The presence of the Western Victoria HealthPathways team at the launch seminars for Gippsland and Murray has been hailed as a big success and heralds more community mentorship for new regions in the future.

Western Victoria HealthPathways Coordinator Margie McLeod presented at the events in late March alongside clinical editors Kellie McDonald and Michael Axtens.

They outlined their region’s motivations for joining HealthPathways and the lessons they’ve learned along the way from covering Barwon to expanding across Western Victoria with the introduction of Primary Health Networks.

Chief HealthPathways Adviser Andy Froggatt says having them there was a big success.

“As members of a nearby region they were really able to give the new regions insight into the challenges and achievements of being involved in HealthPathways, but with a local perspective instead of a Canterbury one.

“For many people that’s key because the perspective and experiences of a team close to home is much easier to relate to.”

Gippsland PHN Care Pathways Project Officer Jeannette Douglas agrees, saying there was much in common between her team and Western Victoria’s.

“Gippsland faces similar challenges with multiple hospital networks operating across regional and rural settings. So the Western Victoria team certainly delivered a valuable and informative presentation relevant to the Gippsland delegates.”

Murray PHN Manager Health Systems Jennifer Fry says the practical advice on how their close neighbour has implemented HealthPathways over the past three years was well received, as was the rest of their launch symposium and workshop.

“The symposium, and workshop, provided a valuable opportunity for health services across the Murray PHN network to share the vision of an integrated health system and to start the collaborative work program of localising HealthPathways.”

Above: Delegates from the Canterbury Health System and Western Victoria HealthPathways at the launch seminar for Murray HealthPathways. (L-R) Streamliners Lead Writer Graeme Wilson, Streamliners CEO Ian Anderson, Western Victoria HealthPathways Clinical Editor Michael Axtens, Western Victoria HealthPathways Coordinator Margie McLeod, HealthPathways Chief Clinical Editor Graham McGeoch, and Murray PHN Executive Director Heath Integration and Engagement Penny Wilkinson.

Gippsland held their planning seminar and practical workshop on March 17 and 18, while Murray held their symposium and workshop on March 21 and 22.

Key stakeholders from each region attended along with delegates from the Canterbury Health System. Highlights included HealthPathways Chief Clinical Editor Graham McGeoch outlining the pathway development process in practical workshops and the teams getting the chance to meet their Lead Writer Graeme Wilson, who explained the key online tools used to draft and publish pathways.

“It was a great start and introduction to the HealthPathways methodology,” Jeanette says.

“The practical workshop was an opportunity to introduce local clinical editors to the role and to learn how work groups function, while the planning seminar provided an opportunity to get key stakeholders in the one location with a focus on establishing HealthPathways in Gippsland.”