Digital health updates for general practice – November 2020

Below are some recent updates in the area of digital health for general practice.

Webinar Opportunity: How to use My Health Record (MHR) in clinical software + Live Q&A

General Practitioners and Nurses: Choose from multiple dates and times to attend a one-hour free webinar. Learn more about how to use MHR in your practice software (see options below) via a simulation platform and participate in Q&A time with the Australian Digital Health Agency.

Choose a time suitable for you! Click the link and use the drop and menu to choose from numerous dates/ times

• Best Practice – 36 Sessions from 20 October to 10 December
• Medical Director – 38 sessions from 21 October 11 December
• Genie – 20 sessions from 19 October to 11 December
• Zedmed – 19 Sessions from 19 October to 8 December

Other Digital Health Webinars

• Recorded Webinar: GCPHN and ADHA on Electronic Prescribing for Queensland (02/09/2020)
• Recorded Webinar: Digital Health Basics – PRODA, HPOS and the Healthcare Identifier Service (29/09/2020)

Electronic Prescribing- SMS subsidy continues

The department and ADHA have agreed to continue to subsidise the cost of SMS messages for electronic prescriptions until March 31st, 2021. Prepare your practice for electronic prescribing token model. For any issues please contact digitalhealth@gcphn.com.au

Electronic Prescriptions Policies

Electronic prescriptions will give people convenient access to their medicines and will improve patient safety by reducing the risk of transcription errors.

The Department of Health has published policies related to electronic prescribing. These include:

• Electronic Prescriptions Security and Access Policy
• Electronic Prescriptions Privacy Policy
• Electronic Prescriptions Data Usage Policy

There are a number of electronic prescriptions resources, covering readiness requirements and workflow aspects, that are available.

Digital Health Resource Library available

You can access the digital health resource library here with the log in details below:

• Username: GP
• Password: digitalhealth

New MBS telehealth items guide and fact sheets

The New temporary MBS telehealth items fact sheets can be found here. This includes the new MBS telehealth item for out-of-hospital patients. Please note the temporary GP and OMP bulk billing incentive items for patients who are vulnerable to COVID-19 and the temporary doubling of all Medicare bulk-billing incentive fees ceased as of 1 October 2020.

Telehealth Video calls- Health Direct

The Australian Department of Health has extended the healthdirect Video Call COVID-19 GP Program to 31 March 2021. This extension provides a seamless continuation of service for those already using it. For GPs in private practice wanting to start using the service, please register for a free licence. For GPs in ACCHOs wanting to start using the service, please register for a free licence.

Interim arrangements for prescriptions process to support telehealth services extended

Please see the Fact Sheet outlining the extension of interim prescribing measures until March, 2021 as apart of the COVID-19 National Health Plan.

Help Desk – supporting your practice

Hi, my name is Deborah and I have recently joined Gold Coast Primary Health Network as a Project Support Officer with the Primary Health Care Engagement and Digital Health team. I have over 25 years of administration support experience and have worked within a diverse range of organisations in a variety of different positions. One of the key roles in my new position is the main point of contact for all incoming enquiries from general practices via the practice support Help Desk. If you or your practice requires assistance or information, please don’t hesitate to contact me Monday to Friday and I’d be happy to assist. Phone: 07 5612 5408 or email: practicesupport@gcphn.com.au