Healthy North Coast Practitioner Newsletter by Healthy North Coast

July 2015| Edition 13

Healthy North Coast practitioner newsletter

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GP Focus

AMS Focus

AgedCare Focus

Pharmacy Focus

AlliedHealth Focus

inside 3. GP Focus 13. AMS Focus 14. Aged Care Focus 16. Pharmacy Focus 17. Allied Health Focus 18. News 20. Events 21. Classifieds

Would you like a hard copy of this newsletter? If so, please email your name and postal address to healthynorthcoast@gmail.com and write “Copy of Healthy North Coast Practitioner Newsletter” in the subject line.

foreword Medicare Locals have closed their doors and we now move into the new frontier of Primary Health Networks. However, as we venture forth into this brave new world, we will not be leaving everything behind.

delivery and all logistics. Among the most important new things to achieve are the establishment of two Clinical Councils and better ways of engaging and consulting with the community and clinicians.

We are taking many good things with us, useful things that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve collected along the way - like the HealthPathways program, integration projects, clinician support and education programs, Aboriginal health and mental health services, the tool we developed in colocating services, the partnerships we have built and the experience we have gained.

The key battle ahead is to overcome health care fragmentation; to integrate care so that we improve the patient experience, reduce waiting times, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and reduce duplication and waste. For this, we will need to collaborate with clinicians as yourself. We are working to ensure that our structures and processes achieve this right now.

We are fortunate on the North Coast that our Primary Health Network and Medicare Local geographical footprints are identical. We have not had to merge with other organisations. This means that we have the steady hand of our Board to guide us and retain our experienced staff.

Our determination is to put the care of our clients before anything else.

We must now create a functioning Primary Health Care Network. We have to establish our organisational requirements including staffing, governance and advisory structures, new management structure, service

Recently, I participated in a mental health integration planning exercise. Among the 80 or so participants, almost all organisations who are involved in the delivery of mental health were represented. There was much expectation that the time was right to defeat fragmentation; that the task of integrating health care required all of us working together, and no one organisation can do this on its own.

This high expectation for change is crucially important as we ready ourselves for the new dawn of Primary Health Care. This is because the more we expect, the more we achieve, and conversely, the less we expect the less we achieve. Our Healthy North Coast Practitioner Newsletter will continue to be published on the first Monday of each month, delivering relevant information to health care providers in our region. Thank you for your support and readership during the Medicare Local era. We look forward to continuing our work with you as the North Coast Primary Health Network.

Vahid Saberi Chief Executive North Coast Primary Health Network

GPFocus PAL UPDATE Free access to the Canning Tool North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN), in collaboration with the Improvement Foundation (IF), will be providing practices with free access to the Canning Tool from mid-July 2015. This initiative aims to support your ability to extract data from your clinical information systems for quality improvement initiatives and to improve patient outcomes. The Canning Tool has undergone significant enhancements recently, including an enhanced interface and updated core reports. Practices already submitting data to the qiConnect, the IF’s web portal, will be contacted and offered assistance to make the transition to the new and improved version of the Canning Tool around mid-July. In the meantime, all practices are advised not to upgrade your current version of CAT as advised by IF through information distributed to practices in the last few days. Practices who are not currently using qiConnect will be contacted by the NCPHN team over the coming months and provided with information about how they can access the Canning Tool for free. NCPHN has negotiated for practices in the region to be prioritised for assistance with moving to the new tool. NCPHN staff are working closely with IF to ensure that the change occurs with minimal inconvenience and disruption. For more information on the Canning Tool software and its availability, please email data@improve.org.au. 4

GP Procedural Training Grants for Obstetrics and Anaesthetics Applications for the 2015 General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) opened 1 July. The GPPTSP is a workforce support program designed to improve access to obstetric and anaesthetic services for rural and remote communities by supporting rural GPs to attain procedural skills. Successful GPs are awarded $40,000 to obtain either the Advanced Diploma of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists or Advanced Rural Skills Training in Anaesthesia. The initiative targets existing GPs in rural and remote areas and, accordingly, limits support to GPs practising in RA 2-5.

Latest PCeHR facts and figures At the end of May, 2015: •

• • •

Further information on ASGC-RA can be found at www.doctorconnect.gov.au.

•

Applications for the obstetric component can be made via the RANZCOG website at http://ow.ly/OXGEe. Applications for the anaesthetics component can be made via the ACRRM website at http:// ow.ly/OXGL6. The application period will run from Wednesday 1 July to Saturday 1 August 2015.

• • • • •

there were 2,238,911 consumer registrations, and this is increasing at a rate of around 2,000 per business day 57% of registered consumers are female and 43% are male 171,117 newborns had been registered, and this is increasing at about 200 each month 7,743 healthcare organisations were registered to access the PCEHR and this is increasing at a rate of 2030 per month. This figure includes 5,139 general practices, 144 aged care residential services, 1,158 retail pharmacies and 1,115 from other provider types, predominantly allied health 10,877 individual clinicians have been linked to the PCEHR provider portal by their registered organisation 42 software products have access to the PCEHR production system 48,699 shared health summaries had been uploaded, a rise of 25,000 in the last year 145,530 discharge summaries had been uploaded 1,727 specialist letters have been uploaded the National Prescription and Dispense Repository (NPDR) showed 1,300,255 prescription records and 576,213 dispense records

GPFocus PAL UPDATE

Medicare reason codes and reducing claim rejections

The following punctuation will no longer be supported:

Eligible health professionals are legally responsible for services billed under their provider number or in their name. This includes any incorrect billing of services that result in overpayment of Medicare benefits, regardless of who does the billing or receives the benefit. Incorrectly claimed services may need to be repaid, and may incur an administrative penalty. The Department of Human Services has released a new education guide: Medicare reason codes and reducing claim rejections. It includes common reason codes for rejecting claims, an explanation of these codes, and actions providers can take to reduce rejected claims.

• • • • • •

Visit http://ow.ly/OXLDX for more information.

e-Learning module: Medicare Treatment of Skin Lesion Recommended for GPs and doctors working in skin cancer management, this module will help providers understand Medicare requirements for billing the treatment of skin lesions by various methods. For more information on the training, visit http://ow.ly/P7rpV. To access the training, visit the Medicare e-Learning page at http://ow.ly/OXLPP. For an additional resource to support the program, visit http://ow.ly/P7rwG.

New Medicare Rule: Error 9210 Invalid Value for data item information From 15 June 2015, Medicare no longer supports ‘Online Claiming Transmissions’ that contain special punctuation in the patient’s first name or surname field. When a patient’s first name or surname contains unsupported punctuation, the claim will fail at the transmission stage with a 9201 - Invalid Value for Data Item error message. 5

ampersands & brackets ( { [ ] } ) full stops . percentage % commas , any spaces before or after supported punctuation

Doctor’s Bag app The Australian Prescriber journal and NPS MedicineWise have launched a free app, The Doctor’s Bag, designed to support Australian health professionals during emergencies. The app has two modules: •

The following punctuation will be supported: • •

apostrophes ‘’ hyphens –

If you receive this error when transmitting a claim, you will need to go back into the report, edit patients with unsupported punctuation and re-transmit the claim.

