Issue 209 - 28 November 2024
Welcome to Practice Connect, a fortnightly update for practice managers, principals, nurses and administration staff on relevant issues, upcoming events and education.
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MyMedicare registrations continue to increase, particularly general practice-led registrations. As of 6 November 2024, 2,126,435 patients, 6,329 general practices and ~47,000 provider numbers are registered with MyMedicare. MyMedicare voluntary patient registration is a foundation for person-centred primary care.
From 9 December 2024, it will be possible to complete the registration for children under 14 years of age online using the Medicare Online Account or via the Medicare Express Plus App. Online registration using the Medicare card is only possible if the child is listed on the same card as the parents or guardian.
There has been strong participation in the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) with over 2,200 practices enrolling over 62,000 residents of aged care homes in the first quarter of the incentive by 30 September 2024. Prestantia Health have facilitated a webinar series for staff of aged care homes, GPs, practices, and residents and carers. This series included conversations on successful implementation of the incentive. The final webinar will be delivered on 5 Dec 12 noon (AEDT) for aged care residents and families. Registration links and further information can be found at //prestantiahealth.com/event. For a post recording copy of the previous webinars please email capability@prestantiahealth.com. For support on MyMedicare and GPACI, please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Services Australia has advised there will be a system release for the Organisation Register on 9 December 2024, which will introduce the following changes:
For support on MyMedicare and GPACI, please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Western Australia can expect a hot and dry summer bringing higher risk to patients in your communities this bushfire season. Bushfires can be started by natural causes, such as lightning strikes, or by people (accidentally or deliberately) and can bring about dangerous conditions, reduced air quality and significant impact to community safety. General practice has a role to play in preparing patients for the effects of bushfires and can help to reduce the impact to your communities. Education is crucial in ensuring patients are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves during bushfires.
Cyclones and thunderstorms can cause interruption to access of care needed by patients by causing damage and service interruptions. Thunderstorms increase asthma risks in the community and can severely impact on a patient’s health if unprepared. General practice can contribute to preparing patients for the effects of cyclones and thunderstorms and can help to reduce the impact to communities. Education is crucial in ensuring patients are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves during cyclones.
Encourage patients at most risk to prepare and plan:
As WA celebrates Pride this November, it’s a good opportunity to highlight the Transgender Health and Gender Diversity pathway available on Clinician Assist WA*. The pathway outlines the assessment, management and referral pathways to specialised services for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people of all ages. Based on national and international guidelines, it provides advice on creating welcoming and inclusive clinical environments for trans, gender diverse, and non-binary (TGDNB) people, provides details on available supports for TGDNB people and their families, outlines how to assess and manage TGDNB people of all ages and includes local referral pathways for specialist services, as well as a section on professional support. Development of the Transgender Health and Gender Diversity pathway began at WA Primary Health Alliance, with a working group of GPs with experience in transgender health, specialists, representatives from the TGDNB community and researchers to discuss local issues relating to TGDNB health. Read more about the pathway development in GP Connect. *Note: If you are not logged into Clinician Assist WA, clicking on the linked pathways in this article will automatically redirect you to the login page. To access the linked pathways, please log in to your Clinician Assist WA account and then click the link to the pathway within the article. Clinician Assist WA has 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 free to users.
Although primarily written for GPs, all health professionals registered to practice in WA can register for access to the site. Previous users of HealthPathways WA must re-register and set up a unique login, as part of the improved security of this 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 this process.
The WA Seniors Information Resource, launched on 13 November 2024, is a new information resource which helps Western Australian seniors navigate a wide range of state-wide services and concessions.
The resource is an action of the State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033 and was developed in response to feedback from older people across Western Australia who identified the need for clear, accessible information about services, programs and concessions available to them.
There are a limited number of hard copies available for local governments, libraries, Community Resource Centres, and seniors’ services across WA.
The resource can be downloaded from here.
