Tasmanian HealthPathways has developed a localised Pathway in response to COVID-19. This Pathway has been rapidly developed with extensive local consultation and the most current recommendations from the Australian and Tasmanian departments of health.
The Pathway includes information relevant to GPs on:
- assessing suspected cases
- infection control
- infection management
- how to keep the patient, practitioner, and wider community safe.
Tasmanian HealthPathways will be maintaining an updated COVID-19 ‘Health Alert’ with current local, national and international recommendations and information.
There is also a new local Pandemic Respiratory Illness Pathway.
To log into Tasmanian HealthPathways, use the username: connectingcare and the password: health.
Distinct from these Pathways, Tasmanian Public Health Services also sends regular public health alerts (Faxstreams) to general practices through Primary Health Tasmania. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager and haven’t been receiving them and would like to, please email providersupport@primaryhealthtas.com.au
Given the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, a reminder also that the Australian Government Department of Health and Tasmanian Department of Health websites have up-to-date information.
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A reminder that Primary Health Tasmania has a limited supply of surgical masks for use in general practice.
These masks are available on request by practices, and are only for use in the assessment of patients with suspected COVID-19.
To request a supply, or if you have any questions, please email providersupport@primaryhealthtas.com.au. Please ensure you coordinate requests though a single channel in your practice so we don’t receive duplicate requests. We will ensure delivery within 48 hours of requests.
A maximum of 50 masks will be sent to requesting practices in the first instance to ensure they go where they are most needed, given they are drawn from the national emergency supply. You will be able to request additional masks as the need arises.
In considering whether your practice needs face masks, please think about any existing supply of masks you may have.
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Tasmanian Public Health Services wants to get a picture of which general practices are interested in undertaking testing, and their level of readiness to do so.
Primary Health Tasmania will shortly issue a survey to all general practices on this issue. The survey will go to practice managers, and we request that one survey is completed per practice.
We are very conscious of how busy practices are and how much information and advice there is to absorb at present, and appreciate the time taken to complete this survey. The information collated will help guide important aspects of the evolving Tasmanian response.
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A recording of the 11 March Q&A session for GPs is available via Tasmanian HealthPathways.
To access this plus earlier and future Q&A recordings:
- Visit https://tasmania.communityhealthpathways.org/
- Log in with username: connectingcare and password: health
- On the front page you will see a 'Health Alert' box which has a link to the recordings.
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The Tasmanian Government has so far established three respiratory clinics to assist with testing of people who have been medically assessed as suspected COVID-19 cases. A fourth will open tomorrow.
Clinics are now open in Launceston, Hobart and Burnie, with a fourth opening in Latrobe tomorrow.
These are not walk-in clinics - access is via referral from Public Health Services. GPs who have assessed a patient and are concerned the patient may have COVID-19 should call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
It is important to note that medical assessment of patients is not done at the respiratory clinics at this stage – only testing.
The Australian Government this week announced funding to set up 100 private practice respiratory clinics around Australia for people with mild to moderate symptoms. PHNs – including Primary Health Tasmania – will be involved in identifying sites, working with the State Government. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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The Australian Government this week announced a $2.4 billion health package for measures aimed to protect Australians from COVID-19.
A series of fact sheets is available on the Australian Government website, covering initiatives including:
Primary Health Tasmania will provide more information about implementation of these initiatives as it comes to hand.
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In addition to the COVID-19 and Pandemic Respiratory Illness Pathways, recent updated Tasmanian HealthPathways include:
- meningococcal vaccination (MenB)
- pertussis vaccine for pregnant women
- travel vaccination and advice
- immunisation contacts and communicable diseases information
- notifiable diseases.
To log into Tasmanian HealthPathways, use the username: connectingcare and the password: health.
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The Australian Department of Health advises annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications and is recommended for all people aged six months and over (unless contraindicated).
