For more than two years, GPs have had to constantly adjust to the ever-changing nature of COVID-19.
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) continues to support GPs to respond to the pandemic by providing them with access to the latest COVID-19 information and resources.
Through the facilitation of webinars, education events and regular newsletter updates, we are working closely with stakeholders across Western Australia to ensure GPs have the right support and tools at their disposal.
These training sessions have been well received in regional communities where local GPs are playing an increasingly central role in the management of COVID-19.
Earlier this year, WAPHA held a virtual community of practice training event in the Goldfields in conjunction with WA Country Health Service (WACHS).
This online session centred around Living with COVID-19 and invited staff from Goldfields general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) to attend.
Country WA PHN (Goldfields) Regional Manager, Sarah Brown emphasised how important it is to ensure practices have enough support during these unprecedented times.
“Given general practice is the backbone of the primary care response in managing COVID-19, it is important our frontline staff receive consistent, succinct and up-to-date communication from a trusted source,” she said. “The virtual community of practice will be the sharing platform to ensure this happens.”
Information provided during the session included a snapshot of WAPHA’s new Living with COVID-19 Checklist and Toolkit as well as an overview of the WACHS Regional Plan for Living with COVID-19.
GPs, practice managers and practice nurses from across Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun, Kambalda and Ngaanyatjarra Lands participated. To ensure this session was interactive, discussion was encouraged to give participants the opportunity to collaborate and ask questions.
“It was fantastic, thank you very much, what great speakers” – Senior Medical Officer at Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, Dr Rosalie Schult.
Due to the overwhelming positive response from this initial session, virtual community of practice events will be held weekly so practice staff within the Goldfields can learn how to better support themselves, each other, and the community.
Earlier this year, WA Primary Health Alliance held a Living with COVID-19 virtual community of practice training event in the Goldfields with WA Country Health Service (WACHS). Due to the overwhelming positive response, events will now be held weekly.