Two TPCH projects have been successful in Metro North’s recent SEED and LINK funding rounds, both supporting the introduction of novel care models to improve patient outcomes and the patient experience.
Virtual model for the evaluation and surveillance of patients with lung nodules
This project involves the adoption of a of a virtual, multidisciplinary clinic model for the evaluation and surveillance of patients with pulmonary nodules or lung lesions.
TPCH sees hundreds of patients with lung nodules requiring assessment and ongoing surveillance, most of which are benign but some are cancers or infections.
Under the current model, patients are initially seen in the conventional face-to-face clinic method, referred for tests, reviewed and potentially referred again for further tests.
Project lead Professor Kwun Fong said this method can create too much demand on existing lung cancer clinics and the treating multidisciplinary team, resulting in potential delays in care and cancer diagnosis.
“Under the new virtual clinic model, patients referred with lung nodules will be offered a convenient virtual consultation making use of Metro North’s new state-of-the-art telehealth services and the skills of our multidisciplinary team who are dedicated to patient-centred care,” Prof Fong said.
Referrals will be triaged by the specialist and nodule nurse coordinator who liaises with the person, GP, referring clinician and providers to have all relevant imaging, pathology and patient clinical information available to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, compile all relevant information for the most effective team care for the person.
“This new approach provides a more efficient, timely and coordinated model of care, that minimises inconvenience for the patient, is better for the treating clinicians and enables benefits of resource savings for the health service to support other important patient care needs,” Prof Fong said.
Bringing diagnostic sleep testing closer to home
TPCH’s Sleep Disorders Centre will establish a new model of care that will allow many patients to undergo diagnostic sleep testing at or closer to home.
Currently, TPCH’s Sleep Disorders Centre receives over 2,000 referrals annually, approximately 20 per cent of which are from remote and regional areas without specialist sleep services.
Acting Director TPCH Sleep Sciences and Project Lead Irene Szollosi said that many regional or remote patients who come to TPCH for sleep testing, have to spend a number of days away from home or work, which can be inconvenient and sometimes costly.
“Our proposed model of care uses portable unattended polysomnography in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea, which allows patients to be attached to the testing equipment at a local facility, eliminating the need for travel,” Irene said.
The Sleep Disorders Centre will partner with Central West Hospital and Health Service to provide patients with improved access to important diagnostic testing.
With this model, TPCH’s Sleep Disorders Centre will provide expert training and support for local staff to perform testing, whilst the team at TPCH will continue to perform data analysis, specialist reporting and consulting to help deliver streamlined and comprehensive care.
“This model is similar to our partnership with Metro North Hospital in the Home (HITH) which now allows for diagnostic sleep testing in the home for our patients within Metro North,” Irene said.
Under the new model, patients in Central West will be required to visit Longreach Hospital instead of TPCH, where trained staff will be on hand to attach the monitoring equipment.
Patients can then immediately return home or to nearby accommodation to undergo their overnight sleep test, before returning their testing equipment to the hospital the next morning.
“This model will allow more patients to receive the right care in the right place at the right time,” Irene said.
“With the increased uptake of telehealth in the follow up of our patients, and the ability for us to remotely monitor treatment effectiveness, high quality care can be provided much closer to or directly in the home.
“It will also provide TPCH’s Sleep Disorders Centre with increased capacity to treat more complex patients who require in hospital testing.”