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The latest set of RACGP Standards, tailored specifically for services providing care in the after-hours period, was recently released. The Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services (5th edition) utilises the modular structure established in the Standards for general practices (5th edition), but exchanges the General Practice module for the After-hours and medical deputising services (AHS) module.
Additionally, there have been modifications made within the Core and Quality Improvement modules to ensure all indicators are relevant to the requirements of the AHS setting.
To be accredited against these Standards, a service must meet the RACGP definition of an after-hours or medical deputising service.
The transitional period for these Standards runs from August 2018 to February 2019, during which time services can choose whether to be assessed against the Standards for general practices (4th edition, noting service-specific indicators) or the new Standards for after-hours and medical deputising services. From March 2019, all services seeking accreditation will be assessed against the new Standards.
To access the new AHS Standards, please click here.
Eleven cases of measles have been confirmed in WA residents over the last month, including six in the past week who became infected in the Perth metropolitan area. Cases have visited many locations in Perth while infectious and more cases are expected over coming days and weeks.
For more information, please visit here.
There have been two recent cases of meningococcal @ infection in children aged under five years who had not received their free paediatric meningococcal ACWY vaccination.
Providers are reminded that the paediatric meningococcal ACWY vaccine catch-up program is finishing at the end of 2018. Please note the following:
The HealthPathways WA team recently published their 422nd pathway. The most recently published pathways are:
Are you clear on your obligations as a General Practice when it comes to privacy and security when connected to the My Health Record system?
All healthcare providers in Australia have professional and legal obligations to protect their patients' health information. Establishing and maintaining information security practices for patients’ My Health Record is an essential professional and legal requirement when using digital health systems in the delivery of healthcare services.
To read more, please visit here.
APNA and WA Primary Health Alliance are planning to establish a local Nurse Network near you.
The network welcomes primary health care nurses to meet regularly, build relationships, create local professional development opportunities and share their knowledge and experience.
To help us plan the network, we'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
Please take a few minutes of your day and complete the short survey by visiting here.
GP notification is operational again from 21 August 2018 and notifications of new admissions, discharges and deaths are being sent.
The issue over recent weeks largely affected fax notifications. Only notifications triggered in the week prior to the restart could be faxed. Please check the date of the admission, discharge or death in the first paragraph to see if the notification was delayed. Older notifications were not be able to be resent.
Please note that the faxing of discharge summaries to GPs has continued, although some were delayed due to a critical issue in the fax-server that sends the discharge and emergency summaries for WA public hospitals. Secure electronic transmission has continued as usual. Transmission of discharge summaries by secure electronic messaging is preferred to fax. Please refer to Discharge Summaries, clicking here, if you would like to change to secure messaging for inpatient discharge summaries. (Secure messaging is not available for GP Notify).
Many thanks to those GPs and practices who have responded to the request to re-register for GP Notify. RPH has received a huge response and these are being processed as quickly as possible. Notifications will not start until the registration is processed and the system is fixed. If you are still to respond, please ensure that you include all relevant details as we have had a number of incomplete responses. GPs and practice staff can phone the GP Notify Coordinator on 9224 2810, fax 9224 2860 or email RPH.GPN.Coordinator@health.wa.gov.au
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.
The Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) is undertaking consultation to inform the development of the WA Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus (BBV) Strategies 2019 – 2023 and invites you to provide feedback.
Health professionals, community agencies, government departments and community members in WA are invited to participate in on-line and/or face-to-face consultations to inform the actions and priorities for the period of the strategies.
An online consultation survey is open until 5.00pm on 31 October, 2018, and it is recommended you allocate 30 minutes to complete the survey. To access the survey, and further information, please visit here.
For information on the face-to-face consultations, please email margo.sims@health.wa.gov.au (metropolitan consultations) or rudie.marshall-lang@health.wa.gov.au (regional consultations).
Professor Angus Cook, of the School of Population and Global Health at The University of Western Australia, is conducting ten-minute online surveys with GPs across Western Australian to explore any kind of care they provide to their patients in the last twelve months of life.
