The Tasmanian Health Department advises Tasmania, like other jurisdictions, has seen unusually high interseasonal flu activity.
Public Health Services staff say notification numbers are settling, will continue to monitor and let health professionals know if there appears to be an early onset to the ‘flu season’.
Formal reporting through a weekly flu notification summary and more detailed FluTas reports will begin in late April 2019 through the website accessible via the button below.
Departmental staff say flu vaccine is expected to arrive soon, and general practices will be advised via Faxstream when orders can be placed. They advise the best time to have a flu vaccine is from mid-April.
Most people develop immunity within three weeks of their flu immunisation, but protection can start to decline after three or four months. The flu season usually starts in June and peaks around August, so getting the vaccine in late April or during May is good timing for protection across the whole flu season.
Local practitioners are also advised the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has updated its immunisation provider and frequently asked questions fact sheets.
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The recommendation for pertussis vaccination during pregnancy in The Australian Immunisation Handbook has been updated. The optimal timing for vaccination is 20 to 32 weeks gestation (mid 2nd trimester to early 3rd trimester).
A fact sheet and posters specifically for healthcare providers have been made available by the Australian Government as part of a broader vaccination campaign targeting pregnant women. They are:
The Australian Government has also prepared a short article about influenza and whooping cough vaccines provided to pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program.
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MedicalDirector Clinical and PracSoft requires all patients to have a Medicare Card number listed in their patient record to allow for immunisation encounters to be transferred to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) via the practice software.
This includes DVA card holders (gold, white and orange cards). All DVA card holders do have a Medicare card number and this information can be accessed from the Department of Human Services or via PRODA if the PRODA account holder has the right access levels.
For those people who do not have a Medicare card number, the individual immunisation encounter needs to be detached from Pracsoft and recorded on the AIR via the AIR site. Practices should contact MedicalDirector for further information regarding failed AIR submissions.
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The Practice Incentives Program (PIP) supports general practice activities that encourage continuing improvements, quality care, enhancing capacity and improving access and health outcomes for patients.
The number and type of incentives available within PIP will change from 1 August 2019 when several of the existing incentives will cease and a new incentive, the PIP Quality Improvement (QI) Incentive, will commence.
Primary Health Tasmania will be holding a webinar in mid-May for practices to ask questions about the QI PIP. We will advise dates and registration details in the next edition of General Practice Matters.
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Primary Health Tasmania has chosen digital health innovators HealthLink and HealthCare Software to help Tasmania’s health sector take its first steps towards a streamlined, statewide electronic referral system.
Primary Health Tasmania – Tasmania’s PHN – is working in close partnership with the Tasmanian Department of Health and Tasmanian Health Service to build an eReferral system for Tasmania.
The Australian Government-funded project is all about making it easier for Tasmania’s primary healthcare providers to send, receive and navigate electronic correspondence in the interest of delivering more efficient and appropriate patient care.
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Primary Health Tasmania has engaged Grosvenor Performance Group to conduct a review to better understand the after hours primary health care services provided in Tasmania. We welcome input from local general practices via a short survey.
This review aims to enable Primary Health Tasmania to find out more on current after hours services available across the state and obtain the necessary understanding to achieve improvements in the way in which primary care services can be delivered after hours.
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Local health professionals are advised five laboratory-confirmed cases of Barmah Forest virus infection have been notified to the Tasmanian Health Department's Public Health Services since 30 January, and an additional case is under investigation. The cases have all been people living in or travelling to the east coast of Tasmania.
Barmah Forest virus is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that can produce similar symptoms to Ross River virus, including fever, headache, rash, arthralgia and myalgia.
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The Tasmanian Department of Health has issued a medication safety directive regarding the permissible lead contamination threshold in phenytoin (Dilantin).
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The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine, with the Kirby Institute, is offering scholarships to support GPs from all over Australia to attend a forum about treating Hepatitis C in general practice being held in Sydney in August.
The deadline for scholarship applications, as well as abstract submissions, is Friday 26 April.
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The Tasmanian Infection Prevention and Control Committee (TIPCAC) is collecting information to be used to inform a strategy for healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention in Tasmania.
Input, via survey, is being sought from care providers working in a range of health services across Tasmania including general practice. The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes and is open until 11 April.
Your contribution will allow a statewide perspective of infection prevention and control governance, surveillance, education and training to be gathered.
If you require additional information about the survey, please download this fact sheet or contact Dana Gray at Public Health Services (Tasmanian Department of Health) via email or 6166 0604.
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Kidney Health Week runs from 8 to 14 April and Kidney Health Australia has prepared a range of resources that health professionals may wish to pass on to relevant patients, including an online kidney disease risk test.
