are calling for expressions of interest from experts in the field of LGBTIQA+ health service delivery and lived experience to inform activities and initiatives that improve and strengthen WAPHA’s inclusive practice and influence the practice of our stakeholders. Find out more and nominate here
Heavy menstrual bleeding affects one in four Australian women of reproductive age and can have a serious impact on women’s social, emotional and physical quality of life.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has published a new Women’s Health Focus Report showing a decrease in hysterectomy rates over eight years – and an increase in the less invasive option of endometrial ablation.
Find out more at safetyandquality.gov.au/HMB
Presented by WA Primary Health Alliance 29 August 2024 (5pm to 6pm AWST)
Vaccination during pregnancy does not only protect the mother but also generates antibodies that can cross the placenta, providing protection to the unborn baby. Immunisations are even more important as we age. Our immune system begins to decline in its ability to fight off infections, which makes people ages over 65 (Aboriginal people over 55) and older more vulnerable to diseases like influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, and shingles. Join us to learn about more about the immunisations that are recommended before and during pregnancy and also as we age. Register now here.
Following the recent recording of two locally acquired cases, the Department of Health WA requests that patients at risk of contracting mpox (monkeypox) be reminded to be vigilant. Mpox can be spread from person-to-person through skin-to-skin contact, including during sex, and contact with contaminated items such as bedding and towels, and rarely, through breathing in droplets from coughs and sneezes. Symptoms usually start within five days to three weeks of exposure to the virus and may include a rash that can look like bumps, pimples or sores, which later develop into fluid-filled lesions, pustules or ulcers. Some people also have fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, or enlarged lymph glands. The local cases – which are still being investigated – are the milder clade II strain of mpox and are not connected to the more severe clade Ib strain of mpox which is spreading through west and central Africa. Read the full Media statement from Communicable Disease Control Director, Dr Paul Armstrong here. After an increase in mpox cases in 2024, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has reviewed the evidence on the need for booster doses of the mpox vaccine for protection against mpox and provided and interim statement. All immunisation providers can now order and administer the mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS®). Providers can order through their Onelink account and can order a maximum of 2 doses (with the exception of Sexual Health Clinics and certain providers with higher numbers of eligible patients). More information for clinicians and patient resources can be found in the latest Vaccine Update or here. Patients can also be directed to the Healthy WA website.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has launched a new resource on travel vaccines. These frequently asked questions are designed to be used by both healthcare providers and the general public. They provide guidance for people who are travelling overseas and their immunisation providers. Access the FAQ’s here.
The Department of Health has issued a health alert, urging the Western Australian community to be aware of a confirmed measles case in a returned traveller from Europe. The person visited several public venues in the Perth metro area while infected, between the period of 6 August and 11 August. Exposure locations are listed in the health alert. Early symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a red non-itchy rash three or four days later. The rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Community members who have visited an exposure location during the times listed should be vigilant with symptoms for 18 days after the potential exposure. These locations may be updated, and people are encouraged to monitor the Department of Health website for updated advice. For more information about the exposure locations related to this measles case and symptoms to monitor for, visit the measles health alert.
This event aims to highlight advancements in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pneumococcal disease.
To register for this activity, simply:
Click on the arrow next to the event and click on register.