All participants receive a $65 reimbursement for taking part in this project.
If you are interested in finding out more about this study, or being sent the online survey link, please contact Professor Cook at angus.cook@uwa.edu.au, or phone (08) 9648 7805.
Visit our Webinars & Workshops page at www.practiceassist.com.au for more events in your area.
These events are often in high demand, so we recommend registering as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!
In Australia, COPD is the second leading cause of avoidable hospital admissions and remains the fifth leading cause of death. This meeting will give you an opportunity to understand the latest management options and new advances in pharmacological strategies for moderate to severe COPD patients.
Date: Wednesday, 29 August 2018 Time: 6.30pm – 9.00pm Venue: Rydges Kalgoorlie, 21 Davidson Street, Kalgoorlie 6430 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
The aim of this program is to provide nurses with up-to-date education about mental illness that relates to more complex and challenging conditions, such as personality disorders, including early identification and assessment, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and ongoing management.
Date: Thursday, 30 August – Friday, 31 August 2018 Time: 9.00am – 4.15pm (registration from 8.30am) Venue: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre, 778 – 788 Hay Street Cost: $398 for one day, $520 for both days Register: To register, please click here
The Stay On Your Feet Strengthen Your Legs Forum will provide attendees with current evidence of the benefits of strength training for older adults, barriers and enablers to older adults to engaging in strength training, identifying older adults at risk of falls in everyday practice, evidence-based strength and balance exercise programs, and practical application for the delivery of strength and balance exercise programs for older adults including referral pathways, implementation, challenges and key learnings. Presented by guest speaker Dr Elissa Burton.
Date: Wednesday, 5 September 2018 Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm (registration from 5.30pm) Venue: Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, 167 Fitzgerald St, Geraldton Cost: $25 Register: To register, please click here
This session, for Country WA health professionals, is supported through a collaboration between the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Chronic Conditions Program, Training Centre in Subacute Care WA (TRACS WA), Heart Foundation WA (HFWA) and the Australian Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation Association of WA (ACRA-WA). For more information, please click here.
Date: Thursday, 6 September, 2018 Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm Venue: Video conference only Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
Presented by East Metropolitan Health Service in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance and HealthPathways WA
Date: Saturday 8 September 2018 Time: Registration from 8.00am; Presentations from 8.30am to 3.30pm Venue: Royal Perth Hospital, Bruce Hunt Lecture Theatre, 197 Wellington St, Perth WA 6000 Catering: Morning tea and lunch will be provided Register: To register, please click here
Registrations are essential.
This event has 40 Category 1 QI&CPD points.
Program topics include:
The Immunisation Education Sessions will be presented by Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control and WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA). Also included in these sessions are updates from Diabetes WA and WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program. For more information, please click here.
Please note that these sessions do not replace the yearly immunisation update, you can complete this via this link.
Cost: Free. Certificate of attendance will be provided.
Register: To register please click here. Sign-in takes place 15 minutes prior to the start time of the presentations listed above.
The Spring Forum will be held on World Suicide Prevention Day this year, with the topic of focus Available suicide prevention programs to reduce hospitalisation. The aim of the forum is to generate practical solutions to suicide prevention problems that members can take away and implement. A report will be made available to network members after the forum.
Date: Monday, 10 September, 2018 Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm Venue: Office of Multicultural Interests, 140 William St, Perth 6000 Cost: Free Register: To register, please email reception@lifelinewa.org.au
This dinner meeting in Geraldton is a component of the STEP UP Active Learning Module (ALM), an educational program that provides an update on strategies to reduce the risk of exacerbation in patients with moderate to severe COPD.
Date: Tuesday, 11 September, 2018 Time: 6.45pm – 9.00pm (registration from 6.30pm) Venue: The Broadwater Resort, 296 Chapman Rd, Geraldton 6530 Register: To register, please email amy.x.taylor@gsk.com or call 0499 550 671 for information
This event is allocated 3 Category 2 RACGP QI&CPD points.
