Community & Business
24 August, 2024
Grants to ease chronic conditions
MAREEBA’S Amaroo Medical and Ravenshoe Medical Centre were among nine practices to receive extra support for people suffering from chronic disease.
The grants, set up under the Chronic Conditions Primary Care Pilot Programs, were announced by the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN’s) last week.
Amaroo Medical GP Dr Cheryl Harnischfeger said the practice would be using the funds to help set up a wound clinic with Mareeba Hospital for patients with chronic disease.
“We want to target wounds that could develop long-term for patients with complex chronic diseases. We want to get in early and prevent this from happening,” she said.
“It would reduce the burden on the hospital, and also reduce patient waiting times.”
The practice was this month focused on “ironing out” clinic operational details, such as criteria to identify the appropriate patients, collection data, the practicalities of notifying patients, and appointment management.
“We’ll be trialling a limited number of hospital patients in September before expanding to the maximum we can deal with by October,” Dr Harnischfeger said.
Over at Ravenshoe Medical Centre, a new model of care was being developed for chronic disease patients that would also “ease the burden at the Atherton hospital” and provide new options to locals, Practice Support Officer Myra Spurling said.
The funding would provide extra hours for staff and the purchase of equipment, so the practice could take on new care services, such as special chronic disease days. These would include lunch, education and advice, health assessments, and an increased focus on Indigenous clients, Ms Spurling continued.
“Chronic disease patients, who often travel some 52kms to the hospital for treatment, will have more choices,” she said. “The funding will certainly help. It should be good.”
The practice spends a day a week at Mount Garnett and two days at Herberton and plans to take the new chronic disease management model to the clinics.
“We hope to refine our model of care and introduce it to other clinics throughout Queensland.”
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney said the programs were aimed at enhancing chronic condition management within primary care settings.
“This initiative provides grant funding that can pay for services delivered by nursing or allied health working closely with a GP,” he said.
“Each practice has developed a specific approach that targets a group identified through their local data as needing extra support.”
The grants also help address workforce challenges.
“Many of the successful practices are in a designated thin market, which refers to areas where access to healthcare services and health professionals are limited,” he said.
Cardwell Family Practice and Tully Medical Centre also received grants together with practices in Townsville, Richmond, Middlemount, and Mackay.
