GP Bulletin
13 July 2017
EMPHN funds Medication Support Service in East and North East Melbourne
Eastern Melbourne PHN will provide $850,000 funding to Connect4Health to deliver a Victorian first Medication Support Service program to provide specialist assessment and treatment programs for individuals and families affected by pharmaceutical misuse or dependence.
The service is aimed at helping people access treatment for misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications, which can be difficult due to community stigma of having a drug problem.
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EMPHN funds Medication Support Service in East and North East Melbourne
 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) unpaid carers in the City of Monash will be better supported to manage the challenges of their caring role and multiple responsibilities, which currently helps save the Australian economy over $60 billion¹ a year.
Following a co-design forum held with carers and local support organisations, Eastern Melbourne PHN has commissioned the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health to deliver a CALD Carer Support Program. The program aims to identify CALD carers in the City of Monash and connect them with carer support services by providing culturally appropriate information and support, and reducing the stigma associated with identifying as a carer.
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Stakeholder forums for primary health providers
On 10 and 11 July, EMPHN held forums for mental health nurses, practitioners delivering Psychological Strategies, eligible organisations and GPs to provide an update on the Stepped Model of Care. The forums also explored responsive care for people experiencing mental health issues and the impacts of EMPHN’s future Stepped Model of Care on current business practices and working arrangements.
Adjunct Professor John Mendoza also presented and facilitated discussion on the approach to developing the Stepped Model of Care. John is a consultant currently working with EMPHN to develop its Stepped Model of Care and brings together a wealth of experience working with PHNs Australia-wide to develop models of care and on advisory groups to government.
A video and summary report of the event will be available online by the end of July.
Understanding your practice data – POLAR GP
POLAR GP is a data analysis and extraction tool for general practice quality improvement and population health planning that also allows practices to audit and review their own practice’s data. Eastern Melbourne PHN currently subsidises the entire cost of a POLAR GP license for any general practice in our catchment.
POLAR GP can be used for:
- Quality improvement
- Improving planning and medical management of patients
- Maximising MBS item numbers
- Improving patient outcomes
- Identifying service needs
- Ensuring complete and accurate data
For further information on POLAR GP and the pilot please download the brochure attached. If you have any queries or would like a visit from a Digital Health Officer regarding POLAR GP please contact the Digital Health team at Eastern Melbourne PHN on 03 9046 0300 or POLAR@emphn.org.au.
Primary Care Nurse Network - Outer Eastern Melbourne
We are excited to announce the launch of a Primary Care Nurse Network in outer eastern Melbourne! The network will be led by primary care nurses that work locally, with the support of APNA and Eastern Melbourne PHN. It aims to create a space for primary health care nurses to build relationships, create local professional development opportunities and share knowledge and experiences.
Come and connect with other primary care nurses in your area. Join a discussion around immunisation, including the update of Rotarix, and the planning of future meetings.
When: Wednesday 2 August, 6–8pm
Where: Knox Library meeting room (within Knox City Shopping Centre)
425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South
RSVP
Sonja Hooper (network coordinator)
sonj1971@gmail.com
0417 447 741
Industry News
TGA recall of BVM (Bag-Valve-Mask) Manual Resuscitation Systems
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a Class 1 recall of the following product: BVM (Bag-Valve-Mask) Manual Resuscitation Systems.
An attachment is provided detailing further information about the product recall.
Consumer level recall of insulin cartridge
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S, in consultation with the TGA, has initiated a consumer level recall of some batches of their NovoPen Echo insulin cartridge holder after detecting there is a possibility they may crack or break if exposed to chemicals in certain cleaning agents.
People using a device with a cracked or broken cartridge holder can result in the device delivering a smaller dose of insulin than expected leading to high blood sugar levels, potentially putting the person at risk of hyperglycaemia.
Novo Nordisk has advised that if people clean the pens as described in the User Guide, there is no reason that cracking of the cartridge holder will occur.
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Violence and aggression towards healthcare workers is never okay
Up to 95% of Victoria’s healthcare workers have experienced verbal or physical assault.
Reducing violence and aggression against Victoria’s healthcare workers is a priority issue for the Victorian Government. On 13 June 2017 WorkSafe Victoria and the Department of Health and Human Services launched a public ‘It’s never OK’ campaign to help increase awareness of this issue across the healthcare sector and broader Victorian community.
Visit the campaign website worksafe.vic.gov.au/itsneverok to view the new TV advertisements.
For more information about where to find guidance and support services, or to order further resources for your workplace, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/itsneverok.
Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub
The Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub (CASRHH) was established to provide comprehensive primary health and specialist mental health care to Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees in the northern corridor of Melbourne (no defined boundaries). Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers are given priority access to the service, free of charge, along with asylum seekers with Medicare but limited or no income.
The services are provided through collaborative and complementary partnerships with St Vincent’s Hospital, public and private hospitals, community health providers, asylum seeker and refugee agencies, private businesses and health professionals who are willing to volunteer their time. The majority of the health professionals who work at CASRHH do so on a pro bono basis.
Services at The Hub include nurse led clinics, general practitioners, specialist mental health services, psychiatry, immunisations with pathology and medical imaging provided through St Vincent’s Hospital.
For more information, visit Cabrini’s website.
Expressions of Interest
Consultations for the update of the On Arrival Refugee Health Assessment template/tool
GPs, practice nurses and refugee health nurses have the opportunity to contribute to the update of the On Arrival Refugee Health Assessment Template/Tool by:
1. Completing a 15 minute questionnaire regarding your current practice; and/or
2. Taking part in a remunerated 1:1 consultation to be held at your workplace and requiring a one-off one hour commitment.
General practice is crucial for supporting people from refugee backgrounds, conducting both on arrival refugee health assessments and providing ongoing health care. There is a current need to recruit more general practices to work with people from refugee backgrounds. This update of the On Arrival Refugee Health Assessment template/tool aims to support GPs, more practice nurses and refugee health nurses to do this work.
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