Murray PHN eNews #101: We want you to become a health voice

Join  or refer a Health Voice to win
We want you to join our online Health Voices community and answer some simple questions about your experiences of the health system, tohelp  us plan primary health services in the Murray PHN region.You will also go into the draw for one of 18 gift cards valued at $50 each. We were pleased to  congratulate our week one winners, Deanne of Albury and Stacey of Wedderburn,earlier this week.  If you encourage  a friend, family member or colleague to register, you will BOTH get a chance to win. For full terms and conditions and to register click here.  You can also get  a better idea of  the types of information we want to hear by reading what we've already heard here.  

My Health Record â€" Australians to decide on a smarter and safer way to share important healthcare information
From Monday 16 July, Australians are able to decide if they want a My Health Record â€" an online summary of their key health information where they can safely store, access and share important health information.By the end of 2018, a My Health Record will be created for every Australian, unless they choose not to have one. Those who choose not to have a My Health Record, are able to opt out between now and 15 October 2018.   More than 5.9 million Australians already have a My Health Record and 12,860 healthcare organisations are now connected.Australians can manage their privacy and control access to their My Health Record, buy  choosing what information gets uploaded and who has access, such as family members, carers and healthcare providers.  My Health Record  is a personally-controlled system.

To assist healthcare organisations with My Health Record, the  Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has posted 20,000  education kits to selected health organisations recently. In addition, ADHA are holding webinars for allied health professionals next Tuesday 24 July and again on Tuesday 7 August  with the second session targeted towards consulting professions e.g. psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. Murray PHN is also hosting a  My Health Record event for health professionals in Mildura on Tuesday 14 August.

Family Doctor Week 2018

Family Doctor Week runs from Sunday 22 July to Saturday 28 July and highlights the role of GPs and their value to the community and the health system as they deliver high-quality holistic health care. The theme for this year’s event is "Your family doctor: here for you".

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Australia has one of the best health systems in the world. These strengths  stem  from general practice and the key role played by GPs. Click here for more information.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey underway

The health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait people has been improving over the last two decades. The most recent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survey carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that smoking rates have decreased from nearly one in two people over the age of 15 in 2002 (49 per cent) to fewer than two in five (39 per cent) in 2014-15. The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people drinking alcohol at levels that cause short term and lifetime risk has also decreased.

The next Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survey is now underway, with interviewers to visit all states of Australia in urban, regional and remote communities to create a national picture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

The survey, which  runs until March 2019, will collect detailed information about health and health-related actions and is a key dataset for understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.  Results will assist in the administration, evaluation and planning of health and social policies, programs and services, including determining the prevalence of specific long-term illnesses and developing more effective nutrition and physical activity programs. Previous results have been used to revise blood pressure test guidelines and promote quit smoking campaigns.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survey also collects a range of information about social well-being and, for the first time, the survey will include voluntary hearing tests. This information will be of importance as poor hearing can have major impacts on a person's health and education.

Initial survey results will be available from late 2019 and will be used by a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, health researchers, public health advocates, government, clinicians and community health organisations.

A promotional video about the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey is available above. Click here to see results from the previous survey.