Health Victoria
August, 2016
Working together to improve primary health care
Collaboration is the key to delivering improved health outcomes, according to a region-wide platform of service providers and organisations across Melbourne’s east.
The Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Care Collaborative is aimed at enhancing primary health care services in community-based settings.
Its goal is to support the management of chronic disease and complex conditions for people at risk of poor health outcomes across the region and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
Members of the EMPHCC have committed to working collaboratively to achieve such a result.
Members include community health services, the Department of Health and Human Services, Eastern Health, Eastern Melbourne PHN and PCP staff.
Eastern Health continuing care, ambulatory, mental health and statewide services executive director and Chair of the EMPHCC Matt Sharp supports the initiative.
‘By working together using evidenced-based strategies, we can deliver measurable improved health outcomes for our community.
‘A stronger relationship between our organisations will mean better co-ordination of patient care, more efficient use of resources, reduced duplication and innovative approaches to effect system wide change,’ Mr Sharp said.
The EMPHCC’s launch included an inaugural planning workshop attended by 70 participants from local service providers and consumers.
Eastern Melbourne PHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said the EMPHCC had already made significant progress in identifying primary health needs and priorities across the east.
‘At this stage, the emerging priorities are across key areas – such as heart failure, diabetes and mental health,’ Ms Whyte said.
‘We will also be focusing on increasing equity of access to services and place or location-based approaches.
‘This work will be enabled by increased information-sharing and technology platforms to ensure they are effective.’