Health Professionals

COVID-19 Update #3 - 26 March 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 has led to changes to patient referrals into Barwon Health Outpatient Services.

All clinical service changes will be made available and regularly updated via Health Pathways:  COVID-19 Impact on Local Services

COVID-19 Update #2 - 19 March 2020

Please see below a Barwon Health COVID-19 GP Update (19 March) and a decal for your practice window.

 The decal includes:

• Important Information for Patients – allowing you to insert your practice phone number for patients to call before entering your practice
• Phone number for Victorian Coronavirus Community Hotline (24/7)
• Website details for DHHS

Click here for the latest GP Information (18 March)

Information includes:

• Who testing is for (with links to the definition who meet requirements)
• Advice for GPs regarding initial screening
• Referral advice for “well” patients
• Advice moving forward for the Appointment Only testing clinic
• Moderately unwell patients that require urgent medical assessment, and
• Advice for patients that have tested positive that don’t require transfer to hospital

COVID-19 Update #1 - 17 March 2020

Barwon Health recognises the critical role of the GPs in managing their patients and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

• General Public enquiries – DHHS Hotline: 1800 675 398
• Patients suspected with COVID-19, GP Hotline to contact Triage Service 4215 4445  
• Patients suspected with COVID-19 who are unwell and need medical treatment, GP to contact UHG ED Consultant In-Charge 4215 0136
• Patients Suspected with COVID-19 that require immediate medical care, call Triple Zero (000)

GP Liaison Unit will continue to update the notice board as information becomes available. GP Liaison: ph. 4215 8845

Barwon Health North opening Tuesday 28 January 2020

Address: 155 Princess Highway, Norlane

Phone 4215 8000 Fax 4215 8086

Urgent Care Centre - Open 7 days, 2pm - 10pm

Patients attending the Urgent Care Centre will be triaged and treated under a Barwon Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Lead. Telehealth consultation to University Hospital Geelong's Emergency Department will be undertaken as required.

Discharge Summaries

All patients attending the Urgent Care Centr will have a discharge summary completed for their attendance. Should your patient present to you without their discharge summary, please contact Barwon Health GP Liaison Unit on 4215 8845 to receive a faxed copy.

Cyber Security Update – 6 December 2019

Pulse download update for General Practice.

Secure fax communication has been working for the past 2 weeks.

Secure Pulse email connection will be re-established this week.  Practices may experience a larger than normal volume of correspondence traffic when this commences.

If you are requiring Emergency Department summaries, these are still being printed and handed to the patient, with urgent discharge summaries being faxed directly to the General Practitioner. You can contact the Emergency Department Administration Team on 4215 0107 between 0800 – 1600 or on 4215 0112 After Hours.

Interim Discharge Summaries is still a manual process of printing and faxing.

There will be further updates as systems and communication channels are restored.

On behalf of Barwon Health and the GP Liaison Unit, we would like to thank you for your patience whilst we work through the current cyber security incident.

Cyber Security Incident Update - Tuesday 19 November 2019

Pulse download update for General Practice.

Secure fax communication has been working for the past 2 weeks.

Secure Pulse email connection will be re-established this week.  Practices may experience a larger than normal volume of correspondence traffic when this commences.

For any assistance please contact GP Liaison Unit 4215 8845.

Cyber Security Incident Update - Friday 1 November 2019

Barwon Health (BH) is currently finalising processes to enable restoration of its secure messaging service to external clinicians. We anticipate reconnection will occur early next week.

Practices should be aware that since 30 September 2019, electronic patient imaging reports have been queued awaiting distribution (via Pulse) either direct to Practice Management Software or via automated fax. Upon reconnection these historical reports (including BH electronic patient communications from 14/10/2019) will start to transfer to clinics via their usual configured pathway.

In the interim, BMI will continue to manually fax imaging reports until Barwon Health have confirmed digital messaging (Pulse) is back online.

We will distribute another update as soon as we have been informed of Pulse “go live” so that practices are able to check their practice management systems to ensure they are receiving electronic communication as expected.

Should you require further assistance please contact: Clinic Support, ph. 4215 0359

BMI Image Viewing Access - passphrase implementation

At present there is still no external access to BMI images – work continues towards reactivating access as soon as possible.

BMI will continue to send images on CD when requested.

Passphrases - your new password

In preparation for regaining access and as part of Barwon Health’s Cyber Security reinforcement – clinicians will be required to update their BH passwords with a new passphrase meeting the following criteria:

• A passphrase
• A minimum of 13 characters (cannot contain your name)
• Made up of three words

It doesn’t need to be complex and there are no special character requirements.