General practices across Australia will have recently received cancer screening packs from the Department of Health and Aged Care to help remind eligible patients to undergo cancer screening. The packs include resources your practice can use to encourage your patients to be more proactive about cancer screening, such as:
When you receive the kit, make sure to hang up the posters and share the packs among the GPs at your practice. Translated versions are available online for printing in-practice. If your general practice did not receive a pack or would like to order another, please email your practice details to cancerscreeningcommunications@health.gov.au
A regional campaign by the Cancer Council WA will launch in August 2024 to promote early cancer detection by encouraging individuals to see a GP, clinic nurse, or Aboriginal health worker as soon as they have symptoms. Targeting people over 40 in regional WA, the campaign aims to help them ‘give themselves the best chance’ and may lead to an increase in patients presenting with various symptoms. To assist, a Risk Assessment Tool using evidence-based positive predictive value (PPV) is available to highlight the clinical features that best predict cancer. This guide is not intended to replace clinical judgment, the need for a thorough patient and family history, or the importance of assessing an individual’s risk factors. More information
The Screening Saves Lives campaign is a collaboration between National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, BreastScreen WA, and the WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. Research indicates that members of the LGBTQIA+ community have lower cancer screening rates than the general population due to hesitancy in seeking out medical care for fear of discrimination. This campaign aims to increase awareness and participation of screening programs within the LGBTQIA+ community, with the ultimate goal of increasing screening rates and saving lives. The Stakeholder Communications Toolkit has been developed to increase awareness of and participation in these lifesaving screening programs. Order resources, including the Screening Saves Lives flyer pictured below, using the order form here. The following webinar Beyond the Binary: Improving Healthcare Access for LGBTQI+ Patients covers the importance of using inclusive language and culturally competent care with LGBTQIA+ patients. It covers strategies to create welcoming environments in practices, addressing factors influencing LGBTQIA+ community participation in cancer screening and providing information on available support services.
Cancer Council WA have developed a free online learning module tailored to primary healthcare professionals, such as GPs, nurses, and Aboriginal Health Workers. Split into two units, this module aims to define your role in bowel cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and screening, offering practical tips and case studies to support your learning as a healthcare worker.
This self-paced module is accredited for two CPD hours with the RACGP. Register here
The NCSR recommends: On the pathology request form, always note the following:
Resource order form - WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (office.com) Health Professionals ‘Cervical sampling card’ Quick Reference Guide: Recommended techniques and instruments for taking a cervical sample.
CST Pathology test guide For online distribution NCSP Pathology Test guide A4 size (health.gov.au)
The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) is a single electronic record for each Australian taking part in the bowel and cervical screening programs (and Lung in 2025). It supports these life-saving programs by inviting and reminding eligible people to screen, as well as creating a safety net by prompting participants and their healthcare providers to take the next steps on their screening journey. The Healthcare Provider Portal provides a self-service alternative for health professionals to access and submit screening data for the bowel and cervical screening programs. The NCSR has developed a non-proprietary and standardised common interface which allows you to integrate your clinical software (excluding lab software). This allows you to seamlessly access and report clinical data for the bowel and cervical screening programs from the patient management software you use on a daily basis. For further information on integration into your software package click here.
Regular vaccination is the best way to protect older people and those who are severely immunocompromised from COVID-19 related illness, hospitalisation or death.
Schedule reminders with your eligible patients and plan their upcoming vaccinations (in conjunction with their over 75 health checks or other standard appointments) to ensure that they remain protected against the risk of COVID-19 infection. If it is not known when the last COVID-19 infection was, it is safe to get another COVID-19 vaccine. For further information please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination and Resources on Practice Assist or email gpvaccination@wapha.org.au
The Australian Government Department of Health has provided funding to WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to compensate general practices for the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations for non-Medicare patients within primary care. WAPHA can reimburse general practices to the value of the relevant MBS item number to support non-Medicare patients being vaccinated against COVID-19, and this reimbursement can be backdated to July 2023. Note: To claim, practices will be required to declare reimbursement (ie. private fee charge) has not already been received for the services claimed. WAPHA understands that some practices have withdrawn or are not administering COVID-19 vaccinations. Practices with a large cohort of Non-Medicare patients can be supported to submit an expression of interest to join the program. For further information please contact Practice Assist or email the COVID-19 team GPvaccination@wapha.org.au
Two Provider Bulletins have recently been released by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Topics covered have included:
The poster providing key differences between each of the Covid -19 Vaccines approved for use in the National Immunisation Program has been updated to reflect recent changes. Update your copy by using the link below:
BreastScreen WA (BSWA) is seeking your support in promoting awareness in this October. This is the 23rd year BSWA has run this activity with GPs. It is an opportunity for GPs and staff to “be in the pink” for breast cancer, which affects 1 in 7 women in Australia and causes 3000 deaths annually. We suggest practices hold the event for the entire month of October. A gift hamper prize will be awarded to the practice with the most decorative and innovative display that promotes BreastScreen WA and breast cancer screening. Judges are looking for....
