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A big thankyou to all practices that have successfully completed their new Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs). For the first time, all DSAs have been issued using DocuSign which enables practices to sign and return the DSA electronically. The revised DSA forms part of a practice’s eligibility for the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) Quality Improvement (QI) payment, and therefore needs to be returned before the first quarter end date (15 October 2019). If you do not return your new DSA by this date, it may affect your eligibility for a payment in this first quarter. If you have not received a new DSA, or you are unsure how to complete the DSA, please get in contact with Practice Assist (1800 ASSIST) as soon as possible. Practices that are unable to submit data using PenCS because they have software that is not compatible with PenCS, are eligible to apply for a time-limited exemption from the Australian Department of Health (the Department). If your practice is interested in accessing this exemption, please read the information and complete the Exemption Form available from the Department’s website by clicking here. The Exemption Form will need to be provided to your PHL to arrange sign off by WAPHA before it can be submitted to the Department. Exemption forms must be completed and submitted to the Department by 11:59pm 15 October 2019 to be eligible for a first quarter exemption.
Applications have now opened for practices wishing to join the GP Urgent Care Network Pilot. The application form can be accessed by clicking here. Essential criteria to become a GP Urgent Care practice include:
More information about the pilot can be found at www.wapha.org.au/health-professionals/gp-urgent-care/ Any questions about the application or the pilot can be emailed to urgentcare@wapha.org.au To find a GP Urgent Care practice and view online appointments visit www.gpurgentcare.com.au Applications close 31 October 2019.
From 1 November 2019, there will be 12 new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for telehealth video consultations with patients living in rural and remote areas. The new items will be available to GPs and non-specialist medical practitioners, and can be used for patients who:
The new items have been made available to help address inequities in the provision of health care services and have the potential to deliver improved health outcomes to people living in rural and remote locations. To find out more, read the factsheets available from MBS Online by clicking here
A one-to-one Virtual Visit with a GP is free, evidence based, RACGP & ACRRM accredited and takes just 30mins. An NPS MedicineWise Virtual Visit is an accredited clinical education discussion for GPs, covering the latest prescribing evidence and delivered by video conference. Doctors can nominate their preferred videoconferencing technology and can book a session at time convenient to them. Bookings can be made through the NPS MedicineWise website (www.nps.org.au) or clicking here to access the booking form. Opioids and the bigger picture when treating chronic pain – starting October 2019 The NPS current program provides clarity on the role of opioids when supporting patients with chronic non-cancer pain. It covers the latest evidence and offers advice on engaging patients to take an active role in managing pain. Information and resources covered as part of this educational visit include:
For further information please click here.
Headspace is a free and confidential service that helps young people aged 12-25 with health and wellbeing services. Headspace Joondalup is excited to host a new drop-in space called hQ space where young people aged 12–25 can feel free to be themselves. For further information please click here.
As reported last edition, the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has recently released a series of webinars targeting a wide range of healthcare providers, including webinars for providers coordinating care for patients with mental health conditions, for specialists, and for hospital pharmacists. Some webinars of particular interest to our subscribers are listed below, and we encourage you to register for those relevant to your practice and / or healthcare providers. Leveraging My Health Record to improve practice workflow – a session for Practice Managers Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2019 Time: 10.00am – 11.00am (AWST) Venue: Online Register: For more information, and to register, please click here My Health Record – providing care in the community Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019 Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm (AWST) Venue: Online Register: For more information, and to register, please click here Information for all upcoming webinars can be accessed by clicking here . All ADHA webinars are provided at no cost to participants. You can also download the slide presentations for a number of previous webinars by clicking on the links below:
A new youth mental health resource, “Coping with self-harm: A guide for parents and carers” has been developed by the Orygen National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health with funding support from the Perth South Suicide Prevention Trial led by WA Primary Health Alliance. This resource was adapted from a guide originally produced by researchers at the Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, England and was adapted for an Australian audience following extensive consultation between Orygen, young people and their parents and carers. It provides practical information on supporting a young person who is self-harming, managing their injuries, implementing coping strategies and where to go for help. It outlines the reasons for self-harm and what makes a young person vulnerable to self-harm, and practical ways a parent or carer can look after themselves during this time. The guide is designed for parents and carers but is a useful resource for health professionals to reference and provide should they see presentation in their practice. For further information please click here
All events are listed on our Webinars and Workshops page.