Although the recently published Immunology (Adult) Referral Access Criteria (health.wa.gov.au) are not yet mandatory, GPs are encouraged to become familiar with, and start using the Immunology RAC as soon as possible. There are long waiting times for non-urgent Immunology referrals at RPH, and adequate referral information is essential to assist safe and timely triage and review. Additional information is also available under the Clinician Assist WA Immunology and Allergy pathway. Read more
The Secret Code (security code) and Client ID (practice ID) that practices received to install the Primary Sense extractor and the desktop application are required for security and continued use of Primary Sense. Due to the security requirements the secret code expires and will need to be renewed and then updated in your system for the Primary Sense Extractor and Desktop Apps every 2 years. Practices and their IT Provider will receive an email informing you that your Primary Sense secret code will soon expire as you approach 2 years since installation. This email will come from primarysense@phinsights.org.au. Please contact Practice Assist if there has been any recent change in IT provider or Practice email. Once you have received the email regarding the renewal of your secret code, please follow the link in the email for instructions on how to renew and update your secret code or alternatively please find the link here. If the secret code is not renewed by the expiration date, functionality of both the extractor and desktops cease and has potential to effect PIP submission and payments. The email is sent about 3 weeks prior to the secret code expiring – reminder emails will be sent weekly until the secret code is renewed. For further information contact your Primary Care Navigator or Practice Assist via practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 96278 7900).
Primary Sense is expanding the range of prompts available to practice nurses with the release of the second nurse prompt Due Bone Density in addition to the existing Child Due Vaccinations. The Due Bone Density nurse prompt will give a prompt for when a patient is seen who is due an initial bone density test. The nurse prompts will also display a patients complexity score, chronic conditions and hospitalisation risk score. User guides for the nurse prompts, along with other Primary Sense functions and useful information can be found here. For further information and assistance with Primary Sense please contact your Primary Care Navigator or Practice Assist via practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 96278 7900).
The Johns Hopkins ACG ® (Adjusted Clinical Groups) System is the world’s leading population health analytics software and is integrated into Primary Sense. Primary Sense uses the John Hopkins ACG System to quickly identify complex patients by analysing health data and predicting the patient’s risk of hospitalisation in real time. During a consultation primary sense provides patient health data to general practitioners and nurses during consultation, assisting in timely intervention. With real time care prompts, decisions can be made based on patients’ complexity and hospital risk scores. The complexity and hospital risk scores in Primary Sense care prompts are based on the calculations by the in-built ACG System. What is patient complexity and what are the levels? There are six complexity levels, ranging from 0-5. Level 0 indicates a very low level of complexity with no known risks for poor health outcomes, while level 5 is the highest complexity. Patients with level 5 complexity typically have significant multi-morbidity and polypharmacy and are at greatest risk of poor health outcomes. The complexity and hospital risk scores in Primary Sense care prompts are based on the calculations by the in-built ACG System. See this short video demonstrating how Primary Sense uses the in-built ACG system here. You can also find it in the Practice Assist Primary Sense programs and tool page under Primary Sense resources. If you would like more information on Primary Sense and how it can be effectively used in your practice, contact your Primary Care Navigator or Practice Assist via practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 96278 7900).
Providers are requested to please discard any hard copy RSV resources dated prior to October 2024, as implementation of this program has now ceased state-wide barring the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. These resources are now outdated and shouldn’t be shared with patients.
Services Australia has flagged two upcoming changes to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) aimed at improving the completeness and reliability of the AIR dataset.
From 8 December 2024, a new bespoke antenatal indicator will be added to the AIR, making it easier for health professionals to report whether a vaccine recipient was pregnant at the time of administration. The new feature will be implemented in a phased approach: software will have the capacity to include the indicator from 8 December 2024, while the AIR site will include it from 9 February 2025. Health professionals using clinical software with older technology will be able to continue to report antenatal information using the ‘Vaccine Type’ field.
In alignment with how other vaccines are recorded, COVID-19 vaccine names will no longer display the manufacturer name within the AIR. For example, ‘Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5’ will now display as ‘Comirnaty XBB.1.5’. The AIR vaccine codes for COVID-19 vaccines will remain unchanged.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has added five videos for expectant parents to its series of videos on childhood immunisation. Topics covered include the childhood immunisation schedule, how vaccines work, vaccine safety, and vaccinations for pregnant women and newborns. Access the videos here.
