Murray PHN Report to the Community | December 2016 We have now released our first Report to the Community, which provides a snapshot of our work to date, some of our key achievements over the past 15 months and an indication of our work in the year to come. Click here to read.
Health 2040 | Advancing health, access and care On Wednesday 30 November Minister for Health Jill Hennessy announced a plan to ensure all Victorians have better access to health care, receive better quality care and enjoy better health through prevention.
At the centre of the plan are four key initiatives including:
New programs to help vulnerable families with a mix of health and social care needs, giving them access to one person who will make sure they get the services and care they need, and provide ongoing support and advice
New coordinators to help patients with chronic disease arrange and manage the many different appointments they often need, making it easier and convenient for them to get the treatment they need
Mobile phone messaging to provide reminders and advice to people attending outpatient clinics for treatment of chronic diseases so they can better manage their own care
The Healthy Eating and Active Living plan that will help young people living in out of home care develop skills to protect themselves again illness, through healthier eating and living.
Indigenous Health Outcomes Officers (Albury, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton) and Coordinator (Bendigo)
Improve access to primary health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to increase their health and wellbeing. Applications close Sunday 11 December. Administration Support HealthPathways (Albury)
Provide support to the North East team to ensure delivery of HealthPathways according to the project timeframes. Applications close Sunday 18 December. Click here for more details
WorkSafe and GP activities
GPs can now claim reimbursement for phone calls to employers, work site visits and experience more flexibility in conducting and billing return to work case conferences. From 1 January 2017, invoices using the original item code RTWCC will not be paid, so GPs must use the new item codes. For fee schedules detailing services, rates and codes, click the links below:
- GP participation in return to work activities information sheet - WorkSafe fee schedule - TAC fee schedule
APNA transition program
APNA's Transition to Practice Pilot Program is a 12 month transition support program which aims to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of nurses commencing work in primary health care settings. Applications close Friday 23 December. Click here from more details
Allied health survey
Southern Cross University is conducting a survey of the psychology, social work and occupational therapy workforces in Victoria, commissioned by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Complete the survey by Thursday 22 December, to be eligible to win an iPad mini. Click here for more details
Health alert | Asthma
The Chief Health Officer Advisory issued a notice to health professionals to review existing asthma management plans for all asthma patients. Click here for more details
It's ok to talk event
Elmore Primary Health received a Stigma Action Funding Grant from Loddon Mallee Murray Partners in Recovery to host an event on 21 October, to address the stigma of mental health and discuss suicide prevention.
Mark McConville, a comedian with qualifications in suicide presentation studies, helped around 100 Elmore community members relieve the symptoms of stress and depression by increasing exposure to humour and laughter during the evening.
Attendee comments: "Thank you for reminding us laughter is the best medicine" .
"It was a great way to break down the stigma of mental health. Learning about how to improve your mental health, learning strategies."
Walwa Bush Nursing Centre
The Walwa Bush Nursing Centre has an innovative reed bed recycle system that recycles grey and black water. The reed bed manages the waste water from the Bush Nursing Centre, the Walwa Medical Practice, the River View independent living units, the Walwa Primary School and the 17 home Walwa Bush Nursing Centre Mountain View sub development.
The project has proven to be a great success, with negligible running and maintenance costs and the production of enough recycled water to keep the Walwa Primary School oval irrigated and green even through hot summers.
Executive Director Primary Health Services, Jag Dhaliwal has tendered his resignation from Murray PHN in order to strike a better work life balance. We wish to acknowledge Jag for his diligence and valued contribution to our team during his three years with Medicare Locals, and the past 15 months at Murray PHN. We will undertake the process to fill Jag's position in the New Year. In the meantime, we have appointed Richard Mullaly in a short term capacity as the Murray PHN Commissioning Consultant. Richard will provide an important contribution in assisting the progression of our commissioning strategy and capability in our pursuit of improving health outcomes for the communities and region that we service.
Murray PHN eNews survey
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Victorian opioid pharmacotherapy
The Department of Health and Human Services is inviting submissions from suitably qualified and experienced parties to deliver training for pharmacists to dispense pharmacotherapies for opioid dependent persons, as part of the Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program. RFT is open, closing Thursday 22 December. Click here for more details
Victorian Clinical Council
Expressions of interest for membership of the new Victorian Clinical Council are open. The Councils purpose is to provide a mechanism for collective leadership from clinicians and consumers to drive improvements in health care quality and health outcomes for Victorians. Closing Friday 16 December. Click here from more details
Endometriosis resources
On 17 November Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy launched Victoria's first endometriosis resources, produced by Jean Hailes for Women's Health. The resources help women better understand their symptoms, get diagnosed sooner and better manage their condition. There is also a practitioner tool to support assessment, investigation and management of endometriosis. Click here from more details
AOD services plan
Approximately 4,800 people across the Goulburn Valley consume alcohol at a high risk rate, 27.7% of local men and 20.8% of women smoke, and cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug. These are some of the issues that will be tackled by a consortium of local service providers, who launched the Goulburn Valley Alcohol and other Drugs Services Plan 2015-2018.
The plan outlines 30 areas for action, which will be implemented by multiple agencies to prevent and reduce the adverse impact of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on the health and wellbeing of people in Greater Shepparton, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi and Strathbogie shires.
The development of the plan was led by the Goulburn Valley Alcohol and Drug Service, a consortium led by GV Health, Odyssey House Victoria and Salvocare and supported by an advisory network including ACSO, Primary Care Connect, NEXUS Primary Health, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd, University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health, LaTrobe University Rural Health School, Murray PHN and community members. Click here for more details
Rural health forum | Swan Hill
Assistant Minister for Rural Health, David Gillespie is visiting Swan Hill on Thursday 15 December to discuss rural health. RSVP by Monday 11 December. Click here for more details
Public health oral award finalist
Congratulations to Jeanette Healey, Swan Hill District Health, for being a finalist in the Star of Public Dentistry category at the Dental Health Services Victoria Public Health Oral Awards. Click here for more details
Position vacant | Swan Hill
Sunraysia Community Health Services are seeking to appoint a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Loddon Mallee Regional Palliative Care Consultancy Service. Applications close Friday 16 December. Click here for more details
New emergency services
New ambulance services were announced on 1 December for Donald, Birchip and Woomelang. Click here for more details
PKI to PRODA transition From 1 January 2017, health professionals will be required to transition from using a PKI individual certificate to using PRODA and their individual account to access HPOS. PKI individual certificates used to access HPOS will not be reissued. Health professionals will need to transition to using a PRODA before January 2017. A Frequently Asked Questions document is available. Click here to access (under resources heading).
