Dr Jean-Frederic Levesque discusses the progress in rural and regional healthcare, for clinicians and the community, thanks to innovation and collaboration across NSW Health.
Having grown up in a remote community on the Mid North Coast of Quebec in Canada, I understand the challenges of living in a rural area, such as access to health services. I have also experienced the benefits of living in a close-knit community, in a peaceful and beautiful location, alongside indigenous communities and culture.
Everyone in NSW has the right to access quality healthcare that meets their needs, regardless of their location or circumstances. This is a priority for NSW Health, which is being driven by the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan and the Regional Health Division, in collaboration with pillars (including the ACI), as well as local health districts (LHDs), primary health networks, and Aboriginal and community health organisations. Luke Sloane, Coordinator General of the Regional Health Division, talks about this in his guest editorial and how we are working together to improve healthcare in regional, rural and remote NSW.
Exploring new ways to deliver care
The ACI is working with the Regional Health Division, the districts and key partners, such as eHealth NSW, to implement new ways to deliver care in regional NSW that improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for clinicians and the community.
Models of care cannot be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; they must be adaptable to local settings. Developing alternative models can help to break down barriers associated with distance and access to physical services and specialists.
Advancements in technology are enabling the delivery of virtual care, which is making a significant difference to people in rural and regional areas. We have highlighted many examples through our Spotlight On: Virtual care series where modalities including videoconferencing and remote monitoring are benefiting patients, their families and the clinicians delivering care. The NSW Telestroke Service is a great example of innovation and collaboration across the state giving people living in rural and remote communities access to life-saving stroke diagnosis and treatment.
Investing in health staff and clinical collaboration
Initiatives are underway to increase the workforce and capability of health staff in regional and rural areas. New employment models are being implemented and promoted to improve access to primary care and essential medical services, which Luke explains in his editorial.
The ACI is currently leading a significant project that will standardise nurse-initiated care across NSW Health emergency departments. The Emergency Care Assessment and Treatment (ECAT) program will achieve this through standardised protocols, a consistent education pathway for emergency nurses and a governance framework. Smaller hospitals in rural and regional areas will benefit from this approach. These hospitals may not frequently see all types of conditions or may not always have doctors available to initiate emergency care. We will share more about the program as it is being implemented in the coming months.
Celebrating 10 years of the Rural Health Network
This year, the ACI’s Rural Health Network celebrates its 10th anniversary and the incredible impact that clinical collaboration can have on improving healthcare in our regions. The network has grown to include almost 750 members from across the state; led by an executive team who bring their clinical expertise and experience of living and working in rural and regional NSW to drive innovation and improvements in healthcare delivery.
At the 10th Rural Innovations Changing Healthcare (RICH) Forum earlier this month, we heard from many clinicians across the state sharing their experiences delivering rural models of care. As always, this was a fantastic opportunity for clinicians and health managers who joined the virtual forum to learn, share and collaborate on the future of healthcare in regional and rural NSW.
I would like to congratulate the Network on this incredible milestone and thank all clinicians and consumers who are dedicated to its work. You can read more about the key achievements of the network in our feature story; and catch up with previous winners of the ACI’s Rural Innovation Awards and how their projects continue to make a difference.