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Men's Health Week is coming up in June, and Men's Resources Tasmania recently published a blog entry outlining ways service providers can get involved, such as sharing infographics about men's health on social media.
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Early bird registrations for the Trauma Tasmania Symposium taking place in Hobart on 1 June have been extended until 15 April.
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University of Sydney researchers are running telephone interviews of about 20 minutes' duration to find out more about dietetic services for people with type 2 diabetes.
Participants will receive a $20 reimbursement to acknowledge the time spent.
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A reminder that Primary Health Tasmania has created a very short survey to collect feedback from local GPs about the GP Antenatal Shared Care Pregnancy Record, including from GPs who haven't used the resource.
Hard copies of this resource are available from Primary Health Tasmania's northern office by calling 1300 653 169 or emailing this address.
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The revised Launceston General Hospital EEG request form is now available on Primary Health Tasmania's website.
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The Cardiac Cavalry Centre advises Dr Saheb Al-Daher is now providing a new entirely bulk-billed cardiology consultation and assessment clinic service at the centre, with no out-of-pocket expense for patients.
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Rubicon Psychology advises Dr Glenn Bilsborrow has commenced private practice at the Shearwater firm offering a range of psychological services, with a particular interest in the autism spectrum condition.
Interested referrers are advised to call 6451 5838 or fax 6411 6644.
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The Central Coast Community Health Centre (which includes Dementia Support Services, Neurological Support Service, Spinal and Continence Service and Youth Health Service) has a new fax number for these services: 6464 3294.
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Public Health Services (Tasmanian Health Department) recommends the Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of Influenza Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities in Australia.
The Guidelines cover immunisation, recognising influenza-like illness and outbreaks, infection control and outbreak management, and recommends GPs are involved in the planning process.
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The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is now open for health professionals looking to extend their skills and services to their community.
All scholarship agreements must be entered into and funds allocated prior to 30 June 2020. All course and bursary activity will need to be completed by 31 December 2020.
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Project ECHO is a free, interactive, virtual learning model that provides access to specialist advice, and aims to support and empower GPs to practise at the top of their scope.
Project ECHO will be re-starting two programs in late April/early May - supporting refugee children and ADHD - and welcomes expressions of interest for the child behaviour and mental health program. Another paediatric obesity program is planned for the near future.
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Date: Thursday 9 May
Time: Light dinner available from 6:30pm, with a 7:00pm start
Location: Hobart, and via Zoom videoconference
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the date for next month's prescribing update education event has changed to 9 May.
For more information, including how to register, click here.
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Date: Wednesday 17 April
Time: Light dinner available from 6:30pm with a 7:00pm start, finishing at approximately 8:15pm
Location: Ulverstone or via Zoom videoconference
RSVP: Friday 12 April
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GPs are invited to attend an evening discussion on general practice and primary care challenges and opportunities with the Hon. Michael Ferguson MP, Minister for Health.
This meeting is one of three regional meetings organised and hosted by the Tasmanian General Practice Forum. Similar informal sessions have already been held in Hobart and Launceston in March. This is an excellent opportunity for GPs to share their own experiences, perspectives and ideas with the Minister for Health to ensure the Tasmanian health system is informed by a strong primary care voice.
Although the meeting will be convened in the north west, GPs working in rural or remote locations are welcome to join via a videoconference option.
Find out more and download the invitation.
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Dr Juliet Tait moved to Tasmania for her intern year and, after completing her rural scholarship back in NSW, came back for good in 1998.
The Barrack Street Practice team member has taken special skills training in adolescent and mental health, and says she's had an interest in the latter since her student days.
"(I) did terms in psychiatry as a resident that really sparked my interest," she says.
"I have always been interested in patients' stories and the journeys that have brought them to this point in time."
Here’s what else she told Primary Health Tasmania:
- On the community's general mental health literacy: "I would say that mental health literacy is changing among patients but not always at a deeper level. There is so much more publicity about mental health issues in the media, on social media and of course the amazing Dr Google, but mental health is unique and many people remain low in understanding of mental health issues. The availability of online tools for treatment is an exciting development and is increasingly available to patients, especially those who find access to psychologists difficult."
- Her passion for supporting adolescent patients: “I am always learning from my adolescent patients - they are a fount of knowledge on many fronts. I have learned the art of listening and being patient. Often adolescents don't have the words to explain their symptoms like adults do and require careful teasing out of what they actually mean and what significance they place on their symptoms."
- Her advice to new GPs: "My advice to new GPs is to make the time to listen to your patients as they will often give you the answers you are looking for."
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Did you know every Tasmanian general practice is eligible for two visits from our provider support team, per financial year? You can find out more about our practice visit program here, or click on the link below to request a visit.
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