In late June, the ACT and SNSW Community HealthPathways team hosted an event to mark their 500 localised pathways milestone, and officially launch the new, contemporary mobile-friendly ACT and SNSW Community HealthPathways.

The launch was attended by HealthPathways stakeholders and representatives of the four programme partners: Capital Health Network (CHN) - ACT’s Primary Health Network, COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW’s Primary Health Network, ACT Health, and SNSW Local Health District.

Local news agency, WIN News were also on-site to capture the launch, and spoke with HealthPathways Clinical Editor, Dr Kate Molinari about how she uses HealthPathways in general practice. See the clip of Kate on CHN’s Facebook page here.

The Chief Executive Officers of the two partnering primary health networks, Adj Prof Gaylene Coulton (Capital Health Network) and Dianne Kitcher (COORDINARE), kicked off the event by highlighting the continuing growth of the programme and the future potential to assist in system level developments within the two health regions.

First-hand accounts demonstrate the benefits

A case study of the Suspected Lung Cancer pathway, developed in partnership between ACT and SNSW HealthPathways and the Suspected Lung Cancer Clinic staff, was presented by Cathie O’Neill, Executive Director of Cancer and Ambulatory Support, Canberra Hospital Health Services. Cathie highlighted the positive impact of the pathway on appropriate referrals into acute care. Since localising the Suspected Lung Cancer pathway, there have been 22 appropriate referrals to the Suspected Lung Cancer Clinic, ensuring patients receive the care they need in a timely manner.

Larinda Dowell, a Nurse Specialist from St Andrews Village, and HealthPathways Clinical Editor Dr Kate Molinari then reinforced how important the increased accessibility of the site is for health professionals.

Larinda spoke of the value for health professionals in the aged-care sector of up-to-date, localised, clinical and referral information. Dr Kate Molinari then demonstrated three ways she had recently used HealthPathways to support her work in general practice.

One example Kate highlighted was a patient who had a grommet fall out too soon in one ear. Kate utilised the information on HealthPathways to confirm the preferred duration for a grommet to be in place, and the appropriate follow up and advice when one grommet descends too early. 

The first-hand accounts of how health professionals utilise HealthPathways at the point of care really drove home the practical applications and were greatly received by all attendees.

In the end, after such an amazing afternoon celebrating two important milestones for the ACT and SNSW HealthPathways programme, there was nothing left to do but eat cake!

Left to right: Adj Prof Gaylene Coulton (CEO, Capital Health Network), Dianne Kitcher (CEO, COORDINARE), Cathie O'Neill (Executive Director Cancer and Ambulatory Support, Canberra Hospital Health Services), and Rebecca Armstrong (Clinical Nurse Consultant, SNSW LHD).

Building local engagement

For more information about building local engagement, see Getting General Practice Engaged with HealthPathways, or Engagement and Education for helpful resources provided by members of the HealthPathways Community.