The SpotOnHealth HealthPathways team has celebrated their first year of operation in Brisbane’s south, providing general practitioners and other primary healthcare clinicians with access to assessment, management, and referral information for over 550 conditions.

This major integration initiative is being led by Metro South Health and Brisbane South PHN, in partnership with Mater Health and Children’s Health Queensland.

From Left to Right: SpotOnHealth Program Manager, Christine McCormack; Brisbane South PHN General Manager Primary Health, Sharon Sweeney; Brisbane South PHN Senior Clinical Advisor, Dr Peter Adkins; Brisbane South PHN CEO, Sue Scheinpflug; Metro South Health Director of Neurology, Dr Helen Brown; Director of the Healthcare Improvement Unit, Queensland Health Clinical Excellence Division, Michael Zanco; Metro South Health Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Ayre.

SpotOnHealth Program Manager, Christine McCormack, said the collaboration is demonstrating how primary care and hospital services can work together to optimise health outcomes for the community.

“With the contributions and support of over 60 hospital specialists and local general practitioners, we have produced 200 pathways since launching the online tool in 2017,” Ms McCormack said.

“We are so proud of the progress we have made over the past year. With 161 pathways currently in development, SpotOnHealth HealthPathways is well on the way to reaching our shared goal of delivering the premier clinical decision support tool for general practitioners in the Brisbane south region.”

Brisbane South PHN Board Chair, Dr Ian Williams, said the project has provided an opportunity for hospital-based clinicians to collaborate with community-based general practitioners.

“This is no overnight success, but rather the result of a long term, well-developed, respectful relationship between Metro South Health staff and community-based general practitioners,” said Dr Williams.

“The project team works closely with local general practitioners to ensure the tool provides the most current information in a format that enhances their clinical practice during consultations.”

Metro South Health Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Ayre, said that SpotOnHealth HealthPathways was a key tool supporting connected care in the region and was helping to provide better community health outcomes.

“Metro South Health cannot deliver healthcare in isolation. SpotOnHealth HealthPathways provides general practitioners with the information they need to connect our community with local healthcare providers to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Dr Ayre said.

“As Metro South is the first digital health system in Australia, we are uniquely placed to enhance this connectivity through technology and innovation."

From Left to Right: Director of the Healthcare Improvement Unit, Queensland Health Clinical Excellence Division, Michael Zanco; Chair of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Dr Judy Flores; Senior Director Stakeholder Engagement, Metro South Health, Debbie Cowan; Senior Director Organisational Service Planning, Metro South Health, Holly McMillan.

First year progress

• over 200 pathways produced
• more than 60 hospital specialists and general practitioners have worked together on the pathways
• over 1000 general practitioners have been given a personal demonstration
• 158 pathways currently in development
• almost 2000 clinicians engaged in education events
• 519 general practices visited

More information

For more information about this extensive initiative and the achievements of the SpotOnHealth HealthPathways team, visit www.spotonhealth.org.au or email SpotOnHealth@health.qld.gov.au

To learn more about successful engagement strategies, see Getting General Practice Engaged with HealthPathways.