DOR Report_2010 - Diabetes Outreach

one for nurses working in general practice.
The ‘Graduate Certificate in Health (Diabetes Education)’ offered at Flinders University South Australia is
the only Australian Diabetes Educators’ Association (ADEA) accredited tertiary program for diabetes
educators in South Australia. Flinders University SA administers the program with educational input from a
range of metropolitan health services including Diabetes Outreach.
Professional staff of Diabetes Outreach has continued to contribute to the teaching program in all 3 modules
of the course. Sessions included pathophysiology and management of diabetes, resources for health
professionals and for people with diabetes, program evaluation and data collection as well as teaching and
learning modules and packages.
Diabetes Outreach staff have continued to provide mentoring and support to rural health professionals and
Aboriginal health workers undertaking the program.
Continuing professional development
The ‘Diabetes Outreach Regional Education Series’ incorporates a interdisciplinary, face-to-face program
in each of the main country areas. The target group includes diabetes specialist and generalist health
professionals, health workers, general practitioners, Aboriginal health workers and health professional
students. Educational formats vary depending on need e.g. lectures, open forums and practice visits with
case discussions. Education topics and programs are designed in consultation with key stakeholders to
meet the educational, organisational, and professional and population needs of each area.
The 2010 program was run in 4 areas. Participants (n. 592) came from a wide range of health professional
backgrounds and a variety of service locations (Attachment G).
Four key health areas (Northern, Eyre, Riverland and South East) are now conducting one day workshops
that attracted a wide range of health professionals from both public and private areas of health. Partnerships
with the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School and the Flinders University Rural Health School has increased
access for medical, nurse and allied health students. Evaluation feedback from hospital, general practice
and community health showed positive planned practice changes (Attachment H).
As part of supporting local capacity building, in some areas, community talks are presented in partnership
with credentialled diabetes educators. Community feedback was also collated (Attachment I).
‘Advanced Continuing Education Program’ is a series of topics and discussions offered by multi site
video conferencing and led by specialists in the field of diabetes and related areas. The series is designed
to make available advanced, evidence based information about diabetes to rural and remote health
professionals (the type of information which is often only available at metropolitan based conferences and
workshops). The aim of the program is to support the continued knowledge/skills and practice development
of health professionals who are credentialled diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists or those who have
completed initial education and wish to further their knowledge and expertise in diabetes.
In 2010, a series of 10 sessions were conducted in partnership with specialists based in metropolitan
Adelaide (Attachment J). There were 317 attendances that included diabetes educators, nurses, dietitians
and general practitioners from 13 different sites (Attachment K). Evaluations and early registrations for 2011
show continued interest and value in this program. A program for 2011 is provided (Attachment L).
General video conferencing access is offered to meet specific local needs. Sessions included:
> clinical case conferencing with GP’s and local educators
> participation in network meetings
> linking remote centres to metropolitan based specialty areas.
The Internet and website based program continues to provide a means of facilitating equity of access for
rural and remote health professionals. Factsheets, teaching packs and template forms are freely available.
An interactive online activity providing education about sick day management and prevention of hospital
admissions through poor self management has been developed. This project is funded via a Novo Nordisk
Diabetes Outreach Report 2010
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