Collaborative Commissioning

Origin & development

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) and Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Collaborative Commissioning partnership was formed to develop and implement a care pathway for people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and/or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). In 2019, the Patient Centred Co-Commissioning Governance (PCCG) group was established to oversee the development of the Living Well, Your Way initiative.

Living Well, Your Way (‘the Pathway’) has been created with the following guiding principles:

  • No step in the pathway is finished until the next has started. ​

  • Clinicians working to the top of their scope.​

  • Collaboration between providers. ​

  • Alternatives to the emergency department. ​

  • Patient focused; Data driven.

Pathway Co-design

In 2019 co-design of LWYW began with significant consultation of a wide range of stakeholders from across the region. Virtual co-design events with 12 workshops were held over three days in October 2021, consulting with the equivalent to 200 people (noting that some individuals participated in more than one workshop).  

Attendees included representatives from general practice, pharmacy, allied health, health consumers, Aboriginal health staff and community leaders, Ministry of Health, and MLHD and MPHN staff and Executive.

The following program was developed.

Pre-Development Phase

Aim: Assess the ways people with COPD and CHF receive care and support to manage their condition by asking lots of questions and reviewing lots of data.

This phase began in 2020 with the formation of the Collaborative Commissioning team and securing funding.

Joint Development Phase (Design and Costing)

Aim: Ask how patient health journey can be improved and design a new and better pathway of care.

In July 2021 consultation began with key stakeholders to clarify the target patient cohort and their qualifying criteria. The Collaborative Commissioning Team began mapping the new care pathway including costings and the summary of benefits for this cohort and services. This is where the Pathway was born.

Feasibility Phase

Aim: Put the new design to the test to see how well it serves everyone, especially the individuals living with COPD and CHF. Trial and adopt with as many patient volunteers as possible to ensure it is feasible and that the data and patient journey both improve.

The feasibility phase allowed trial of the models of care developed during consultation and assess their effectiveness and sustainability. The trials rolled out across selected communities, reviewed with the intention to expand over time.

Implementation Phase

Aim: Keep going and apply the same pathway to more people and other chronic conditions.