MidCentral DHB pilots new approach in health care

30/04/2009 | MDHB pilots chronic illness scheme

MidCentral District Health Board has received funding from the Ministry of Health to pilot a new approach in caring for people with chronic illness.

The DHB has been given $320,000 to work with three of the district’s primary health care centres to trial a new way of managing patients affected by chronic illness.  The centres include Otaki Medical Centre, Palmerston North’s Amesbury Health Centre, and Te Wakahuia.

“Chronic illnesses are life long conditions that patients live with such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma. They are often very debilitating for patients,” explains Chiquita Hansen, MidCentral DHB’s director of primary health care nursing.

“Seventy percent of primary health care’s patients are affected by chronic illness. This trend is likely to continue as our population ages. This project is an opportunity to bring clinicians together to manage these conditions more effectively, easing the burden on the patient which often leads to improved quality of life for those affected.”

Traditionally, most appointments made with GPs or practice nurse are in response to a specific ailment. Care of patients with chronic illness has been managed around these appointments. While the standard of care patients are receiving is very good, the practices participating in the pilot believe that this approach does not meet the long term needs of patients with chronic illness.

It is intended patients with chronic illnesses in the participating practices will notice a difference in the care they receive. Patients will be encouraged to manage their conditions with the support of the practice team. This may include their practice nurse, GP, dietician or physical activity educator.

“In this model the patient is more informed and actively leads the management of their own condition. It is also very proactive, rather than waiting for symptoms to appear it focuses on planned interventions to prevent complications from occurring,” says Mrs Hansen.

Murray Shaw from Amesbury Medical Centre is excited about his centre’s involvement in the pilot project.

“'We believe we look after our patients with chronic health conditions well but are aware that we could do better,” says Dr Shaw.  “We know we could work more with these patients in their aim to stay well and have a better quality of life.

“This pilot scheme is an opportunity for us as a general practice team to examine our systems and the way we deliver care and to explore ways of doing it better.

“We hope it will allow us to do this more effectively, to enhance wellness and prevent loss of quality of life and hospital admissions.”