Position Title: Medical Receptionist
Company Name: Smart Scan – Lloyds Northside Clinic
Work Setting: Private Medical Centre
Smart Scan Skin Cancer Clinic / Lloyds Northside Clinic
4740 Mount Pleasant- Mackay.
As of 1 February 2022, these patients will not have the applicable co-payment reduction applied when their prescriptions are being dispensed. PBS General Schedule medicines prescribed under the Program have been issued for patients who are not formally registered for the Program with Services Australia. The Department is seeking your assistance to address this issue.
To ensure eligible patients are formally registered for the Program and continue to receive their PBS medicines at the reduced PBS co‑payment, we are asking that you review the registration status for any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients. Patient registration status can be checked using the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). If the patient is not formally registered with Services Australia, HPOS will indicate that the person is “inactive”. In this case you will need to contact that patient to arrange to have them assessed by either a PBS Prescriber or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner.
This issue must be rectified before 31 January 2022 to ensure all eligible Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients who have previously received their PBS General Schedule medicines under the Program can continue to do so.
Information on registering patients for the Program can be found on the Department of Health website: https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/publication/factsheets/closing-the-gap-pbs-co-payment-measure
For PBS Prescribers, if you require information on using HPOS this can be found on the Services Australia website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/medicare/closing-gap-pbs-co-payment-health-professionals/prescribers
The Department of Health appreciates the important work that Practice Managers/ PBS Prescribers do and trust that you will assist the Department in ensuring that all eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are correctly registered for the program.
Helpful videos
With over 100 providers already listed, new providers can join the map and choose to list on the publicly available version or on the private version. If listed privately, provider information is only made available to clients who call the Children by Choice information line where appropriate.
This new tool provides clear pathway information to health consumers and supports healthcare workers to confidently refer clients to appropriate services.
To view the map, visit: https://findaservice.childrenbychoice.org.au/
To sign up as a provider, click here.
A data breach occurs when there is unauthorised access to personal information (including where information has been lost), risk of serious harm to individuals to whom the information relates, or an organisation has been unable to prevent the risk of serious harm. There has been a “significant shift” in the source of data breaches. In the past human error was most frequently listed as the main cause, yet in 2021 criminal or malicious attacks were the main source. One of the most significant cyber incidents in the Australian healthcare landscape was the attack of Queensland’s Uniting Care, which forced them to turn to paper operations for over a month.
“We expect entities to have appropriate internal practices, procedures and systems in place to assess and respond to data breached involving ransomware, including a clear understanding of how and where personal information is stored across their network.” – Angelene Falk, Australian Information Commissioner and Privacy Commissioner.
If you are new to the world of data governance, or would benefit from a refresher, there are great resources available to assist you.
Managing and mitigating risk with good security governance allows your practice to operate successfully and sustainably, allowing you to focus on providing quality patient care.
Some people may be experiencing grief and bereavement because they have lost a loved one or someone they care for due to COVID-19. Others in aged care may be experiencing grief or loss due to the COVID-19 hotspot lockdowns and restrictions experienced in aged care:
The lockdowns, social isolation, and ongoing uncertainty may have caused emotional trauma. COVID-19 and the associated restrictions may have raised past trauma, for example from their home country, childhood, or past pandemic occurrences. While some people can work through these feelings and recover, others may need help.
It’s ok to seek help. The Australian Government has funded mental health, grief, trauma, and education experts to produce online resources and training modules and support you either in-person or on the phone.
Support for grief, loss, and bereavement
Many older people using aged care, their loved ones, and the staff that care for them may be experiencing grief, loss, or bereavement because of COVID-19. The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provides support, advice, and counselling in a one-to-one or group setting through phone calls, video calls, and in person.
You can free call 1800 22 22 00 for phone counselling, advice on how to help your organisation or people you care for. Visit www.aged.grief.org.au for resources. Download the ‘My Grief’ app for tips on how to help yourself, and how to support a loved one.
Resources about the impacts of trauma
COVID-19 may have exposed old or new emotional trauma. While some people recover, others may develop mental health problems and need help.
Phoenix Australia are trauma and education experts, and have developed information, tools, guidance, videos, and self-care strategies. The resources are free and available to people living and working in aged care, their friends, family and loved ones.
Go to www.phoenixaustralia.org/aged-care to download fact sheets, view webinars and use training.
Help for people living with dementia where behaviours are impacting their care
Aged care residents living with dementia may have changed behaviours because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Dementia Support Australia has a free national service providing 24-hour help, 7 days a week. Specialised engagement consultants, clinical support, plans and strategies, advice, and information services are available to people who care for someone living with dementia.
Need help managing changed behaviours? Call 1800 699 799 or visit www.dementia.com.au.
Advocacy and support
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is independent of Government and aged care providers. OPAN supports people receiving or applying for Government-subsidised aged care. The network offers free and confidential advocacy, COVID-19 advisory support and referral services for senior Australians accessing aged care, and their families and friends.
Call OPAN on 1800 700 600, 6am-10pm, 7 days a week, or visit www.opan.com.au.
Free, confidential, and accessible
All services and resources are free, confidential and respect your culture, religion, identity, and lifestyles. Translated brochures in 64 languages and an Indigenous design, and posters are available for download and to order in print on the program resources page. Trauma fact sheets are available on the Phoenix website, and Grief fact sheets are available on the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement website.
Interpreting is also available, call 131 450 for Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS), ask for your language to connect. Or call 1300 010 877 for Auslan Connections, email interpreter.bookings@deafservices.org.au, fax 07 3892 8511 or SMS 0407 647 591.
Complementing existing mental health supports
The Grief and Trauma Support Program complements existing Australian Government-supported mental health services. Crisis support is available from Lifeline and Beyond Blue, see Health to Health for more services or see your GP.
