Following some recent Australian Government changes to the childhood and adolescent National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule (addition of adolescent meningococcal ACWY and transition of HPV vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register), the Department of Human Services has started sending additional reminder letters to young people overdue for vaccination.
This is expected to result in an increase in the number of patients seeking assistance regarding potentially overdue vaccinations.
Previously, parents of children overdue for vaccination were sent reminder letters when their children were 10, 21 and 54 months.
As of June this year, additional letters are being sent to families – who are not in receipt of family assistance payments – for children aged 7, 13, 15, 19 and 49 months. Adolescents who are overdue for their childhood and adolescent vaccinations are now sent letters when they are 14.5, 17 and 18 years of age.
These additional letters (click on links below for examples) advise people to contact their GP to receive missed vaccinations.
The Tasmanian Department of Health notified local general practices of the updated schedule earlier this year.
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A total of 2050 laboratory-confirmed flu notifications (1935 influenza A and 115 influenza B) have been confirmed as of 11 August, according to the latest Tasmanian flu notification report.
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Over the past few weeks as Primary Health Tasmania has been supporting practices to prepare for the PIP QI, there have been a few clarification questions practices have asked in relation to data sharing that we thought would be useful to share with other practices.
These frequently asked questions (FAQs) were shared with all practices via email on 7 August. If your practice did not receive this email, please let us know so we can update your primary contact email address in our records.
Primary Health Tasmania licenses the PenCS Clinical Audit suite of tools to enable data sharing and quality improvement activities with general practice. PenCS has just released a General Practice Resource Portal which can be accessed with username ‘media’ and password ‘gpmedia’.
If you or anyone in your practice have any further questions about PIP QI, data sharing, or our Primary Health Information network (PHIN), please do not hesitate to contact providersupport@primaryhealthtas.com.au and a team member will respond to your query as a priority.
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The Tasmanian Department of Health is undertaking a review of:
- the role and function of the Mental Health Helpline and,
- the role and function of the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams (CATT) within Adult Community Mental Health Services, statewide.
GPs are encouraged to provide their feedback by 1 October via the links below.
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Access to the Free Interpreting Service (FIS) language services has recently expanded to nurse practitioners.
For more information about using the Free Interpreting Service or to register for a client code, call TIS National on 131 450 or visit the website.
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An oral health program piloted in north west Tasmania since 2016 will be available to eligible women across Tasmania from 2 September.
Oral Health Services Tasmania's Healthy Smiles for Two program provides priority access to dental care for women who are pregnant and who:
- hold a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card ($45 per appointment, with payment options available), or
- are under the age of 18 (no cost on presentation of Medicare card).
GPs can refer patients - more information below.
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MDGuidelines provides up-to-date, evidence-based information on injury and illness that can help predict the likely duration of a worker’s incapacity and the timeframes in which they can return to work.
WorkCover Tasmania is providing free access to MDGuidelines to all medical practitioners treating workers compensation patients.
MDGuidelines provides injury and illness information, such as:
- diagnosis
- prognosis
- length of disability/recovery timeframes
- treatments
- comorbidities
- rehabilitation
- ability to work with restrictions/accommodations.
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Tamar Obstetrics and Gynaecology advises GPs it now offers a number of advanced laparoscopic procedures as an alternative to vaginal mesh.
Both privately insured and uninsured public patients can be seen at Dr Ben Dhanaraj's rooms at Ashton Gate House. Surgery for uninsured patients will be at the Launceston General Hospital and for private patients at the Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital.
Dr Dhanaraj is happy to provide in-service talks at general practices.
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Diabetes Tasmania has developed a streamlined template to help GPs and practice nurses refer patients to its clinical services.
A new triage system means once a patient has been referred, a Diabetes Tasmania health professional contacts them to discuss which service would best suit their needs and goals. The referred patient is then booked into the most suitable service. The new triage system also ensures high priority patients are seen sooner.
The new referral template is available to download as a PDF or into Best Practice or Medical Director from the Primary Health Tasmania website here. Please ensure you remove the old version from your system.
For more information about the new referral process, contact Lisa Burgess on 6215 9000. For more information about Diabetes Tasmania's clinical services, contact Fiona Horwood.
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Women's Health Week is 2-6 September, and Jean Hailes for Women's Health has a range of resources to support discussions about women's health.
There are consumer fact sheets on topics including bladder and bowel health, bone health, endometriosis, menopause and mental health.
