Health Minister Gillian Skinner and Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hodgkinson met with the Cowra Integrated Care team at the Kendal Street Medical Centre on Thursday to see the future of healthcare in NSW in action.
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The Western NSW Integrated Care Strategy is being led by the Western NSW Local Health District and Western and Far West Medicare Locals.
Cowra is one of five communities in the region chosen to develop and test new models of integrated care.
Kendal Street Medical Centre practice manager Mary Wood said they were very excited to be involved in the pilot.
"We're very happy to be one of the first local health districts to be chosen," she said.
Louise Robinson said the Cowra project will focus on people with chronic and mental illnesses.
"The program is set up for patients so we can manage their care in the community," she said.
"We're wrapping services around the patients so they can remain in the community and avoid unnecessary hospitalisations."
Ms Hodgkinson said she is proud Cowra has been selected as a site to pioneer new models of care tailored to the community.
"Through greater collaboration between these vital health services we are reducing preventable hospital admissions and better outcomes for local patients."
The NSW Government is providing funding for tools and support services to help deliver Integrated Care for patients. For Cowra, this includes the appointment of a dedicated care navigator to manage patient care plans and the installation of new software to share patient care plans amongst the relevant health providers.
Integrated Care approaches are also being implemented in Molong, Cobar, Dubbo and Wellington and will be rolled out to other communities across the Western NSW Local Health District in 2015.
The Health Minister also launched a new website about improving regional health.
Mrs Skinner said the new Western NSW Integrated Care website will provide more information about integrated care and how it will improve the long term health of regional communities.
"The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is committed to improving health outcomes for patients in regional NSW through a more collaborative approach between our hospitals and health facilities and community health facilities, such as GPs, pharmacists and mental health workers," Mrs Skinner said.
"It is about providing patients with the right care in the place at the right time."
Check out the new website at: www.wnswintegratedcare.com.au.