Midwest General Practice Engagement
Welcome to the Midwest General Practice Engagement page, designed to support ongoing networking and education for general practice staff in the Midwest. This is a place for general practice health professionals to engage with each other and stay informed of training events, key updates and relevant news.
Key Updates
Please find below a list of current information relevant to general practice.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Training Reminder
To support vaccination providers with safe management and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, the Australia Government has partnered with the Australian College of Nursing to develop and deliver free and accredited online COVID-19 vaccination training modules.
The training is compulsory for GPS and other authorised COVID-19 vaccination providers, and non-clinical modules are available for practice staffi n non-clinical aspects including handling, storage and administration.
To enrol in the course, COVID-19 vaccination providers are required to:
- Have already undertaken required training specific to their professions and
- Have the authority to administer vaccinations in their relevant state and territory
All training content is... Continue reading
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Launch of COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program
The mandatory COVID-19 vaccination training for authorised providers is now available at no cost through the Australia Government Department of Health e-learning platform.
Training modules are categorised into two groups, core and additional. Core COVID-19 modules involve training for COVID-19 vaccination more broadly. Additional COVID-19 modules are specific to the individual vaccines.
To enrol in the course, immunisation providers will be required to:
- have the authority to administer the vaccines in WA
- have undertaken routine immunisation training specific to their profession
- hold a current practicing registration
- provide their AHPRA number and date of birth
Training is also available for non-clinical... Continue reading
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Phoenix Australia Disaster Mental Health Hub
Disasters can be very stressful for those directly impacted, as well as health professionals and those involved in disaster management efforts.
Phoenix Australia in collaboration with Primary Health Networks and other key partners has launched the Disaster Mental Health Hub to help GPs and other health practitioners to support individuals, families and communities during the disaster response.
It includes access to free disaster mental health information, sheets and videos, online training programs and health professional support resources such as Tips for Supporting Medical Centre Staff.
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New process for reporting 2020 seasonal influenza vaccine expiry
Important message to all immunisation providers from the Vaccine Orders Team
For 2020 seasonal influenza vaccine expiry, a new on-line form will be used for providers to report all government-funded influenza vaccines that are discarded due to expiry.
As varying influenza vaccine products were supplied with different expiry dates, you may need to complete the on-line wastage form more than once.
The Cold chain breach and vaccine wastage report form has been updated to reflect this change, and should continue to be used to record CCB incidents and non-influenza expiry.
We take this opportunity to remind immunisation providers to ensure... Continue reading
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New MBS items for care recipients in RACFs
From 10 December 2020 until 30 June 2022, new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items will be available for care recipients in residential aged care facilities (RACF’s) to support the mental and physical health of residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or the measures taken to contain its spread.
Patients in RACF’s will now have access to the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative. This includes access for up to 20 individual psychotherapy sessions where their GP or psychiatrists determines they would clinically benefit from additional mental health support. This will ensure that all aged care residents can access Better... Continue reading
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Allocation of Surgical Masks
A number of organisations including the AMA are offering a commercial supply of masks and PPE. Visit the Practice Assist COVID-19 FAQ page for more information.
Practices unable to source a commercial supply of surgical masks can request allocation from the national stockpile at Practice Assist.Please note, re-orders will not be accepted within five business days of the previous request, except in exceptional circumstances.
Please send all general queries in relation to the National Medical Stockpile to stockpile.ops@health.gov.au
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AOD 101
Do you want to have a basic understanding of how Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) work?
AOD 101 is a basic alcohol and other drug educational session delivered by the Midwest WA Country Health Service Prevention and Treatment officers. Training is approximately 1.5 hours and covers the following topics:
- why people use drugs
- what is a drug?
- psychoactive drugs
- Drug categories - depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and others
- understanding drug use experience
- promotion of services, pathways, referrals and after hours helplines
To arrange a session or for more information, contact Simon Phillips at simon.phillips@health.wa.gov.au or call 9956 1811.
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Telehealth Stage Seven Update
To encourage patients to receive continuous care from their regular GP or medical practice, it is now a legislative requirement that GPs and other medical practitioners working in general practice can only use the COIVD-19 MBS Items for telehealth or telephone services where they are the patient's usual medical practitioner.
View the updated WA Primary Health Alliance, Practice Assist factsheets and FAQs for more information, or visit the COVID-19 Telehealth and COVID-19 MBS Items pathways.
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Mental Health Supports for Doctors and Medical Students
A new resource has been released by Drs4Drs to help support the mental health of medical practitioners and medical students.
Drs4Drs Support Service offers free, confidential tele-health mental health services 24/7, every day of the year.
Accessing Drs4Drs Support Service is simple. Doctors and medical students can call 1300 374 377 (1300 DR4 DRS) or visit Drs4Drs.com.au - a national one stop shop for wellness and support resources for the medical profession.
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Become a Rural Health West Member
Rural Health West members are a vital part of the work they do in supporting health professionals across rural WA.
Members provide valuable feedback and insight and act as a sounding board for new programs and services. Members are eligible to nominate for election to the Board and to vote at AGMs.
Membership is $25 per year.
Contact Rural Health West at membership@ruralhealthwest.com.au or visit www.ruralhealthwest.com.au/membership
Resources
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Geraldton Local Health Service Directory_December 2020 (263 KB) (pdf)
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Midwest & Gascoyne Local Health Service Directory_December 2020 (226 KB) (pdf)
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Mental Health Service Directory_December 2020 (251 KB) (pdf)
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Standards for General Practice 5th Edition.pdf (2.07 MB) (pdf)
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Black Dog Institute_Guidance for Engaging GPs in Suicide Prevention (8.75 MB) (pdf)
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Carnarvon Hospital Visiting Specialists 2020 (94.3 KB) (pdf)
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Geraldton Hospital Visiting Specialists 2020 (215 KB) (pdf)
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SJOGH Visiting Specialists.pdf (566 KB) (pdf)
Who's listening
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Phone 0439 285 740 Email kathleen.slootmans@wapha.org.au -
Phone 0439 715 251 Email sharon.jones@wapha.org.au
