Chronic Disease
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia. With changing lifestyles and ageing population, chronic diseases have become increasingly common and now cause most of the burden of ill health.
Based on available data, the table below indicates some of the key priority areas in the south eastern Melbourne catchment. This includes prevalent chronic diseases in the region, identified local government areas with higher-than-average chronic disease rates, and vulnerable population groups.
At risk areas
| Location | Diagnosis | Vulnerable groups |
|---|---|---|
|
Frankston |
COPD/asthma |
Refugees |
See more information about chronic disease for general practice and health professionals.
Contact SEMPHN about chronic disease programs: Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1300 331 981 (Option 4).
After Hours
Managing a chronic disease can often mean people have needs outside of the general practice, and sometimes after the hours a practice is open.
SEMPHN commissions activities to support people with chronic diseases to access the right care, in the right place at the right time.
Read more about SEMPHN's commissioned After Hours services.
Chronic disease management services
It is estimated that about half a million people in South Eastern Melbourne live with one or more chronic health conditions. The incidence of chronic disease is unevenly spread across our catchment.
We work with service providers to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients and improve coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
For more information on chronic disease management, click here.
Care Coordination
Read more about SEMPHN's commissioned Care Coordination services.
Health Care Homes
Read more about SEMPHN’s commissioned Health Care Homes program.
Chronic disease prevention programs
Prevention activities play an important factor in keeping communities across south eastern Melbourne healthy. SEMPHN commissions prevention services and programs relating to cancer screening and Latent Tuberculosis.
Cancer screening
Read more about SEMPHN's commissioned Cancer Screening services.
Latent Tuberculosis (LTBI) community project
Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) is an asymptomatic condition that may progress to active tuberculosis (TB), sometimes decades after exposure. Southern Metropolitan Region has a quarter of all cases of Tuberculosis in Metro Melbourne (DHS 2020 data). In Victoria, it is known that approximately 90% of tuberculosis cases occur in those born overseas, and from reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection more than 3-5 years after arrival. Treatment of LTBI can reduce the risk of developing active disease. However, with the exception of contact tracing following local exposure to tuberculosis, only limited systematic testing or treatment programs for latent tuberculosis infection operate in Victoria at present.
Victorian Tuberculosis Program (VTP)
SEMPHN has commissioned Melbourne Health to expand the existing model of care developed between the Victorian Tuberculosis Program (VTP). This program supports general practitioners and other health providers in the PHN catchment to develop knowledge and skills, to identify, screen and treat individuals with or at risk of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). Program services include:
• Provide VTP physician support for individual GPs (train and mentor)
• Supply medications to participating pharmacies
• Testing and medications provided at no cost to patients
• Resources and materials for practices and patients across the region, including new materials responding to advances in practice and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• CPD accredited education modules
• Expand the existing GP community of practices amongst participating clinicians and teams
• Build on our pool of general practices who are acknowledged as an expert and point of referral for other
practices and services
• Tools to help identify at risk populations
Why is this project needed?
While TB is an uncommon disease in Victoria, it continues to have significant impact on affected individuals and families. In Victoria, an estimated 300,000 people have latent TB, and efforts to diagnose it and prevent active disease are critically important.
This project contributes to WHO’s End TB Strategy 2016 to 2035, with the implementation of the community-based practice model of care for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI), to allow increased numbers of people at risk to be screened and managed to prevent TB.
For more information, refer to the VTP website
Current and upcoming commissioning opportunities
You can register your interest for funding opportunities. You will receive updates about the tender process, including guidelines and timelines, when available.
To hear about future commissioning opportunities, subscribe to our commissioning newsletter, SEMaphore and register via eProcure.
For general information or queries about commissioning, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Associated tags
Commissioning
South Eastern Melbourne PHN acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land our catchment covers, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri people. We pay respect to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future, and uphold their relationship to this land.
While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this website, the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice that is provided, or information that is endorsed, by the Australian Government. The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
South East Melbourne Primary Health Network
© Copyright 2021