Jingeri. Welcome.
17 February 2022
Welcome to Brisbane South PHN's weekly newsletter for primary health care providers. If you would like to get in contact with us, please email support@bsphn.org.au
Happy reading!
IMPORTANT: The official guidance underpinning the health advice in this publication is rapidly evolving; in some rare instances information may be already out of date at the time of publication. Please always check links provided for the latest information.
COVID-19 news
Serving the region – Brisbane South PHN update
This week at Brisbane South PHN, we are:
- Calling all general practices to raise awareness about 1) COVID care escalation and referrals in HealthPathways and 2) the Brisbane South GP Clinical Decision Support phone line.
- Improving the clinical information available on HealthPathways based on feedback from the GP Clinical Decision Support line.
- Working with Queensland Health, Health Direct and Consumers Health Queensland to improve care for culturally and linguistically diverse people and their families with COVID-19.
- Coordinating additional in-reach vaccination clinics for residential aged care facilities.
- Preparing for a new national approach to PPE distribution.
- Supporting vaccine excess dose management and further Novovax expression of interest (EOI) submissions.
Clinical updates
Guidance on new treatments for COVID-19
There are now a number of treatments available for management of COVID-19, with most of these currently only available through Metro South Hospital and Health Service (HHS). Information and guidelines on the use of these treatments is being published on SpotOnHealth HealthPathways as it becomes available. Don’t forget to check 'What’s changed?' at the top of the COVID-19 pathways for recent updates.
GPs considering the prescription of disease-modifying treatments, including new oral antivirals being pre-placed in residential aged care facilities and Aboriginal Medical Services for out-of-hospital treatment, can seek clinical advice from Metro South HHS specialists. Contact details can be found on COVID-19 Requests.
If you are a GP working in the greater Brisbane south region seeking access to SpotOnHealth HealthPathways, contact covidsupport@bsphn.org.au or call the GP Clinical Decision Support Line on (07) 3493 4899 for the login details.
The Department of Health have also recently offered webinars for the primary care and aged care sectors detailing the administration of the new COVID-19 oral antiviral medications.
ATAGI statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination
In their clinical guidance for the use of COVID-19 vaccines, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), has revised their guidance on what is considered ‘up-to-date' vaccination status. The policy implications of these recommendations will be worked through at a state and national level, with ATAGI recommending the changes take effect at the end of March 2022.
We encourage all health and community services to promote booster doses to their staff and teams, and to ensure processes are in place to record due dates for staff booster doses.
A summary of these recommendations includes:
- Individuals aged 16 years and over will be considered ‘overdue’ if a booster has not been received within 6 months of completing their primary schedule.
- Children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years are up-to-date after completion of a primary course (2 doses) of the vaccine. A booster dose is not currently recommended for this age group.
- Severely immunocompromised individuals aged 5 years and over require a third primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from 2 months (and no later than 6 months) after dose 2, to remain up to date.
- Individuals who have had prior COVID-19, including asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, still require completion of the above vaccination schedule, but can defer receiving their next dose for up to 4 months following their infection.
Recommendation on the use of inhaled budesonide in adults and children
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has published conditional recommendations on the use of inhaled budesonide in adults and children who have COVID-19. They recommend inhaled budesonide be considered within 14 days of symptom onset in adults with COVID-19 who do not require oxygen and have one or more risk factors for disease progression. Budesonide is safe to use in pregnant and breastfeeding/chestfeeding people.
TGA provisionally approves Vaxzeria (AstraZeneca) for booster doses
On Tuesday 8 February 2022, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approved the AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster vaccine for individuals aged 18 years and above. The decision to receive AstraZeneca as a booster must be made in consultation with a medical professional. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines Comirnaty (Pfizer) or Spikevax (Moderna) are preferred as booster doses in Australia, irrespective of the primary COVID-19 vaccine used. This includes people who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for their primary course.
Vaccine rollout
Ongoing expression of interest for Novavax and Moderna
129 general practices in Brisbane South are participating in Novavax vaccination, with the first 45 commencing next week. Brisbane South PHN continues to facilitate ongoing EOIs to all COVID-19 vaccinating general practices interested in administering Novavax and/or Moderna.
If your practice is not participating in the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and would still like to be involved, you can email covidsupport@bsphn.org.au for further information.
Enhancement to the COVID-19 digital certificate
The COVID-19 digital certificate has recently been enhanced to display all COVID-19 vaccinations an individual has received, including booster doses. Previously, the COVID-19 digital certificate only displayed the 2 most recent vaccinations. Individuals that have received a booster dose prior to 23 January 2022 will need to regenerate their COVID-19 digital certificate for it to recognise their additional COVID-19 vaccinations.
Resources
COVID-19 escalation pathway
A COVID-19 escalation pathway infographic has been published on the Queensland Health COVID-19 information for primary care webpage. The infographic outlines what to do when your COVID-19 patient requires a high level of care.
Other news
Does your health care organisation use Electronic Prescriptions, Secure Messaging, Medicare look ups or My Health Record?
All of these services require a valid NASH certificate. The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) and Services Australia have announced that on Sunday 13 March 2022 many NASH certificates (SHA-1 National Authentication Service for Health) will expire and health care organisations need to apply for a new SHA-2 NASH certificate. This new certificate has been developed to meet advancing technology and security requirements.
