14 August 2009

New joint SESIAHS - IDGP respiratory service at Kiama

Attribute to Maria Mackay Acting Manager and Director of Nursing Kiama Hospital & Southern Hospital Network Nursing Co-Director Aged Care, Community Health and Chronic Care Stream.

“SESIAHS and the Illawarra Division of GPs have combined to offer a new chronic respiratory disease service in Kiama as part of an Australian Better Health Care Initiative (ABHI) project.

“The $300,000 project will help patients with mental health, respiratory disease and diabetes better access appropriate care.

“The project sees Kiama GPs and the AHS co-ordinate patient care through development of a formalising of the steps in assessing, treating and monitoring patients thought the health care system.

“GPs will be the primary care providers for patients in the program, their role will be to identify and enrol suitable patients into the program.

“Community health staff will provide case management to ensure patients understand and complete the steps in their treatment and care. GPs will refer patients to specialist services should this be required.

“The service links Kiama Hospital with local GPs and includes a free mental health service and clinics provided to diabetes patients.”


ABHI is a Commonwealth Government funded scheme.




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