Updated COPD Action Plan Lung Foundation Australia has released its updated COPD Action Plan. Action plans are a valuable self-management tool to guide patients in recognising when their symptoms change and what action they should take at that time. The latest version has included a ‘Feeling Sick’ section to make it easier for patients to know when to commence antibiotics or prednisolone. The three-page PDF also includes a stepby-step guide to writing a COPD Action Plan. The plans are available as an editable PDF or in RTF to be imported in to medical software. Visit http://ow.ly/OXNzH to download a copy of the plan.

•

The Doctor’s Bag module provides recommended doses for drugs in the PBS Prescriber Bag, including adrenaline doses for anaphylaxis and calculators for weight-based dosing in children. It acts as an emergency backup, providing reassurance that the correct dose has been given. It can also be used as an educational tool in non-emergency settings. The information is kept up to date as the contents of the PBS Prescriber Bag change. The Anaphylaxis Management module is based on the popular Anaphylaxis: emergency management for health professionals wall chart published by Australian Prescriber.

Visit http://ow.ly/OXK0a to learn more.

GP Rural Incentive Payments On 24 May 2015, the Australian Government announced a revised GP Rural Incentives Program. From 1 July 2015, GPRIP will transition to the Modified Monash Model (MMM), a new classification system with seven levels that better categorise metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and population size. Eligible locations under the new GPRIP arrangements are classified as MMM 3-7. To determine your MMM location, please go to http://ow.ly/ OXSAp, and for more information on the new GPRIP, go to http://ow.ly/OXSK2.

GPFocus PAL UPDATE

NNSW Integrated Care Strategy Planning Workshop Over 100 participants gathered at the Ballina Beach Resort on Friday 22 May for the Northern NSW Integrated Care Strategy Planning Workshop. Northern NSW Local Health District CEO Chris Crawford opened a lively and interactive day facilitated by broadcaster and journalist Julie McCrossin. After the morning’s discussion on ‘What is integrated care?’, participants worked in small groups to identify local barriers to integrated care. Recurring themes throughout the day were the need for good relationships between health providers, the ability to electronically share up-to-date patient information and the importance of a seamless and empowering patient journey. A number of consumer representatives shared how vital it was for their health providers to work as a team. The third and final panel for the day gave their thoughts about directions for the future and Vahid Sabieri, CEO North Coast Primary Health Network, summed up a fruitful and energising day, thanking organisers and participants.

Mid North Coast Musculoskeletal Primary Health Care Initiative (MNC MSK PHCI) The Mid North Coast Musculoskeletal Primary Health Care Initiative (MNC MSK PHCI) is trialling the implementation of three models of care for specific musculoskeletal conditions in a collaborative primary health care environment. North Coast Primary Health Network and the Mid North Coast Local Health District, together with project support from the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (NSW ACI), are working with a number of local general practices and allied health practitioners to deliver programs to target the three musculoskeletal conditions responsible for the biggest burden on health: 1. Osteoarthritis Hip and Knee 2. Osteoporotic Re-fracture Prevention 3. Acute Low Back Pain The MNC MSK PHCI aims to adapt models of care successfully implemented in the hospital sector to the primary care environment to see if the same or better outcomes can be achieved.

Pictured: Julie McCrossin getting feedback from a workshop participant.

New guidelines and resources for treating acute whiplash Whiplash is the most frequently reported injury among compulsory third party insurance claimants in NSW. To assist GPs and health professionals in appropriately treating adults with whiplash injuries, the Motor Accidents Authority has published the third edition of the Guidelines for the management of acute whiplash-associated disorders for health professionals. These guidelines cover treatment within the first 12 weeks following a motor vehicle crash. The guidelines are supported by the following resources: • • • • • • •

Technical report, which contains information about the research and methodology behind the guidelines Whiplash: early diagnosis and management for GPs Quick reference guide for health professionals and insurers Whiplash Guidelines PowerPoint presentation video clips demonstrating whiplash neck exercises fact sheet for people with a whiplash injury and whiplash assessment tools

The guidelines and fact sheet have been endorsed by the Australian Psychological Association, the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (NSW) and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Visit http://ow.ly/OXT9x to download a copy of the guidelines and resources.

This project is being implemented in a staged rollout with the Primary Care Osteoarthritis Program (PCOAP) now underway. GPs from seven different practices throughout the Mid North Coast are working with a variety of allied health practitioners including physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and dietitians to deliver an evidence based conservative care pathway for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. The initiative aims to deliver coordinated multidisciplinary management in an upstream primary care environment, focusing on patient-centred care with structured follow up review to monitor clinical outcomes. The Primary Care Osteoporosis Re-fracture Prevention Program (PCORP) is also now underway with an initial pilot site established to gather baseline data before the model of care will be rolled out to general practice. To further support implementation, we are partnering with the Improvement Foundation to bring a new Musculoskeletal Collaborative to the region. The Collaborative is expected to be launched in September and will introduce new acute low back pain models of care for primary care. Information will be sent to practices in the coming weeks. For further information, please contact: Fiona O’Meara, Project Officer - MNC Musculoskeletal Primary Health Care Initiative Phone (02) 6659 1800 Fax( 02) 6659 1899 Email: fomeara@ncphn.org.au Martin X Cushing, Project Officer - MNC Musculoskeletal Primary Health Care Initiative Phone (02) 6583 3600 Mobile 0418316648 Email: mcushing@ncphn.org.au

GPFocus PAL UPDATE NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia during the first week of July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme is ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate’. NAIDOC Week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. There are many events in Northern NSW that everyone can attend. Major town events include: •

•

• •

Casino Celebration Day, flag raising and march from Council Chambers on Monday 6 July followed by event at Airport Park, 10am-3pm. Ballina Celebration Day, Wednesday 8 July, Kingsford Smith Park from 10am2:30pm. Bryon Bay Family Day Celebration, Thursday 9 July from 10am-3pm. Tweed Heads Celebration Day and march, Friday 10 July from 10-11am at the Civic Centre followed by a Corroborree in the Park at Jack Evans Boat Harbour from 11am-3pm.

You can celebrate at your practice by putting a display in the waiting room. This might include: decorations in yellow, black and red, or blue, green and white; drawings from children visiting the service over NAIDOC week; displays of Aboriginal artefacts and/or art; NAIDOC posters past and present; recognising Elders or Role Models in your community. You can find other NAIDOC Week ideas by visiting http://ow.ly/OXVK8.

For information on the new Commonwealth Home Support Program and updates to the My Aged Care portal, refer to page 13.

Chronic Hepatitis C - Preventing Liver Disease

New Palliative Care Portal - open for registration!

The hepatitis C treatment landscape is changing rapidly. Combinations of interferon-free direct-acting antivirals offering cure rates greater than 90%, shorter duration of therapy and reduced toxicity are likely to be available soon. In the wait for these new treatments, some people living with hepatitis C infection may be at increased risk of developing advanced liver disease and liver cancer.

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) has launched an expanded palliative care online information and training portal, with new training materials and extensive resources.

There is an evening workshop on hepatitis C for primary care clinicians at Invercauld House, Lismore on Wednesday 29 July with Dr Mark Cornwell, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist.

The Pain Management module examines pain from a holistic perspective, and provides insights into discussing, assessing, treating and managing client pain. The module Recognising Deteriorating Clients assists with managing the many diverse and complex aspects of end of life care involving clients, carers and family members.