Join WA Primary Health Alliance and its partners for the bi-annual Immunisation and Cancer Screening update for general practice staff. The sessions are designed to be interactive, and presenters from Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control, WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, and BreastScreen WA will be available to answer questions from attendees. There is no cost for attendance, and participants will receive a certificate of attendance via email after the event.
To register for any one of the events, please visit click here, or view the flyer here.
WA Primary Health Alliance is working with Hammond Care to support WA general practices to implement a team-based approach to initiating advance care planning and palliative care into everyday clinical practice. For more information, please click here Date: Wednesday 9 October 2019 Time: 12.00pm – 3.00pm Venue: Amity Health, 136 Lockyer Avenue, Albany WA 6330 Cost: Free (light meal provided) Register: For more information and to register, please click here
Why not get an update from the MBS Review Taskforce Chairman, Professor Bruce Robinson and ask the hard questions as to how the Review recommendations will change the model of care delivered by GPs (and the control they will have over their futures and their future incomes). Will it result in better access and outcomes for patients? A breakfast roundtable with the Chairman of the MBS Taskforce Professor Bruce Robinson. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Thursday 10 October 2019 Time: 7.00am – 8.30am Venue: State Reception Centre, Fraser’s Kings Park Cost: Free for AMA (WA) members, $40 for non-members Register: To register, please click here -
Diabetes WA is offering a diabetes update for health professionals working within a hospital, medical practice, community health or aged care setting. The training will provide participants with an increased understanding of diabetes and the services available to their patients. Training is suitable for GPs, enrolled nurses, registered nurses, allied health professionals, and pharmacists. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Thursday 10 October 2019 Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Venue: The Boulevard, Floreat Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
The Otitis Media Management Program is designed to develop knowledge and skills required for a range of health professionals and others working within Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Health to safely assess the aural health of individuals and implement best practice management guidelines. The one-day workshop includes lecture and practical workshop activities involving condition recognition, ear health assessment, otoscopy and digital video otoscopy, as well as a range of basic, point-of-care hearing assessments. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Friday 11 October 2019 Time: 8.45am – 4.30pm Venue: Mercure Sanctuary Golf Resort, Lot 100 Old Coast Rd, Bunbury WA 6230 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
This Rural Health West CPD workshop provides obstetric teams with the necessary skills to effectively manage problems which may occur during neonatal delivery and postnatal care. Covering neonatal resuscitation, ventilation, chest compression, endotracheal intubation and medications, the workshop also considers ethical questions and how lessons learned can be implemented to improve care in a local setting. Information and teaching is delivered via seminars, case studies, practical hands-on sessions and also mega code scenarios involving the entire resuscitation team.
Date: Thursday 17 October and Friday 18 October 2019 Time: 8.00am – 5.00pm Venue: TBC Cost: $440 (midwives), $660 (GPs, GPOs) Register: For more information, please click here
Rotto Ramble is a unique two-day event where participants test their medical skills and knowledge responding to simulated emergency scenarios in an ‘Amazing Race’ style’ on the beaches and tourist hot spots of Rottnest Island. Participants work as a team to diagnose, stabilise and save the lives of the ‘casualties’ under the guidance of specialist emergency physicians from WA’s hospital emergency departments.
