Notices

EMPHN Empowering GPs To Combat Diabetes

Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN) are running a Quality Improvement Program to help general practices better manage diabetes.

The Diabetes Management Quality Improvement Program aims to build on participants’ knowledge of diabetes management and encourages them to implement improvements in their practices through Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles.

“Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia and GPs are a vital part in changing this,” said EMPHN CEO Robin Whyte.

“We recognise that GPs, often the centre of care for patients, are best positioned to help manage diabetes,” she said.

The program started in January and will run for six months with 15 practices from the EMPHN catchment participating in the program.

This program will enable general practices to benefit from collaboration with their peers, and provide an opportunity for EMPHN to recognise and develop local champions.

The collaboration of participants through attendance at the program workshops provides an environment to share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.

EOIs Sought To Participate In General Practice Business Benchmarking Project

Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN), in collaboration with Medical Business Network, is offering an opportunity for practices to participate in a business benchmarking project.

Excellence in care and improved patient outcomes is dependent on a practices’ capacity to remain viable whilst responding to the changing landscape of practice management.

Changes in the health sector have seen practices under increasing pressure to “do more with less”.

Having an understanding of their financial situation will assist business owners and managers to make informed decisions vital to managing change, growth and sustainability in their practice. 
   
Participating practices will have the opportunity to work with expert business consultants on a range of activities aimed at increasing your understanding of the factors affecting their business.

For more information, including how to apply, please see the project flyer. 

For any enquiries, please contact Dianne Hayes on (03) 9046 1213 or Dianne.hayes@emphn.org.au.

EMPHN is also offering a two-hour workshop, How is my practice performing?, an introduction to business benchmarking which will assist managers in identifying key information vital to understanding and monitoring practice performance.

For more information on this event, please see the event flyer.


Industry News

National Cancer Screening Register To Be Delayed

Due to issues with the technical build, the national register will be unavailable in time to support the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and the renewed National Cervical Screening Program.

While the extent of the delay is unknown, it is anticipated that the national register will be ready by the fourth quarter of 2017.

A series of workshops with jurisdictions and the pathology sector will be held very shortly to discuss the national register, jurisdictions' contingency plans and to assess the impact of the delay.

Cancer Council Victoria will work with health services to ensure that we continue to deliver a quality, safe screening program for Victorian women.

Victorian women will continue to have access to Pap tests until HPV testing is introduced.
Women aged 18-69 should continue to have a Pap test every two years, when they fall due.

For any further questions, please contact Hiranthi Perera at Hiranthi.perera@cancervic.org.au or call 03 9514 6423.
 


Immunisation Resources To Support Children Living In Out Of Home Care

Children in care may have missed routine vaccines, or missed additional recommended vaccines because of their health status. Resources have been developed to provide immunisation-related information for carers, providers and child care practitioners of children living in out-of-home care.

Important points referred to within these documents include:

  • Children living in out-of-home care are often behind with their immunisations.
  • Carers can give a general practitioner (GP) permission to give vaccines to a child in their care, if an authorisation instrument has been provided by Child Protection.
  • To enrol in childcare, a child must have an immunisation status certificate showing which immunisations they have received.
  • Centrelink family payments may stop if a child is not up to date with vaccinations.
  • Talk about immunisation at the child’s health check with a GP.
These resources, along with other immunisation information, can be found at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/immunisation/vaccination-children/vulnerable-children

For further information or feedback regarding these resources, please contact the Immunisation Section at immunisation@dhhs.vic.gov.au
 

Health Alert: Mycobacterium Chimaera

In the coming month, hospitals throughout Victoria will be writing to patients regarding a potential exposure to a bacterium called Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera) from heater-cooler units used during cardiac bypass procedures. The risk of acquiring M. chimaera is very low. Approximately 100 patients have been diagnosed with this infection worldwide and only three in Australia. No cases have been reported from Victoria. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne is providing patients with a number to call for further information but they may possibly want to discuss this issue with you as their general practitioner.

For further information please visit the St Vincent’s Hospital website and click on the “news” tab or call the advice line if you require patient-specific advice on

Phone: 9231 5096
Website: https://svhm.org.au/home/health-professionals/news-and-events
 


Pharmacotherapy Nurse Practitioner Scholarships 2017

The Area 4 Pharmacotherapy Network is now offering Scholarships for Nurse Practitioner Candidates working in the AOD sector and in the southern and eastern Melbourne metropolitan region.

This covers the Local Government Areas of:

  • Yarra Ranges, Manningham, Booroondara, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Knox, Monash
  • Stonington, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.
    For more information, please see the scholarship flyer

Follow Us On Social Media

Keep up to date with everything EMPHN through our social media channels.

Connect through our Twitter and Linkedin accounts.

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Upcoming Events

QUM Educational Visiting Program

De-Mystifying Opioid Replacement Therapy
Schedule 8 Management- permits without pain
Inhaler Devices–Inspiration for Choice

Expression of Interest: Management of Treatment of Opioid Dependence
More information

First trimester screening update for general practitioners
Date: Tues 7 March
Location: Wantirna
Time: 6:15pm - 8:45pm
More information

Emergencies in Women's Health
Date: Tues 7 March
Location: Heidelberg
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
More information

How is my practice performing?
Date: Weds 8 March
Location: Bulleen
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
More information
Haematology Benign and Cancer Update Information Dinner
Date: Tues 14 March
Location: Kew
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
More information

Joint GP, Pain Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry Dinner
Date: Wed 29 March
Location: Glen Waverley
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
More information

Travel and Immunisation Update - Heidelberg
Date: Wed 30 March
Location: Heidelberg
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
More information

Travel and Immunisation Update - Nunawading
Date: Wed 20 April
Location: Nunawading
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
More information

Save the Date: GP Refresher Course - Care of the Elderly Patient
Date: Sat 20 May
Location: Wantirna
Time: 12:00pm - 5:30pm
More information
If you would like to submit news, please email comms@emphn.org.au

Copyright © 2015 Eastern Melbourne PHN, All rights reserved.
Our address is:

18-20 Prospect Street, Box Hill, Vic 3128

Mailing Address:
PO Box 610 Box Hill, Vic 3128

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Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network · Level 4, 990 Whitehorse Road · Box Hill, Vic 3128 · Australia