Local health professionals will be better supported to provide care for patients across the state’s health system after the roll out of Tasmanian HealthPathways.
The new initiative was officially launched by Senator Stephen Parry, President of the Senate and State Minister for Health Michael Ferguson in Hobart today.
Tasmanian HealthPathways involves a successful collaboration between Tasmania Medicare Local, Tasmanian Health Organisations and the Department of Health and Human Services.
TML’s CEO Phil Edmondson said the Tasmanian HealthPathways initiative aims to provide Tasmanians with better connected health services and help in the diagnosis of illness and prompt referrals for treatment.
“The HealthPathways website will support GPs and other health professionals by providing information on the best management, treatment and referral options available for a range of health conditions,” he said.
“For the first time, Tasmanian health professionals now have access to a single web portal to follow common health pathways for their patients and use this to link to local health and support services.
“This is a game-changer which we expect to eventually lead to a more efficient and cost-effective health system and a better patient experience in Tasmania,” Mr Edmondson said.
“It puts the patient at the centre and provides a care map of our system. This will support health professionals to ensure Tasmanians get the best care, when they need it, where they need it.”
Tasmanian Medicare Local Chair Dr Judith Watson said more than 80 HealthPathways are now available in the clinical areas of cardiology, diabetes and other lifestyle/preventative issues, such as immunisation, physical activity and smoking cessation.
“A target of 130 completed HealthPathways for Tasmania has been set for June 2016,” Dr Watson said.
“Pathways in respiratory disease and a range of neurodegenerative conditions will follow by the end of the year with at least 50 more to be developed by the HeathPathways project team.”
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Dr Watson said the Australian Government funded Tasmania Medicare Local to deliver the HealthPathways program under the Tasmanian Health Assistance Package.
Tasmanian HealthPathways builds on the work initiated in Canterbury, New Zealand that is being implemented across several regions in Australia and New Zealand.
“This important initiative will help bridge gaps between hospital and community based care leading to more connected health services,” Dr Watson said.
Clinical editor and Hobart GP Dr Graeme Bleach said each of the completed HealthPathways were developed with the help of local clinicians across the primary and acute hospital care sectors.
“These doctors and health professionals reached agreement as to the best way to manage each health condition as a guide to clinicians working at all levels across the health system,” Dr Bleach said.
“We’ve developed a range of pathways for the local system by closely working with GPs, medical specialists and other health professionals across Tasmania, all of whom have expertise around managing a particular health condition.
“Their advice has been invaluable in helping the project team develop potential solutions to gaps and differences identified in service provision across the state.”
Dr Bleach said patients can be provided with relevant information about their health condition from the site by their GP or health practitioner.
“This means people will be better informed about what they can do to better manage their health and consider all available treatment options,” he said.
“These innovative pathways on the Tasmanian HealthPathways web portal are designed to ensure more people get the right treatment or specialist care in the right place at the right time.”
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About Tasmania Medicare Local
Tasmania Medicare Local is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working to keep Tasmanians well and out of hospital, connect health services, and make it easier for Tasmanians to access the services they need closer to home.
Medicare Locals are different to the Australian Government’s Medicare system which allows Australians to make claims for the cost of health services.
Acting Communications Manager Gill Cooper
