Monday Pānui 19 May 2025

In today’s Pānui	Aotearoa New Zealand Acute Rheumatic Fever Guideline Update Immunisation Snippet What’s happening with the capitation funding uplift/increase? Introducing our new Practice Management Advisor – Shannon Kerehoma-Kaiaruna
Aotearoa New Zealand Acute Rheumatic Fever Guideline Update	The updated Aotearoa New Zealand Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease are now available. The summary guide containing key messages and changes in clinical guidance summarised in tables and algorithms can be found here. This Auckland Region HealthPathway will be updated with the latest recommendations in due course. Key changes from previous guidelines include simplification of criteria for patients at higher risk of ARF who should receive empiric antibiotics if they have a sore throat, and the removal of roxithromycin as an alternative antibiotic option for patients with documented penicillin allergy, (while erythromycin remains available for this indication.) Phenoxymethylpenicillin dosing has been simplified to twice daily dosing. Recommendations have been added for the administration of intramuscular (IM) benzathine penicillin. Please review the above links for the full clinical guidance, and other important key updates. Please also see the updated guidance on Managing household contacts of people with Strep A throat infection (page 112 of the full guidelines). Regarding the Auckland PHO funded Sore Throat (Acute Rheumatic Fever Prevention) Programme, please use clinical discretion, and utilising the new guidance above, when making your claims. The Auckland PHO Claiming/Programme guide will also be updated in due course.
Immunisation Snippet	Auckland PHO’s 2-year-old childhood immunisation coverage is steadily increasing (thanks all!), due to the continued reconciliation of PMS and AIR, as well as ongoing immunisation efforts. Here’s this week’s snippet When a patient has not lived in New Zealand for 183 continuous days (six months), they are no longer are entitled to be enrolled.  In the event a patient/family/whānau inform you that they are going to be out the country for more than six months, set a task for the admin team/practice manager so they can be casualised – this will either be coded as: N = not registered C = casual Additionally, if a family/whānau inform you they are either leaving Auckland or the country, ask for the timeframe they intend to be away so this can be recorded in the patient notes.
What’s happening with the capitation funding uplift/increase?	This is the answer, we are all waiting on! Funding negotiations between Te Whatu Ora, PHO and general practice representatives have been delayed and rescheduled for the end of May and into June.
Introducing our new Practice Management Advisor – Shannon Kerehoma-Kaiaruna	We are delighted to introduce our practice teams to Shannon Kerehoma-Kaiaruna who has commenced her role (replacing Erin) as Auckland PHO’s Practice Management Advisor. Shannon has a strong background in general practice management and administration, with her last role at Medtech. Shannon is looking forward to meeting Auckland PHO’s practice teams, particularly those working in administration and practice management.  Arrangements are being made for practice visits and orientation.  In the meantime, if you need to contact Shannon, here are her contact details: Shannon’s contact details are Email  shannaon@aucklandpho.co.nz Mobile 021 973 134

Barbara Stevens | Tumu Whakarae/CEO