To meet the anticipated demand for seasonal influenza vaccines in 2020, the Australian Government will be securing the largest supply of seasonal influenza vaccines ever through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for people most at risk. NIP vaccines will be available in April, subject to local supply arrangements.
A reminder also about the upcoming immunisation updates, hosted by Primary Health Tasmania, happening soon - see the events section below for more information.
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The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency advises the Guidelines for mandatory notifications were reviewed as part of a scheduled review, and because of changes to mandatory notification requirements that came into effect on 1 March 2020.
As a result of the review, AHPRA says separate guidelines have been developed for mandatory notifications about registered health practitioners and registered students, due to the limited circumstances when a mandatory notification must be made about a registered student.
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North west Tasmanians living with chronic health conditions now have access to a free, strength-based exercise program designed to boost their quality of life.
The Exercise Treatment Program is a 14-week course to improve activity levels for older people who have a long-term health condition such as arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression and more.
Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN) has commissioned Tasmanian-based workplace health organisation Healthy Business Performance Group (HBP Group) to deliver the program across north west Tasmania.
The group exercise program targets people living in north west Tasmania who have – or are at risk of developing – a chronic health condition, and are:
- aged 60 or older, or
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person aged 45 or older.
A referral form will be available via the Primary Health Tasmania website shortly.
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The Tasmanian Health Service in conjunction with Ambulance Tasmania have developed a referral pathway for people living with diabetes who access emergency assistance, with a pilot about to begin in the state's south.
The design of the referral pathway ensures your patient receives a phone call from a diabetes nurse educator (DNE) within 72 hours of the emergency/ambulance event. The DNE will then be able to assist with appropriate follow up and communicate with you as the primary care provider.
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The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association is hosting a free webinar on 3 April about stages of kidney disease, practical resources for patients, and care plans.
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Melanoma Institute Australia has developed a comprehensive RACGP-accredited interactive module to give you an overview of the available treatments for patients with Stage III and IV melanoma, including the common adverse effects that GPs need to be aware of.
It also covers the role of the GP in referring to a melanoma specialist and providing supportive care.
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Date: Tuesday 24 March
Time: 6:30pm registration and dinner, 6:50pm presentation
Location: Launceston
Cost: Free
Host: Primary Health Tasmania
RSVP: By Monday 16 March
Date: Wednesday 25 March
Time: 6:30pm registration and dinner, 6:50pm presentation
Location: Burnie
Cost: Free
Host: Primary Health Tasmania
RSVP: By Tuesday 17 March
Date: Thursday 26 March
Time: 6:30pm registration and dinner, 6:50pm presentation
Location: Hobart (venue changed to Blundstone Arena, Ricky Ponting Room)
Cost: Free
Host: Primary Health Tasmania
RSVP: By Wednesday 18 March
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These events will provide up-to-date, evidence-based immunisation information for health professionals with topics covering:
- COVID-19
- flu 2020
- CDPU update
- Q fever and meningococcal B
- adverse events and reporting.
Click here for more information.
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Date: Thursday 26 March
Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: Healthy Landscapes Research Group (University of Tasmania)
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This seminar is open to anyone with an interest in how outdoor spaces might be maximised for health benefits, and will provide an overview of outdoor healthcare: the concept, theory and practical application.
Speakers include:
- Pauline Marsh (UTAS, Therapeutic Landscapes Research Collective convenor)
- Anita Pryor (Australian Bush Therapy Association)
- Jess Kneebone (GP)
- Kara Spence (nature therapist).
Click here for more information.
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Date: Sunday 29 March
Time: 1:30pm to 5:00pm
Location: Ulverstone
Cost: Free
Host: Simon Monks Memorial Foundation and Primary Health Tasmania
RSVP: By Monday 23 March
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This presentation, suitable for GPs and practice nurses alike, will cover:
- understand what coaching means, and how it is different from training, mentoring and counselling
- the science of habit and apply it to one's own experience
- coaching micro-skills.
Click here to find out more, and register.