With the opening of the new Perth Children’s Hospital, now is a good time to highlight the WA Paediatric Palliative Care Service, as well as allied services offering holistic and compassionate care to children and their families who live in Western Australia with a life-limiting condition.
Date: Tuesday, 11 September, 2018 Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm Venue: Cancer Council WA Seminar Room, Milroy Lodge, 15 Bedbrook Place, Shenton Park Cost: PCWA individual members free, non-members $40 Register: To register, please click here (RSVP by 7 September)
Join your local AAPM WA networking host for networking with like-minded practice managers. People involved in practice management and non-members of AAPM are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is essential for all networking events, and registration can be completed using the links in the below table. AAPM members receive 2 CPD points.
There is a significant potential for patients across any clinical setting to rapidly become unwell. Recent system changes have been rolled out to encourage better management of clinical deterioration. However, your ability to recognise and respond to changes in a patient’s condition early is a high priority if acute illness is to be averted. Attend this two-day seminar to gain knowledge that will help you to feel more confident that your essential assessment skills and early nursing management can detect early cues and prevent poor patient outcome. Learn about the power of assessment when your patient is deteriorating, how to recognise sepsis early, warning signs of acute kidney injury and many more.
Date: Thursday, 13 September – Friday, 14 September 2018 Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm (registration from 8.30am) Venue: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre, 778-788 Hay Street Cost: $398 for one day, $520 for both days Register: To register, please click here
The Women’s Health Strategy & Programs provides training to improve the health and safety of families in WA Health. Please refer to the table below for upcoming sessions in 2018.
For more information, please click here. From this page, you can also register by scrolling to the bottom of the page to find Bookings and download a Registration form.
The WA Rural Networking Group is a group designed to provide an opportunity to connect like-minded Practice managers from all disciplines to learn from each other by sharing ideas, sharing experiences, giving perspectives and brainstorming any current issues. Our meetings are casual and held in a relaxed atmosphere where you can purchase refreshments and/or a meal and network with other practice managers.
Date: Tuesday, 18 September 2018 Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm Venue: Sandy Cove Tavern, 146 S Yunderup Rd, South Yunderup WA 6208 Cost: Free (food and beverage at own cost) Register: To register, please click here
This training will provide GPs, nurses and health professionals working in primary care an update on strategies available for the prevention of HIV transmission, focusing on prevention particularly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This program will also include an STI update and WA AIDS Council session covering a health consumers perspective around PrEP.
Date: Tuesday, 18 September, 2018 Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm (registration from 6.15pm) Venue: Karratha International Hotel, Cnr Hillview & Millstream Rds, Karratha 6714 Cost: Free (this course will also be delivered via webinar) Register: To register, please click here
Date: Wednesday, 10 October, 2018 Time: 6.15pm – 9.30pm (registration from 6.15pm) Venue: Fraser Suites Perth, 10 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
Learn about the current understanding of perinatal mood disorders and its management, using lecture, case studies and interactive exercises. Thanks to the generosity of CBH Group, Black Dog Institute is offering significantly reduced-cost workshops in regional areas across Western Australia.
Date: Saturday, 6 October 2018 Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Venue: Northam Recreation Centre, 44 Peel Terrace, Northam WA 6401 Cost: $50.00 Register: To register, please click here
Date: Saturday, 24 November 2018 Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Venue: Masters Builders, 30 Graham St, Albany WA 6330 Cost: $50.00 Register: To register, please click here
These sessions are suitable for Allied Health providers, Nurses, Midwives, Counsellors, GP Registrars, GPs and Psychologists.
These sessions have 40 Category 1 RACGP QI&CPD points, 6 hours CPD for Australian Association of Social Workers, and are a CPD Recognised Activity for the Australian College of Midwives.
The next Cracks in the Ice webinar will focus on supporting frontline workers with key information and resources about crystal methamphetamine. The webinar will be presented by Allan Trifonoff and Roger Nicholas from the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA).