“We are on the eve of a new era in HCV management,” Dr Cornwell said. “How will we as GPs and specialists manage the demand for HCV therapy in the interferonfree era? How do we prioritise? Who should be treated soon? Are there any patients we will not be able to treat?” Visit http://ow.ly/OXYkO to learn more.

Dysphagia Management A locally-produced educational video about methods of managing dysphagia has recently been published. The video can be viewed online at http://ow.ly/P1i1D.

Two new free online training modules launched on 1 July build on the success of the AHHA’s first four online units on community-based palliative aged care.

Visit www.palliativecareonline.com.au. to access the training modules.

Alcohol and other drug expert videos online In May, North Coast Medicare Local presented a one-day Alcohol and Other Drugs Symposium in Ballina. Six leaders in the field delivered 40-minute presentations on a range of topics: • • • • • •

For information on improved community access to HIV antiretroviral therapy and clozapine (maintenance therapy only) under the PBS, and changes for prescribers and pharmacies, refer to page 15.

Dr Alex Wodak – Medicinal Cananbis Dr David Helliwell - Benzodiazepines A/Professor Nicole Lee Methamphetamines Professor Elizabeth Elliot - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Professor Brian Draper - Substance use in Later Life Mr Ray Boegarts - Opioid Treatment Program

Healthy North Coast filmed and edited the event presentations. The videos are available to view at http://ow.ly/P4pZh.

GPFocus IMMUNE RESPONSE 2015 seasonal influenza vaccine is safe in children under 5 years of age The national AusVaxSafety vaccine safety surveillance system has reported preliminary data demonstrating that the 2015 vaccines registered for use in children under 5 years of age are safe and well tolerated. AusVaxSafety uses two computer-based software systems, known as Vaxtracker and SmartVax, to send SMSs or web-based surveys to parents and carers seeking information on how their child felt after receiving the influenza vaccine. At 31 May 2015, reports on 2,026 children had been received. The type of reactions reported are those commonly experienced after influenza vaccination, primarily fever and injection site reactions, which resolve within a day or so (see table below).

Side Effect

Number and percentage (from total of 2,026 children)

Fever

87 (4.3%)

Injection site reaction

45 (2.2%)

Vomiting

29 (1.4%)

Rash

20 (1.0%)

These results are similar to those reported by AusVaxSafety in 2014 and are consistent with the known side effect profile of influenza vaccines currently recommended for Australian children. AusVaxSafety surveillance will continue to monitor adverse events associated with influenza vaccine in children under 5 throughout the 2015 influenza season. Influenza infection poses a risk of severe disease and hospitalisation in young children – including healthy children. Immunisation is the best defence against the influenza virus and is recommended for anyone aged 6 months and older. Four brands of vaccine are available for use in children and have been included in AusVaxSafety surveillance. One vaccine brand (bioCSL Fluvax) should not be given to children aged <5 years due to the risk of high fever. Visit www.immunise.health.gov.au for more information about the seasonal influenza vaccine guidelines and recommendations.

Reminder: Immunisation for Health Care Workers Occupations in the healthcare sector are associated with an increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. Furthermore, some infected workers may transmit infections to susceptible contacts, with the potential for serious health outcomes. Employers should take all reasonable steps to encourage nonimmune workers to be vaccinated. Refer to Part 3.7 of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (10th Edition 2013 ) for more information. Visit http://ow.ly/OY01B to access the handbook.

Useful Apps for vaccine reminders The Save the Date app offers parents access to comprehensive information on immunisation as well as easy-to-use free tools designed to help you save the date to vaccinate. Visit http:// ow.ly/OXZEW for more information. The Deadly Tots app specifically targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and not only provides information on immunisation and due dates for each child, but also includes dates for health checks, what the baby is learning now, a cultural calendar and key messages to support positive parenting. Visit http://ow.ly/OXZP6 for more information.

Q Fever News The long awaited Q Fever website is now live. It contains the following information for healthcare professionals: • • • • • •

general info on Q Fever (including disease symptoms and transmission) tips (and photos) on how to administer the skin test interpretation of serology and skin test results the PDF of the Q Fever handbook “A guide to Q Fever and Q Fever vaccination” the Q Fever CMI the Q Fever PI

Visit www.csl.com.au and click on ‘Our Products’, then ‘Product Finder’ and scroll down to Q VAX®. Visit www.qfeverfacts.com.au and click on the Health Care Professional Login. The website is password protected and can be accessed with the following case‐sensitive details:

HealthPathway available, Influenza Immunisation: http://ow.ly/P7qHH Username: manchealth Password: conn3ct3d

Username: QVAXHCP Password: QFever Please contact the CSL Medical Information Department on 1800 642 865 or the Public Health Unit on (02) 6588 2750 with any queries.

GPFocus IMMUNE RESPONSE

It’s time for patient recall!

New adult immunisation register

Recall and reminder systems improve immunisation rates and are an invaluable part of clinic planning, helping you decide how many clinics to run, what resources you will need and how many vaccines to order. The Community Immunity site has a host of tips and tools to support recall and improved immunisation, plus it’s free!

The recent Federal Budget announced the establishment of an adult immunisation register and the expansion of the childhood register to include adolescents. The budget papers say immunisation data collection will be expanded to include school-based adolescent vaccinations and that an adult register will be established from 1 September 2016. The move means that we will soon record all vaccinations delivered to adolescents and adults through the government-funded National Immunisation Program (NIP). The program covers the cost of vaccines, but not all the recommended shots are on the NIP.

Visit http://ow.ly/OY0FI to learn more. Some of the resources available include tips on beginning your recall and reminder process, such as this checklist: • • • •

have you run a query on your practice software for how many patients you will be recalling? are you distributing at-risk questionnaires to patients in your waiting room? have you recalled everyone who is eligible for immunisation? have you sent out reminder letters to patients?

The site can assist you to identify your eligible patients. For example, influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended for ALL healthy adults over 65 years. Community Immunity has an easy to use table of all adult patients who should be immunised for influenza and pneumococcal – you may be surprised! Visit http://ow.ly/OY1pq to learn more. Community Immunity can also help to optimise your recall: •

•

Did you know that adults over 65 years with an underlying risk condition, such as impaired immunity, diabetes and chronic lung, heart and liver disease are eligible for a free revaccination dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, five years after their first dose? Check Australian recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in adults to help you identify who should be immunised and which patients may be eligible for free pneumococcal revaccination. Visit http://ow.ly/OY1ua for more information. Use the recall and reminder tip sheets for a quick step-bystep guide to recalling your at-risk patients. Visit http:// ow.ly/OY1GE to learn more.