Date: Friday 18 October and Sunday 20 October 2019 Time: Rottnest Ferry departs 4.30pm Friday Venue: Rottnest Island Cost: $220 per person Register: For more information, please click here
Patients with multiple physical, mental, alcohol and other drug issues often face many challenges. Health practitioners may experience “heartsink” in trying to respond to these difficult problems. This interactive session will include a conversation about the patient and health practitioner experience and expectations, resources and an approach to managing complex issues within time and resource constraints. Date: Saturday 19 October 2019 Time: Registration 8.30am, 9.00am – 12.00pm Venue: Tompkins on Swan, Cnr Dunkley Ave & Canning Hwy, Alfred Cove WA 6154 Cost: Free Register: For more information, please click here
The chronic pain management webinar aims to effectively explain the concepts underlying the experience of chronic pain to patients, describe a safe approach to chronic pain management which involves non-pharmacological and pharmacological means, and identify on-line resources which are available to assist patients in managing chronic pain. Date: Saturday 21 October 2019 Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm (presentation and interactive case discussion) 8.30pm – 9.00pm (Q&A) Venue: Online Cost: Free Register: To register, and for more informationm, please click here
The Course in Tympanometry is designed to provide skills and knowledge for a range of health professionals and others working within Aboriginal and / or Torre Strait Islander health to undertake tympanometric screening and tympanometry. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Tuesday 22 October 2019 Time: 8.45am – 4.30pm Venue: Technology Park Function Centre, 2 Brodie-Hall Drive, Bentley WA 6102 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) is the peak national event for rural and remote doctors of Australia. Hosted by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), RMA attracts a diverse and collaborative community of junior doctors, students, educators, academics, and medical practitioners who are passionate about generalist medicine in rural and remote communities. Date: Wednesday 23 October to Saturday 26 October 2019 Time: Please click here for the conference program Venue: The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach QLD 4218 Cost: Please click here for delegate costs (early bird available until 31 May) Register: To register, please click here
The Course in Tympanometry is designed to provide skills and knowledge for a range of health professionals and others working within Aboriginal and / or Torre Strait Islander health to undertake tympanometric screening and tympanometry. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Thursday 24 October 2019 Time: 8.45am – 4.30pm Venue: Mercure Sanctuary Golf Resort, Lot 100 Old Coast Rd, Bunbury WA 6230 Cost: Free Register: To register, please click here
The chronic pain management webinar aims to effectively explain the concepts underlying the experience of chronic pain to patients, describe a safe approach to chronic pain management which involves non-pharmacological and pharmacological means, and identify on-line resources which are available to assist patients in managing chronic pain. Date: Thursday 24 October 2019 Time: 7.30am – 8.30am (presentation and interactive case discussion) 8.30am – 9.00am (Q&A) Venue: Online Cost: Free Register: To register, and for more informationm, please click here
GP19: Your patients Your community Your solutions will see a transition into a full clinical update conference. With an exciting new format delivering dynamic education with a focus on topics that affect GPs in their clinical settings. You will also experience an extensive array of hands-on, interactive and highly engaging sessions with take away skills to implement in your everyday practice. Date: Thursday 24 October to Saturday 26 October 2019 Time: Please click here for the conference program Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Cost: Click here for information on delegate costs - early bird registrations available until 1 August Register: To register, please click here
WA Primary Health Alliance is working with Hammond Care to support WA general practices to implement a team-based approach to initiating advance care planning and palliative care into everyday clinical practice. For more information, please click here to view the flyer. Date: Saturday 26 October 2019 Time: 8.30am – 12.00pm Venue: Greenwood Hotel Function Room, 349 Warwick Rd, Greenwood WA 6024 Cost: Free (light meal provided) Register: To register, please click here
This Rural Health West CPD workshop is designed to assist health professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of clinical governance in wound management inclusive of scope of practice, policy, evidence-based practice, inter-professional practice and consumer engagement.
