June 12 program takes multidisciplinary approach to chronic disease
May 29, 2007A new Rural Health Education Foundation program airing on June 12 presents a series of case studies to explore the principles of prevention and multidisciplinary management of chronic disease and the practical application in rural and remote health services.
Multidisciplinary Management of Chronic Disease, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, discusses early intervention and identification of risk factors, effective management of people already diagnosed with a chronic disease, the concept of self management, barriers to multidisciplinary care and potential solutions.
Program presented by experts
The all new program, which airs on the Foundation’s satellite network at 8pm (EST) on Tuesday 12 June, with a repeat at 12.30pm on Friday 15 June, brings together an expert panel to discuss chronic disease management in rural and remote areas.
The panel comprises Dr Alan Cass (pictured), Head of the Renal Program of The George Institute for International Health, Sydney; Dr Geoff Chapman, rural GP and Medical Director of the Division of General Practice, Tasmania; Ms Mary Filmer, Remote Area Nurse and Nurse Manager of Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre, Victoria; and Mr Peter Quin, a social worker and Director of Community Services, Orbost Regional Health, Victoria.
Multidisciplinary management of a major problem
The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020 chronic disease will be responsible for almost three quarters of all deaths. In Australia chronic diseases are accountable for 80 percent of the total burden of disease, mental health and injury (AIHW 2006).
Research indicates that prevalence is increased for people who live with social and economic disadvantage. The elderly, people with a disability, people with mental illness and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are all particularly at risk.
In the face of the difficulties of preventing and managing chronic disease, a collaborative multidisciplinary approach provides significant opportunities.
“Overall, especially in rural communities, there is intention to collaborate,” says program panellist Peter Quin. “Health professionals are very interested in supporting each other to deal with chronic problems.”
Overcoming barriers
Unfortunately, there are also significant barriers to multidisciplinary care in rural and remote areas with limited human resources.
By way of illustration, program panellist and Remote Area Nurse Mary Filmer says her Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre in Victoria has a visiting doctor only once a week. “We also have a podiatrist and physio once a month and we are very lucky. Some bush nursing centres don’t even have that, or any allied health.” she says. “We can’t just say, oh, well they need diabetes educator supervising, because they are not here.”
In order for multidisciplinary management to run effectively, according to Peter Quin, there needs to be some way of identifying people who would benefit. “Building in connections helps both practitioner and patient to enter into some change strategies,” he says.
More information
For full details of the program, visit the Multidisciplinary Management of Chronic Disease program page.