For more information
Visit the Australian Government Department of Health website or contact: ageing.and.diversity@health.gov.au
The Whitsunday Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce Consultation Paper was developed by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) on behalf of the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday Regional Councils, in collaboration with the Whitsunday, Isaac and Mackay Suicide Prevention Community Action Planning Group, and the Mackay Hospital and Health Service.
The paper identifies six areas for improvement to provide a foundation for action that encompasses local, place-based interventions as well as longer term service system change approaches. The paper also highlights the increased complexity of suicide rates in relation to rurality and recommends consideration of geographical location when developing and resourcing interventions.
With the provision of preliminary funding confirmed for the Greater Whitsunday Council of Mayors Suicide Prevention Taskforce, the Greater Whitsundays Communities - the regional peak for social development – will progress action-planning activities that leverage the findings of this report and local intel. It is envisaged that as a community collective, the taskforce with initial funding will deliver interventions to reduce and prevent suicide in the greater Whitsunday region.
To read the report, click here.
Smithfield Central Doctors in Cairns are seeking a full or part-time permanent GP to ease the patient volume for the current doctors. This is a very busy clinic, with built in efficiencies so that doctors can spend more time seeing patients.
Clinical independence When it comes to patients, you are free to practise medicine how you choose to. Enjoy full clinical and billing autonomy.
Professional support Smithfield Central Doctors look after important business functions such as marketing, finance, human resources, legal, and accreditation, so you can focus more on what you love – patient care and growing your practice.
Professional development Smithfield Central Doctors provide opportunities to develop your areas of special interest to help you learn and grow as a GP. Their Fullerton Health Academy provides their GPs with in-house professional development and education.
Opening hours:
All the corporate benefits, with a family touch. Their medical centres are part of the Fullerton Health Medical Centres network. This means you get the corporate assistance but can still practice independently in your community.
They offer a wide range of services including family medicine, skin cancer surgery, chronic disease, diabetes care and much more.
Smithfield Central Doctors is part of the Fullerton Health Australia group.
If you would like to know more about this role or wish to make a confidential application, please contact Ros Williams at ros.williams@fullertonhealth.com.au or on 0427 627 175.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network’s (NQPHN) Vaccine Works campaign spotlights the region’s vaccinating general practices and pharmacies and focuses on the primary care sector’s highly successful role in increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland.
In Ingham, two general practices and three pharmacies are currently vaccinating the local community:
As of today (27 October 2021), Ingham Family Medical Practice and Hinchinbrook Health Care have together delivered more than 10,000 COVID vaccines to the wider Hinchinbrook community, which has one of the highest COVID vaccination rates in Queensland.
Hinchinbrook Health Care has been vaccinating the local Ingham community since the vaccination rollout program began earlier this year.
“We’ve been actively involved in vaccinating our community against COVID-19, and have been flat out since March,” said Dr Stewart Jackson, GP at Hinchinbrook Health Care.
“We have a supportive community who respect GP advice and I feel this has contributed to a high take-up rate.
“At our peak we were administering 200 vaccines a day, as well as doing core general practice work. As you can imagine, our practice waiting room was insanely busy!
“Our job is a long way from being finished, but we have the best nursing and front office staff who assist in running efficient clinics, and we are proud to contribute to the public health battle against this disease.”
Ingham Family Medical Practice has innovative ways of ensuring patients are comfortable during the vaccination process.
“We have kangaroos on site, cared for by one of our nurses and there to entertain the patients, who love coming along to see the animals while they wait outside on the veranda with music in the background and a cool breeze blowing through,” said Practice Manager Jessica Lavarini.
“We have great experience and teamwork, with our practice nurses and reception staff really stepping up and managing the situation with calm efficiency.
“We know we cannot live forever isolated and believe that we have done an amazing job as a community to vaccinate as many of the at risk as we can.
“Our sympathies for those whose lives and employment have been greatly affected throughout the pandemic, but hopefully as the situation goes forward and people continue to be vaccinated, we will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo said he believes the early intervention work done at the start of the vaccination rollout had played a major role in the high vaccination rate for the Ingham community.
“People in our district recognised early on that the elderly are among the most vulnerable and because of our caring nature, everyone hooked in and got the job done to lessen the risk to our community,” said Mayor Jayo.
“I have no doubt it was the early intervention and initiative from our medical practitioners and how hard they pushed and publicly campaigned which convinced their patients to get vaccinated, and they should be rightly commended for this.”
Andrew Giliberto from Hinchinbrook Community Pharmacy said his pharmacy felt privileged to be a part of vaccinating the local community to protect them against COVID-19.
“Hinchinbrook Shire has a largely ageing population, therefore it is of paramount importance that each and every member of our community do their part to protect their neighbours, family, and friends.
“Hinchinbrook Community Pharmacy is proud to be on the frontline of the vaccine rollout to safeguard the people of the Lower Herbert and beyond.”
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte praised Ingham’s vaccinating GPs and pharmacies and said the primary care sector is playing a key role in the ever-increasing rate of COVID-19 vaccinations across North Queensland.
“Our Vaccine Works campaign is about showcasing our local primary care providers for all the amazing work they’ve done over the past few months to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland and protect our community,” Ms Whyte said.
“Primary care plays a vital role in the national vaccination rollout program, as it has the capacity to vaccinate in a distributed model by offering place-based solutions in local communities.
“North Queensland, due to its geography, presents unique challenges and opportunities, and the incredible work of general practices and pharmacies in our region will support us to reach our vaccination targets sooner rather than later.”
In North Queensland, there are currently 135 general practices, 115 pharmacies, 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and four GP-led Respiratory Clinics administering COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna).
To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, including at Queensland Health clinics, people are encouraged to use the Australian Government’s official COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au