Ms Clare Douglas, Mackay Hospital and Health Service CE, opened the quarterly Integrated Mackay HealthPathways Forum announcing that the HealthPathways program is now live and accessible on all desktops across the region with access to 60 localised pathways. 

Facilitated by Mackay HealthPathways GP Clinical Editor, Dr Aaron Kennedy, the forum was attended by 45 participants from primary and secondary care.  The evening showcased three specialties - general surgery, sexual health, and mental health - with clinical case studies and a Q&A panel.  The case studies demonstrated how the newly localised pathways can be used in general practice. 

Discussion among participants showed that there was little consensus on the managing and assessing of some conditions. Dr Aaron Kennedy then demonstrated how HealthPathways removes the guesswork and, by using the pathways, general practitioners can provide patients with the most appropriate care and avoid requesting unnecessary tests, thus decreasing health costs.

The evening concluded with an overview from Toni Simmons, Mackay HealthPathways Coordinator, of the program's progress:

• The team has localised 60 live pathways with 67 in progress. 
• To date 57 health professionals across the region have been involved in pathway localisation
• Over 80 hits of feedback have been received via the administration system, with GP’s being the largest group. 

Participants were offered an opportunity to subscribe to the new Mackay HealthPathways Newsletter which will keep them up to date and involved in the localisation process.  The importance of providing feedback within the system was also emphasised:

“Mackay HealthPathways is a system designed for our region by our region and to ensure that the content remains relevant we must all be working together by using the send feedback button.” 

The evening received very positive feedback, such as “case studies are good” and “well done, extremely informative, need more of these informative nights”.

 Above: Some of the clinicians who attended the Integrated Mackay HealthPathways Forum.