Reduced service duplication, improved patient attendance and streamlined clinical processes were just some of the outcomes of a recent pilot run by Rural Health West in conjunction with several Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).
Reduced service duplication, improved patient attendance and streamlined clinical processes were just some of the outcomes of a recent pilot run by Rural Health West in conjunction with several Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).
The pilot, run as an adjunct to the Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP), provided additional funding to ACCHS host facilities to better coordinate and integrate visiting health services.
Rural Health West Deputy Chief Executive Officer Kelli Porter said the additional funding gave the ACCHS a chance to really ‘get under the hood’ and identify opportunities for improvement.
“Self-determination in healthcare services has a significant impact in enhancing the overall well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people,” said Kelli.
“The funding that we provided to the pilot participants was very flexible; so the ACCHS were able to use it to address whichever areafor improvement or problem they most wanted to target.
“This freedom of funding created real variety in the innovations and ideas from recipients.”
Five ACCHS were involved in the pilot, spanning the breadth of WA from the Kimberley to the South West.
Pilot participant Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) hosts hundreds of visiting services to its various sites each year.
“We struggle to manage the administration side of visiting services and providers across KAMS and the Kimberley Renal Service, so having this funding for additional staff has been great,” said KAMS Medical Director Dr Lorraine Anderson.
“Our administration is now streamlined, accurate and creates space for us to consider and apply for new programs.”
Lorraine’s comments align with feedback from other recipients.
“The funding has enabled some of the ACCHS to tick off a few extra items from their ‘wish lists’,” Kelli said.
“For example, Mooditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation developed resources to increase referrals from mainstream GP and health professionals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“They’ve also purchased blankets, beanies and other supplies for some of their more vulnerable clients, such as dialysis patients and elderly people.
“Despite the diversity of activities undertaken by each recipient, empowering and supporting clients has been the common thread across all of the pilots.”
An evaluation is now underway with a view to advocating for recurrent funding.
MOICDP is an Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care program designed to support the provision of healthcare to
prevent, detect and manage chronic diseases in First Nations peoples.
Chronic conditions account for 70 per cent of the total health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
Almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live with at least one chronic condition or complex health needs.
Rural Health West administers MOICDP in Western Australia, providing 1,300 outreach visits and delivering 15,000 occasions of service to Aboriginal people each year.