A year to remember...
As 2022 draws to a close, we have been reflecting on what has been big year for us here in the Living Well team. So, before we get too excited for the year ahead, we wanted to recap a few highlights, and remind everyone why we’re so proud to be part of this great initiative.
The most significant achievement of the past 12 months has been our transition from the Joint Development Phase to Implementation. This is a huge step forward in developing a better system for supporting people living with chronic conditions and represents a lot of hard work from our team collaborating and co-designing with healthcare providers, patients and communities across the district.
As we move into Implementation, we are confident that all the work in establishing the Living Well, Your Way Care Pathway and preparing for this next stage will pay off, and we’re already starting to see this. We have established strong support and continue to grow ‘buy-in’ from community members and healthcare professionals alike. Whether that’s signing up to new programs like Virtual Rehabilitation Clinics, using apps like CareMonitor, adopting system changes and technology like Lumos and the Patient Flow Portal or embracing the many training opportunities on offer throughout the year, their support is definitely showing up.
Another major accomplishment this year has been the development of our two recently accredited skillsets to be rolled out with Training Services NSW. Backed by $100,000 in funding, these programs will not only see much needed upskilling for our medical support workers here in the Murrumbidgee but with growing interest from other health districts keen to roll them out, we know they will make a significant and positive impact on the level of care being provided.
There’s no doubt that Living Well is gaining momentum and will have a tremendous effect on patients and practitioners alike, and we are genuinely excited to see this already coming through. Recent data has reflected improved patient outcomes and system impacts with reductions in hospitalisations for people living with COPD and CHF, and an increase in access to community-based care, and we can’t wait to see those figures improve with outreach programs ramping up.
Looking ahead to 2023, our team can’t wait to put our combined hard work to the test and assess the real-life effects of the Living Well care pathway. We enter the New Year with a great sense of hope and as the team continues to evolve, we know that there’s one thing we all have in common – an unwavering commitment to creating something better. Together, we can build a better way of doing things, reduce hospitalisations, improve quality of life for people living with chronic conditions and reduce the strain on our hospital system.
We hope you’ll continue to join us. In the meantime, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and very happy holiday season and look forward to working with you in 2023.
