ASMH welcome new prescribers. To take part in the HIV s100 Community Prescriber Program, GPs and Nurse Practitioners need to fulfil an initial accreditation process: 

1. Complete an accredited HIV prescriber training course, including prerequisite online learning and post course online assessment, or apply for recognition of prior knowledge.
2. Complete a self-directed learning exercise of approximately 4 hours, in which participants choose their own activity, identify learning objectives and reflect on their learning, evidenced in a brief report. Options include advanced reading, clinical placement and online Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Click HERE for more information on the reinforcing activity.
3. Access appropriate support from senior clinicians working in an HIV/Sexual Health Clinic in a public hospital, or specialised GP with an HIV/Sexual Health expertise. ASHM can put you in contact with a specialist in your area. Click HERE for more information on clinical placement.
4. Complete an Application Form for HIV Prescribing, which ASHM will provide.
5. Be committed to¿ongoing HIV-specific continuing professional development (CPD)

For more information on how to become a prescriber, please refer to contact us at HIVPrescriber@ashm.org.au.

                                                                                                   

In Australia, current legislation states that only an HBVs100 prescriber, sexual health physician or hospital based specialist can initiate HBV treatment. The current Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) Registration Standard for Continuing Professional Development (the Standards) state NPs must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD per registration period as a Registered Nurse and an additional 10 hours for NP endorsement. The prescriber course is 8 hours in length; providing a substantial contribution to NP CPD requirements. Please see the attached document titled Course Program for a breakdown of how the course provides 8 hours of learning. The pre-requisite activity Hepatitis B Introductory Online Modules offers 2 additional hours of learning, and a certificate of completion is provided upon completion of the pre-requisite activity. Please see Hepatitis B Online Modules Certificate for a copy of the certificate provided. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who successfully complete all components of the HBV s100 Community Prescriber Course (‘prescriber course’) go on to be accredited HBV s100 prescribers, providing access to HBV treatment and care for people living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the community.

Through a mixed modality of learning, including online learning modules, live webinars, case discussions and written assignments, NPs will update their knowledge and skills in the following areas:

1. The critical role of primary care in the diagnosis, management and treatment of people living with chronic hepatitis B

2. Planning long-term care, including guideline-based monitoring and hepatocellular carcinoma screening, for patients with chronic hepatitis B

3. Selecting and prescribing first-line antiviral treatment when clinically indicated

4. Identifying situations where specialist advice or referral is required

5. Integrating principles of person-centred and culturally competent care into hepatitis B management A full list of learning outcomes is provided in the attached document, titled Learning Outcomes. The training course is supported by a prerequisite activity.

This is a 2-hour, 3 part set of introductory modules titled Hepatitis B Introductory Online Modules. After completing the modules, NPs will have gained the following knowledge and understanding to support their entry to the prescriber course:

• Describing principles of guideline-based testing for hepatitis B

• Explaining transmission of hepatitis B and the principles of prevention, including contact tracing and vaccination

• Planning initial clinical assessment of patients with chronic hepatitis B

• Integrating principles of person-centred and culturally competent care into hepatitis B management

The online modules provide participants with foundational core knowledge for becoming an HBV s100 prescriber, and are relevant to NPs, GPs and other health practitioners with an interest in CHB or who may see people living with CHB in their practice. The online modules use a variety of interactive formats to reinforce knowledge, such as case studies, clickable hot grids, videos and multiple-choice questions.

For further details contact: Rachel Bryne - rachel.byrne@ashm.org.au

Next Course:

There are 4 sessions in this advanced course:

• Session 1: Tuesday 18 May, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (AEST)

• Session 2: Thursday 20 May, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (AEST)

• Session 3: Tuesday 25 May, 6:00pm -8:00pm (AEST)

• Session 4: Thursday 27 May, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (AEST)

                                                                                        

 

Treatment with direct acting antivirals is easier than ever.

Attend ASHM’s free Hepatitis C for Nurse Practitioners course on Thursday 29 April and Thursday 06 May (2-part course) to be provided with the skills and confidence to diagnose, assess, manage and treat hepatitis C. This course is a blend of self-directed activities and facilitated training.
 

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the risk factors for HCV infection, enabling effective screening and prevention education
• Demonstrate competence conducting and interpreting tests to diagnose HCV
• Recognise risk factors, clinical signs, symptoms and complications of liver disease
• Demonstrate understanding of DAA therapy for the treatment of HCV and competence in selecting appropriate therapy
• Describe recommended on-treatment monitoring and post-treatment follow up protocols
   

This activity is endorsed by the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) for 5.75 CPD hours and is funded by EC Australia.

Please click here to register, or contact Tyler Davis at  tyler.davis@ashm.org.au or 0435 790 489 should you have any questions.

                                                     

Rethink Obesity 4Forums is developed and delivered in a way that is aligned with adult learning principles.

• A series of four practically relevant educational ‘forums’ that follow key aspects in the ‘journey of obesity management’, primarily relevant to primary care

• Each forum to focus on four essential key points only to ensure learnings are focussed, easily understood and remembered

• Each forum is 40 minutes long (25 minutes of panel discussion + 15 minutes Q&A) • Each forum is developed by an independent steering committee and hosted by 2 obesity experts (different for each forum) to ensure content is relevant to the audience

• Each forum facilitated by an external expert with experience in hosting educational events (non-HCP, health journalist)

• Attendees can watch the forum live or view ‘on-demand’ in their own time after the event

• Attendees can provide feedback on their learning after each forum

• July 7th: Four key points every HCP should know about obesity and women’s health
• July 14th: Four practical points to optimise weight loss in men with obesity
• July 21st: Four key insights on the weight loss journey from the patient’s perspective
• July 28th: Four expert recommendations to simplify the weight management consultation

Contact: Anna Chiapasco - Product Manager – Obesity; ANCC@novonordisk.com

Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Day

Update

We have released a group discount code for the Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Day. For reduced price of $125 per person use discount code ASRHGROUP in the registration form. https://ashm.eventsair.com/joint-hivaids-and-sh-conferences-2021/asrh-day-registration/Site/Register

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A future fit for reproductive health and rights by 2050 will be held on Thursday 9 September 2021. This day will sit within the Joint Australasian Sexual Health and HIV&AIDS Conferences. The introduction of a stand-alone reproductive health day within the Australasian Sexual Health and HIV&AIDS Joint Conference is a natural and obvious synergy. It acknowledges that to achieve positive health outcomes, sexual health and reproductive interventions must be closely aligned.  This integration will provide opportunities for professional development and networking across disciplines, encouraging a broader engagement across research, clinical management, prevention, to ensure best practice and policy.

The day’s program has been put together by a team of experts from the sector – details can be found at the website. The program focuses on securing the future of reproductive health and rights, concentrating on leadership, technology, workforce, community and civil society and their role in achieving universal access to
contraception, abortion and preventing reproductive coercion.