The immunisation Coalition have produced clinical newsletters covering Invasive Pneumococcal Disease. There are two 15-minute clinical newsletters summarising the epidemiology and burden of IPD leading to pneumonia and complications (including empyema), treatment and management options, and preventative measures through vaccination including the use of conjugated vaccines. The objective of these newsletters are to raise awareness of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in infants, to identify signs and symptoms and its clinical impact, and the importance of vaccination to protect infants against this harmful disease. RACGP CPD points are available after completion of a evaluation survey. To access the newsletters.
New World Health Organization (WHO) and US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data have revealed there was a sharp increase in the incidence of measles around the world – and that coverage rates for measles-containing vaccine remained stagnant – in 2023. The WHO and CDC stress the increase in large and disruptive outbreaks around the world last year was directly attributable to persistent gaps in vaccination coverage. Australia also recorded a modest decrease in immunisation coverage rates for measles-mumps-rubella-containing vaccine in 2023 compared to 2022; however, 96.4% of children were fully vaccinated against measles by the age of 5 years, above the national target of 95%. Access the report here. Read the latest WA Measles alert from 11 November 2024.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) published a safety update on Shingrix vaccine and very rare risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). The Product Information (PI) for Shingrix previously referenced an observational study of GBS following Shingrix but did not determine a causal relationship. Following a TGA investigation of two cases of GBS following Shingrix, the PI and Consumer Medicine Information documents for Shingrix were updated to reflect the possible association between Shingrix and GBS, recognising that GBS is a very rare adverse event. Shingrix is not generally recommended for people with a history of GBS whose first episode occurred within 6 weeks of receiving any vaccine (such as an influenza vaccine or a previous dose of Shingrix vaccine). Those with a history of GBS not associated with Shingrix should discuss the risks and benefits of receiving Shingrix with a health professional. More safety updates from the TGA are published here.
Learn more about the new National Lung Cancer Screening Program that will be launched in July 2025. The program aims to detect lung cancer early and your participation in supporting this program will help save hundreds of lives each year. Through the program, GPs will refer eligible Australians for a low-dose CT scan, funded through new Medicare item numbers. People may be eligible if they:
Primary care professionals play a key role in the National Lung Cancer Screening Program. To support your understanding of the new program and help prepare your practices for its roll-out, information and education resources will become available in the coming months. For more information and future updates, visi the National Lung Cancer Screening Program webpage.
Image 1: Eileen Tan (Registered Nurse) at Pramana Medical Centre. Image 2: (Left to right) Angela Crawford (Nurse Practitioner) and Paulina Karipa (Reception Manager).
With the Australian Government extending its COVID-19 funding in 2024, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) developed their COVID-19 Primary Care Vaccination Support Program. WAPHA has been collaborating with program participants to deliver targeted initiatives aimed at increasing access to COVID-19 vaccination among vulnerable people who are unable to access the vaccine through the usual channels.
Kate Fulford, Associate Director at Pramana Medical Centre in Gosnells, explained that her team participated in the program by conducting home visits and pop-up clinics to provide COVID-19 education and vaccination to the practice’s large cohort of vulnerable patients, which includes Aboriginal people, people living with disabilities and community members experiencing homelessness.
“The program has really helped us with engaging patients in the community who are often difficult to engage. Our team loved being able to offer more flexible approaches to accessing vaccines than have traditionally been available. We also enjoyed working with other organisations to collaborate in service delivery and effectively increase our impact,” Ms Fulford said.
The Pramana Medical Centre team consulted with 64 patients at the pop-up clinics and 119 patients during the home visits. After educating families in their homes about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, a high rate of patients returned to the practice with other relatives who also wanted to receive the vaccine to protect their community.
