Mrs Allina Green1, Mr Darren Doherty1
1Gold Coast Hospital And Health Service, Gold Coast, Australia
Background and Aim
With persistent pain patients in rural Queensland having to travel extensive distances to receive treatment through specialist pain centres, the QCVIPC provides patients access to specialist persistent pain services at their local health facility or in their home. Using digital platforms, the aim of the program is to provide high quality interdisciplinary pain management care whilst tackling the tyranny of distance and isolation.
The QCVIPC an innovated and collaborative program between participating persistent pain centres on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Townsville and currently 24 rural health sites in a GP shared care model of care.
The program purposes are to equip patients with self-management strategies to mange their persistent pain, improve their well-being and regain quality of life, whilst reducing patient healthcare utilisation and costs associated with patient travel.
Model of care
Patients participate in group based interactive sessions that are encouraging and supportive, designed to build relationships with those in their community and who understand their pain journey. Sessions are topic specific, delivered by specialised Allied Health Clinicals covering Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Pharmacy.
Patients participate in an orientation session, treatment pathway planning session and then their elected treatment pathway/s.
Staffing for the project is provided by each of the participating Hospital and Health Services involved, ensuring that a sustainable model of care is implemented to continue to provide these services post the project closure.
Results
The full suite program launched in January 2021, with the first group of patients currently working their way through their elected pathways.
Biography:
Bio to come.