|
|
Instead of having a slack attack, we are having a health attack |
Participating in Wave 2 of the Collaboratives program, and being committed Waveriders, has given us here at the Brunswick Heads Medical Centre the impetus to step outside our comfort zone, and to actively involve our patients in the delivery and the development of their own health care regimes.
We wanted to adopt a multi skilled, multi agency approach to ensure patients received the care that best suited their needs. This was a good point to start our pathway to change.
A health forum education day seemed the way to go with a focus on CHD, diabetic and over 75 year old patients. We surveyed the patients to see what they wanted and set about organising a half day health forum for October 26.
We really wanted to work together to provide a high standard of patient care, whilst developing effective and innovative work practises. Patients were involved in all aspects of the planning and became a crucial part of the process.
The program included:
- Community nurse: Everything you wanted to know about CHD or diabetes but were afraid to ask.
- Clinical psychologist: Keeping a healthy mind, self confidence and esteem.
- Nurses: Blood pressure checks, blood sugar level checks and hints for monitoring and self managing individual health needs.
- Exercise physiologist: Tai Chi – gentle exercise and developing the self confidence to stay on our feet.
- Lunch in the park by the river. Prepared and explained by members of the Heart Foundation.
- Dr Marc Heyning, GP: Medications! Medications! Medications!
- Nurses: The role of home health assessments, GP management plans, diabetic annual reviews and EPCs. What is available to patients in our community?
- Finally: Where to from here?
So how did it go?
The day was fantastic. Participants received a sample bag full of goodies. Comments and evaluation on the day confirmed the success. We all left work feeling so very positive.
Participants will be asked to complete a further evaluation four weeks after the forum. This will be designed to assess whether they have carried their new found knowledge and confidence into the management of their chronic health condition. Comments to date suggest that this is so.
What we have achieved from this exercise
- Involved patients in their own care. Asked them to take more responsibility with their health decisions.
- Devised a multi skilled, multi agency approach to engaging patients. This is an educational process that should encourage long term, positive health outcomes.
- Working as a team and managing change.
- Involved patients in the decision making process. Patients are the best resource in deciding on programs that set out to improve patient needs. Having them take ownership of what we were doing was one of the best aspects of the day.
Was it worth the effort?
Yes
Would we do it again?
Most definitely!
Benefits for the patients were many and varied, as were the positive responses from the staff. Patients will hopefully be more adept in managing their health, resulting in fewer appointments for routine matters.
The practice and community health providers have become less confronting to patients. We are developing strong links with our community and strong friendships with our patients. The patient journey is becoming seamless and more useful and workable.
Give it a go! Involve the change principles:
Involve patients in delivering and developing their care. Adopt a multi skilled, multi agency approach to ensure effective coordination of care.
The Collaboratives have given us the tools for change management … we just have to take up the challenge.
Special thanks to Dr Marc Heyning for allowing the practice to make changes and for his commitment to proactive care policies.
Janine Slater is the office manager at the Brunswick Heads Medical Centre.
|
|
|
|