“Often times, we actually didn't have enough vaccines for the number of patients during the home visits (extended families or kids home from school) but we managed to organise transport for them to attend the practice for vaccination or the social worker assisted with linking them into other services,” Ms Fulford said.
For further information and resources about COVID-19 vaccination, visit the Practice Assist COVID-19 webpage or call the Practice Assist help desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au.
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) aims to make the COVID-19 vaccination support program acquittal process as easy and effective as possible for all involved. At the end of the Program, participants are required to complete all activity summaries to finalise payments. We have created a ‘How to Guide’ to assist. Please use this guide to ensure you include valuable outcomes and lessons learned, which will aid us in robust reporting for the program. We encourage participants to complete their activity summaries before 1 December 2024. You will find the activity summary survey link in your funding approval email, or can request the link by contacting gpvaccination@wapha.org.au. NOTE: You must be fully onboarded to the program, registered on ASPIRE and have an approved activity to complete an activity summary. If a summary is submitted without prior participant approval, your summary will not be processed.
COVID-19 boosters are available all year round for those eligible for 6 monthly boosters:
Schedule your reminders now with your eligible patients and plan their upcoming vaccinations (in conjunction with over 75 health checks or other standard appointments) to ensure that these people remain protected against the risk of COVID-19 infection. If it is not known when the last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection was, it is safe to get another COVID-19 vaccine. See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more information. For further information please go to our COVID-19 Vaccination & Resources webpage or email our COVID-19 team via email gpvaccination@wapha.org.au .
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations day, observed internationally each year on 3 December. In Australia, it is a day to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of the 5.5 million people with disability in the country. Each year, the United Nations announces a theme for IDPwD. The theme assists in breaking down barriers and promoting diversity and inclusion. The theme for IDPwD 2024 is:
A key part of IDPwD each year are the events and activities that schools, workplaces and community groups hold to mark the day. Workplaces play a vital role in creating a more inclusive and diverse community in Australia. To get involved download the Information kit for Workplaces, and or visit the About IDPwD page for more information.
With the cases rising in WA, you’ve probably heard about mpox lately and you may find patients in your practice are starting to ask questions. This webinar focuses on the current epidemiology of mpox and its transmission risks in WA. You’ll gain insights into managing clinical presentations, differential diagnoses and testing protocols for a suspected case of Mpox. We’ll also cover the latest vaccination recommendations, post-exposure preventive measures and public health management. Presented by:
This webinar is delivered as a partnership between the RACGP WA and WA Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Directorate. Register now
This event will be chaired by Prof. Garry Jennings, Chief Medical Advisor of the Heart Foundation, joined by a stellar panel featuring international expert Prof. Martin Halle (Germany), along with Australian experts. Watch live as they uncover the latest benefits of exercise in enhancing cardiovascular health, offer practical insights and explore strategies to enhance CVD risk factor management in primary healthcare settings. This webinar has been accredited with the RACGP for 1.5 hours. Register now
We are thrilled to be supporting the upcoming CroakeyLIVE Health Equity Heroes webinar, a must-attend event for anyone passionate about advancing health equity. Featuring our CEO Learne Durrington, and other passionate leaders, the panel of experts will reflect on their leadership journeys and share insights on advancing health equity, particularly in primary health care. Register now
Join us for the tenth webinar in the Healthy Weight Masterclass series. During this webinar, our guest speaker Dr Leigh Archer (upper GI, bariatric and general surgeon) will discuss bariatric weight management in a primary care setting. Webinar topics:
This webinar is accredited for 1 RACGP EA CPD hour. Find out more and register today.
Mark your calendars for the WA Rural Health Conference, Pan Pacific Perth on Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 March 2025. Early bird registrations are now open! This year’s theme, “Strengthening rural WA: One connection at a time,” brings together a diverse range of rural health professionals including:
The preliminary program is now available, which includes sessions that focus on collaboration, connection, and community impact. For full details and to take advantage of early bird rates, please visit www.waruralhealthconference.com.au For any inquiries, please contact the Events Team at warhc@ruralhealthwest.com.au or call 08 6389 4500.
Acknowledgement 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.