Please download this form to access a passphrase request form, print, and return via fax to: 4215 0444.

A copy is also available at www.barwonmedicalimaging.com.au in the Medical Professionals > Electronic Images & Reports section. 

Cyber Security Incident Update - Wednesday 16 October 2019

As there is no internet or email availability, communication via the usual secure email or auto faxing is not functioning.  The interim solution for clinical communication to GPs is currently a manual process whereby staff are printing and faxing.

Emergency Department discharge summaries, where relevant, are being printed and handed to the patient.  Some more urgent discharge summaries are being faxed directly to the GP.  Where there are significant issues relating to ED discharge information over the last couple of weeks, please call Emergency Department administration 42150107 8am – 4pm or After Hours 42150112

Please note this is a temporary arrangement.

The following documents are being printed and faxed.

• Outpatient department correspondence
• Private clinic correspondence
• BMI reports

There will be further updates when the usual communication channels are restored.  Practices may experience a larger than normal volume of correspondence traffic when this commences.

GP Liaison 4215 8845

Cyber Security Incident Update - Thursday, 10 October 2019

• Referral letter
• Recent pathology results
• Recent Imaging reports
• Recent discharge summary and/or operative report

• Recent discharge summary
• Recent operation report (often found in investigations)
• Recent outpatient notes

• Mental health: 4215 2590
• Outpatients   4215 1383
• Cardiology 4215 1990
• Palliative care 4215 6390
• Endocrinology 4215 1162
• Community health & rehab 4215 7795

Cyber Security Incident Update - Thursday, 3 October 2019

Barwon Health had a cyber security incident on Monday afternoon.

This has meant a number of clinical applications have been suspended until further notice.

To assist with expediting patient care, in particular for patients being sent into the emergency department, can you please send with the patient any recent pathology or imaging reports.

Contact GP Liaison Unit 4215 8845

Cyber security incident - Tuesady, 1 October

Yesterday afternoon, Barwon Health experienced a cyber security incident. We have suspended a number of clinical applications. These will be down until further notice. As a result, some elective surgery and some outpatient appointments have been cancelled. The Emergency Department at University Hospital Geelong is continuing to treat patients as they arrive. Other hospitals in the Barwon South West Region have also been affected.

GPs should continue to use the message board as the primary source of communication. Barwon Health will provide updates on the message board when available.

Contact GP Liaison Unit program manager Sandra Lowther for more, on 03 4215 1984.

Update GPs at your practice - 3 June 2019

Barwon Health is committed to providing timely patient documentation to the GPs at your practice. If you are receiving documentation for GPs that have left your practice, Practice Managers need to complete the modification form through the GP Portal. You can find the portal here.

Telehealth - 15 April 2019

Barwon Health is committed to providing the best care to its patients as close to home as possible. Patients are now able to access appointments via telehealth video consultations – and are providing positive feedback about the benefits of care being provided closer to home.

You can refer and/or support your patients with telehealth appointments. Not set up for Telehealth? Please contact Dave Kirk, Western Victoria PHN, Digital Health Technical Support (03 5222 0800).                                                                                                                                                 

For more information or to find out which clinics at Barwon Health offer Telehealth click here.

EDIS Update - 28 March 2019

The EDIS update at Barwon Health occurred at 0200 on the 20 March 2019.

Due to Barwon Health experiencing some technical issues with pulsing out electronic discharge summaries, a document was emailed to all practices with step-by-step instructions for setting changes. 

If your practice received incomplete ED discharge summaries prior to the Pulse Client settings change, GPLU is available to print and fax if required.

Please fax a list of these patient names and their DOB and we will endeavor to respond in the shortest time frame. Alternatively, you can contact Health Information Services on ph 4215 1170.

We apologise for the inconvenience.

Technical issues with discharge summaries - 22 March 2019

The EDIS update at Barwon Health occurred at 0200 on 20 March 2019.

Barwon Health has been experiencing some technical issues with pulsing out electronic Discharge Summaries due to HL7 pathways. 

If your practice is receiving incomplete Summaries, please click here for step by step instructions on how to update the settings in your practice. This is a simple three step process to ensure HL7REF112 is activated.

We apologise for the inconvenience.

EDIS FirstNet goes live - 20 March 2019

On 20 March 2019, the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) FirstNet went live. The new system will improve the ED triage process, communication and documentation.You will still receive a discharge summary/letter if you are the patient's nominated primary care provider. There will be some changes in the look and feel of these documents.For more information or to provide feedback email [email protected]

We appreciate your patience during the adjustment period and we are excited about the opportunities EDIS FirstNet will provide.