A general practice in Gympie is helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community – and grow its patient base – after successfully implementing a 12-month quality improvement activity last year. The quality improvement activity promoted the importance of 715 health check, the …
The Way Back Support Service
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 …
New sessions to support families affected by alcohol and drugs
Gympie families can access new support sessions to help them through the issues caused by the problematic misuse of alcohol and drugs, such as methamphetamine. Over the past 20 years Family Drug Support (FDS) has provided support to thousands family members across Australia. When someone in the family has problematic …
safeTALK workshops delivering suicide prevention the Sunshine Coast
Lifeline are delivering a series of workshops across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay regions and anyone over the age of 17 is invited to attend. The safeTALK workshops provide valuable skills to help individuals keep their friends and family safe from suicide. The workshops provide a safe environment to …
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service not accepting patient referrals for Wet Macular Degeneration
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service is advising that it will continue the current practice of not being able to accept any new Wet Macular Degeneration patient referrals until the 1st of November 2018. The Caloundra ophthalmology unit will continue to see patients which we have already accepted referrals …
Last week to integrate online mental health services into your practice
According to the Black Dog Institute, in 2007 only about one third of those experiencing some mental health difficulties (1 in 5 Australians) have received access to some sort of professional support. Online therapies are an essential clinical tool to help overcome access barriers like stigma, time constraints, costs/availability for …
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 …
How will the new child care package affect your family?
There’s not long to go before the New Child Care Package is introduced on 2 July! Whether you’re a new parent considering your child care options or your family’s already part of the system, the new Package will overhaul the current child care fee assistance to provide more support for …