NORTH-WEST Queensland children and families living with complex health conditions now have a dedicated local care coordinator to help them access specialists and support services.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Johanna Cromley, a registered nurse at Mount Isa Hospital, will support families in the region as part of Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service’s statewide Connected Care Program.
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Board chair Susan Johnston said local care coordinators were being appointed across the state to improve access to quality care for every child and young person regardless of where they lived.
“The care coordinators will be a central point of contact for families and will focus on improving communication between a child’s various health care providers to ensure their care is managed seamlessly across the acute, community and primary healthcare sectors,” Ms Johnston said.
Care coordinators have also been appointed in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Bundaberg, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Hervey Bay and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, with another appointment for Rockhampton due in the coming months.
Ms Cromley said she was looking forward to making a genuine difference to the lives of children and their families living in the North West Hospital and Health Service (HHS).
“I am looking forward to ensuring children and families receive the highest level of care and support.
‘‘I really enjoy working with indigenous children and feel it is a great opportunity to assist them in what can be a scary and confusing health care system,” she said.
With the North West HHS covering an area of 300,000 sqkm, Ms Cromley said accessing the hospital was a challenge for many remote communities.
‘‘Many travel extensive distances to get to Mount Isa and then further again if health services are required in Brisbane or Townsville,” Ms Cromley said.
“Retention is also an issue in rural and remote areas so having a detailed care plan for each individual child will allow health professionals, who may not have met the family, gain a clearer understanding of their medical history.”
Regional care coordinators will be supported by a hub team based at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
This team will manage a patient intake service to ensure all eligible children are identified for the program, as well as provide education, mentoring and outreach support.
This hub team will relocate to the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital later this year.
Ms Johnston said the Connected Care Program could help an estimated 4700 children and their families across the state.
