MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Very strong links with the Macarthur Health Service. The Division was a key partner in the SWSAHS Macarthur Planning process through 1997 and 1998 to redevelop Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals. We played a supportive role in the development of the Ambulatory Care Program at Campbelltown Hospital that has gone well past the targets for number of patients in the program. An increase in the number of GPs involved in the Antenatal Shared Care Program is another indication of the improved links with the local health service. Currently the Division is working in partnership with the MHS on a variety of projects such as improving GP/hospital communication and researching CVD secondary risk prevention services. There are also links relating to Diabetes, Musculo-skeletal, Aged Care and Immunisation.
• A successful Diabetes Education and Management Program. Positive changes in GP clinical management of patients with diabetes have been reported. The development of the Diabetes database has allowed monitoring of GP management and patient outcomes. The success of this database and its sale to many Divisions nationally led to the development of CARDIAB (a database for monitoring CVD as well as diabetes) by a consortium including the Division, the Integration SERU, The Pharmaceutical Alliance, the Heart Foundation and Intouch Consultancy Services. CARDIAB has now been purchased by over 33 Divisions across Australia.
• The establishment of new programs in the last few years including information technology, immunisation, healthy eating and activity, musculo-skeletal and aged care, innovative funding for indigenous primary health care and diabetes education and management based at the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation. Results of some of these programs include:
• 117 patients registered by 31 GPs in the Healthy Eating and Activity Program since the program was launched in September, 1999.
• 7% increase in immunisation rates since the immunisation program began (too difficult to tease out the impact our program has had on these rates, however we believe we have made a contribution to the increase. This is due to all practices being provided with support to ensure effective immunisation and timely and accurate reporting by GPs).
• The establishment of a diabetes screening program for the Aboriginal community in partnership with Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation. Approximately 20% of people screened have abnormal or impaired glucose tolerance.

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• Establishing a secure internet between GPs, the SWSAHS and Divisions of General Practice in SWS. The aims of this will be to entice GPs to embrace information technology as well as to improve communication between GPs, SWSAHS and possibly other health care providers.
• Implementing recommendations from the Indigenous Primary Health Care project in partnership with Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation and the Macarthur Health Service.
• Improving communication between the Division, GPs and the Mental Health Service.
• Ongoing provision of quality programs to GPs and their patients.

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