Jean Hailes also has a range of women's health resources for health professionals, including evidence-based condition management tools, Active Learning Modules, webinars and podcasts.
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GPs have access to two new online courses to support their management of atopic dermatitis.
In Vivo Academy's 1.5-hour IMPACT: Improving outcomes in atopic dermatitis webinar is accredited for 3 RACGP CPD points and 2 ACRRM PDP points. It was developed in collaboration with the Australasian College of Dermatology.
The 1-hour online module IMPACT: Improving outcomes for adults with atopic dermatitis can earn GPs 2 RACGP CPD points and 1 ACRRM PDP point. Two resources - an action plan and a treatment algorithm - are also available for download from this course.
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Date: Thursday 5 September
Time: 9:30am to 4:00pm
Location: Devonport
Date: Wednesday 6 November
Time: 9:30am to 4:00pm
Location: Launceston
Date: Wednesday 4 December
Time: 9:30am to 4:00pm
Location: Burnie
Cost: $90 per person
Host: Kentish Regional Clinic
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Health professionals, service providers and community members are invited to attend a workshop to deepen their understanding and confidence in working with LGBTI people.
The workshop will focus on the experiences of LGBTI people in regional and rural Australia, the three critical points of an LGBTI person’s mental health journey, and practical strategies to improve everyday practice in an effort to reduce suicide.
Find out more and register at least five days before each event:
Devonport event
Launceston event
Burnie event
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Date: Tuesday 10 September
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Launceston
Cost: N/A
Host: Mental Health Professionals' Network
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This quarterly meeting of the Launceston Perinatal Mental Health Professionals' Network will focus on the role of clinical genetics in pregnancy planning and management.
Guest speaker is Julia Mansour, genetic counsellor with the Tasmanian Clinical Genetics Service.
Click here to find out more and register by Friday 6 September.
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Date: Tuesday 24 September
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: N/A
Host: Mental Health Professionals' Network
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This is the inaugural meeting of the new Hobart Eating Disorders Network, which aims to connect health professionals with an interest in eating disorders.
It will be coordinated by Michelle Sperling and Caitlin Walker from the Butterfly Foundation.
Click here to find out more and register by Friday 20 September.
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Dr Sue Shearman was born in Scotland and has ended up in Tasmania, but her resolve to become a GP was cemented during a backpacking holiday in central America.
"At the end of my intern year, I admit that I was slightly disillusioned with medicine and decided to travel overseas for a year with my younger brother, backpacking from Mexico to Colombia," she says.
"In Costa Rica I have a vivid memory of being taken to see a friend’s family member who was unwell. They had no access to a doctor, had very little money and I remember feeling overwhelmed by their situation.
"This ignited my passion for general practice and the ability to assist people of all ages, presentations and from all walks of life. I have always felt that it is a privilege to be trusted by patients and their families."
Here’s what else she told Primary Health Tasmania:
- On being named 2019 Tasmanian GP of the Year: "I was surprised that I had been nominated, let alone that I should receive the RACGP award. I work with amazing people every day (fellow GPs, nurses and reception staff) and I do not see myself to be different to any of these hard-working colleagues. It is my understanding that I was nominated by staff with whom I have worked for the last five to six years, and I am so grateful they feel that I am worthy of the nomination. Looks like I will be making lots of cups of tea and coffee in the future!"
- On working as a locum GP: "It became apparent to me that there was a need for locum general practitioners in Tasmania and since the late 1990s I have worked in more than over 30 different practices at various locations around the state. As we are all aware, GPs work long hours, and often without much-needed back up. It is vital that my colleagues can get the necessary time off for recuperation, leisure, family time or further study."
- On what she likes to do when she's not seeing patients: "My passion outside of day-to day general practice is as a clinical editor for Tasmanian HealthPathways – an extremely important online tool for general practitioners to facilitate better management and referral. And I think that a mixture of work and play is vital to a healthy work/life balance. As a locum general practitioner, this allows me freedom to engage in my other passions - bush walking, sea kayaking (even across Bass Strait), gardening and generally spending time with family and friends."
- On calling Tasmania home, after extensive travels through Australia and the world: "Given my interest in outdoor activities and the environment, Tasmania struck a chord.To this day I can still remember the first glorious view of Hobart as I drove in from the eastern shore. It felt like home."
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Our workforce support team is always happy to visit your practice to help with the Pen Clinical Audit tool, Tasmanian HealthPathways, My Health Record, or Quality Improvement. Need a visit? Simply email our team using the button below.
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