The official launch of HealthPathways on the Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and Sunshine Coast brought together health professionals from across the local health system.

In a sign of things to come, attendees representing a broad spectrum of specialists and sectors made the 16 August symposium a packed event that, among other things, outlined the whole of system approach championed by HealthPathways.

Clinton Bazley, the Coordinator for Sunshine Coast HealthPathways, says it was incredible to see the enthusiasm in the room.

“The day was a great opportunity for health professionals from both public and private healthcare sectors to come together with a mutual goal of breaking down the barriers and improving the patient journey and outcomes,” he says

“There was certainly a terrific foundation of goodwill throughout the day.”

Highlights of the three-day launch event included an extra day of training and the key presentation on day one by Chief Clinical Editor Graham McGeoch, in which he framed the Canterbury experience that led to the development of HealthPathways.

“His presentation took the audience on a journey through the Canterbury Health System from both a GP and hospital specialist’s perspective which was well received from both parties in the room,” Clinton says.

Other presentations included one from the Mackay HealthPathways team, who furthered the tradition of neighbouring regions welcoming new teams to the fold and helping them communicate the mission and value of HealthPathways to local health professionals.

 “This is the fourth time now that a neighbouring region has played a role like this at a launch event and it’s really great to see,” Andy Froggatt, HealthPathways International Business Development Manager, says.

“The health professionals they speak to get a picture of HealthPathways not from a Canterbury perspective, but from people just like them who are relatively close by. HealthPathways then stops being a kind of ethereal concept, but something practical, that works locally, and can help them do their job more efficiently.”

For Andy, the preparation and planning that has gone into the launch of Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and Sunshine Coast HealthPathways really bodes well for the future of a region that has had its eye on joining the HealthPathways community for a number of years.

“They’d been looking into HealthPathways for some time before they made the decision to become part of the community. It’s been a long journey already for them so it’s fantastic to see it happening now, and with all the preparation they’ve already put in I’m confident that they’re going to accelerate their work programme very quickly.”