Act now to ensure no disruptions to these systems and patient care. Check your NASH certificate expiry date by logging into HPOS.
Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) to address shortage of abatacept (Orencia)
In January 2022, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was notified about shortages of multiple presentations of abatacept (rch) 125 mg (Orencia) product due to manufacturing reasons.
The TGA has implemented a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) to address the shortage of Orencia abatacept 125 mg single dose ClickJect prefilled autoinjectors and Orencia abatacept 125 mg single dose syringes, until 30 April 2022. Orencia is used to treat several types of arthritis including rheumatoid, psoriatic, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The SSSI will allow timely access for patients using abatacept (Orencia) formulations during the shortage.
Both Orencia products are in short supply and have limited availability, thus they are both declared scarce and substitutable medicines, making the medicines effectively interchangeable.
This means patients who are prescribed one of the following can be given either product by their pharmacist:
- Orencia abatacept (rch) 125 mg single dose ClickJect prefilled autoinjector ARTG 236039
OR - Orencia abatacept (rch) 125 mg single dose syringe subcutaneous injection ARTG 206764
Specified medicines supplied in accordance with the SSSI are subsidised by the PBS.
It is likely that patients will ask the prescriber, rheumatologist, General Practitioner, nurse, or pharmacist how to administer the substitute Orencia product.
New digital technology online learning modules
Brisbane South PHN’s Learning Management System, DiscoverPHN enables self-service upskilling within the health care sector and is relevant for all staff working within general practice, including nurses and General Practitioners, community pharmacy, specialist clinics and allied health.
The online learning system houses 26 digital technology modules that are short (5 minutes each), relevant and practical.
The modules cover a range of topics such as:
- telehealth (healthdirect) and virtual care
- My Health Record
- CAT4 Clinical audit tool
- supporting NASH certificate renewals
- accessing HPOS/PRODA – which is useful for health care organisations to apply for PIPs or SIPs, look up patient details and do business with Services Australia
- Electronic Prescriptions that support patient choice, reduce adverse effects from medicine mismanagement and provide a comprehensive medicine list.
These learning modules are crucial in facilitating upskilling within the health care sector, and also allow for patient support during the COVID-19 pandemic when face-to-face care may be impacted.
Workforce development and training
Brisbane South PHN
Other education
Improve the identification and recording of children and young people in care within your practice
Children in statutory care are known to have poorer physical, developmental and mental health outcomes compared with their peers. Young people in care are at higher risk of being victimised, abused, marginalised, excluded, and/or experiencing unsafe situations that leave them vulnerable to potentially traumatic experiences.
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ) have developed a quality improvement toolkit to assist general practices to improve the identification and recording of children and young people in care, including carer and child safety centres.
This quality improvement toolkit is to be used in general practice to:
- Ensure systems are in place at your practice to manage children and young people in care, including always booking a longer appointment, uploading important information to My Health Record and ensuring continuity of care is maintained (reminders, recalls).
- Outline the assessment and planning process, and how to access relevant templates.
- Identify MBS item numbers available for children and young people in care.
To request practice support, contact the quality improvement team at support@bsphn.org.au.
SpotOnHealth HealthPathways – depression in adults
Did you know that e-mental health services can be as effective as face-to-face services, and are a useful tool given that there is currently high demand for psychological services? Find out more about depression in adults on SpotOnHealth HealthPathways.
If you are a clinician working in the Brisbane south, Redlands, Logan or Scenic Rim catchments, request the SpotOnHealth HealthPathways username and password by calling 07 3156 4346 (Monday to Friday) or request online below.
MBS telehealth funding extended for healthdirect Video Calls
The Australian government has announced extended MBS funding for video-based telehealth consultations. healthdirect Video Call is the nationally preferred video consultation service, providing a secure, private platform that ensures all calls are fully encrypted. Over 2 million video consults have occurred in the past 2 years and 70% of consumers believe all GPs should offer video consultations.
healthdirect Australia offers free, unlimited video calling services and registration is easy. Register now and join the 282 primary care providers already taking advantage of the system across the Brisbane south region.
The benefits of healthdirect Video Call include:
- observation and examination of the patient to provide a more holistic consultation than non-video media
- enhanced access and patient-centred care for people living in rural or remote areas, those with transportation difficulties or reduced mobility, as well as people accessing care while under isolation precautions
- mimicking traditional appointment processes as it includes waiting rooms, secure consultation spaces and transfer to reception staff for payment and booking follow up appointments
- ability to share documents and images that may assist with communication and information understanding.
Click the registration link to have one of the Brisbane South PHN team members set up your free account and provide training to get your practice started with healthdirect Video Call.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, and of the many different nations across the wider Brisbane south region. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging, as the holders of the memories, the traditions, the culture and the spiritual wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation. We acknowledge any Sorry Business that may be affecting the communities as a whole. In the spirit of reconciliation, partnership and mutual respect, we will continue to work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to shape a health system which responds to the needs and aspirations of the community.
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While the Australian Government has contributed funding for this material, it has not reviewed the content and is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided herein.