The roll out of a tool by five district health boards in the Midland region will allow clinicians across all sectors of health to work more closely together.
Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, Taranaki and Waikato DHBs are part of the Midland region grouping of district health boards who are using the web-based software tool Map Of Medicine.
Map of Medicine allows clinicians from primary, secondary and tertiary care to access evidence-based local guidance and clinical decision support at the point of care. There will be a region-wide roll-out and regionally agreed clinical pathways developed.
“Every Midland PHO is involved, every Midland DHB is involved, and every Midland medical profession is represented. Our collective aim is to improve the patient’s journey through primary, secondary and tertiary care,” Waikato DHB project manager Graham Guy said.
“The beauty of Map of Medicine is that it is not just a GP tool. Other health professionals including practice nurses, SMOs, allied health, radiology, community health, nursing, ophthalmology, paediatrics, speech and hearing sciences, pharmacy, prosthetics and orthotics will find it useful,” Mr Guy said.
Dr Damian Tomic, medical director of Midlands Health Network and project executive for Map of Medicine in the Midland region, says from a primary healthcare perspective, Map of Medicine helps clinicians refer patients to hospital at the right time.
“This is good for the whole health sector. It helps management of secondary workload through a reduction in inappropriate referrals.”
Ultimately, he says Map of Medicine has been a great tool for bringing primary and secondary healthcare together.
“We have great conversations between the two, which helps the whole health system run better.
Waikato DHB and Midlands Health Network trialled Map of Medicine for six months and successfully developed a number of primary care pathways. Development of hospital pathways will complement the ongoing primary care pathway development.
Waikato DHB is hosting a Map of Medicine launch this evening (16 October) targeted at all Waikato PHOs, NGOs, specialists and those in the health sector wanting to be involved. All attendees will have the opportunity to be given a license to use Map of Medicine.
Waikato DHB is also supporting a Queensland health provider with Map of Medicine as they are just starting up.
“We will continue to work with them and collaborate by sharing clinical pathways or knowledge or processes that can be used in both countries,” Mr Guy said.
Waikato DHB chief medical advisor Dr Tom Watson said participating in the Map of Medicine is a great opportunity to “be part of an international clinical fraternity who are using Map of Medicine to provide better outcomes for their patients and increased value across the health sector.”
HealthShare, the Midland DHBs' shared services agency, has also contributed through their regional clinical groups and expertise, which allowed Map of Medicine opportunities to input into their specialties. Other regional group specialties throughout the region have also contributed.
More about Map of Medicine at Midland DHBs:
Bay of Plenty DHB has purchased the tool. They are socialising the Map of Medicine tool to work within their existing Bay Navigator.
- Lakes DHB are hoping to go live with Map of Medicine in December.
- Tairawhiti DHB launched and went live in September. They looked at the Waikato pathways and added localised content to suit their needs.
- Taranaki DHB is progressing and have a local clinical pathway group and planning to go live early 2014.
Contact:
Mary Anne Gill, Communications Director, Waikato District Health Board, Ph: 07 834 3684, Mobile: 021 705 213