New COVID-19 Support Service for Travel Into Queensland

The Queensland Government has established a specialist COVID-19 Health Care Support Service to complement the existing exemption process for travellers entering Queensland. This new unit will ensure support for people who are travelling to Queensland to access health care or have specific health care needs while undertaking quarantine. Enhancing the existing infrastructure, the 134 COVID

COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facility Outbreak GP Framework Update

In case you missed it last week, Healthy North Coast has launched the COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) Outbreak GP Framework to support GP coverage in residential aged care facilities. Click images to download documents Fact Sheet Guidelines Management Kit Over 50 per cent of RACF managers across the region have attended a training

Port Macquarie Cardiac Rehabilitation Group Goes ‘Virtual’

The Port Macquarie Cardiac Rehabilitation Group’s rehabilitation program is on hold due to COVID-19, but now there’s a virtual alternative. The program offers education and exercise for patients who have cardiovascular disease or have had a cardiac event. The new structure is the same as the face-to-face program but is condensed to one hour every

eReferral Quality Improvement Activity Now Available for General Practice

Your practice can make the move to eReferrals as a quality improvement activity. Visit Primary Care Impact to learn about increasing the use of eReferrals to NNSWLHD Lismore Pain and Speciality Outpatient Clinics. This page contains information that can help you to “axe the fax” and increase awareness of NNSWLHD services accepting eReferral at your

Shortage of Hormone Replacement Therapy Patches

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is advising of a shortage of Estradot (estradiol) hormone replacement therapy transdermal patches due to manufacturing issues. To assist patients to access medicines during this shortage, the TGA has published Serious Shortage Substitution Notices (SSSNs) for Estradot 25 and Estradot 100 patches. These SSSNs allow pharmacists to dispense a substitute

COVID-19 Health Professionals National Disability Advisory Service

The COVID-19 Health Professionals National Disability Advisory Service has been extended beyond its six-week trial period. It will operate until 17 November 2020. Some people with disability may need support to ensure they receive COVID-19 testing or treatment with minimum distress. Health professionals involved in the care of people with disability diagnosed with COVID-19 or experiencing

HealthPathways Update – August 2020

New HealthPathways have recently been published on the Mid and North Coast HealthPathways website.  New HealthPathways Neuropsychology Assessment​ Carotid Artery Stenosis Reviewed HealthPathways Influenza Immunisation Dementia and Cognitive Impairment COPD Diagnosis and Initial Management Medications in COPD Acute Exacerbation of COPD Differentiating Asthma from COPD End-stage/Palliative COPD Management Smoking Cessation Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Rabies

Launch of the COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facility Outbreak GP Framework

COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities in Sydney and Victoria have demonstrated the critical role general practice plays in mitigating the impact of a COVID-19 outbreak for residents. For this reason, Healthy North Coast has launched the COVID-19 Residential Aged Care Facility Outbreak GP Framework to support GP coverage in residential aged care facilities.

Local Nurse Network Meetings Attended by 220+

Last week, Healthy North Coast hosted two local Nurse Network webinars that were attended by over 220 participants including nurses, GPs and allied health professionals. The topic was wound management and each session included five key elements: Networking and interaction Insight into the Wound Busters clinic Clinical Nurse Consultant presentation Vascular surgeon presentation Panel Q&A

Training Opportunity: Infection Control Skill Set

The University of New England (UNE) Partnerships program is offering 20 free places in a comprehensive Infection Control Skill Set course. The course is targeted at medical practice support staff. It will be delivered in a flexible online format. This course is an opportunity for practice support staff to develop their skills in infection prevention

TenderLink – Advertising Opportunities for Providers

Healthy North Coast commissions local services through the North Coast PHN program. This is a new way of working together to design services that best meet our community’s needs. We advertise opportunities for providers on our website and via TenderLink. You can register with TenderLink for free. As part of Healthy North Coast’s commissioning role,

Primary Care Impact: Influenza Immunisation to High Risk Group PDSAs

In our previous update, we shared news about the regionwide increase in influenza immunisations to at-risk groups (up by 11% to over 65s and people with diabetes and up 10% to people with COPD). This week, Central Pottsville Medical Centre has shared their PDSAs for increasing influenza immunisations to vulnerable groups. Using systematic PenCS data