TIP: All types of reminders are effective, but telephone calls are often the most successful. Reminder phone calls can be a good way to follow up with patients who have not responded to letter or SMS recalls. HealthPathway available, Adult Immunisation: http://ow.ly/P7qj0 Username: manchealth Password: conn3ct3d 9

Australia already has an immunisation register for children. The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) is the envy of many countries around the world. Established in 1996, it provides relatively accurate data on the immunisation status of all registered children under seven years old. The register also provides data for the regular reporting of immunisation coverage, with data available by state, regions within the states, Indigenous status and age group. This allows gaps in vaccine coverage to be highlighted and, in turn, for targeted interventions to improve uptake. The adult register could perform a similar role. Adult vaccinations will be recorded, potentially for every Australian adult, and this information could well become part of the new opt-out eHealth record. The Public Health Association of Australia has been a long-time advocate of an adult/adolescent register. For example, data on uptake of vaccines such as influenza and pneumococcal are sparse and there are unresolved questions about the impact of these vaccines. Knowing precise coverage may help resolve these problems. Adolescents and young adults are encouraged to receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine to prevent specific strains of genital warts and reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women. Australia has led the world with the roll-out of this vaccine. Collecting data on the initiative will be critical to understanding population coverage and identifying coverage gaps. Measles has been eliminated for Australia, which means there’s no strain of this virus circulating for more than a year. But because the virus is circulating elsewhere in the world, it can be imported into the country, often via young adult travellers. The initiatives announced in the budget would allow monitoring of measles vaccine status in young adults, as the current childhood vaccination register allows monitoring in children. Along with other strategies related to measles control, this may well turn out to be important in maintaining Australia’s measles elimination status. If unexpected disease outbreaks occur, as there have been for whooping cough (pertussis), immunisation registers will help us determine whether it’s due to low vaccine coverage. Given new recommendations for adult vaccination against whooping cough, it will be just as important to know the proportion of adults who are vaccinated as it is to know how many children are.

GPFocus MENTAL HEALTH NewAccess: supporting men’s health on the North Coast Men’s mental health is just as important as their physical health needs but is often under-reported and not always recognised, even by men themselves. In fact only 35% of men and 12% of adolescent boys who experience symptoms of mental illness seek support. Tragically, one of the leading causes of death in men is suicide. Life pressures such as relationship breakdown, unemployment or financial stress can have an impact on mood and stress levels for men. There are several barriers for men when seeking support to improve their mental health. These include stigma against mental illness, difficulty articulating experiences, lack of social support or guilt related to not being ‘strong enough’. Often men do not want to speak with their doctor as they don’t feel ‘sick enough’. Symptoms and behaviours such as feelings of aggression or irritability, risky behaviour and substance use may be masking symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. With so many barriers to receiving support, NewAccess provides a solution that supports men to take action in their mental man-scaping. NewAccess is facilitated by North Coast Primary Health Network and is funded by beyondblue and the Movember Foundation. NewAccess is a FREE self-guided Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program, where trained Coaches support people to develop skills in managing low mood/ anxiety and life pressures. Coaches act like personal trainers for your mental wellbeing. They offer education about how the mind and body respond to stress and provide tools and techniques that improve coping with life’s challenges. People over the age of 18 can self-refer, or be referred by a health practitioner. The program is offered mainly over the phone and would suit those who find it difficult to attend face-to-face appointments, or who live in a remote area. Access Coaches are located from Wauchope to Tweed Heads across North Coast, NSW. To make a referral or find out more about NewAccess, phone 10

1300 137 934 or visit the beyondblue website at www.beyondblue.org.au/ NewAccessCoach. To receive more information, resources or have a presentation about the program at your business, contact Program Manager Jennifer Melsness on 0427 026 276 or via email jmelsness@ncml.org.au. HealthPathway available, NewAccess: http://ow.ly/P7peY Username: manchealth Password: conn3ct3d

Mental health support for older people: A new, free psychogeriatric service Depression and anxiety are not a normal part of ageing. Signs of depression and anxiety may differ from those for a younger person, and hence go untreated. In older adults symptoms of depression may include issues with sleeping, unreal or strange thoughts and prolonged periods of low mood. Anxiety can manifest as an excessive worry about routine activities and events, and older people can have a greater variety of issues they are concerned about including fear of memory loss, falls and illness. Other common mental health problems occurring in older people include adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders and psychotic disorders. A range of factors can increase the prevalence of mental health conditions in older people. These include acute physical illnesses such as heart attack and stroke, and chronic physical illness such as diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, obesity, cardiac failure, arthritis and dementia. Bereavement and cognitive impairment also occur at higher rates in older people, and thus influence susceptibility to mental health issues. Psychogeriatric services provided by primary care, residential care and mental health professionals play an important

role in the older person’s quality of life. Older people with good mental health are more likely to enjoy a sense of cognitive, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing, and experience a healthier ageing process. Specialist psychogeriatric care however is under-developed or often absent in many regional, rural and remote regions. The level of psychological symptoms is generally higher for older people living in regional locations than for people living in metropolitan areas and cities, and correlates with increasing isolation. To support professionals in regional, rural and remote areas, St Vincent’s Hospital Psychogeriatric Mental Health Service from Sydney has recently launched Psychogeriatric SOS (Services-on-Screen). The service provides expert clinicianto-clinician psychogeriatric information and guidance via discussion, case review and multidisciplinary case-conferencing using web-based teleconferencing. Psychogeriatric SOS can be accessed by medical, nursing and allied health practitioners in private practices, hospitals, community centres and aged care facilities. Visit http://ow.ly/P1oDm for more information. The Healthy Minds program can provide free psychological treatment for older people. GPs can refer their patients to Healthy Minds and treatment is provided by a mental health practitioner such as a psychologist, mental health social worker or mental health nurse. Home visits can also be arranged for people who are unable to visit the mental health practitioner’s consulting room. To be eligible for Healthy Minds, the patient should hold a Health Care Card or be in severe financial distress. Referrals should be supported by a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Healthy Minds referral forms are available at http://ow.ly/P47C2. Healthy Minds provides six sessions with a mental health practitioner and a further four or six sessions may be provided on completion of a treatment review. For further information please call Healthy Minds on 1300 137 237 or visit http:// ow.ly/P47C2.

GPFocus NEW TO HEALTHPATHWAYS JUNE 2015 • • • • •

Chronic Hepatitis C Weight Management in Children Liver Clinics Nicotine Replacement Therapy Trauma to Teeth

The number of total published pathways currently stands at 113 with a further 60 in various stages of development.

HEALTHPATHWAY OF THE MONTH Chronic Hepatitis C Recently added to the Mid and North Coast HealthPathways website is the Chronic Hepatitis C pathway. In the pathway you will find the latest diagnostic, management and local referral information for patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Incidence Hep C remains under diagnosed and under treated and is a leading cause of one of the fastest growing cancers (Hepatocellular). The focus is on testing people with a risk factor.

Liver Clinics The Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts run Liver Clinics that provide the following services: • •

care and education to people living with, at risk of, or affected by Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B comprehensive treatment services that comprise of a multidisciplinary team including counsellor, dietitian, nurses, and specialist gastroenterologists

Locations: Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Lismore with satellite clinics at Grafton, Kempsey, Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, Casino and Maclean. Workshop for Clinicians There is an evening workshop on hepatitis C for primary care clinicians at Invercauld House, Lismore on Wednesday 29 July with Dr Mark Cornwell, Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist. Visit http://ow.ly/OXYkO to learn more. Visit the Mid and North Coast HealthPathways website: http://manc.healthpathways.org.au Username: manchealth Password: conn3ct3d

Management Treatment options are evolving and many patients not suitable for treatment in the past can now receive treatment and their treatment decision should be reviewed. Newer treatments coming on line are often much better tolerated. Fibroscan testing has largely replaced the need for a biopsy to determine the degree of fibrosis. A regular liver ultrasound does not gauge fibrosis adequately well. Presence of cirrhosis as assessed by Fibroscan greatly changes the risk for HCC and hence the nature of surveillance. There are a number of GPs with special interest in management of Hepatitis C who are authorised to prescribe Section 100 treatment medications, and have experience in discussing treatment options. Their contact details, as well as the Local Health District Liver Clinics, are provided in the Chronic Hepatitis C HealthPathway.