Photographs of the winners may be published on Facebook, websites and in print media. Entries must be submitted by 15 November 2024. Please send your photos to breastscreenwa@health.wa.gov.au
Vaccination during pregnancy does not only protect the mother but also generates antibodies that can cross the placenta, providing protection to the unborn baby. Immunisations are even more important as we age. Our immune system begins to decline in its ability to fight off infections, which makes people ages over 65 (Aboriginal people over 55) and older more vulnerable to diseases like influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, and shingles. Topics included in this webinar:
Find out more and register today.
-
Please join us for the seventh webinar in our Healthy Weight Masterclass series. In this webinar, we will hear from guest speaker Dr Wietske van der Velden-Schuijling who will be speaking about shared medical appointments in the healthy weight space. Learning outcomes:
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is providing GPs in WA with paid online Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) training, designed to help practitioners and clinicians recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support. GPs and GP registrars who attend the two workshops in the one online session will be remunerated $300 and CPD hours are available.
For the August IAR-DST training dates and registration links, visit the WAPHA IAR-DST webpage. For the August IAR-DST training dates and registration links, visit the WAPHA IAR-DST webpage.
The online Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) is designed to be used alongside a comprehensive, holistic mental health assessment to gather information and guide referrals. WA Primary Health Alliance is providing IAR-DST training in the Goldfields covering two workshops in one session. GPs and GP registrars who attend the two workshops in one session will be remunerated $300* and CPD hours are available upon successful completion of both workshops. View the flyer here for more information and to register.
Join this important mental health education event in the Goldfields region. Psychiatric Associate Professor Mat Coleman will facilitate a discussion on mental health treatment plans including medication, titration and a variety of referral options using GP-led case studies. You will also get the opportunity to meet and hear from many of our local mental health treatment services. Find our more and register here. If you would like further information, contact Sarah Brown, WAPHA Regional Integration Manager – Goldfields: sarah.brown@wapha.org.au
Please make your GPs and GP registrars aware that they can attend free online training sessions throughout the 2024 calendar year with a choice of target topics including:
CPD hours are available for the online training sessions. For more information, dates and registration links, visit WAPHA’s suicide prevention webpage.
Navigating the complexities of visas and sponsorship nominations can be challenging for employers, especially with the ever-changing regulations. To simplify this process, Rural Health West has partnered with migration specialists at EasiVisa. They’ve crafted a straightforward four-step approach to guide you through the application process:
By breaking down the process into these clear steps, EasiVisa aims to alleviate confusion and support employers in managing their visa and sponsorship requirements effectively. The new WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (WA DAMA) may also help you. This is a groundbreaking initiative by the WA government to enable regional practices to recruit and sponsor experienced healthcare professionals, who would typically be ineligible for permanent residency due to their age. For more details, join Rural Health West’s recruitment team and EasiVisa for a webinar on Monday 16 September at 1.00pm. Pre-asked questions will be answered. To register for the webinar and submit your questions please email recruit@rurahealthwest.com.au
Alzheimer’s WA Dementia Symposium provides a platform to exchange latest dementia care strategies, challenge existing perceptions, and explore innovative approaches to supporting people living with dementia. Featuring a keynote by The Hon. Emma McBride MP Assistant Minister, Department of Health and Aged Care and Dr. Shirley Bowen Director General, Department of Health WA, register to hear about the latest policies, research breakthroughs, technology and AI opportunities, practical tips and more. Register online: The Dementia Symposium 2024 | Humanitix (Early bird tickets end 15 Aug 2024).