Collaboratives ProgramWhat is a Collaborative? There is often confusion between the Collaborative method and collaboration in general. The Collaborative method has a specific approach, which is user-friendly and simple. A Collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the distribution and adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings, to achieve a common aim. For example, with the APCC Program, colleagues get together at a series of learning workshops. Participants exchange ideas, share experiences and learn about practical quality improvement skills, which can all be easily implemented using the successful Model for Improvement. Through shared learning, teams from a number of general practices work with each other and the Improvement Foundation to rapidly test and implement changes that lead to lasting improvement. To learn more about what's involved with this collaborative see The Collaborative Program. The Collaborative methodology promotes rapid change, allowing practices to experience the benefits in short time frames. It works because it is straightforward, there is hands-on support, and the framework promotes 'protected time' (protected time is time specifically set aside for practice staff to focus on APCC Program work) for participants to spend together solving problems as a team. Healthcare Collaboratives are built on a tried and tested method, developed in the USA , which has been applied to a wide range of management challenges. It was originally applied to healthcare systems by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in the USA , and has been adopted in other countries, most recently and effectively through the National Primary Care Development Team, now known as Improvement Foundation, in the UK. A Collaborative is not a research project, a set of conferences or a passive exercise. A Collaborative is about actually doing and improving. Australian Primary Care Collaboratives (APCC) In 2008 HRDGP gained a position in Phase 2 Wave 1 of the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives Program which was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and delivered by Improvement Foundation Australia. The topics and aims of this program are:
The program aims to greatly improve the management of patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease, free up time of doctors and increase practice income. Our four participating practices were:
The Practices utilised the Canning Tool data extraction device to extract data each month regarding their Diabetic and Coronary Heart Disease patients and also reviewed Access through patient demand. The Practices also submitted monthly PDSAs (Plan, Do, Study, Act) for ideas on how to improve their practice efficiency. Data cleansing has increased results and also aided with recall and reminder systems to make sure none of the patients slip through the cracks. Two staff members from each practice attended the first Orientation Day and three consecutive Learning Workshops in Sydney where they gained resources and motivation listening to prominent speakers in each field. Topics included Access and Advanced Access, Clinics within General Practice, Working with Allied Health and an Ideas Factory brainstorm session to name just a few. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our four participating practices on their fantastic RESULTS! If you would like any information about applying the Collaborative methodology in your Practice, please contact your Practice Support Officer on P: (02) 4933 3824. For more information visit: http://www.apcc.org.au/
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