Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Cost PHN is funding Beyond Blue’s postvention initiative The Way Back Support Service across the region, to provide non-clinical care coordination for up to three months for people who have recently attempted suicide. To be eligible for The Way Back, individuals must be 15 years and older and have presented to a hospital …
Introducing the new national data platform
Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN will soon migrate the de-identified practice data we’ve collected under your practice agreement into a new, gold-standard IT platform called Primary Health Insights. Primary Health Insights is a secure storage and management platform purpose-built for primary care data and will be used by PHNs across the nation. The platform has undergone vigorous testing and governance and has been endorsed …
Department of Health releases new National Cervical Screening Program information
Friday, 1 December 2017 marked the commencement of the renewed National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) supported by the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). IMPORTANT INFORMATION – Screening women under 25 years of age Routine cervical screening is not recommended in the renewed program for women under 25 years. Some women under 25 …
Can you help a patient with their decision to transition into further education?
For patients who have a disability, the decision to pursue further education and subsequent employment may well throw up the dilemma of whether they should disclose the full details of their disability to an employer or educational institution. It is a deeply personal decision which may make some people feel …
Have the CHAT with your patients
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations are the second leading cause of preventable hospitalisations in Australia. Research shows that your patients with COPD are more likely to have an exacerbation (flare-up of symptoms) during the winter months. ‘Have the CHAT’ is Lung Foundation Australia’s COPD exacerbation campaign for primary care …
EOI: Lead a mental health innovation in your general practice
Lead a mental health innovation in your general practice The PHN and the Black Dog Institute have been working for the past two years with general practices across the region to offer the StepCare service – an innovative mental health service that uses digital health technology. In that time, over 1400 patients have participated in the initiative, and data …
Get involved – Queensland Mental Health Week
10-18 October is Queensland Mental Health Week. General practice plays a key role in promoting a mentally healthy community, and this year as part of QMHW you’re encouraged to ‘Take time for mental health‘. How to get involved: Raise awareness and wear purple for positivity and empowerment and/or green for …
#NursesWhereYouNeedThem: Rae Fialla
The Australian College of Nursing’s 2020 ‘Nursing in the Community Week’ shines a light on the importance of #NursesWhereYouNeedThem, and Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN is also celebrating these vital healthcare professionals by profiling some of the nurses within our own organisation. Our PHN recently welcomed Rae Fialla …
Communicating with your patients
Our PHN works closely with Healthily to look at new ways general practice can deliver information to their patients. The fortnightly Take Time Out Interactive Packages general practices across our region have been sent for staff, is a good example of the Healthily/GoShare platform. Find out more here.
#NursesWhereYouNeedThem: Ellen McDermott
The week of 14-20 September is the Australian College of Nursing’s ‘Nursing in the Community Week’, with the theme this year #NursesWhereYouNeedThem. The PHN’s Ellen McDermott has many stories to share from her 37 years as a nurse. “Over these years I have worked in aged care, private hospitals, public …
Use of My Health Record climbs
Uptake and use of My Health Record has continued to climb in recent months. There are now more than 22.81 million records, with over 86% of those containing data. The Australian Digital Health Agency’s Statistics and Insights document from July 2020 shows the number of records with data increased by …
Mumps outbreak in the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast areas
Several confirmed cases and a small number of likely but unconfirmed cases of mumps have been identified in students in the boarding school at St Brendan’s college. The purpose of this communique is to provide you with some information about the steps being taken to minimise further spread in the …
What are participants saying about My Health for Life?
Since the beginning of my ‘My Health for Life’ Journey, I have felt significant benefits, namely that of my increased self-confidence. I am now more attuned to my body, noting a heightened sense of awareness, enabling me to make the relevant changes to my life long habits. I was well …
EOI extended to new areas for mental health screening and treatment pilot
Following a significant amount of interest from practices in Central Queensland and Wide Bay an EOI for a mental health trial in general practice has been extended. The PHN is working in partnership with the Black Dog Institute to offer 10 practices in the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central …
Support available for GPs to manage sexual health
Following the reported case of multi-drug resistant gonorrhoea in Queensland last month, all GPs are being urged to contact their local Sexual Health Service if they suspect a patient may present with vaginal or urethral discharge. Drug-resistant gonorrhoea exists in many countries, including Australia. However, these latest cases and a …
Project ECHO® the integrated care enabler for Queensland
Article submitted by Dr Dana Newcomb, Medical Director – Integrated Care at Children’s Health Queensland Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ) has cemented itself as a leader in health service innovation by establishing a Project ECHO® Hub site at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. Through the …
The HPV vaccine updated on the National Immunisation Program
In a letter to GPs, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy has said that the National Immunisation Program for HPV vaccination will now be a two dose schedule of the 9-valent HPV vaccine Gardisil®9. The new vaccine is now replacing the 4-valent Gardisil vaccine and can be ordered through …
Funded influenza vaccine for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
According to Queensland Health, influenza causes the majority of hospital admissions in children under five years of age. From April 2018, the Queensland government is providing free influenza vaccine for children aged between 6 months to less than 5 years of age to ensure all children in this age group …
Upgrade your skills with the heart foundation ambassador bursary
The Heart Foundation’s Health Professional Ambassador Program (HPAP) is open to health professionals who wish to update their knowledge, skills and develop the confidence to improve cardiovascular health outcomes in their workplace. Applicants must be a registered Practice Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health …
Taking a look at maternal care in the context of rural health
Emerald GPs, Rural Generalists, GP Obstetricians, Midwives, Child health nurses, Allied Health professionals and others met on Saturday 16 June for a Maternity Shared Care update facilitated by Dr Wendy Burton, GP and Maternity Shared Care Educator, and Dr Ewen McPhee, Rural GP Obstetrician. Many of these professionals had met …