IAR training sessions are CPD accredited activities with RACGP and ACCRM and GPs will receive a remuneration of $300 (exc GST) upon completion of 2 hours IAR training.
Futher information about the IAR can be found here and GPs and Registrars can register for upcoming IAR workshop offered by Country SA PHN here.
Practices can alternatively book IAR workshop for the practice here.
CSAPHN realise and value the importance of working collaboratively throughout the life of the Initial Assessment and Referral Project and Maria will be ready to support you until for several years to come. Please contact iar@countrysaphn.com.au for one-on-one training in this new innovative tool.
Country SA PHN IAR trainer Maria Hasan providing face to face training for the GPs at Gumeracha Medical Centre.L -R, Dr. Rish (GP Intern), Dr. Mark Lang, Dr. Chris Whitnall and Dr. David Nguyen (GP Intern).
A single statewide electronic referral (eReferral) management system is being established across all of SA Health. The Statewide eReferrals Program, being rolled out by Digital Health SA, will enable GPs to digitally send referral forms to outpatient clinics, replacing the use of faxes and letters. eReferrals is being introduced in several phases, with the Women’s and Children’s hospital (WCH) being the first to go live on 13 September 2023.
We’re pleased to share that the Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) will be the first regional Local Health Network to gain access to the new statewide eReferrals Program on Wednesday 29 November 2023.
WCH and RMC Only
GP's who send a eReferral from their Practice Management System will receive a status notification from the receiving outpatient clinic at each stage of the referral including Accepted, Declined, More Information Required and Transferred (to another service or LHN). Additionally, the receiving Outpatient service will also be able to send the GP a digital note in regard to the status that may relate to the triage of the patient.
CALHN Only
While the Smart Referral Form for referring to CALHN will be available in the GP Practice Management System, the Statewide Referral Management System will not have been implemented in CALHN. If a GP does send a referral via the Smart Referral Form, it will be managed manually (downloaded and triaged according to current unit processes) until the confirmation of go live at CALHN for the Statewide Referral Management System. CALHN will have a local process in place to ensure any referrals received through this system will be downloaded and managed each workday.
The GP will receive the following message: This referral has been received and will be managed manually as CALHN e-referrals have not yet been implemented. You will be contacted by CALHN as to the triage status of this referral. A go-live date for CALHN will be communicated in February 2024
Clinical Prioritisation Criteria (CPC) – the criteria used to guide referrals – will be incorporated into the Smart Referral Form and will continue to be implemented as new CPC's are published, which will give health professionals consistent and accurate information. Six CPC's will initially be included, including cardiology and neurology, with more to be added as they become available.
The program will standardise how referrals are managed across the state, leading to improved access to quality healthcare for all South Australians.
Chief Digital Health Officer Bret Morris said eReferrals would power access to faster and better care for all South Australians.
“The eReferrals program is an important example of how a connected health care system can create a seamless patient journey through the health network and support a single view of the patient,” Mr Morris said.
For more information visit * Statewide eReferrals | SA Health*
Are you getting the most out of My Health Record? As more healthcare organisations are connecting and uploading information into the system, finding the key health information you need can sometimes be challenging. This is where the My Health Record views and overviews can help.
Views and overviews are system-generated and consolidate the information in a person’s record, bringing key information together on a single screen. Current views and overviews available include the Medicines View, Medicare Overview, Immunisation View, along with Pathology and Diagnostic Imaging Overviews.
Whether you are looking for a pathology report for a test ordered by another healthcare provider, need to quickly locate a discharge summary, want to confirm what regular medicines a patient is taking or check their immunisations history, the views and overviews in My Health Record can help. You can also utilise filters and settings in MyHealth Record suit.
Learn more Watch the Agency’s FREE on-demand webinars, to learn more about using My Health Record in your practice, including how to easily find the right document. Once you register, you can watch these short pre-recorded sessions straight away, you will also receive a link so you can watch the session at a time and date that suits you. Find the full list of on-demand webinars here: www.digitalhealth.gov.au/healthcare-providers/webinars.
Or access free eLearning modules, including the RACGP and ACRRM CPD accredited Using My Health Record in General Practice module at: www.training.digitalhealth.gov.au.
It is important to ensure the safety of our community, especially our older members.
Older age continues to be the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from severe illness or death from COVID-19.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated advice for the COVID-19 vaccine.
