Hume’s residents are being invited to help shape a new way of delivering health care for those living with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is working with the federal government to build better health care services for residents of Hume and are calling on locals to step in and help out.
Three, two-hour paid workshops will be held during September and October trialling general practice and allied health care professionals in a plan to improve the way of looking after patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
NWMPHN aims to test the abilities of modern healthcare practices in order to find whether there’s a better way to help those with chronic conditions as part of the Australian Government’s Strengthening Medicare reforms.
The project aims to explore whether patients can achieve better outcomes when their care is managed by a team of professionals made up of GPs, nurses, social workers, and other allied health providers as opposed to a single doctor.
The model, known as multidisciplinary team care, is already supported by research showing it can improve long-term health outcomes and reduce the rate of hospitalisations.
Four local general practices will be taking part in the trial, with staff from Doy Street Medical Centre, Roxburgh Park Doctors, Merrifield City Medical Centre, DPV Health Medical & Dental Centre in Broadmeadows, and several other allied health professionals getting involved.
Community members are being invited to attend three two-hour workshops at NWMPHN’s Docklands offices over September and October to help shape the design and delivery of the project.
At the sessions, participants will join small-group discussions with health professionals to consider how the multidisciplinary approach could work best in Hume.
NWMPHN said ensuring the model is tailored to the needs of local communities is essential.
Expressions of interest are now open, and residents keen to take part can register through NWMPHN.
