A new community-based service aims to prevent people living in Whittlesea, Mitchell and Murrindindi, being admitted to hospital because of diabetes.
The Diabetes Diversion Partnership Project is funded by Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) and delivered by Nexus Primary Health and partners. It brings health professionals such as GPs, practice managers, nurses, allied health and client engagement staff together to provide coordinated care for patients.
The project, led by Nexus Primary Health (Nexus), includes DPV Health, Precedence Health Care and Hume Whittlesea Primary Care Partnership (HWPCP). The project will identify at-risk patients, provide coaching for patients and clinicians, and use Precedence’s cdmNet software platform to link and coordinate diabetes care.
The project will create ‘Diabetes Wellness Spaces’ which are informal spaces for conversations with vulnerable people with diabetes.
EMPHN CEO Robin Whyte said the project is a smart solution to one of Australia’s biggest health issues.
“Diabetes is our fastest growing chronic disease, this project brings experts together with the right technology in a way which is centred on the patient and real health outcomes,” she said.
Nexus Primary Health CEO Suzanne Miller said she is confident this project will see great results for patients.
“We know that good chronic disease management needs to involve all the health professionals working together on the same page,” she said.
In 2012-16, there were 14,369, 2,407 and 1,224 hospital admissions due to diabetes in Whittlesea, Mitchell and Murrindindi respectively (all above average for Melbourne’s east and north-east).
Patients can be referred to the service by their GP or Kilmore and Northern hospitals.
To find out more about the Diabetes Diversion Partnership Project contact 1300 77 33 52 or visit www.nexusprimaryhealth.org.au
This initiative is funded by the Australian Government under the PHN program.
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Media enquiries: Ellie Cope ellie.cope@emphn.org.au 0488 382 033