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Launceston Integrated Care Centre

 

What is the new Launceston Integrated Care Centre?

A new Launceston Integrated Care Centre is being constructed on the Launceston General Hospital site and is scheduled to open in October 2011.

The project is being jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments and University of Tasmania. The budget for the capital works and equipment is $22.5 million.

The new facility will house a range of clinical consulting rooms; a double podiatry clinic; counselling rooms; demonstration kitchen; physiotherapy gymnasium; meeting rooms; healthy foods coffee bar and educational facilities including the Launceston Clinical School.

Why do we need an Integrated Care Service?

  • The main focus of the Launceston Integrated Care Centre (LICC) will be on improving services for people with specific chronic conditions.
  • Fragmented communication and lack of coordination of care between health services can sometimes cause harm to patients and exacerbate the impacts of chronic disease
  • The LICC will play an important role in developing new integrated care pathways, improving communication between care providers and incorporating the key components of chronic disease management in all aspects of its operation.

What will the Launceston Integrated Care Centre do?

The LICC will initially provide a range of services for people with specific chronic conditions (in centre and outreach). The LICC is planned to include:

  • John Morris Diabetes Centre
  • GP North Diabetes Demonstration Service
  • Diabetes Research Service
  • Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Musculoskeletal programs (to be determined)
  • University of Tasmania – Launceston Clinical School

What are the benefits of the Integrated Care centre Model?

Through a collaborative approach and integrated care pathways, the LICC clients / patients will have opportunities to access a broader range of programs:

  • Diabetes Tas Healthy Shopping Tours
  • Diabetes Tas Food Skills Workshops
  • Smoking Cessation Clinics
  • Exercise Classes
  • Diabetes Tas Coach Program
  • Support Groups
  • Psycho-social support

What about training health care professionals and conducting research?

The Launceston Integrated Care Centre will make a significant contribution to training healthcare professionals for the future. It will collaborate with the University of Tasmania and other training organisations to achieve this.

The Launceston Integrated Care Centre will also work to determine which methods of chronic disease prevention and management work effectively. Tasmania has an ageing population and the incidence of chronic health conditions is increasing dramatically. The Launceston Integrated Care Centre model is one which will help us to address this changing community need.

How will the LICC complement existing GP and other health care services?

The Launceston Integrated Care Centre will work with existing GP and allied health services in Northern Tasmania. It will complement these services by providing improved access to the care required by people with chronic and complex conditions such as diabetes, musculoskeletal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

How do I keep in touch?

The Project team will keep key stakeholders informed through:

  • Newsletters and media
  • Information sessions
  • This website

If you would like to receive updates via email or if you have any questions or feedback, please contact the Launceston Integrated Care Centre Project Director on (03) 6336 5595 or email rod.meldrum@dhhs.tas.gov.au