Information for GPs
Improving clinical sexual health expertise in Rural Victoria – focusing on the Hume Region.
AIM: to enhance and improve access to expert clinical sexual health services for those at highest risk.
What we can offer GPs
In order to meet CERSH objectives, CERSH is partnering with Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) to provide professional development and clinical support to health professionals (with particular focus on GPs) already working in the Hume region.
The following is a list of what could be offered to interested GPs working in the Hume Region:
Sexual Health Training for Health Professionals at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
1. Lecture series on Sexual Health topics on DVDs
These topics include topics such as herpes, warts, PID, vaginal discharge, urethral discharge plus many others. The DVDs contain lectures given by experienced sexual health physicians on relevant up to date topics. They can be listened to and watched at your own convenience, at home or in your surgery
2. Formal Post Graduate Education in Sexual Health (SH)
Study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health or a Masters in Public Health (MPH) with a sexual health specialisation. Post Graduate education through MSHC and University of Melbourne in Sexual Health is available by distance education or in the classroom. This includes studying for the Post Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health or studying at Masters level and completing the Sexual Health subjects as part of a Masters degree giving you specialised qualifications in Sexual Health.
http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/future/coursework/sexual_health#certificate
http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/100389/2009_Subjects.pdf
3. Short Courses in Sexual Health Medicine
Short courses, both assessed or unassessed, are available by distance education (lectures on DVDs) or in classroom mode at MSHC in Carlton, Melbourne. Courses include sexual and reproductive health, control of STIs, sexually transmissible infections, adolescent sexuality and sexual health and sexual function and dysfunction.
4. Clinical Experience
Come and be part of the clinical team at MSHC for a week. Learn about STIs in the clinical setting. This option offers unique clinical experience in STI medicine and enables relationships to be established with senior clinical staff that will foster on going mentorship and support in your own clinical practice.
A weeks’ experience of sitting in clinics at MSHC can include attendance at journal club and other academic meetings occurring in that week. Clinics offer experience in the routine management of gonorrhoea, herpes, chlamydia and its complications, warts and syphilis as well as screening of MSM and sex workers amongst other things. In addition other more specialised experience is available such as laboratory diagnosis, colposcopy, HIV, dermatology in sexual health and sexual health counselling. A week of clinical experience can be tailored according to your needs and interests.
5. Other educational sessions delivered in your own practice
We can deliver whole practice multi disciplinary training sessions aimed at enabling all staff to become skilled and trained in issues pertinent to sexual health. Such issues include confidentiality, competence to consent for young people, making your workplace adolescent friendly and many others. We can visit and tailor make sessions according to your needs.
CERSH will also organise, resource and co-ordinate training seminars, sessions, forums or workshops for allied health and medical professionals in Shepparton.
6. 1800 Sexual Health Physician on call
MSHC provides a specialist sexual health physician call line for GPs and other health practitioners working in the community. Health practitioners can call
1800 009 903 between 9am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 5pm Monday to Friday to receive support and advice relating to the diagnosis, testing and treatment of STIs.
7. Courses specifically designed for nurses.
MSHC also provides a 6 -7 day course for nurses to improve their skills in sexual health.
http://www.mshc.org.au/Portals/3/clinical_sex_repro_health_pamp_2010.pdf
8. Other courses
CERSH is prepared to negotiate with any program that is aimed at improving sexual health clinical expertise for GPs, doctors and nurses in the Goulburn Valley region that is not covered on this website.
Resources available
CERSH will provide funding to support clinical professional development for any health professional working in the Hume or surrounding regions of Victoria. The level of financial support provided is negotiated on a one to one basis.
For further information regarding financial resources available to undertake any of the sexual health training outlined on this website contact either:
Associate Professor Jane Tomnay
Director, Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health
University of Melbourne
Tel: 58234527
Email: jtomnay@unimelb.edu.au
OR
Beth Hatch
Senior Project Co-ordinator, Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health
University of Melbourne
Tel: 58234529
Email: bhatch@unimelb.edu.au
What is required in return from GPs participating in this program?
Any GP participating is this program is expected to provide in their own practice accessible sexual health consultations to high risk patients (young people, men who have sex with men, indigenous patients, some culturally and linguistically diverse patients originating from high prevalence countries).
This may include (but is not restricted to) allocating an agreed number of appointments per day/week for the purpose of sexual health consultations which are fully accessible to high risk groups. These consultations should be bulk billed, outside of normal school hours, provided in a non judgemental manner, and maintain the absolute confidentiality of the patient.
These terms are negotiable between individual GPs and the Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH).
For further information on the training available via MSHC contact:
Dr. Hennie Williams, Sexual Health Physician , Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health, Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne) on hwilliams@mshc.org.au or on 03 9341 6249 or visit our website at www.mshc.org.au
Professional Development Seminars for Doctors
CERSH in Partnership with GVDiv GP will be holding a:
GP Education Evening – Sexual Health and Sexually Transmissible Infections
31/08/2011 : Wednesday
The Carrington
Function Room
Wyndham St
Shepparton
Further details to follow
CERSH will organize a GP Evening in Shepparton
14/11/2011: Monday
Guest Speaker : Dr Tom Shulz (RMH), Infectious Diseases Physician ,Refugee Health Fellow
Topic: ‘Infections in Immigrants, including Hepatitis, What could it be ?”
Further details to follow