Care Collective Caboolture celebrates milestone 12 months

Earlier this month the Brisbane North PHN and Metro North Health Care Collective brought project stakeholders together at Caboolture Hospital to reflect on the successes and challenges of the past 12 months since establishing the Care Collective – Caboolture.

The program focuses on clients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) and those with debility who are presenting, or at risk of presenting, frequently to the Caboolture ED with their health concerns.

GPs, specialists, emergency department physicians, nurse navigators, discharge planners, team care coordinators, Complex Care Coordinators, and general practice managers involved as part of the program were present, engaged and felt much goodwill about the Collective’s first 12 months.

Since its inception in June 2022, 275 clients have entered the program, resulting in a 77 per cent monthly reduction in presentations to Caboolture Hospital emergency department (ED) for the target cohort after referral.

Executives from Metro North Health and Queensland Health Reform Office were present to progress discussion about expanding the program via funding secured through the Commonwealth Government Primary Care Pilots. The group identified ways for strengthening communications and pathways between Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department and the Complex Care Coordinators located in general practices in the region. All agreed the “wrap around” nature of the role of Complex Care Coordinators allows them to engage holistically and intensively with clients, and that this approach appears to be filling key system gaps and building capacity of general practice to manage complex chronic disease clients.

Read more about the Care Collective – Caboolture’s journey so far.