Care Connections

Adelaide PHN Care Connections (previously known as the Adelaide PHN Health Care Hubs Program) has been designed to improve chronic condition management in primary care and support better coordination and integration across the health system. Care Connections is focused in areas and populations with a high prevalence of chronic conditions and poorer health outcomes.

Care Connections will use elements of the Patient Centred Medical Home (PCMH) Model as a framework to improve chronic condition management. Care Connections will enable General Practices to work with the PCMH model at their own pace and with dedicated support, in the form of Local Area Coordination. Additionally, Care Connections will also support collaboration and coordination with a range of other providers (including, local health networks, allied health, pharmacy and community support services) to ensure care is responsive and holistic to an individual’s needs.

 

The aim of Care Connections is to:

1. Connect and integrate local primary health care systems in the Adelaide PHN region.
2. Improve chronic condition management in identified population groups through implementation of elements of the patient-centred medical home model.

Care Connections will be implemented through a range of activities including:

• Integrated Care Hubs: The name given to the general practices participating in Care Connections. These practices will undertake activities designed to help them improve chronic condition management, using a patient centered medical home framework, including participation in local medical neighbourhoods.
  
  Please note that practices have already been recruited, participating practices are listed below: 
  • Unihealth Playford in Munno Para
  • The Aboriginal Family Clinic in Noarlunga
  • Craigmore Family Practice in Craigmore
  • Elizabeth Family Health
  • Mawson Lakes Healthcare
  • Paralowie Family Health
  • Springbank Medical Centre
  • Hallett Cove Family Practice
  • Reynella Medical Centre
  • Hackham Medical Centre
  • Allenby Gardens Family Practice

 

• Local Area Coordination (LAC). The name given to the dedicated support services provided to Integrated Care Hubs to improve chronic condition management. Additionally, Local Area Coordination services will include the implementation and management of Local Medical Neighbourhoods. Flinders University – Discipline of General Practice.
   
• Local Medical Neighbourhoods. The name given to the formal relationships between and within Integrated Care Hubs and other key health care providers considered necessary and appropriate for particular chronic condition pathways. These formalised relationships encourage collaboration and communication including flow of information across and between clinicians and patients, to include specialists, hospitals, home health, long term care, and other clinical providers.
  
  The development of Local Medical Neighbourhoods will be supported through the LAC Services.

 

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Key Documents

• Care Connections Q & A 10 November
• Health Care Homes Vs Care Connections