Date: Wednesday, 17 October, 2018 Time: 9.00am – 10.00am (WST) (12.00pm – 1.00pm AEDT) Venue: Online Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
BreastScreen WA (BSWA) is holding the annual Pink Ribbon breakfast with keynote speakers Professor Christobel Saunders AO, MBBS, FRCS, FRACS, FAAHMS, and Kathleen Mazella OAM.
Date: Monday, 22 October, 2018 Time: Breakfast from 7.30am – 9.00am (registration from 7.00am) Venue: Fraser’s Function Centre, Kings Park Cost: $40.00 (inc GST) RSVP: by Tuesday, 16 October, 2018 Register: To register, please click here
For further information, please email BreastScreen WA or phone (08) 9323 6707.
If you are a GP interested in expanding your professional knowledge on alcohol screening and brief interventions, please consider attending the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) Grand Round to hear presentations on the Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Project, which was carried out with the WAPHA funding in 2017-208 at Fiona Stanley and Rockingham General Hospitals. The presentation will cover burden of alcohol in Australia and project overview, patient and staff attitudes, research evaluation results, clinical impact and operational feasibility and future directions.
Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2018 Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm (registration from 11.50am) Venue: Fiona Stanley Hospital, Education, Lecture Theatre G.1 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here (RSVP by 28 September 2018)
This is a comprehensive and detailed, hands-on, six-day course. It ill give you the training and skill set you need to be able to treat and manage clients with Lymphoedema, as well as other associated conditions like lipoedema and oedema.
Date: 8 - 13 November, 2018 Time: 8.30am – 5.00pm Venue: Australian Institute of Fitness, 177 George St, Perth 6000 Cost: $1700.00 Register: To register, and for more information, please click here
Presented by Osborne Park Hospital in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance and HealthPathways WA
Date: Saturday 10 November 2018 Time: Presentations from 8.30am to 3.30pm (registration from 8.00am) Venue: University Club, UWA, Crawley WA 6009, free parking available at Entrance 1, Carpark 3 Catering: Morning tea and lunch will be provided Register: To register, please click here
Registrations are essential. RSVP by Friday 2 November 2018.
Education sessions include:
After years of demand and need The Ehlers-Danlos Society is very excited to bring together in Australia leading world experts to discuss the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and related disorders, including the recently-described hypermobility spectrum disorders.
Date: Monday, 10 December – Tuesday, 11 December 2018 Time: 8.00am – 6.00pm (Day 1), 7.30am – 6.00pm (Day 2) Venue: Curtin University Building 410, Kent Street, Bentley Perth WA 6102 Cost: $150 (Day 1), $350 (Day 2) Register: To register, please click here
Is your practice looking for a health promotion activity for your practice? Each edition we provide a list of upcoming health promotion activities for the coming months along with resources and contact details.
You can also view all health promotion activities for the year by visiting Practice Assist’s health calendar.
The Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week is a week dedicated to all women across Australia to make good health a priority.
The two biggest barriers for women not maintaining a healthy lifestyle is ‘lack of time’ and ‘health not being a priority’. Women’s Health Week is the time to put ourselves first, for just one week, and start making positive changes that can last a lifetime.
Learn more and get involved by visiting https://www.womenshealthweek.com.au
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is asking Australia to get involved and help create awareness and raise the much-needed funds to help in the fight against prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia with almost 20,000 diagnoses and close to 3,500 deaths each year.
To learn more and get involved, please click here.
Dementia Awareness Month is Dementia Australia’s national awareness-raising campaign held every year throughout September.
Its aim is to encourage all Australians to become more aware of dementia, to get a better understanding of what it is like to live with dementia and how we can support people living with dementia.
This year’s theme is Small actions Big difference.
There are many small actions people can take to create a big difference for people impacted by dementia, their families and carers.
To get involved in Dementia Awareness Month, please click here.