teams have understood the
need to work differently.
Developed local networks and
alliances have helped manage
health care demand, and the
The sharing of skills between the
community teams and general
practice has supported the
management of more care in
general practice. An example of
this development is the care of
complex wounds, which with
the support of education
sessions, joint clinics, and easily
accessible advice, will remain
with the Practice Nurse or
General Practitioner.
Other less tangible outcomes of
community service integrating
with general practice have
included
improving
relationships and trust. This
outcome is exampled by a quote
from a general practioner-
September 2017 L.O.G.I.C
“MDTs are worth their weight
in gold”, and from a community
nurse- “I have learnt so much
about how general practice
teams function, and I think they
understand and trust me more
too”. In addition, the MDT
meetings have been attended
by patients and other services’
personnel, such as long term
community support services.
With use of technology, it is
hoped that remote attendance
will be utilised in the future,
enabling both patients and
extended team members to
contribute.
Throughout the “Health Care
Home” integration project,
benefits for patients have been
demonstrated. Communication
to and about patients has
increased with more a proactive
approach to keeping the most
complex people well, and avoid
unnecessary hospitalisations.
The future challenge to
integration is to continue the
expansion of the “Health Care
Home” model to the remaining
general practices in the region,
and to continue the integration
of community health and other
services to those practices. With
these recent and rapid
integration
improvements,
other services are also keen to
become closer to General
Practice and their communities,
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