For further information or to suggest a future Pathway topic, please contact: Fiona Ryan (02) 6583 3600 fryan@ncphn.org.au (Mid North Coast) Kerrie Keyte (07) 5523 5507 kkeyte@ncphn.org.au (Northern NSW)

GPFocus AFTER HOURS

ABORIGINAL HEALTH Cultural Awareness Training Mullumbimby

New model for After Hours service provision

The next cultural awareness training sessions are coming up in Mullumbimby:

On 22 May 2015, the Australian Government announced that the 2015/16 After Hours PIP payment (AHPIP) would revert back to the Department of Human Services from 1 July 2015. The new model for After Hours service provision will consist of:

Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club Session 1: Tuesday 14 July, 5:30pm (6:00pm start) - 9:00pm Session 2: Tuesday 21 July, 5:30 pm (6:00pm start) - 9:00pm A meal will be provided. The interactive workshops are available to all general practice staff, pharmacists, aged care providers and allied health professionals. The sessions aim to help reduce the barriers in obtaining improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. They are designed to build on people’s skills in providing services to Aboriginal people in ways that respect and support the diversity of Aboriginal cultures, and value the strengths in Aboriginal individuals, families and communities. Mentors are situated on each table to help facilitate discussions and to answer any questions you may not wish to ask in front of the whole group, creating a safe and non-judgemental environment. Banaam is a company founded by Fingal Head locals Kyle and Josh Slabb. It focuses on the importance of communication, relationships and cultural principles that are at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It also encourages workers to come up with their own solutions around better service delivery and building partnerships. Please contact Susan Parker Pavlovic, Close the Gap Program Officer at Tweed Valley on (07) 5523 5500 or via email sparkerpavlovic@ncphn.org.au for more information.

• •

a new five tiered AHPIP structure based on the Standard Whole Patient equivalent (SWPE), available to eligible accredited general practices registered for the PIP a new rural classification system, the Modified Monash Model (MMM), consisting of 7 levels that better categorise metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and population size

On 29 May, a letter was circulated to general practices outlining the new AHPIP registration process. Funding to Primary Health Networks to support locally tailored After Hours services is currently unknown. General practices may claim the AHPIP payment for quarter ending 30 June 2015 from North Coast Primary Health Network, based on supply of a copy of the May 15 PIP statement. Please forward claims to afterhours@ncphn.org.au. Contact David Lacey, Regional Program Manager - After Hours on 02 6618 5421 with any further enquiries.

AMSFocus PAL UPDATE

Background Artwork by Alison Williams

IMMUNE RESPONSE

Managing Nicotine Dependence

Deadly Tots app

Smoking remains a leading cause of death and disability in NSW, accounting for around 5,300 deaths and 46,000 hospitalisations each year. Half of all long-term smokers will die prematurely because they smoked. The social costs of tobacco use in NSW are high, estimated in 2006/07 at $8.4 billion annually with many of these social and personal costs borne by the most disadvantaged members of the population.

The Deadly Tots app contains information and tools for every Aboriginal family to help their bub learn and grow:   • reminders on immunisations and blue book checks  • a cultural calendar • the option to add photos and create a memory book • the option to add local contacts for a quick way to contact local services

The Deadly Tots app was developed by South Western Sydney Local Health District, Resourcing Parents and with the support of funding from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. Deadly Tots is based on the South West Sydney flip chart with artwork from a painting by Aboriginal students at Sunning Hill School. Visit http://ow.ly/OXZP6 for more information.

All health professionals and community service organisation workers can use the 5As approach. The 5As are:

For information on changes to rural incentive payments, refer to page 4.

1. ASK about smoking at every opportunity 2. ASSESS smokers’ willingness to quit and their dependence on nicotine 3. ADVISE all smokers to quit 4. ASSIST smokers with information, referrals and treatments 5. ARRANGE follow-up contact to support quit efforts

For the latest eHealth facts and figures, refer to page 3.

Visit http://ow.ly/Pd89T to access the guide online.

For information on the Lung Foundation’s updated COPD plan, refer to page 4.

For details of upcoming cultural awareness training in Mullumbimby, refer to page 11.

For information on how the NewAccess program can support your male patients experiencing low-level mental health issues, refer to page 9.

To learn about GP procedural training grants for obstetrics and anaesthetics, refer to page 3.

AgedCareFocus PAL UPDATE Aged Care Sector Reforms

Dysphagia Management

New Commonwealth Home Support Program

A locally-produced educational video about methods of managing dysphagia has recently been published. The video can be viewed online at http://ow.ly/P1i1D.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) commenced on 1 July 2015. The new CHSP is one consolidated program that provides entry-level home support for older people who need assistance with daily living to keep living independently at home and in their community. It brings together four programs: • • • •

Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) Program Planned respite from the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) Day Therapy Centres (DTC) Program Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged (ACHA) Program

The CHSP benefits older people and carers through: • • • • •

streamlined access to entry-level support services a standardised national assessment process and entry point through My Aged Care (see below) increased focus on restorative approach including wellness and reablement promoting equity and sustainability through a nationally consistent fees policy reducing red tape for service providers through more streamlined funding arrangements

Visit http://ow.ly/P1mU5 for further information, including information sheets for service providers.

The Second National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Conference aims to explore how communities, governments, service providers and older LGBTI people work together to promote healthy ageing for older LGBTI people and to ensure that the needs of older LGBTI people are understood, respected and addressed in Australia’s aged care policies, programs and services. This conference considers the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy developed by the Australian Department of Social Services in 2012 and asks what have we achieved and what still needs to be done? In keeping with the philosophy of Nothing About Us Without Us, a commitment has been made to ensure that at least 25% of speakers are older LGBTI people. The conference is on 26-27 October 2015 at the Melbourne Arts Centre. Register or submit a proposal at http://ow.ly/P1mL2.

New Palliative Care Portal - open for registration!

My Aged Care

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) is pleased to announce the launch of an expanded palliative care online information and training portal, with new training materials and extensive resources.

My Aged Care assists older people, their families and carers to access aged care information and services via a national phone line, 1800 200 422, and the website www.myagedcare.gov.au.

Two new free online training modules launched on 1 July build on the success of the AHHA’s first four online units on communitybased palliative aged care.

In addition to the client portal, the My Aged Care provider and assessor portals are now available, meaning that My Aged Care now functions as the one-stop portal for access and referral. Service providers and assessors are encouraged to access the portals to update their organisation’s details and familiarise themselves with the new functionality.

Visit http://ow.ly/P1n22 to access the My Aged Care portal. Visit http://ow.ly/P1ncA for a guide to using the new portal. Visit http://ow.ly/P1nmc further information about the Aged Care sector reforms. 14

Call for submissions and proposals for the 2015 LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care Conference

Visit www.palliativecareonline.com.au to access the training modules.

