Issue 10, March 2010
Welcome
Keeping up the pace in 2010, we find ourselves in ‘Mad March’ already. So far this year, AHCSA has celebrated our first anniversary in the ‘new’ premises and had our AGM and first full board meeting for the year.
We would like to congratulate Yvonne Buza on her re-election as AHCSA Chairperson and Wayne Oldfield on his appointment as Deputy Chair. AHCSA would also like to thank all the outgoing/incoming Board members on their commitment and dedication to their services and as representatives on the AHCSA Board.
In the past few months, new staff members have joined AHCSA and it is expected that there will be further new appointments during the year. We welcome Kathryn Freeman, Michael Larkin, Merridie Macaitis, Gilbert Rigney and Paul Elliott.
Other activities that AHCSA has been involved in are a Sexual Health workshop, Accreditation workshop, Aboriginal Primary Health Care Workers Forum, first class of the year for the Research course, Education and Training member services’ training, continued liaison with key stakeholders, and directives from COAG initiatives.
There’s lots more news to follow which I hope you will enjoy reading.
If you have any queries about CEO Communiqué, please telephone Alison Hambour on
(08) 8273 7200 or email alison.hambour@ahcsa.org.au
Kind Regards
Mary Buckskin
Chief Executive Officer
NACCHO Update
Check out what is happening in other states and at the national level by reading the latest NACCHO Newsletter at http://www.naccho.org.au/communications/takenote.html
Good Medicines Better Health (QUM)
We are pleased to advise that the national roll out of the GMBH Program is going ahead and will be implemented over the next four years, commencing in South Australia and Victoria. The program is funded by the National Prescribing Service (NPS). More detailed information will be sent out when AHCSA has finalised the contract with NPS. Michele Robinson will continue to manage the project.
National QUMAX Conference
Over 150 delegates from Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia attended the National QUMAX Conference in Melbourne on 18-19 March.
The QUMAX (Quality Use of Medicines Maximised for Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islanders) is a program that means more Aboriginal people get the medicines they need.
Delegates included Doctors, Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses and management who work in ACCHSs, the Pharmacists working with these services, and the community pharmacists providing QUMAX services to their clients.
An update of QUMAX participation was given, highlighting that as at the beginning of February 2010, 20,230 clients at 68 participating ACCHSs had received prescriptions as well as advice and Dose Administration Aids. In addition, 284,414 medicines had been prescribed and 131,364 prescriptions dispensed.
An independent evaluation of the program for the government by Urbis Pty Ltd, was also presented. The evaluation documented outcomes showing more patient visits to services, earlier clinic visits for acute infections, better medication adherence, improved control of chronic disease, and stronger interest by patients in managing their own health.
Delegates looked at changes to the scheme under the COAG Chronic Disease Package and shared ideas about improving the quality use of medicines.
Last 2 Rounds of Accreditation Program
The Establishing Quality Health Standards (EQHS) accreditation support program is now in the last 18 months of its four year term and there is only two funding rounds left for services to apply for support – 1 April 2010 and 15 September 2010. Also, services which would like to engage a Facilitator from the OATSIH Facilitator Panel now have until 31 August 2010 to do so.
Services which would like to apply for clinical and/or organisational support can seek further information from the AHCSA Accreditation Support Officer Paul Ryan.
As part of the launch of some accreditation resources developed through the EQHS program, AHCSA will be holding a Quality, Safety & Accreditation Workshop from 5– 7 May. The workshop will include sessions such as clinical governance, management of IT infrastructure, policy development and implementation, complaints handling, and development of quality improvement systems. AHCSA has secured funding for two representatives from each member service to attend and a formal invitation will be sent to member services shortly.
For more information or assistance with accreditation please call Paul Ryan on 8273 7200 or email paul.ryan@ahcsa.org.au
Puyu Wiya
AHCSA’s Statewide Tobacco Control Coordinator Harold Stewart has been working with SA Health and Quit SA to support the SA Health Smokefree Policy and also with Damien Shen of Drug and Alcohol Services SA on the social marketing campaign for the Aboriginal community.
On 29 March, Harold will be attending the National Tobacco Control Technical Reference Group meeting in Canberra as one of NACCHO’s representatives. The meeting will discuss the COAG tobacco positions to be funded in each state.
Education & Training
The E&TT team has started visiting communities and has contacted all 100 students on the waiting lists. Monique Williams has been appointed Team Leader to assist with the appointment of five new trainers.
Following the appointment of new staff, the team now comprises Graham Williams (Manager), Gilbert Rigney (Clinical Educator), Kathryn Freeman (Clinical Educator and AMIC Facilitator), Dianne Schultz (Clinical Educator), Merridie Macaitis (TAA Trainer), and Paul Elliott (Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing Trainer).
Public Health Network
An AHCSA Public Health Network teleconference has now been established by the Public Health Medical Officer. The network allows AHCSA member services to keep up-to-date with public health developments in AHCSA and other services. This is particularly useful during a public health emergency such as the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. The network also provides the opportunity to share information which has proven useful.
Teleconferences are held on the last Wednesday of each month and minutes are forwarded to the CEOs. Any staff members from AHCSA member services who wish to participate are encouraged to do so.
Blood Borne Virus Prevention
AHCSA has received funding to conduct an Aboriginal blood borne virus prevention needs assessment to improve understanding of the barriers and enablers impacting on access to clean needle programs for Aboriginal people in South Australia who inject drugs.
Michael Larkin has joined AHCSA to conduct the needs assessment, and has been working with member services from 1 February. The assessment will be completed by 30 June 2010.
Sexual Health Update
Planning for the 2010 STI Screening Program has begun and it is anticipated that most, if not all, AHCSA member services will participate in the six week program commencing on 12 April.
Clinton Dadleh, Coordinator for the Sexual Health Program, has been working with Health Promotions Student, Carolyn Boddington, on the development of some Aboriginal specific printed resources with safe sex messages which will be rolled out for the screening program.
Currently, AHCSA is in the process of recruiting Sexual Health Project Support Officers to assist with STI screening. Casual staff will also be employed during the six week program to assist with screening activities in health services as required.
The STI/BBV Network Group will continue throughout 2010 with representatives from a number of key agencies responsible for delivering Hep C and HIV/AIDS Action Plans.
AHCSA News
The March edition of AHCSA News will be out in the next couple of weeks. AHCSA News is printed and distributed three times per year. If you do not currently receive a copy and would like to be added to the distribution list, please call Amanda Mitchell on 8273 7200 or email amanda.mitchell@ahcsa.org.au
Disclaimer
CEO Communiqué is copyright to the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Inc. (AHCSA). No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Chief Executive Officer of AHCSA. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is accurate, errors and omissions may occur. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and ask that you click the unsubscribe link below.
To unsubscribe click here >> unsubscribe
To subscribe click here >> subscribe