What is the new Integrated Care Centre for Clarence?
Services at the existing Clarence Community Health Centre will be expanded and the site redeveloped between now and December 2010.
The new facility will be an Integrated Care Centre which offers a range of health services including:
- Services, at the local level, for people with complex health care needs who have traditionally had to travel to hospital to gain access to their health care services (e.g. renal dialysis);
- Effective management of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma;
- Access to GP services through a GP Super Clinic operating as part of the Integrated Care Centre;
- A range of other primary health care services (e.g. dental, allied health);
- Access to Mental Health Services located within the Integrated Care Centre.
The project is being jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Australian Governments. The original budget for the redevelopment was $18 million however after an agreement was finalised at the end of January 2009 for DHHS to receive funding from the Australian Government for the GP Super Clinic, the original offer of $5 million has been increased to $5.5 million, which takes the total cost of the project to $18.5 million.
Why are we developing this new Integrated Care Centre?
- To provide more accessible health care with an emphasis on prevention. These are the principals behind the Tasmania Health Plan.
- New technologies mean there are now options for providing some services in community settings such as Clarence rather than in a hospital.
- In many situations hospitalisation can be avoided by helping people with their management of chronic health conditions and regular monitoring. This is a better situation for both patients and the health system.
- To decrease pressure on public hospitals that lead to long waiting times.
- In 2008 the Australian Government introduced the GP Super Clinic program to address access to GP services across Australia. Its support enhances the potential for the new Integrated Care Centre.
What are the benefits of the new Integrated Care Centre Model?
The benefits to residents of Clarence and the surrounding region will be:
- Easier access, less travel for patients and shorter waiting times for people who currently require frequent visits to the Royal Hobart Hospital;
- The ability for GPs to more closely monitor patient attendance at the Integrated Care Centre and provide overall health management;
- People with chronic health conditions will not be hospitalised as often because of early identification of relapses and complications;
- Extends and compliments existing services in the area and provides greater capacity for outreach;
- A local GP service, for those who require it, which operates as part of a comprehensive multi-professional team;
- Access to other primary health care services at the local level.
As the name suggests, the Integrated Care Centre is not just about services operating under the one roof. It is about ensuring these services work together to provide the best patient care. This will mean clients will only tell their story once and will be assisted to navigate through the system.
A key role in training health care professionals and conducting research
The Integrated Care Centre will make a significant contribution to training health care professionals for the future. It will collaborate with the University of Tasmania and GP Training Tasmania to achieve this.
It will also work with the Menzies Research Institute to determine what 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 Integrated Care Centre model is one which will help us to address this changing community need.
Complementing existing GP and other health care services
The Integrated Care Centre and GP Super Clinic will not replace existing private GP and allied health services on the Eastern Shore. They will complement these services by providing improved access to the high level specialist care required by people with chronic and complex conditions such as angina, diabetes, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Steps to achieve the new service
Over the next two years:
- The mix of services will be finalised;
- The physical infrastructure will be redeveloped;
- A new governance structure for managing the facility will be developed and implemented.
Gaining professional and community input
As part of the project a comprehensive consultation data base has been developed so that we can communicate with all of the groups, businesses and individuals who have an interest in the ICC throughout its development. This list of interested persons and groups is being added to throughout the project.
Discussions are being held with individuals and groups that have been identified as either having a potential role in the provision of services through the Integrated Care Centre or who may be directly affected by the new Centre.
Information briefings will also be held for other key groups. Public information will be provided at key points in the project using:
- Information sent out via newsletters and newspaper articles;
- Public displays and information sessions;
- This website.
If your would like to receive the monthly fact sheets via email or if you have any questions or feedback, please contact Catherine Featherstone, Project Officer Clarence Integrated Care Centre, on (03) 6233 6278 or email
catherine.featherstone@dhhs.tas.gov.au