Patient Story: Denise
Denise, a 60-year-old woman was recently transferred to Wagga Base Hospital after presenting to ED at the Tumbarumba Hospital.
Denise, a 60-year-old woman was recently transferred to Wagga Base Hospital after presenting to ED at the Tumbarumba Hospital.
Denise is a life-long smoker with known emphysema and COPD and presented to ED with sharp central chest pain and suspected peri-myocarditis caused by an infection. Upon initial bedside transthoracic echocardiogram, moderate LV dysfunction was found. Formal TTE revealed an EF of approx. 40-45% with mild to moderate LV dysfunction and was started on heart failure medications including Bicor, Entresto and Spironolactone. She was discharged with a plan to follow up at the Heart Failure Clinic for a repeat ECHO and review.
Upon attending the Heart Failure Clinic, Denise showed significant improvements in her symptoms and a normalisation of her ejection fraction.
Denise described her experience of the clinic as extremely efficient. She was very happy with the service and said everything was explained to her and she was given a clear plan, moving forward.
She commented that having access to these services at no cost was important as she didn’t know what she would do if this clinic wasn’t available. Denise had visited a Respiratory Specialist some years ago but did not return for the follow up appointment due to the associated costs and mentioned she is unlikely to attend her follow up appointment with the Cardiac Specialist for the same reason.
Living alone and in the Tumbarumba region, travel to Wagga can be difficult and cost associated with visiting a specialist is better spent on firewood to heat her home. Denise is very grateful for the opportunity to be included in the clinic and hopes they can continue to run and assist people like herself.
Denise is now being managed by her GP back home in Tumbarumba and has been referred to the Outpatient Respiratory Clinic by the HF CNC for management of her COPD.
Outreach Heart Failure Diagnostic Clinics
Our most recent clinics have been held in West Wyalong at Kure Medical in September, and then in Hay at Hay Medical Centre and the Hay Aboriginal Medical Service. Across these clinics we have seen a further 28 patients.
The Outreach Heart Failure Diagnostic Clinic supported by A/Prof Andrew Roy from the St Vincent’s Network, funded using COAG 19 (2) Exemptions, aims to ensure patients in rural communities at risk, or have symptoms of heart failure have timely and affordable access to screening and diagnostic assessment including echocardiography.
Our most recent clinics have been held in West Wyalong at Kure Medical in September, and then in Hay at Hay medical Centre and the Hay Aboriginal Medical Service. Across these clinics we have seen a further 28 patients.
There were numerous new heart failure diagnosis and new clinical findings clinic investigations, with 9 clients likely avoiding ED presentation/hospital admission/ clinical events. Where identified, clients were linked with community services to ensure a holistic approach to care.
Clinician supported telehealth consultations has been effectively utilised within the clinics with positive feedback from all clients involved.
Feedback from both the host practice, patients and their families has been extremely positive, appreciative of no cost, with clear, comprehensive information and education provided.
The Outreach team passes on their gratitude to the host practices, Kure Medical, Hay Medical Centre and Hay Aboriginal Medical Service, to all the referring General Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners and efforts of the practice nurses and managers, from West Wyalong, Temora and Hay, and without this, the clinics wouldn’t be possible.
We look forward to our next clinic scheduled in Lake Cargelligo on the 14th and 15th November and are now accepting referrals.
For further information contact mlhd-respiratoryandheartfailureclinics@health.nsw.gov.au