Winter Strategy 2024 Update
Winter Strategy 2024 is progressing well this winter with general practices engaging with new and existing patients to providing proactive care and interventions to help reduce hospitalisations over the colder months.
Patients
We are expecting to have about 750 patients participating in the program for 2024. Practices are focusing on providing timely immunisations, monitoring patient symptoms with check ins and using CareMonitor, conducting spirometry and ECGs, updating Sick Day Action Plans (SDAP) and GP Management Plans (GPMP), plus much more.
Heart Plan in a Box has been successfully introduced into this year’s Winter Strategy with 18 practices undertaking quality improvement activity for heart failure management and care within their practices. Heart Plan in a Box provides a hands-on toolkit with exceptional evidence-based resources designed to improve heart failure patient management from experts across the nation.
Education
Spirometry training was delivered across five locations during May with 51 clinicians attending. We are currently completing the assessment of all attendees. We will be considering more spirometry training prior to the next Winter Strategy in 2025. Training is open to all practices and clinical staff. If you are interested please email info@livingwellyourway.org.au.
A huge thank you to Robyn Paton, MLHD Respiratory Clinical Nurse Consultant for her dedication to deliver education to practice nurses and GPs throughout the Murrumbidgee over the past few years. We welcome Sistine Anne Ramajo-Aredidon who is currently acting in the role.
As part of the Winter Strategy education plan, 13 education sessions have been delivered with 113 general practice staff attending.
Keep an eye out for upcoming sessions including:
Transforming Tomorrow: How to Launch and Lead Sustainable Nurse-Led Clinics
Coaching for Change: Essential Conversations for GPs on Changing Behaviours and Advanced Care Planning (Face2Face event hosted in Wagga Wagga).
Breaking the Stigma of Advance Care Planning (Face2Face event hosted in Young)
All delivered sessions have been recorded and can be accessed at here. A specific password to access the education section is required – please email info@livingwellyourway.org.au for a password.
Recorded sessions available are:
COPD 101 Best practice for diagnosing, assessing, and managing your patients with COPD)
Leading QI
Triage for non-clinical staff
Optimising MBS Billing – Maximising revenue with MBS Item Numbers
Heart Plan in a Box + CHF 101
Sick Day Action Plans: Educating your Patient
Discover the 715: Enhancing Cultural Health Assessments
In-service
New on offer is education with Elise Penton our Practice Nurse Project Officer, and our Clinical Nurse Consultants in respiratory and heart failure from the MLHD who are now available to come to your practice to facilitate hands-on learning. If you are interested in hosting an in-service for your staff, please reach out to Elise to arrange a time at elise.penton@mphn.org.au.
Images: Spirometry at Griffith June 2024 led by Robyn Paton MLHD