AgedCareFocus MENTAL HEALTH Mental health support for older people: A new, free psychogeriatric service Depression and anxiety are not a normal part of ageing. Signs of depression and anxiety may differ from those for a younger person, and hence go untreated. In older adults symptoms of depression may include issues with sleeping, unreal or strange thoughts and prolonged periods of low mood. Anxiety can manifest as an excessive worry about routine activities and events, and older people can have a greater variety of issues they are concerned about including memory loss, falls and illness. Other common mental health problems occurring in older people include adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders and psychotic disorders. A range of factors can increase the prevalence of mental health conditions in older people. These include acute physical illnesses such as heart attack and stroke, and chronic physical illness such as diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, obesity, cardiac failure, arthritis and dementia. Bereavement and cognitive impairment also occur at higher rates in older people, and thus influence susceptibility to mental health issues. Psychogeriatric services provided by primary care, residential care and mental health professionals play an important role in the older person’s quality of life. Older people with good mental health are more likely to enjoy a sense of cognitive, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing, and experience a healthier ageing process. Specialist psychogeriatric care however is under-developed or often absent in many regional, rural and remote regions. The level of psychological symptoms is generally higher for older people living in regional locations than for people living in metropolitan areas and cities, and correlates with increasing isolation. 15

IMMUNE RESPONSE To support professionals in regional, rural and remote areas, St Vincent’s Hospital Psychogeriatric Mental Health Service from Sydney has recently launched Psychogeriatric SOS (Services-on-Screen). The service provides expert clinicianto-clinician psychogeriatric information and guidance via discussion, case review and multidisciplinary case-conferencing using web-based teleconferencing. Psychogeriatric SOS can be accessed by medical, nursing and allied health practitioners in private practices, hospitals, community centres and aged care facilities. Visit http://ow.ly/P1oDm for more information. The Healthy Minds program can provide free psychological treatment for older people. GPs can refer their patients to Healthy Minds and treatment is provided by a mental health practitioner such as a psychologist, mental health social worker or mental health nurse. Home visits can also be arranged for people who are unable to visit the mental health practitioner’s consulting room. To be eligible for Healthy Minds, the patient should hold a Health Care Card or be in severe financial distress. Referrals should be supported by a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Healthy Minds referral forms are available at http://ow.ly/P47C2. Healthy Minds provides six sessions with a mental health practitioner and a further four or six sessions may be provided on completion of a treatment review. For further information please call Healthy Minds on 1300 137 237 or visit http:// ow.ly/P47C2.

It’s time for patient recall! Recall and reminder systems improve immunisation rates and are an invaluable part of clinic planning - helping you decide how many clinics to run, what resources you will need and how many vaccines to order. The Community Immunity website has a host of great tips and tools to support recall and improved immunisation. It’s free to sign up. Visit www.communityimmunity.com.au. The site can assist you to identify your eligible patients. For example, influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are recommended for ALL healthy adults over 65 years. Community Immunity has an easy to use table of all adult patients who should be immunised for influenza and pneumococcal – you may be surprised! Visit http://ow.ly/P1o6w to learn more. Community Immunity can also help to optimise your recall - did you know that almost two in three patients over 70 years of age have an underlying chronic medical condition, such as impaired immunity, diabetes and chronic lung, heart and liver disease and are therefore eligible for a free revaccination dose of the pneumococcal vaccine (five years after their first dose)? Visit http://ow.ly/ P1od1 for information on the Australian recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in adults.

Reminder: Immunisation for Health Care Workers Occupations in the healthcare sector are associated with an increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. Furthermore, some infected workers may transmit infections to susceptible contacts, with the potential for serious health outcomes. Employers should take all reasonable steps to encourage non-immune workers to be vaccinated. Refer to Part 3.7 of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (10th Edition 2013 ) for more information. Visit http://ow.ly/OY01B to access the handbook.

PharmacyFocus PAL UPDATE Renewed funding for electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) in the new 6CPA The newly signed 6th Community Pharmacy Agreement includes $12.6 million for ETP funding in the 2015-2016 financial year. An additional $48.3 million has been set aside for ETP and eHealth in the years following, subject to a cost effectiveness study in 2016. Funding in the 5CPA has been pivotal in the rapid uptake of ETP. Since the launch of ETP six years ago: • • • •

87% of pharmacies now use eRx 72% of doctors send ePrescriptions to eRx 24 million ePrescriptions were dispensed in December 2014 alone a total of 947 million ePrescriptions have been dispensed via eRx

Electronic prescribing significantly improves patient safety and forms part of the foundation of eHealth systems. For the latest eHealth figures, refer to page 4 of this newsletter.

Improved Community Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy and Clozapine (maintenance therapy only) under the PBS From 1 July 2015, there will be improvements in the way Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised HIV antiretroviral medicines and clozapine for the ongoing treatment of schizophrenia are prescribed, dispensed and accessed under the Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) Program. These changes recognise that many people living with HIV or schizophrenia are being treated in the community. These streamlined arrangements will mean patients can access these medicines from the pharmacy of their choice, regardless 16

of where these medicines were prescribed. Under current arrangements, eligible community-based prescribers and patients are required to be associated with a hospital to access these medicines. From 1 July 2015, this will no longer be required. The HSD Program arrangements for all other medicines will remain unchanged.

Changes for prescribers From 1 July 2015, eligible community-based prescribers of HIV antiretroviral therapy and clozapine (maintenance therapy only) will be able to prescribe these medicines without the need to demonstrate an affiliation with a hospital. All other prescriber eligibility criteria remain the same. The approval process to prescribe these medicines will be the same for all prescribers, with streamlined authority requirements applying to community, private and public hospital-based prescribers. Authority approval will still be required for increased quantities and increased repeats.

Changes for pharmacies From 1 July 2015, all pharmacies will be able to dispense HIV antiretroviral medicines and clozapine (maintenance therapy only) for the ongoing treatment of schizophrenia under the HSD Program, regardless of where the medicine is prescribed. Pharmacies will still need to meet their professional obligations with respect to the safe supply of these medicines. To claim a streamlined authority item, an approved supplier is required to check that the appropriate ‘streamlined authority code’ has been included on the PBS prescription. The level of pharmacy remuneration will remain unchanged and will be based on point of supply.

AlliedHealthFocus PAL UPDATE National Diabetes Week - 12 to 18 July 2015

Managing Nicotine Dependence

Approximately 280 people develop diabetes every day in Australia and diabetes will become our number one burden of disease within the next five years.

The ‘280 a day’ diabetes campaign aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes and address some of the misconceptions surrounding diabetes. Diabetes Australia is calling on all Australians to support the campaign and help to raise awareness of diabetes during National Diabetes Week 2015: • • •

Raise awareness using the #280aday hashtag Share your story about “what you know about diabetes” via our Facebook page Mark National Diabetes Week in your practices and clinics. Stakeholder kits are available from Diabetes Australia. Email admin@diabetesaustralia.com.au or phone (02) 6232 3800.

