Walrus is a powerful point of care tool designed to help general practice staff improve data quality and identify patients with missing measures or at-risk patients. It reminds general practice teams about specific items, clinical prompts, risk scores, PIP-QI, or MBS items that are missing or the patient is eligible for. The tool is free for any practice using POLAR, and it provides important information quickly, in an easy-to-read and use format.
Setting up and operating Walrus is easy and EMPHN provides support to assist in the set-up and education on the use of the tool which can also be customised to suit the specific needs of individual users.
Bundoora Medical Centre, open for over 40 years with over 4,700 active patients (including 4-generation families), recently underwent a change in ownership. The practice has three full-time doctors, one practice nurse, and support from a podiatrist, psychologist and onsite pathology. They have recently adopted using Walrus in their practice.
Practice Nurse, Kirstyn Thomas has had a long-term involvement at the practice. She is responsible for ensuring that patients receive all necessary services and is becoming more involved in preventative care. Walrus has helped to identify which patients are eligible for specific services, such as the 721/723 healthy heart check, and has also identified any missing information from patients' files. Kirstyn noted that, “Walrus was extremely simple to set up. I don’t have the greatest computer knowledge, but EMPHN were incredible and assisted in the setup and education on use.”
Bundoora Medical Centre has been delighted with the implementation of Walrus as an effective and easy-to-use tool that can help improve data quality and identify at-risk patients. Its ability to provide important information quickly had made it a valuable asset for any practice looking to improve patient outcomes and foster a healthier community.
Learn more about Walrus by contacting our Digital Health team: digitalhealth@emphn.org.au