Since 2005, One Stop Medical has been operating in the heart of Mackay, striving to improve the health and wellness of all who enter the practice.
To ensure the practice continues to fulfil its vision of providing top quality medical care to the community, staff at One Stop Medical have been actively participating in Northern Queensland Primary Health Network’s (NQPHN’s) Data Program and Reform Readiness Program.
The Data Program utilises de-identified clinical data to inform general practice improvement and business sustainability.
Reform Readiness Program activities provide general practices with exposure to new models of care for chronic and complex conditions, leadership training, and data optimisation including population management processes, Lean methodology, and upskilling of general practice nurses.
NQPHN analyses One Stop Medical’s de-identified data using Practice Aggregation Tool (PATCAT) software, and provides quarterly reports of the analysed data back to the practice to assist in identifying gaps and opportunities.
NQPHN has also delivered face-to-face training and upskilling to practice staff using the Clinical Audit Tool CAT4.
One Stop Medical GP Dr Rachel Bidgood said the program has provided the practice with a way to better use data to identify opportunities to improve health outcomes through healthcare services they provide to the Mackay community.
“Every three months, NQPHN provides us with an analysis of our practice’s CAT4 data”, Dr Bidgood said.
“We then hold quarterly meetings with our doctors and nurses to see how we can improve our patient care using CAT4 as a way of auditing our progress. The whole process is very much a team effort, with our nurses leading the way.
“The Data and Reform Readiness Program has helped us become more aware of the demographics of our patients, and the numbers of our patients with chronic diseases.
“It has also been useful to identify where our gaps are in terms of coding of diseases and management of patients with chronic diseases, and to benchmark our data against average figures within the NQPHN region.
“The ability to identify gaps in patient care through these programs has made it easier for us to reach out to our clients with chronic diseases, who are not very compliant with their treatment and care plans.”
Practice Nurse Kim Gauci said the program training provided by NQPHN has given her the skills and knowledge to improve the wellbeing of her clients and focus on preventative health, making sure the health needs of their clients don’t slip through the cracks.
“By attending NQPHN training seminars to gain the necessary skills to better enhance my role as a Practice Nurse, I can provide comprehensive care to all my clients based on their individual needs and requirements”, said Kim.
“Our goal as a healthcare provider is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for our patients, including those at risk of poor health outcomes.
“We work in partnership with allied health professionals to provide multidisciplinary health care and access to resources that are tailored to the patient’s own personal circumstances, to ensure they receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Involvement in these programs has enabled One Stop Medical to provide comprehensive, client-centred, and coordinated care to individuals and families in the Mackay community, helping them to live happier, healthier, longer lives.