Talk Description
510Q - Research Paper
Abstract
Aim:
To improve workforce and service delivery models in an attempt to streamline kidney care and reduce travel for rural patients
Method:
Traditionally patients would need to come to tertiary centres for renal specialist care. We redesigned this pathway through a number of initiatives starting with agreements with rural health services. We have 3 nurses training, educating and clinically supporting satellite staff and patients. Additionally, 6 Nurse Practitioners compliment care in the regional setting. Rural home dialysis patients are trained and managed by 3 ‘Link’ nurses and 4 Dialysis Service technicians. We established outpatient clinics in larger regional cities and our team travel to sites, to support clinics, supplemented by telehealth. Our in-house proprietary electronic medical records reports data on all rural patients, with tailored algorithms and audit tools. We work closely with our rural partners on capability frameworks, patient flow and emergency plans.
Results:
The objective of this initiative achieved its primary goal of providing rural patients with specialist renal health care. The uptake of services from clinics, education and links to tertiary renal specialist centre exceeded expected growth throughout the region. With many centres and clinics fully utilised, there is an been ongoing development of services with rural partners to meet increasing needs.
Conclusion:
These service changes resulted in streamlined referrals, transfers and efficiencies in kidney care management. Local and telehealth consultations have allowed patients to remain in their communities and dramatically reduce the cost of travel and angst for patients undergoing an already burdensome treatment
Abstract
Aim:
To improve workforce and service delivery models in an attempt to streamline kidney care and reduce travel for rural patients
Method:
Traditionally patients would need to come to tertiary centres for renal specialist care. We redesigned this pathway through a number of initiatives starting with agreements with rural health services. We have 3 nurses training, educating and clinically supporting satellite staff and patients. Additionally, 6 Nurse Practitioners compliment care in the regional setting. Rural home dialysis patients are trained and managed by 3 ‘Link’ nurses and 4 Dialysis Service technicians. We established outpatient clinics in larger regional cities and our team travel to sites, to support clinics, supplemented by telehealth. Our in-house proprietary electronic medical records reports data on all rural patients, with tailored algorithms and audit tools. We work closely with our rural partners on capability frameworks, patient flow and emergency plans.
Results:
The objective of this initiative achieved its primary goal of providing rural patients with specialist renal health care. The uptake of services from clinics, education and links to tertiary renal specialist centre exceeded expected growth throughout the region. With many centres and clinics fully utilised, there is an been ongoing development of services with rural partners to meet increasing needs.
Conclusion:
These service changes resulted in streamlined referrals, transfers and efficiencies in kidney care management. Local and telehealth consultations have allowed patients to remain in their communities and dramatically reduce the cost of travel and angst for patients undergoing an already burdensome treatment