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Date: Monday 30 March
Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Ulverstone
Cost: Free
Host: Simon Monks Memorial Foundation and Primary Health Tasmania
RSVP: By Monday 23 March
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This presentation, suitable for GPs and practice nurses alike, will cover:
- how neuroscience can help you be a better practitioner.
- what coaching is, and how is it different from training or counselling
- how to can apply coaching to everyday practice.
Click here to find out more, and register.
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Date: Tuesday 31 March
Time: 11:00am to 1:30pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: Primary Health Tasmania
Date: Thursday 2 April
Time: 11:00am to 1:30pm
Location: Launceston
Cost: Free
Host: Primary Health Tasmania
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Primary Health Tasmania kindly invites GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and practice staff to attend the PIP QI and Quality Improvement event.
Click here to find out more, and register.
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Date: Thursday 2 April
Time: 8:45am to 4:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: Butterfly Foundation
Date: Friday 3 April
Time: 8:45am to 4:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: Free
Host: Butterfly Foundation
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This workshop acknowledges GPs are the first point of call for people who feel they or a loved one may have an eating disorder. However, eating disorders are extremely complex mental illnesses that require some level of specialist knowledge to ensure symptoms are not confused with other conditions.
This activity-based training has been designed specifically for GPs and will include a panel of experts and people with lived experience of an eating disorder.
Click here for more information.
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Date: Wednesday 8 April
Time: 8:45am to 4:00pm
Location: Hobart
Cost: $245 per attendee
Host: Australian Hepatology Association
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Key learning outcomes from this one-day workshop include:
- main causes of advanced liver disease
- the signs and symptoms of advanced liver disease
- the complications of advanced liver disease and briefly describe their management
- the components of a care plan for patients with advanced liver disease
- referral pathways for patients with advanced liver disease
- providing nursing support for patients with advanced liver disease in your practice.
Click here to find out more.
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Tasmanian born and bred, Dr Abby Rundle is a GP who practises what she preaches about staying fit and healthy - so much so, she also works as a gym instructor!
"It was a part time job during uni, and I love it so much that I haven’t been able to stop," the General Practice Plus Cascade Road team member says.
"It certainly helps to encourage my patients to be physically active and healthy - I have an avid interest in this area, so am always willing to spend the extra time to educate a patient on ways they can improve their health through activity and nutrition.
"Being active myself helps with work-life balance and if I have had a chance to do my activity in the morning I am certainly much more awake and happy for it - good for everyone!"
Here’s what else Abby told Primary Health Tasmania:
- On why she's stayed in her home state: "I am very fortunate to have been able to work my entire career in Tasmania, mostly within the south - to be honest, I can’t imagine living or working anywhere else. A large number of my friends from college and university days that moved to the mainland have moved back to Tasmania, and certainly say we have the best place in the world to live. It’s a wonderful place to raise a child (I have a three-year-old son, Harrison) and the small community feel is exactly what I love about my work. Through my work with GPTT as a senior medical educator I am fortunate to meet a large number of educators from other RTOs and they are always saying how lucky I am to be in Tasmania!"
- On a lesson she wished she knew when she started pursuing a medical career: "To not be so hard on myself and enjoy my time at uni a bit more. I was pretty studious and found it hard to wind down at times. Now whenever I have a patient about to start their time at university I make sure to remind them to enjoy the journey, have fun and try and enjoy each day...and to not leave things to the last minute!"
- On her clinical passions: "My main passion is with paediatrics. I think kids are amazing: they are so resilient. After spending some time doing paediatrics at the Royal Hobart Hospital I soon realised general practice was definitely the best fit for me, as I would see more ‘well children’ enabling me to interact with them and their families and perform preventative health measures early. I went on to do my diploma in children’s health during my GP registrar time, which has expanded my knowledge of paediatric conditions. I also enjoy women’s health (probably due to the breadth of it that I see) and any form of preventative health, especially regarding healthy lifestyle/metabolic risk reduction."
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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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