If it has been 6 months since receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or a confimed COVID-19 infection, an additional dose:
People aged 65 years and older who have not had a COVID-19 booster this year, are recommended to get a dose.
All COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide benefit to eligible people. However, the monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are preferred over other vaccines for eligible people.
If you know an older member of our community who may benefit from this information, please share it with them.
Book a vaccination
Let’s ensure that everyone has access to the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccinations.
For more information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website: health.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you:
Call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 if you need COVID-19 advice.
Oral antiviral treatments
Oral antivirals treatments are safe and effective in reducing the severity of COVID-19 and are available to people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 including people 70 years and older.
Be prepared, if you are aged 70 years or older, or have one of the risk factors, we encourage you to have an early discussion with your GP or nurse practitioner about:
You must start the treatment as soon as possible or within 5 days of COVID-19 symptoms beginning. Oral antiviral treatments may help stop COVID-19 infection from becoming severe.
HealthPathways have developed two new resource pages that will be useful for those working in general practice and other health care environments:
The Guide to MBS Items, resource page is designed as a quick reference guide to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). It is not designed to replace the MBS and associated guidance, but rather provide a quick reference for eligibility requirements and includes the most recent 1 November 2023 changes.
The Telehealth resource page provides guidance on the telehealth item numbers. These were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and many have now been made permanent items. It includes overview, set up, consultation and the requirements for MBS rebatable consultation.
HealthPathways has also launched a new clinical pathway, Older Person's Annual 75+ Health Assessment. This health assessment provides a structured way to identify problems and conditions that are potentially preventable, or amenable to intervention, to improve health and/or quality of life of people 75 years and older. It is suitable for non-Indigenous adults aged ≥ 75 years and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged ≥ 55 years living in the community and considers their physical, social, cognitive and psychological needs.
Please see below the links to the newly launched pathways:
For login details to access HealthPathways, visit the Project Site or for more information contact the team via enquiries@sahealthpathways.com.au
HealthPathways SA is a partnership between SA Health, Adelaide PHN and Country SA PHN.
In an innovative collaboration, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and LGBTIQ+ Health Australia recently hosted a webinar that delved into the heart of palliative care, shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked needs of the LGBTIQ+ communities. Titled 'Embracing Inclusion: Providing Supportive Palliative Care for LGBTIQ+ Communities,' the webinar fostered crucial conversation on how healthcare can better support individuals navigating their end-of-life journey.
At the core of the webinar was Ty's personal journey, shedding light on hurdles faced by many in the LGBTIQ+ communities when seeking palliative care. Ty's story emphasising the urgency of dismantling barriers and enhancing the healthcare system's responsiveness to diverse patient experiences.
The expert panel of speakers share their knowledge and insights on best practice for creating inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTIQ+ patients and their loved ones in palliative care.
The video recording is now available for those who may have missed it, providing an opportunity to review the insightful discussions and gain a deeper understanding of how we can collectively build a more compassionate and inclusive future for palliative care.
As we express our gratitude to Palliative Care Australia and LGBTIQ+ Health Australia for driving this initiative, let us carry forward the momentum. It is through these conversations and collaborations that we can create a healthcare environment that truly embraces diversity, ensuring that no one is left behind during their most vulnerable moments.
Watch the webinar here: PCA Connect – Embracing Inclusion: Providing Supportive Palliative Care for LGBTIQ+ Communities - Palliative Care Australia
Tuesday 28 November 2023, 9.00am - 5.00pm
The course covers the broad social and political issues as well as clinical options, incorporating cultural considerations into topics and resources.
Participants will:
Cost: $180
Thursday 14 December 2023, 6.00pm - 9.00pm (AEST)
Hear from the experts for asthma management strategies including how to address the imminent shortage of Ventolin 2.5mg nebules anticipated from 15th November 2023, as reported on the TGA Medicine Shortages Database.
The workshop will include information about
Wednesday 6 December 2023, 12.3opm - 2.00pm (AEST
Join the Safer Families Centre, University of Melbourne, in this online workshop to enhance your confidence to safely engage with people who use violence. This workshop is fully accredited as a CPD activity by the RACGP and ACRRM.
For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.saferfamilies.org.au/pivoting-to-the-perpetrator