The Future of Health is in Your Hands The Mid North Coast Local Health District, in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, Southern Cross University and Charles Sturt University, are holding a one-day conference for health professionals and students of all disciplines in Port Macquarie this December: The Future of Health is in Your Hands Research Driving Better Outcomes 2015. Health professionals and students are invited to submit an abstract for oral or poster presentations. Abstracts showcasing innovation, quality initiatives and research are particularly encouraged. Abstracts should be between 200-300 words, describing the presentation/ poster. Visit http://ow.ly/Pdafb for further instructions and an abstract template. Submit to: MNCResearchConference@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au 17

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term health benefits for people of all ages. Most people who smoke are aware that smoking damages health, but they may not know that the health benefits of quitting smoking start within minutes of smoking the last cigarette and continue to accumulate for many years. NSW Health has developed a guide for managing nicotine dependence to support health care workers in providing effective, evidence-based treatments for nicotine dependent clients. Support includes routine brief interventions for smoking cessation to all clients who smoke or are recent quitters. Brief intervention includes routinely identifying smokers, providing advice and encouragement to quit, supporting behaviour change, prescribing or recommending pharmacotherapy and referring to support services such as the Quitline and the iCanQuit website and local tobacco treatment specialists. All health professionals and community service organisation workers can use the 5As approach. The 5As are: 1. ASK about smoking at every opportunity 2. ASSESS smokers’ willingness to quit and their dependence on nicotine 3. ADVISE all smokers to quit 4. ASSIST smokers with information, referrals and treatments 5. ARRANGE follow-up contact to support quit efforts Visit http://ow.ly/Pd89T to access the guide online.

HNCNews Networking Platform for Health Professionals

ealthy North Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new online network allows you to communicate, network and collaborate in a private and professional environment, with colleagues from across the North Coast without leaving your office.

The number of women living with lung cancer in Australia is expected to surpass that of men by 2017, according to new research released by Cancer Council NSW.

The Healthy North Coast Network is based on the functionality of other familiar social networking platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Further insights from the study highlighted the five-year lung cancer prevalence rate in women increased significantly over this time (88 per cent), while the prevalence rate fell in men during the same period (15 per cent decrease).

With over 130 regional and professionbased networks available, the Healthy North Coast Network is ready for you to join right now.

Associate Professor Karen Canfell, Director of Cancer Research at Cancer Council NSW said the results reflect smoking behaviours from decades ago, as lung cancer incidence trends closely follow patterns of smoking, with a general 2030 year lag between population smoking patterns and subsequent lung cancer diagnosis.

Health professionals can register for the Healthy North Coast Network by visiting http://bit.ly/VsrO2s. Full instructions for the platform are available at http://bit.ly/1sJgRI7.

Lung cancer rates in Australian women on track to surpass men by 2017 The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, used cancer registrations from NSW to estimate lung cancer prevalence from 1987-2007 and found that the number of females living with lung cancer cases continues to rise, while the number of males living with lung cancer has dropped.

Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-329/

HNCNews NSW Health Urges Pregnant Women to Get Flu Shot With the weather cooling down, NSW Health is reminding pregnant women about the importance of getting their influenza vaccination before the full force of winter hits. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases Branch at NSW Health, said influenza can be dangerous for pregnant women. “Data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), which is surveying new mums as part of the FluMum study, shows that the uptake of influenza vaccination has improved from about one in five pregnant women (23 per cent) in 2013 to almost one in three (32 per cent) in 2014,” she said. “However, that is only 32 per cent of pregnant women in NSW being vaccinated for the flu compared with about 70 per cent of people aged 65 years and older across the state.” Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-324/

‘Blue-collar’ men’s mental health targeted in revamped campaign Nearly a third of men who are ‘blue-collar’ workers wouldn’t know what to do if they were struggling with depression or anxiety, more than a quarter believe that men with these conditions are seen as soft and many think seeking help is a sign of weakness. These troubling findings are contained in a new survey snapshot by global marketing company TNS and reveal that harmful concepts of masculinity are affecting the mental health of these men. Now, beyondblue will tackle these attitudes with a revamped campaign that brings humour to a serious issue and shows ‘bluecollar’ men that feeling down is nothing to be ashamed of and that support is readily available. Davo’s Man Therapy will introduce Australia to a new mental health champion “Davo”, a larrikin tradie who doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to mental health. Davo will star in television, radio and digital ads for six months to direct men to mantherapy.org.au/davo, where they can measure their distress levels, get answers to frequently asked questions and advice on how to tackle depression or anxiety. The campaign follows the launch two years ago of beyondblue’s successful Man Therapy, which used another fictional character, Dr Brian Ironwood, to promote good mental health to men. Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-330/

Breast cancer screening rates drop, despite new data on life saving benefits Cancer Council is encouraging all eligible Australian women aged 50 to 74 to consider participating in the free BreastScreen program following the release of data showing a downward trend in participation. New figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that BreastScreen participation rates for women aged 50 to 69 have fallen from a high of 57.6 per cent in 2001-02 to 53.7 in 2013-14. The new data follows recent major international analysis from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which confirmed the life-saving benefits of screening mammography. Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s Screening and Immunisation Committee, Associate Professor Karen Canfell, said the IARC analysis showed that women aged 50-69 invited for mammogram screening had an average 23 per cent reduction in the risk of breast cancer death. “That translates to thousands of premature breast cancer deaths prevented over the past 20 years - a number that would be increased if more women participated in the screening program,” A/Professor Canfell said. Read the full story at: http://healthynorthcoast.org.au/top-stories-333/ HealthPathway available, Breast Cancer Screening: http://ow.ly/P7pLJ Username: manchealth Password: conn3ct3d

HNCEvents Hastings-Macleay

Northern Rivers

7 July - Forum on the Impact of Genomics on Medicine and Healthcare, Port Macquarie

14 July - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness Training for Health Professionals, Mullumbimby

15 July - Communicating with a Person Living with Dementia, Port Macquarie 15 July - Experiencing Dementia, Port Macquarie 18 July - Being with Dying – An inaugural workshop for health professionals, Port Macquarie 31 July - Working with Young People – Building Resilience, Port Macquarie

Mid North Coast 15-16 July - Accidental Counsellor, Coffs Harbour

23 July - Richmond Valley Clinical Society, Lismore 29 July - Chronic Hepatitis C – Treat now or wait? Preventing Liver Disease, Lismore 29 July - Youth Workers Taste Tour, Goonellabah 11 August - Trauma Sensitive Practice for Managers, Goonellabah

Other Events 13-14 July - The Body Remembers: Integrating Body and Mind for Trauma Recovery, Brisbane

31 July - PhysAbility Workshop, Sawtell

15 July - Webinar: Playing ball – Embracing collaborative care and reducing load on rural practice through true multidisciplinary integration

20 August - A Clinician’s Guide: Caring for people with gastrostomy tubes and devices, Coffs Harbour

16-17 July - The Body Remembers: Integrating Body and Mind for Trauma Recovery, Sydney

8-9 Sept - Working Therapeutically with Aberrant & Offending Sexual Behaviours, Coffs Harbour

17-19 July - 21st International Australasian Integrative Medicine Assocation Conference, Melbourne

