DOR Report_2010 - Diabetes Outreach

Network collaboration
Diabetes Outreach continues to initiate, facilitate and participate in a wide range of professional and
consumer networks. These networks facilitate multi-level, intra disciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Network support is also linked into the training and support programs as well as the resources to support
education.
The Country Diabetes Educator Network was established in 2009. This network brings together key
educators from each of the 11 rural clusters. The purpose of this network is to promote a collaborative,
standardised and evidence based approach to diabetes education and support across public and private
health services in country SA (Attachment O).
The network meets monthly via teleconference and in July the network was brought together for a face to
face 2 day workshop. The workshop provided an opportunity to formalise the terms of reference, the
membership and roles and responsibilities of participants. The network has worked together in 2010 to
address some key concerns raised by its members, namely
> inconsistencies in coding for CME data
> lack of support documents for titration of insulin in outpatient settings
Nursing and allied health diabetes networks have continued across rural and remote South Australia. As
already stated, there are currently 11 clinical networks.
Key outcomes of local/cluster clinical networks focus on communication across both public and private
health services to ensure an appropriate and timely patient journey, support for consistency in diabetes
clinical activities and resource support, and to have a consistent and evidence based approach to education
and care.
Diabetes Outreach attends meetings as needed. Video conferencing or audio conferencing is used to
participate in some meetings where travel and time constraints prevent attendance. Some areas need to
address leadership and resource allocation issues to enable appropriate local collaboration.
Links with general practitioner networks through General Practice SA (GPSA) and individual country
divisions of general practice enable collaboration with regional health services and local Aboriginal Health
Services. These networks are invaluable as they enable divisions, regional health services, and Aboriginal
Health Services to plan service delivery models that meet the needs of communities and key stakeholders.
Aboriginal health worker networks were initially established by the Aboriginal Health Partnership and
coordinated through Health Promotion, SA Health. These networks have not been functioning since 2004.
Diabetes Outreach has however, continued to communicate and work with Aboriginal Health Services via the
education programs with the view that the networks will eventually be reactivated.
Country Health SA, SA Health network continues to be central to planning and development. Meetings with
key personnel and other divisions have been limited due to SA Health restructure. These meetings when
undertaken enable planning in the context of statewide priorities.
Other groups, committees and projects that Diabetes Outreach staff are involved in are:
> Australian Diabetes Educators Association
> Diabetes Australia Limited
> Diabetes in Schools project with CYHS, DECS, Flinders Medical Centre, Lyell McEwin Hospital and RDNS
> Primary Health Care Advisory Committee, FUSA
> General Practice, SA
> CNAHS GP Plus Advisory group
> SA Health Gestational Diabetes Register and Recall working group
> Aboriginal Health Council
> Quality Assurance for Aboriginal Health Services (QAAMS), Flinders University, SA.
Diabetes Outreach Report 2010
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