The workshop content includes:
Date: Friday 1 November 2019 Time: 8.00am – 5.00pm Venue: TBC Cost: $350.00 Register: For more information and to register, please click here
At the completion of this event, to assist concerned parents and/or family members, practice nurses will be able to:
This event is for practice nurses. Date: Saturday 2 November 2019 Time: Registration 8.30am, 9.00am – 12.00pm Venue: International on the Water Hotel, 1 Epsom Ave, Ascot WA 6104 Cost: Free Register: For more information, please click here
Presented by Fiona Stanley Hospital and Diabetes WA in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance and HealthPathways WA. Workshops and presentations include:
Date: Saturday 2 November 2019 Time: 8.30am - 4.00pm (registrations from 8.00am) Venue: Education Building, Fiona Stanley Hospital, 11 Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch Cost: Free (morning tea and lunch provided) Register: To register, please click here RSVP: By Friday 25 October
Presented by Rockingham Peel Group and Rockingham General Hospital in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance and HealthPathways WA. Education sessions include:
Date: Saturday 9 November 2019 Time: 8.30am – 3.30pm (registrations from 8.00am) Venue: Rockingham General Hospital, Education Centre Lecture Theatre, Elanora Dr, Cooloongup Cost: Education session free (morning tea and lunch is provided) Register: For more information, and to register, please click here This activity has 40 Category 1 QI&CPD points through RACGP and 30 PRDP points through ACRRM. Have you completed your CPR requirements for the 2017-19 triennium? Join us at the end of the education day for the RACGP cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course for GPs. This provides participants with topical emergency presentations and recent changes in emergency practice. This course is delivered by St John Ambulance in accordance with the current guidelines of the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and covers all aspects of resuscitation and basic life support. This course is open to GPs and practice staff. Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm Cost: $99 for RACGP members, $121 for non-members Register To register and for more information, please click here This activity has 5 Category 2 QI&CPD points with RACGP. -
This Rural Health West CPD workshop is designed to assist health professionals to develop and practice skills essential in unexpected crises, particularly with problem airways. Delivered in WA Country Health Service facilities, this workshop has a heavy emphasis on teamwork and the organisation of medical emergency teams incorporating presentations, skill stations and scenario-based crises with simulation manikins (SimMan and baby).
Date: Friday 15 November 2019 Time: 8.00am – 4.00pm Venue: TBC Cost: Free Register: For more information, please click here
This workshop teaches participants how to effectively manage obstetric cases and emergencies and how to make appropriate decisions.
This workshop will cover off three activities in one day:
This event is for GPs and practice nurses. Date: Saturday 16 November 2019 Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm (registrations from 8.30am) Venue: Mandoon Estate, 10 Harris Rd, Caversham WA 6055 Cost: Free Register: For more information, please click here
The Rural Health West CPD REACT workshop is designed to assist Western Australian Visiting Medical Practitioners to maintain their emergency knowledge and skills, and gain formal assessment toward their emergency credentialing, as required by the WA Country Health Service. Covering cardiac arrest, major trauma in both adults and children, and associated lifesaving procedural skills, REACT is a highly interactive workshop, with participants predominantly involved in practical skill stations and simulated scenarios.
Date: Wednesday 20 November and Thursday 21 November 2019 Time: 8.30am – 5.00pm Venue: TBC Cost: $2,200 (inc GST) Register: For more information, please click here
The Doctors' Health Advisory Service (DHAS) of Western Australia (WA) has great pleasure in inviting you to join them at the 2019 Australasian Doctors Health Conference (ADHC) in Perth on 22 and 23 November 2019.
These conferences have been held biennially in Australia and New Zealand for nearly 20 years, with 2019 being the first time the event will take place in WA.
The theme is the important topic of “Creating a Healthy Workplace”. This will be relevant to doctors at all stages of their career, from medical students, to doctors in training, to doctors established in their chosen career. A particular focus will be looking at the impact of the work environment on a doctor’s health, be they a solo private practitioner or working in a large tertiary hospital. Issues will include the effect of medical culture on work life balance, bullying and harassment, and physical and mental health problems. The conference will be relevant to all doctors and medical students, and anyone involved in the training or management of doctors.
Date: Friday 22 November and Saturday 23 November 2019 Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Friday and 9.00am – 1.00pm Saturday Venue: Esplanade Hotel Fremantle, 46-54 Marine Terrace and Essex St, Fremantle Cost: Please click here for registration costs Register: For more information, please click here
The WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (WACCPP) is inviting stakeholders to register an activity in support of National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week during November 2019. Activity ideas may include an information stall or display, a morning tea, a presentation about cervical screening or promotion of cervical screening on social media platforms. To support an activity stakeholder can access a range of free resources from the WACCPP, including: To support activities, the WACCPP is offering access to a range of free resources including:
For more information click here or contact the WACCPP on 13 15 56 or at cervicalscreening@health.wa.gov.au