23 July - Annual Immunisation Update, Coffs Harbour

Tweed 20 July - Integrated Care – Kaizen Meeting for General Practice & Pharmacy, Tweed Heads 30 July - Youth Workers Taste Tour, Murwillumbah 31 July - Pedorthic Footwear Modifications, Gold Coast 13 August - Experiencing Dementia, Tweed Heads 13 August - Communicating with a Person Living with Dementia, Tweed Heads 26-28 August - Smart Technologies Bootcamp, Tweed Heads

July-September 2015 You can view the full North Coast Practitioner events calander at: www.healthynorthcoast.org.au/practitioner-events

20 July - Webinar: Sleeping Better – Understanding Common Sleep Problems and Strategies to Assist People to Sleep Better 26 July - Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course for doctors, Sydney 22 August - Perinatal in Practice for GPs, psychologists, midwives and early childhood nurses, Brisbane 25-28 August - 2015 TheMHS Conference, Canberra 28 August - Nurse Education Day, Newcastle 3-5 September - Australian Wound Management Association 2015 Conference, Brisbane

HNCclassifieds NEW ENDOCRINOLOGIST IN PORT MACQUARIE Dr Lauren Baker, MBBS FRACP, Consultant Endocrinologist: Diabetes, Thyroid, Osteoporosis, General Endocrinology.

LAURIETON MEDICAL CENTRE Laurieton Medical Centre is now operating as a Specialist and Allied Health Centre. Current appointments:

Dr Baker has recently moved to Port Macquarie and started seeing endocrinology patients in June. Dr Baker has particular interest in:

• • •

•

If you are interested in obtaining a service room within the facility, call 02 6559 7600 / 0430 445 288 or email laurietonmedical@gmail.com.

• • • • •

transitional care for T1DM patients from paediatric to adult care antenatal care for pre-existing diabetes, gestational diabetes and thyroid disorders diabetes: T1DM and T2DM thyroid disorders osteoporosis: primary and secondary fracture prevention additionally: PCOS, metabolic syndrome, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary disorders

Patients will be encouraged to return to their general practitioner within two weeks of Dr Baker’s review to discuss management plans. Dr Lauren Baker will be practicing out of Macquarie Specialist Centre, Suite 1, 10B Highfields Circuit, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444. Referrals and contact can be made by: Phone - (02) 6581 4608 Fax - (02) 6581 1060 Email - admin@pmqp.com.au

COSMETIC DOCTOR WANTED BYRON/KINGSCLIFF Cosmetic Laser Clinic in Byron/Kingscliff seeking a doctor with knowledge of fillers/injectables to work five days a week building the business alongside other technician/practitioner. Work would also include vascular and pigmented lesions, veins etc. Phone Jacqui on 0403 353 036.

Dr Peck – General Surgeon Hearing Care Peter Wind – Podiatrist

The general practice component of Laurieton Medical Centre has been transferred to Your Family Practice and can be contacted on 6559 5100.

CONSULTING ROOMS AVAILABLE COFFS HARBOUR Would suit a range of health care providers such as medical doctors, sessional specialists from Brisbane or Sydney visiting Coffs Harbour, specialists, allied health providers or psychologists. The practice currently accommodates a few specialists. There is on site and street parking for patients and free staff parking nearby. The practice is wheelchair friendly, light and airy and has a staff kitchen/ canteen area. Situated within 5 minutes of walking to CBD, these premises are ideally located for conducting daily banking, postal services, etc. Please contact Michelle 0448 851 885 for further details and to submit expressions of interest.

Would you like to post a local classified ad in this newsletter? Email the details to healthynorthcoast@gmail.com before the 25th of each month. There is no cost associated with these ads.

HNCclassifieds GP REQUIRED, BANORA POINT Banora Shopping Village Medical Centre requires a GP due to high patient demand. • • •

Flexible hours available. Large modern medical centre with FT nurse, care plan nurse, range of allied health and onsite pathology. Excellent remuneration.

Please email nicola@tnamedical.com.au for more information.

VOCATIONAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM The Vocational Intervention Program is an exciting new initiative at the Mid North Coast Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service which supports people returning to the workforce following a brain injury. The program launch is 10-11am on Thursday, 23 July at Sea Acres, 159 Pacific Drive Port Macquarie. For catering purposes, please RSVP by 9 July by phoning 6584 3300 or emailing PortMNCBIRS@ ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au.

NEUROLOGY CLINICAL NURSE CONSULTANT - COFFS HARBOUR Vince Carroll is the Neurology Clinical Nurse Consultant for the Coffs Harbour, Nambucca and Bellingen local government areas. The Neurology Clinical Nurse Consultant position is a 3-year project funded by a private donor and is a partnership between Parkinson’s NSW, North Coast Medicare Local and the Mid North Coast Local Health District. The Parkinson’s Support Group and a Coffs Harbour local charity, the ‘Pink Silks’, are supporting the project by providing a car for the position. The Neurology Clinical Nurse Consultant is a part-time position (16 hrs/week). The service is co-located with the Mid North Coast Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Rural Spinal Cord Injury Services at 39 Victoria St, Coffs Harbour. Consultations, review and follow up is provided for persons with Parkinson’s disease and other diagnosed neurological conditions. Please contact Vince Carroll for a consultation: Phone (02) 6659 2300 Mobile 0428726717 Email vincent.carroll@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

GP VMO POSITION - BELLINGEN GP REQUIRED, SEMI-RURAL PRACTICE Area: Northern NSW, 1½ hrs from Brisbane, 20 mins from Gold Coast Airport. 20 minutes from beach, 40 mins from Byron Bay. Close to rainforests. Fantastic climate and lifestyle. Good schools. Position: VR GP with view to partnership, fullycomputerised general practice, nine doctors (includes GP Registrar). • • • • • • • • •

AGPAL Accredited Long-Term Teaching Practice – Registrars & Medical Students Friendly, family orientated practice Fulltime Practice Nurse Private & Bulk Billing Excellent working environment Shared On-Call with 9 GPs Non-corporate Practice Hours negotiable

Phone the practice manager on 02 6672 1244.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District is seeking a GP. For more information or to submit an application, visit http://ow.ly/P4hmb.

COUNTRY CARE LINK Country Care Link is a confidential family information and support service for country people going to Sydney for medical reasons. Service includes: • • • •

A volunteer to meet country people in Sydney (48 hours notice required except in emergency situations) Contact details for possible short-term accommodation close to a hospital A friendly voice for a chat Visits to the patient in hospital (on request)

Free Call 1800 806 160 or charged call (02) 8382 6434, Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm.

Contact NCPHN Head Office Suite 6, 85 Tamar Street Ballina NSW 2478 Phone: 02 6618 5400 Fax: 02 6618 5499 Email: enquiries@ncphn.org.au Northern Rivers Tarmons House St Vincentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campus 20 Dalley Street East Lismore NSW 2480 Phone: 02 6622 4453 Fax: 02 6622 3185 Email: nr@ncphn.org.au Tweed Heads 8 Corporation Circuit Tweed Heads South NSW 2486 Phone: 07 5523 5501 Email: tv@ncphn.org.au

Hastings Macleay 53 Lord Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Phone: 02 6583 3600 Fax: 02 6583 8600 Email: hm@ncphn.org.au Mid North Coast Suite 6, 1 Duke Street Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 Phone: 02 6659 1800 Fax: 02 6659 1899 Email: mnc@ncphn.org.au