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Primary Care Liaison at the RCH

Kids Connect is the Primary Care Liaison program at the RCH.  Started around mid 2005, the program has funding from DHS until 2010.
 
Vision: "To build partnerships between the Royal Children's Hospital and community healthcare providers for safer and better quality paediatric healthcare in Victoria".

Kids Connect newsletters & updates

Governance and direction

The Primary Care Liaison unit has working relationships with Divisions of General Practice, GPV (General Practice Victoria), rural/regional paediatricians and RCH clinicians, clerical/administration staff, ICT and Executive.  The program presently sits within the Partnerships Stream of the RCH Quality and Improvement Department and reports directly to the Executive Director of Medicine.  It is guided by two primary care advisory groups - rural/regional and urban.

The strategic goals and objectives of the Kids Connect (Primary Care Liaison) program have been planned to meet the requirements of the RCH and the Department of Human Services.

RCH strategic goals

The strategic directions for the Royal Children's Hospital are built around five organisational strategic goals:
  • Excellence in healthcare
  • Leadership in research and education
  • Focus on quality and safety
  • Partners in paediatric care
  • Improved organisational environment

Kids Connect supports each of the RCH strategic goals at the interface between acute and primary care.  For more information please see the RCH Strategic Goals and/or contact Kids Connect.

Summary of Kids Connect strategic goals and objectives

Strategic goal:Partnerships to improve coordination

  1. Set up and convene rural/regional and urban Primary Care / Division of General Practice Advisory Groups.
    More information - advisory groups
  2. Facilitate the representation of General Practice on relevant hospital committees/ strategic and service planning processes.
  3. Improve communication with GPs via Divisions.

Strategic goal:Timely exchange of information

  1. Support and encourage every patient to have a regular family doctor.
  2. Ensure up-to-date and accurate GP details are available and accessible to RCH staff and clinicians for patients.
  3. Ensure GP and/or community paediatrician and/or Maternal and Child Health Nurse are notified of key critical events in a timely manner.
  4. Support the timely completion of discharge summaries.
  5. Facilitate and support improved information sharing between GPs and RCH OPD.
    See DHS Outpatient Improvement and Innovation Strategy.
  6. Develop a structured communication system to actively involve GPs in post-discharge care.
  7. Ensure RCH uses best practice when implementing new systems or processes for communication with primary care.

Strategic goal: Professional development for General Practice

  1. Facilitate and support the development and dissemination of education activities, resources and clinical support to GPs and Practice Nurses/staff.

Strategic goal: Reducing need for acute care

  1. Facilitate GP and primary care collaboration in relevant existing (ie HARP) and new ‘Building our Future’ (BoF — new hospital) programmes that support increased emphasis on ambulatory or primary care based models of care or shared care.
    More information - Building our future 
  2. Help ensure appropriate and safe care in most appropriate setting pre-referral.
  3. Help ensure appropriate and safe care in most appropriate setting post-discharge.

Key policy directions and documents related to RCH Primary Care Liaison

 

Last Updated 17-Jul-2008. Authorised by: Annie Moulden. Enquiries: Susan Jury.
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